A look at the top-ranked MLB prospects ever traded at the deadline, including Leo De Vries, Lucas Giolito, and Eloy Jiménez, and why these deals are so rare.
Only once since MLB Pipeline began rankings in 2004 has a player ranked higher than No. 3 been traded during the trade deadline. That landmark occurred on July 31, 2025, when the Athletics acquired Leo De Vries (No. 3 overall prospect) from the Padres for All-Star closer Mason Miller and J.P. Sears. That alone made De Vries the highest-ranked prospect ever dealt in a Deadline deal.
Since then, only eight other Top‑10 prospects have been included in trades, sparking debate among executives and fans on the risk–reward calculus of dealing elite young talent.
In his first inning as an Athletics prospect, Leo De Vries flashed the leather 👏 pic.twitter.com/OJusfsHArR
— MLB (@MLB) August 1, 2025
Top Prospects Ever Traded — Ranked by Peak MLB Pipeline Status
| Rank | Prospect | Trade Details | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yoan Moncada | Red Sox → White Sox (for Chris Sale) | 2016 |
| 3 | Leo De Vries | Padres → A’s (for Mason Miller, J.P. Sears) | 2025 |
| 3 | Lucas Giolito | Nationals → White Sox (for Adam Eaton) | 2016 |
| 5 | Jarred Kelenic | Mets → Mariners (for Edwin Díaz, Robinson Canó) | 2018 |
| 6 | Gleyber Torres | Cubs → Yankees (for Aroldis Chapman) | 2016 |
| 7 | Austin Meadows | Pirates → Rays (for Chris Archer) | 2018 |
| 8 | Jesus Luzardo | Nationals → A’s (for Sean Doolittle) | 2017 |
| 9 | Eloy Jiménez | Cubs → White Sox (for José Quintana) | 2017 |
| 10 | Taylor Trammell | Reds → Padres (three-team trade) | 2019 |
| 11 | Nick Madrigal | White Sox → Cubs (for Craig Kimbrel) | 2021 |
| 12 | Clint Frazier | Guardians → Yankees (for Andrew Miller) | 2016 |
| 15 | Zac Gallen | Marlins → D-backs (for Jazz Chisholm) | 2019 |
| 16 | Sixto Sánchez | Phillies → Marlins (for J.T. Realmuto) | 2019 |
| 17 | Francisco Mejía | Guardians → Padres (for Brad Hand) | 2018 |
| 18 | Noelvi Marte | Mariners → Reds (for Luis Castillo) | 2022 |
| 20 | J.P. Crawford | Phillies → Mariners (for Jean Segura) | 2018 |
| 21 | Matt Liberatore | Rays → Cardinals (for Randy Arozarena) | 2020 |
| 22 | Josiah Gray | Dodgers → Nationals (for Scherzer, Turner) | 2021 |
| 23 | Justus Sheffield | Yankees → Mariners (for James Paxton) | 2018 |
| 24 | Michael Kopech | Red Sox → White Sox (for Chris Sale) | 2016 |
Highest-ranked prospects traded ever:
No. 1 Yoán Moncada (BOS➡️CWS), 12/6/16 – Chris Sale deal
No. 3 Leo De Vries (SD➡️ATH), TODAY – Mason Miller deal
No. 3 Lucas Giolito (WSH➡️CWS), 12/7/16 – Adam Eaton deal
No. 3 Wil Myers (KC➡️TB), 12/9/12 – Wade Davis, James Shields deal— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 31, 2025
Perspective: Why This Matters
1. Scarcity Breeds Value
Ultra-elite prospects (Top‑3 or Top‑10) rarely change hands for a reason: they are organizational cornerstones being groomed for MLB impact. Trading one signal, either desperation or bold confidence, for return value.
2. Pitching Trade Rarity
Lucas Giolito remains the highest-ranked pitcher (No. 3 overall) ever moved in a trade. Pitching prospects ranked this high are especially rare commodities; they’re cornerstone arms in their organizations.
3. Modern Precedent—De Vries Deal
Leo De Vries’s trade in 2025 was the first time since Eloy Jiménez (2017) that a Top‑10 prospect was included in a deadline deal. It demonstrates the high cost, often premium MLB assets, required to secure elite young talent.
Trading prospects of the highest caliber isn’t common. When it happens, it either confirms roster urgency, seismic roster rebuilding, or significant confidence that the return outweighs long-term potential. The De Vries trade stands as a watershed moment, breaking an eight-year drought of Top‑10 deadline prospect deals and resetting expectations for franchise-level risk-taking.
