The New York Mets received eight prospects in return for six veteran players at the deadline. Three of them are considered the jewels of the haul — infielder Luisangel Acuña, outfielder Drew Gilbert and outfielder Ryan Clifford.
Acuña came to the Mets in the Max Scherzer trade, while the Mets got Gilbert and Clifford in the Justin Verlander deal.
Acuña is the highest-regarded of the three and is the only new Mets prospect in The Athletic’s Top 60 midseason prospects.
But, at least one MLB scout quoted by The Athletic would rank those top three prospects this way:
“I love Clifford,” one scout said. “I personally would rank them Clifford, Acuña, Gilbert.”
The reason? That scout sees Clifford as a corner outfield prospect with great raw power that, once harnessed, makes him a plus-plus power hitter.
It’s the sort of power that could make Clifford an everyday player either in the outfield or at first base, the latter of which a position where power is valued.
Clifford hit his first home run as a Mets prospect on Thursday night with High Class-A Brooklyn.
That doesn’t mean either of the other prospects has less of a future in New York.
Acuña is the brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. and some scouts compare the younger Acuña’s ceiling to that of the older Acuña’s teammate, Ozzie Albies.
The younger Acuña can play shortstop, second base and the outfield, and the Mets sent him to Double-A Binghamton to start at short. Scouts like his athleticism and power, with one scout saying “A year from now, he can be a real dude.”
As for Gilbert, he was the Astros’ No. 1 overall prospect when he was traded. The Mets also sent him to Binghamton. Scouts see him as an everyday player in the Majors, but not necessarily a star. One scout quoted in the piece was blunt about Gilbert’s future.
“Gilbert is fool’s gold,” he said. “I’ve had other scouts say the same thing.”
Still, Gilbert is considered to have an advanced plan at the plate and can play all three outfield positions.
All three will get their chance to impress the Mets the rest of this season.
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