Five hitting prospects who could move at the MLB trade deadline

Several big names could be on the move at the MLB trade deadline.

Those players will generate the most attention. First basemen Pete Alonso and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., starting pitcher Justin Verlander and third baseman Alex Bregman are known to most fans. However, as time passes, the prospects acquired in those trade deadline deals become all the more important. These are the players that teams hang their hopes on, dreaming that they can be part of a future championship squad.

Which prospects could be on the move at the trade deadline? Let's take a look at five possibilities.

Baltimore Orioles - infielder Connor Norby

The Baltimore Orioles have an embarrassment of riches in their farm system. With Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg already in the majors, and Coby Mayo and Jackson Holliday on the cusp of heading to Baltimore, it is a difficult infield to crack. 

The Orioles already traded one young infielder in Joey Ortiz as part of the package to add Corbin Burnes. Another infield prospect could be on the move at the deadline as the Orioles look to fortify the rotation. Second baseman/outfielder Connor Norby had a four-game debut with the Orioles this year before being sent back to Triple-A. MLB.com lists Norby as the Orioles' sixth-best prospect, an all-around solid player without any one standout tool. He is lauded for his ability to hit to all fields with a compact swing. Norby may not be a future superstar but he is the type of player that could be a steady option on a contending team for years to come.

Chicago Cubs - infielder Matt Shaw

Infielder Matt Shaw is in a similar situation to Norby. In his case, the Chicago Cubs have shortstop Dansby Swanson and second baseman Nico Hoerner signed to long-term deals. With such a roadblock in place, the Cubs have moved Shaw to third base as he moves through the minors.

The Cubs' third-best prospect, and 42nd-best prospect per MLB.com, Shaw is another player who does everything well without any one standout tool. He has modeled his game after Dustin Pedroia, hitting to all fields with an aggressive approach. His arm is a question mark and was considered fringy at best at short. While he has shifted to third, Shaw's best position defensively is likely to be second base. He could headline a trade as the Cubs look to return to the postseason.

Kansas City Royals - catcher Carter Jensen

Carter Jensen would be an intriguing prospect and a possible catcher of the future on any other team. However, the Kansas City Royals have Salvador Perez under team control through 2026. Their top prospect, Blake Mitchell, is also a catcher. This could lead to Jensen becoming available in the right deal.

The Royals' 10th-best prospect, Jensen has plenty of raw power and a patient approach at the plate. His patience can turn into passiveness and there is the thought that he sacrifices power due to that approach. He has improved defensively and is considered to have an above-average arm but may be blocked. The Royals have indicated that they will be aggressive in trades; Jensen could be the type of prospect to get a solid return.

St. Louis Cardinals - infielder Thomas Saggese

Infielder Thomas Saggese was part of one trade deadline deal already in his career. The Rangers sent Saggese, along with fellow prospect Tekoah Roby and reliever John King, to the Cardinals as part of the Jordan Montgomery trade. He could be on the move again this year.

The Cardinals need help in their rotation as Miles Mikolas and several other pitchers are not getting the job done in the back of the rotation. Saggese is the Cardinals' second-ranked prospect and ranked 85th overall by MLB.com, but he is blocked in St. Louis by Brendan Donovan, Nolan Gorman and Masyn Winn. A solid all-around player with an aggressive approach at the plate, Saggese should be an asset at the keystone. 

Los Angeles Dodgers - catcher Diego Cartaya

Diego Cartaya would be a possible franchise cornerstone in almost any other situation. With the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cartaya may be trade bait.

Will Smith is locked in to a 10-year contract worth $140M and is not going anywhere. The Dodgers' top prospect is another catcher — Dalton Rushing. Cartaya is the Dodgers' seventh-ranked prospect and had been the top-ranked international prospect in the 2018 signing period. He had been compared to Salvador Perez due to his size and power potential. However, Cartaya has flaws, chasing pitches out of the zone and may need to overhaul his approach at the plate. His improvements defensively give hope that he can fulfill his potential but he may need to join another organization to do so.