Deadline Delivers

- John Manuel

Brisk trade deadlines are fun days for fans and nail-biting days for club executives.

That’s one reason why some clubs try to get their shopping done early—get out in front of the market, be proactive. That’s what the Cubs were able to do when they acquired lefthander Jose Quintana from the White Sox on July 13, taking the best starting pitcher—in terms of ability, age and club control—off the market.

Outfielder Eloy Jimenez, who ranked No. 5 on our Midseason Top 100 Prospects list, was the key to the Quintana deal. He also was one of just five members of the Top 100 to be traded. That indicates what a buyer’s market it became.

The White Sox were an active seller that acted early, trading David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle and Todd Frazier to the Yankees and receiving one Top 100 Prospect in outfielder Blake Rutherford. Chicago received three Top 100 Prospects, meaning eight of the midseason Top 100 players are White Sox farmhands, with seven of them acquired via trade.

Acting decisively early recouped better prospects for the White Sox. Prices came down the closer it got to the deadline, and the quality of prospects traded fell.