👉 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE SPRING
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

#1 Expert Projections
Save 50% Now
Import Your Leagues
Props Tool
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
24x7 News and Alerts

Dynasty Implications - MLB Prospects in the Chris Sale Trade

The Boston Red Sox management woke up on Tuesday and decided that they didn't like the Winter Meetings to be all talk and no show. So they decided to make some noise and add starting pitcher Chris Sale from the White Sox and reliever Tyler Thornburg from the Brewers. This deal obviously has some immediate implications for redraft leagues in 2017 and owners of Chris Sale, but what about the prospects?

The White Sox received in return quite the haul for Chris Sale. By sending the southpaw to the Red Sox, Rick Hahn and company received in return top Red Sox prospect Yoan Moncada, flame-throwing right-hander Michael Kopech, outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe and reliever Victor Diaz. Here are the details on the Red Sox - White Sox trade:

Red Sox Acquire: SP Chris Sale
White Sox Acquire: 2B/3B Yoan Moncada, SP Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, RP Victor Diaz

Editor's note: Be sure to also check out our 2017 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. It's already loaded up with tons of great rankings articles and draft analysis. Aside from our tiered staff rankings for every position, we also go deep on MLB prospect rankings, impact rookies for 2017, and dynasty/keeper rankings as well. Bookmark the page, and win your drafts.

 

Yoan Moncada (2B/3B, MLB)

There is little that Moncada can't do, but he probably still requires some time to develop in the minors. The 21-year-old phenom showed an extremely exciting combination of power and speed last season in the minors as he posted 15 home runs and 45 stolen bases across only 106 games (split with 45 at Double-A and 61 at High-A). But as he reached the upper levels of the minors, he began to show why he did not go straight to the big leagues. At High-A, Moncada struck out only 21.1% of the time, but that number jumped up to 30.9% when he advanced to Double-A. Then in a cameo appearance at the big league level, he struck out in 60% of his 20 plate appearances (12 Ks) and mustered only four hits.

Is this to say that you all should be concerned about his future? Absolutely not, but it does mean that the trade may not guarantee him starting playing time at third base for the White Sox right away. Besides, they do still have Todd Frazier at third, though it looks likely he will be dealt away before the season begins.

What this trade really means for Moncada is that it is likely he will bat higher up in the lineup upon an initial promotion, but it will be a weaker lineup. Batting leadoff for the White Sox will help him score plenty of runs, but it hurts that Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia, Andrew Benintendi and Xander Bogaerts have been effectively replaced by (what will likely be) Jose Abreu, Adam Eaton, Brett Lawrie and Melky Cabrera.

With that said, a trade to any team was never going to severely plummet Moncada's value, no matter where he was dealt. With his combo of power and speed, he still looks poised to become a future All-Star and one of the most valuable dynasty prospects in baseball.

 

Michael Kopech (SP, A+)

Kopech took some time to be fully recognized by prospect evaluators as a true dominant pitching prospect, but in 2016, he really started to turn heads thanks in large part to his outstanding stuff.

With one of the hardest fastballs in the minors and a wipeout slider, Kopech racked up a whopping 82 strikeouts in only 52 innings of work at High-A this season. To save you some trouble with the math, that is 40% of the batters he faced. Fantasy owners are probably going to read that and have their jaws drop, especially since most scouts believe racking up gaudy strikeout totals in the big leagues will hardly prove to be a challenge for the 20-year-old right-hander.

But what will prove to be challenging is reigning in his command. It should hardly be surprising that a young pitcher who has been clocked in triple-digits has trouble locating his pitches. Along with his impressive strikeout numbers, Kopech also posted a rather high walk rate of 14.2%. And while opponents only hit a meager .146 off of him at High-A, Kopech will need to bring that walk rate down in order to survive against big league hitters.

I will be brutally honest and say that I am concerned about Kopech heading to the White Sox. They tend to rush their pitching prospects through the minors (e.g. Carson Fulmer and Carlos Rodon) before their guys have any time to improve their command. Kopech has top-of-the-rotation potential and that certainly won't change by moving to the South Side of Chicago, but his control is volatile and his upside could be soured if he is not given enough time to develop.

 

The Others

Luis Alexander Basabe is the only other name you all will really need to focus on. He is a guy with a promising power/speed combination, though like Moncada, he has struggled at times with plate discipline. He is still a couple seasons away from the big leagues, but he no longer faces a major blockage ahead of him as the White Sox outfield lacks the star power and depth of the Red Sox.

It looks like he could be in the big leagues by midseason 2018. But his production will hinge on whether he can cut down on the strikeouts. If he does, he could be a solid 20/20 outfield regular. If not, he could be a fourth outfielder for the White Sox and will be limited in his value to fantasy owners.

The only other player involved in the deal is reliever Victor Diaz. He is a 22-year-old reliever still pitching his way through Class-A. He should not have any implications on dynasty owners.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

#1 Expert Projections
Save 50% Now
Import Your Leagues
Props Tool
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

NFL

Caleb Banks on Track to be Fully Cleared in Early June
Colston Loveland

Ready for Expanded Role in Year 2
Francisco Lindor

Mets Officially Place Francisco Lindor on Injured List With Calf Strain
Michael Harris II

Removed Early With Quad Tightness
NFL

Nicholas Singleton Likely a Day 3 Pick?
NFL

Could a Team Draft Omar Cooper Jr. Higher Than Expected?
NFL

Can Eli Stowers Sneak Into the First Round of the NFL Draft?
NFL

Jordyn Tyson's Draft Stock Rebounding at the Last Minute
NFL

Kenyon Sadiq is the Top Tight End in 2026 Rookie Drafts
NFL

Carnell Tate an Instant Fantasy Star Regardless of Landing Spot?
Francisco Lindor

Likely Headed to the Injured List
James Pearce Jr.

NFL "Closely Monitoring" James Pearce Jr.'s Legal Situation
Detroit Lions

Lions Could be Angling to Trade Up in First Round of NFL Draft
New England Patriots

Mike Vrabel Seeking Counseling, Won't be With Team on Day 3 of Draft
Zay Flowers

Ravens Picking Up Zay Flowers' Fifth-Year Option
Jason Robertson

Scores in Sixth Straight Playoff Game
Matt Duchene

Records Second Consecutive Multi-Point Game
Sean Couturier

Contributes Two Assists in Game 3 Win
Jackson LaCombe

Ties Ducks Record With Three Points in Game 2
LeQuint Allen Jr.

Can LeQuint Allen Jr. Survive the NFL Draft to See an Expanded Role in Year 2?
NFL

Will Denzel Boston be a First Round Pick in the NFL Draft?
Alex Killorn

Racks Up Three Points on Special Teams
Connor McDavid

Finishes Pointless for Second Straight Game
NFL

Is KC Concepcion One of the Highest Value Picks in Dynasty Rookie Drafts?
Rasmus Sandin

Undergoes ACL Surgery
NFL

Can Makai Lemon Become the Fantasy WR1 of the 2026 Draft Class?
NFL

What Kind of Fantasy Ceiling Can Be Expected From Fernando Mendoza?
NFL

Jeremiyah Love Will Leave NFL Draft as Unquestioned 1.01 Pick in Rookie Drafts
Paolo Banchero

Finishes Game 2 Loss With 18 Points
Cade Cunningham

Notches 27 Points, 11 Assists in Slow-Burning Win
Devin Booker

Settles for 22 Points in Game 2
Dillon Brooks

Leads Suns With 30 Points Wednesday Night
Chet Holmgren

Productive on Both Ends Wednesday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Notches 37 Points in Game 2 Win
Jalen Williams

Aggravates Hamstring Injury
NFL

Arvell Reese Could Generate Trade Interest in the Top 10 of NFL Draft
DeForest Buckner

Colts Targeting a Training Camp Return for DeForest Buckner
Michael Harris II

Continues to Heat Up With Two-Homer Game on Wednesday
Francisco Lindor

Leaves Wednesday's Game Early With Calf Tightness
JR Ritchie

Earns Promotion, Will Make MLB Debut on Thursday
Jakob Poeltl

Expected to Bounce Back Thursday
Jordan Goodwin

Collin Gillespie Replaces Jordan Goodwin in Starting Unit for Game 2
Rob Dillingham

Undergoes Wrist Procedure
Grayson Allen

Cleared to Play Wednesday
Keldon Johnson

Lands Sixth Man of the Year Award
Jordan Goodwin

Won't Play Wednesday
Mark Williams

Misses Wednesday's Action
Ja'Kobe Walter

Could Miss Pivotal Game 3
Peyton Watson

Remains Out for Game 3
Aaron Gordon

Likely to Play in Game 3
Anthony Edwards

' Status Uncertain for Game 3
Thomas Bryant

Iffy for Game 3
Immanuel Quickley

Questionable for Game 3
Jonathan Isaac

Ruled Out for Game 2
Noah Ostlund

Could Return Thursday
Pontus Holmberg

Will Miss Round 1
Charle-Edouard D'Astous

Could Be an Option Friday
Victor Hedman

Traveling With Team
Radko Gudas

Unavailable for Game 2
Los Angeles Rams

Rams Increasingly Likely to Draft a First-Round Wide Receiver?
Yakov Trenin

Considered a Game-Time Decision Wednesday
Mats Zuccarello

a Game-Time Call Wednesday
Wyatt Langford

Expected to Go on Injured List With Flexor Strain
Maikel Garcia

Leaves Early on Wednesday With Elbow Soreness
Roman Anthony

Day-to-Day With Sore Back
Juan Soto

Officially Back in Mets Lineup on Wednesday
J.T. Realmuto

Phillies Place J.T. Realmuto on Injured List With Back Injury
Lucas Giolito

Signs With Padres, Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup?
Ryan Helsley

Orioles Put Ryan Helsley on Bereavement List on Wednesday
CFB

Beau Pribula Leading Virginia Quarterback Competition
Jack Eichel

Sets Up Two Goals Tuesday
Artemi Panarin

Records Another Power-Play Goal
Dylan Guenther

Enjoys Multi-Point Outing Tuesday Night
Viktor Arvidsson

Strikes Twice in Game 2 Win
Lane Hutson

Nets First Career Postseason Goal
Brandon Hagel

Records Tampa Bay's First Postseason Gordie Howe Hat Trick
Nikita Kucherov

Ends 16-Game Postseason Goal Drought
Marco Penge

Trending Down Entering Zurich Classic
Sahith Theegala

Eyes Another Strong Week at Zurich Classic
Brooks Koepka

Shane Lowry Teams Up with Brooks Koepka at Zurich Classic
Si Woo Kim

Adds Another Strong Finish at RBC Heritage
Elly De La Cruz

Early-Season Breakout Continues on Tuesday
Wyatt Langford

Pulled Early on Tuesday With Forearm Tightness
Luke Clanton

Hoping to Find Form in New Orleans
Jackson Holliday

Leaves Rehab Game With Hand Discomfort
Corbin Carroll

Returns to Arizona's Lineup Against White Sox
Scottie Scheffler

is Starting to Hit His Stride
Brooks Koepka

Looking for Progress in PGA Return With Partner at Zurich Classic
Matt Fitzpatrick

Looks to Share Recent Form at Zurich Classic
Zack Wheeler

to Make Season Debut on Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Back in Leadoff Spot on Tuesday After Injury Scare
CFB

Ashton Daniels Named Florida State's Starting Quarterback
Juan Soto

Expected to Return on Wednesday
Royce Lewis

Twins Reinstate Royce Lewis From Injured List on Tuesday
Tyler Reddick

Earns His Fifth Win of the 2026 Season at Kansas
Kyle Larson

Finishes as the Runner-Up at Kansas
Chase Briscoe

Rallies for A New Career-Best Finish at Kansas
Denny Hamlin

Leads the Most Laps at Kansas but Misses Out on Victory
Christopher Bell

Falls Out of Contention for Kansas Victory on Final Restart
Mike Malott

Scores Third-Round TKO Win
Gilbert Burns

Retires After UFC Winnipeg Loss
Charles Jourdain

Extends Winning Streak
Kyler Phillips

Drops Decision At UFC Winnipeg
Mandel Nallo

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss In His UFC Debut
Jai Herbert

Scores First-Round TKO Win
Karine Silva

Gets Dominated at UFC Winnipeg
Jasmine Jasudavicius

Dominates Karine Silva
Kyle Larson

Should not be Underestimated for the Win at Kansas
Denny Hamlin

Can Denny Hamlin Dominate at Kansas Again?
NASCAR

Christoper Bell Should Contend for First Win at Kansas
Tyler Reddick

Fastest in Practice and Qualifying for Kansas Race
Ryan Blaney

Could Score another Top-10 Finish at Kansas
Ty Gibbs

Poised to Continue Hot Streak at Kansas
Chris Buescher

Always Consistent, Has Speed Heading Into Kansas
William Byron

is A Solid DFS Option for Kansas Lineups
Carson Hocevar

Poised for Career-Best Run at Kansas
Chase Briscoe

Is Chase Briscoe Worth Rostering for DFS at Kansas?
Chase Elliott

Is A Favorable DFS Option for Kansas Lineups
Joey Logano

Could Joey Logano be Considered Playable In DFS This Week at Kansas?
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace is A Favorable Driver to Consider for Kansas Lineups
Ross Chastain

Is Ross Chastain A Worthy DFS Option for Kansas?
Brad Keselowski

Could Brad Keselowski be A Sneaky DFS Option for Kansas?
Daniel Suarez

Should DFS Managers Roster Daniel Suarez at Kansas?
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF