TAP FOR 6 MONTHS OF PREMIUM FREE 💰
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

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Dynasty Implications - MLB Prospects in the Adam Eaton Trade

Wow, the Chicago White Sox are completely blowing up their Major League roster. Yesterday it was Chris Sale for Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe and Victor Diaz, today it's Adam Eaton for Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning. Two days ago, Rick Hahn had one of the weakest farm systems in baseball with a handful of valuable assets on the big league roster that could net big returns. Hahn has since flipped only two players (still with several assets left including Todd Frazier and Jose Quintana) and has completely revamped his farm system.

But for you, the dynasty owner, a trade like this can have a significant impact on your roster. What kind of impact might it have? I'm here to help you find out by explaining what to expect out of the prospects dealt in the deal. Here are the details on the White Sox - Nationals trade:

Nationals Acquire: OF Adam Eaton
White Sox Acquire: SP Lucas Giolito, SP Reynaldo Lopez, SP Dane Dunning

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.

 

Lucas Giolito (SP, MLB)

When the White Sox added 2B/3B Yoan Moncada to their roster yesterday, it was the first Top-5 prospect they have had in their system in years. In fact, MLB.com has not given them a prospect even in the Top-10 since they began doing the Prospect Watch lists back in 2011. After the Eaton trade, they now have two in the Top-5. In fact, both prospects currently rank in the Top-3 on MLB.com.

Everyone knows the story on Lucas Giolito by now. Overwhelmingly dominant repertoire with an upper-90s fastball, one of the best curveballs in the minors and a well above-average changeup that keeps left-handed hitters off balance. Like a lot of young pitchers, his control does waiver at times, but most scouts believe he should have little trouble reigning it in soon. And at 6'6", 255 lbs, Giolito stands as an intimidating pitcher on the bump who figures to have little trouble lasting 200 innings in the regular season.

In a trade like this, it is very prevalent that the grades are dropping for Giolito. His stock is a bit down after he was roughed up in his brief time in the big leagues and his command certainly wavered at Double-A this season.

For owners hoping to reap the rewards from Giolito sooner rather than later, this trade is a godsend. No longer blocked by a loaded Nationals' rotation, Giolito figures to slot right in behind Carlos Rodon and Jose Quintana (assuming Quintana isn't dealt before the start of the season). This will be a very telling year as to whether or not Giolito is going to stay on pace to become a top-of-the-rotation starter like many assumed or if he is going to fall behind and only stay as a bottom-of-the-rotation guy. Either way, it is probably safe to say he will still pan out as a starting pitcher. His stuff is too good for him to become a bust.

 

Reynaldo Lopez (SP, MLB)

Another guy who benefits greatly from this deal, Lopez now is probably assured a spot in the starting rotation for the White Sox. He appeared to be totally blocked out in Washington, even if he may have had a slight step over Giolito for the time being.

Like Giolito, Lopez has an absolutely explosive fastball that frequently touches triple digits. It is by far his top pitch and should serve to be a dominant pitch in the majors. His secondary stuff leaves a little bit to be desired as his curveball grades out as only an above-average offering and his changeup still sits slightly below-average for now. Control was a big issue for him early in his career, but his numbers in the minors this season proved he has made some serious strides in that area.

The big question with Lopez will he be able to hold up as a starting pitcher. That was always the top concern in Washington and it will remain a bit of a concern now in Chicago. What makes his move to Chicago so beneficial for his fantasy value is that in Washington, that stacked rotation probably would have him stuck in the bullpen as a future closer whereas now he will be given ample opportunities to stick in the rotation.

His stuff could still lead to plenty of strikeouts, but he will probably be more of a project than Giolito. He is a decent player to buy right now with him all but guaranteed a starting spot, but dynasty owners should be careful not to overpay as there is still work to be done for the right-hander.

 

Dane Dunning (SP, A-)

In most trades, there is always a piece that is seemingly thrown-in. For most baseball fans, Dane Dunning will seem like that throw-in piece, but make no mistake, he is a talented pitcher in his own right.

Dunning is a big right-hander, standing at 6'4" and weighing in at 200 pounds. Like the other two prospects in this deal, Dunning's best pitch is his fastball which can touch the mid-90s, but typically sits in the low-90s. His slider still has a lot of room for improvement, but scouts are optimistic it can become a solid offering for him. His changeup currently stands out as his top secondary pitch and it will prove to be a weapon for him against left-handed hitters. His control wavered at times when he was pitching for the Gators, but most believe he can reign it in with a little bit of development time.

By far the biggest project in this package, Dunning still has several years left until he is going to reach the big leagues. Dynasty owners will need to remain patient with him as he figures to probably work in the minors until late 2018/early 2019. But if owners show patience, Dunning could reward them with a solid number three starter in a couple seasons.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Kenneth Gainwell

Signing Two-Year Deal With Buccaneers
Isaiah Likely

Giants Signing Isaiah Likely to Three-Year Deal
Malik Willis

Dolphins Signing Malik Willis to a Three-Year Deal
Michael Pittman Jr.

Steelers Acquire Michael Pittman Jr. From the Colts
Kenneth Walker III

Signing With the Chiefs
J.P. Crawford

Back at Shortstop on Monday
Alec Pierce

Returning to Colts on Four-Year Deal
Rafael Devers

Back in Cactus League Lineup on Monday
Tua Tagovailoa

Falcons Expected to Make a "Strong Push" for Tua Tagovailoa
Ryan Blaney

Earns his Second Consecutive Phoenix Cup Series Win
Christopher Bell

Falls Short of Victory Despite Dominating at Phoenix
Kyle Larson

Earns Hard-Fought Finish of Third at Phoenix
Denny Hamlin

Quietly Gains Another Top-Five Finish at Phoenix
Joey Logano

Crashes out at Phoenix Despite Strong Run
Zack Gelof

Making Cactus League Debut on Monday
Travis Kelce

Expected to Return to Chiefs in 2026
Josh Hader

to Throw a Bullpen on Tuesday
Minkah Fitzpatrick

Traded to Jets
Nick Seeler

Could Return Monday
Travis Konecny

a Game-Time Call Monday
Tua Tagovailoa

to be Released by Dolphins
Taylor Raddysh

to Miss Two Games
John Gibson

"Should Be Fine" After Early Exit Sunday
Oliver Moore

Ruled Out for Monday
Jaxon Wiggins

Optioned to Minor-League Camp
Gabriel Landeskog

Out Week-to-Week
Jonathon Long

Nearing Return to Baseball Activities
Leo De Vries

Crushes Two Home Runs on Sunday
Didier Fuentes

Strikes Out Four in Spring Debut
Josue De Paula

Sent to Minor-League Camp
Joshua Baez

Impressing in Spring Training, to Contend for Early Debut?
Taylor Hendricks

Doubtful Monday Against Nets
Branden Carlson

Still Out Monday Against Nuggets
Scotty Pippen Jr.

Unlikely to Play Monday Against Nets
Peyton Watson

Remains Sidelined Against Thunder
Mo Bamba

Signs Second 10-Day Deal with Jazz
T.J. McConnell

Exits Early with Right Hamstring Injury
Collin Sexton

Leaves with Leg Injury After 28-Point Burst
Ryan Waldschmidt

Reassigned to Minor-League Camp
Isaiah Collier

Returning to Jazz Lineup Monday
Tage Thompson

Picks Up Four Points Against Lightning
Trent McDuffie

Signs Record Four-Year, $124 Million Extension With Rams
Moritz Seider

has Three-Point Performance on Sunday
De'Anthony Melton

Available Against Jazz
Moses Moody

to Remain Out Monday Night
Al Horford

Won't Play Against Jazz
Kristaps Porzingis

to Skip Monday's Game
Alex Caruso

Iffy for Monday
Collin Murray-Boyles

to Sit Out At Least Two More Games
Grayson Allen

Misses Meeting With Hornets
Tarik Skubal

Could Make Another Start in World Baseball Classic
Nelson Velázquez

Nelson Velazquez Could Get Increased Reps
Porter Hodge

to be Placed on Injured List
Jackson Chourio

Should Return to WBC Lineup on Monday
Dairon Blanco

Rangers Claim Dairon Blanco Off Waivers From Royals
Byron Buxton

"Fine" After Being Hit by Pitch
Kyle Higashioka

to Return on Monday
Travis Kelce

Appears "Motivated" to Return for a 14th NFL Season
Josh Giddey

is Returning on Sunday
Matas Buzelis

is Available on Sunday
Deni Avdija

Returns With Minutes Restriction
Ajay Mitchell

Set to Return on Monday
Kyle Kuzma

Misses Sunday's Action
Chet Holmgren

Questionable to Suit Up Monday
Andrew Abbott

Gets Opening Day Nod
Shane Smith

is Named Opening Day Starter
Merrill Kelly

Throws Batting Practice Session on Sunday
Emil Lilleberg

to Miss Two Weeks Due to Facial Fracture
Spencer Knight

Won't Play Sunday
John Carlson

Not Ready for Ducks Debut Sunday
Zach Whitecloud

Injured Saturday Night
Khalil Mack

Returning to the Chargers for 2026
Jaden Schwartz

Forced to Exit Early After Taking Skate Blade to Face
Jake Sanderson

Sustains Upper-Body Injury Versus Kraken
Ryan Blaney

is Always A Top Favorite to Compete for the Win At Phoenix
Denny Hamlin

Is Denny Hamlin Worth Rostering for Phoenix?
Christopher Bell

is Likely to have Another Solid Phoenix Run
Chase Briscoe

has Plenty of Upside for DFS Lineups at Phoenix
Joey Logano

Could Dominate at Phoenix This Weekend
Chase Elliott

has Plenty of Upside for Sunday's Race at Phoenix
Chris Buescher

Is Chris Buescher Worth Rostering For Phoenix DFS Lineups?
Ross Chastain

Has Found Speed Again at Phoenix
Josh Berry

a Solid Sleeper at Phoenix
Brad Keselowski

Skips Qualifying After Practice Crash at Phoenix
Tyler Reddick

Spins in Practice at Phoenix
William Byron

Should Be a Contender at Phoenix
Kyle Larson

Is Always a Threat at Phoenix
NASCAR

Could Bubba Wallace Be Playable for Phoenix DFS Lineups?
Anthony Alfredo

Is A Favorable DFS Option In A Substitution Role At Phoenix
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Defeats the Maple Leafs on Saturday
Nikita Kucherov

Picks Up Four Assists
Roope Hintz

to Miss At Least a Couple of Weeks
Dylan Larkin

Ruled Out for Sunday
Adam Larsson

Ryan Lindgren Iffy for Saturday
Travis Konecny

Remains Out Saturday
Mikhail Sergachev

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Maxx Crosby

Traded to Baltimore in Blockbuster Deal
Dalton Schultz

Texans, Dalton Schultz Agree on One-Year Extension
Joe Mixon

Texans Release Joe Mixon
Max Holloway

A Favorite At UFC 326
Charles Oliveira

Set For BMF Title Fight
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Prefer Not to Start Fernando Mendoza Immediately?
Reinier de Ridder

Reinier De Ridder Looks To Bounce Back
Caio Borralho

Set For UFC 326 Co-Main Event
Rob Font

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Raul Rosas Jr.

Looks For His Fifth Consecutive Win
Drew Dober

Returns At UFC 326
Michael Johnson

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Geno Smith

Raiders Release Geno Smith
Danielle Hunter

Texans, Danielle Hunter Agree to One-Year, $40.1 Million Extension
DJ Moore

Bears Working to Finalize Deal to Send DJ Moore to Buffalo
Stefon Diggs

Patriots Releasing Stefon Diggs
Taylor Moore

Looking to Build on Cognizant Classic Finish
Robert MacIntyre

Brings Solid Form to Bay Hill
Scottie Scheffler

the Tournament Favorite at Bay Hill
Xander Schauffele

Trending Well Ahead of API
Si Woo Kim

Looking to Return to Top Form at Bay Hill
Ben Griffin

Looking to Return to Form at Arnold Palmer Invitational
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks to Build on Cognizant Classic Win at Arnold Palmer
Sam Burns

Searching for Consistency at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Daniel Berger

Offers Sneaky Upside at Bay Hill
Justin Thomas

Making Season Debut at API Following Lower-Back Surgery
NASCAR

Collin Morikawa Hopes To Better Last Year's Runner-Up Finish at API
Tommy Fleetwood

Isn't As Confident of a Start at Bay Hill as Previous Weeks
Adam Scott

Might Endure Tough Times at Bay Hill
Aldrich Potgieter

Extremely Risky When it Comes to Bay Hill
PGA

Sungjae Im to Make Season Debut at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Jordan Spieth

an All-or-Nothing Option at Bay Hill
Harry Hall

Trying to Rebound After the Genesis Invitational
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF