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Deadline roundup: Jays score in Liriano deal

Toronto also snares Pittsburgh's McGuire, Ramirez in Hutchison trade
July 31, 2016

The Major League Baseball non-waiver Trade Deadline has passed, and major deals have been struck -- such as the Indians sending top prospect Clint Frazier and Justus Sheffield to the Yankees for reliever Andrew Miller. Here's a roundup of one of the busier deadlines in recent years.

Blue Jays snare Liriano, pair of prospects: After trading Mark Melancon to the Nationals on Saturday, the Pirates shipped left-hander Francisco Liriano out of town with catching prospect Reese McGuire and outfield prospect Harold Ramirez for right-hander Drew Hutchison.

Hutchison spent all of 2014 in the Majors, tossing 184 2/3 innings over 32 starts and posting a 4.48 ERA and an 11-13 record. He improved to 13-5 in 2015, but that came with a 5.57 ERA and .297 average against. In 18 starts with Triple-A Buffalo this season, the righty was 6-5 with a 3.26 ERA and 110-to-35 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 102 innings. He had a 4.97 ERA over 12 2/3 innings in three appearances -- two starts -- with Toronto.

McGuire, 21, slashed .259/.337/.346 in his first taste of Double-A with Altoona with one homer and 37 RBIs. He's established himself as one of the best defensive backstops in the Minor Leagues. He's hitting above his career .655 OPS in the Minors this season and took 29 walks while striking out 26 times. He was viewed as the leader of the Curve's staff.

Ramirez has also enjoyed ascending to Double-A, slashing .306/.354/.401 with two homers, seven stolen bases and 58 runs scored. The 21-year-old has played mostly center field this season, although scouts believe he'll eventually settle into left due to his fringy arm. At 5-foot-10 and 220 pounds, he has the frame to add more power than he's shown so far in the Minors (13 homers in 337 games).

After three consecutive seasons with an ERA of 3.38 or lower, Liriano is 6-11 with a 5.46 ERA in 21 starts this season. His walk rate has spiked (69 free passes in 113 2/3 frames) while his .264 batting average against is 24 points higher than his career mark.

Astros nab flame-throwing Alvarez: The Astros dealt former closer Josh Fields to the Dodgers, receiving first base prospect Yordan Alvarez for the hard-throwing right-hander.

Alvarez, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound 19-year-old, was signed by Los Angeles out of Cuba for $2 million on June 15. Alvarez had just 239 plate appearances in Cuba's Serie Nacional in 2013 and 2014, slashing .279/.342/.327 with one homers and 26 RBIs. Scouts have praised his bat control and given him average to above-average power grades, but they question his flexibility in the field.

Fields started the season in the Houston bullpen, posting a 6.89 ERA in 15 appearances before getting optioned to Triple-A Fresno on May 13. He was 1-0 with a 1.65 ERA in 27 1/3 innings with the Grizzlies.

Angels acquire righty Castillo from Cubs: The Angels continued to play the role of seller at the deadline, trading setup man Joe Smith to the Cubs in exchange for right-hander Jesus Castillo.

Castillo, 20, moved to the rotation full-time this season in his first appearance with a full-season club. He was 2-3 with a 3.27 ERA and 38-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in seven starts (33 innings) for Class A Short Season Eugene. The Cubs traded for Castillo in February 2013, sending outfielder Tony Campana to Arizona for Castillo and Erick Leal.

The sidearming Smith had a 3.82 ERA and six saves in an eighth-inning role for the Angels. He's never had an ERA higher than 3.83 in any season during his 10-year career.

Heim headed to Rays in Pearce deal: The Orioles sent No. 13 prospect Jonah Heim to the Rays in a trade that sent infielder Steve Pearce back to Baltimore.

Heim is seen as a defense-first catcher with solid receiving skills and a plus arm behind the plate. He's thrown out 31.1 percent of attempted base-stealers this season at Class A Advanced Frederick. But the 21-year-old switch hitter has struggled at the plate with a .216/.300/.344 line and 22 extra-base hits in 88 games with the Keys.

Pearce returns to the Orioles after playing for the club from 2013-15. The 33-year-old slugger was hitting .309/.388/.520 with 10 homers in 60 games with the Rays and gives the O's another solid bat as they try to stay atop the AL East.

Rays grab Fox, Santos from Giants: The Giants shipped out No. 4 prospect Lucius Fox, No. 24 Michael Santos and Major League third baseman Matt Duffy to the Rays in exchange for left-handed starter Matt Moore just before the deadline.

Fox, who signed out of the Bahamas in 2015 for $6 million, has shown plus-plus speed with 25 steals in 75 games at Class A Augusta. However, the 19-year-old switch-hitting shortstop has struggled at the plate with a .207 average and .582 OPS during his first stateside season. Santos has gone 4-2 with a 2.91 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings with the GreenJackets. He's impressed the most in the control department with only five walks allowed in that time for a BB/9 of 0.8.

Duffy hasn't quite been able to replicate his Giants numbers from 2015, when he finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. The third baseman sported a .253/.313/.358 line with four homers and eight steals in 70 games before the trade.

Moore, once seen as the game's top prospect, is 7-7 with a 4.08 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 130 innings this season. He is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2017 season.

Angels nab Meyer in Santiago deal: Two years ago, Alex Meyer was on the brink of the Majors after an impressive season with Triple-A Rochester. Now he's headlining Minnesota's trade for left-hander Hector Santiago.

The Twins' No. 18 prospect struck out 153 and walked 64 in 130 innings in 2014, going 7-7 with a 3.52 ERA in 130 1/3 innings. His Major League debut in 2015 didn't go as anticipated, as he allowed five earned runs in 2 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. He bounced back in three April starts this season, going 1-1 with a 1.04 ERA, 19 strikeouts and four walks over 17 1/3 innings before getting the call to the Twins on April 25. He allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings before returning to Rochester. He's been on the seven-day disabled list since June 3 with shoulder inflammation.

Santiago, a 2015 All-Star, was 10-4 with a 4.25 ERA in 22 starts for the Angels this season. Los Angeles also netted Ricky Nolasco, Alan Busenitz and $4 million in the trade.

Busenitz has a 7.62 ERA in 13 innings of relief with Triple-A Salt Lake. Nolasco was 4-8 with a 5.13 ERA for Minnesota.

Astros get Chavez in exchange for Feldman: Houston moved veteran swingman Scott Feldman in exchange for Blue Jays' No. 20 prospect Lupe Chavez.

A converted outfielder, the 6-foot-2, 150-pound Chavez was signed out of the Mexican League in 2014. He was 7-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 14 games -- 13 starts -- with two Rookie-level teams in 2015. He has been even better this season with a 4-1 record and 1.69 ERA in six starts, including a 26-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 32 innings. The 18-year-old features a fastball that sits consistently in the high-80s and has an advanced feel for his changeup.

Feldman was 5-3 with a 2.90 ERA for the Astros this season in 26 appearances, including five starts. He hasn't posted an ERA over 4.00 since the 2012 season.

Bolsinger moves to Toronto for Chavez: Mike Bolsinger struggled with the Dodgers this year after a solid 2015 season, and Los Angeles traded him to the Blue Jays for veteran reliever Jesse Chavez.

After going 6-6 with a 3.62 ERA in 21 starts in the Majors in 2015, Bolsinger was 1-4 with a 6.83 ERA in six big league starts this season. He was used mainly out of the bullpen with Triple-A Oklahoma City, posting a 3.41 ERA in 13 appearances -- 11 in relief.

Chavez has appeared in 39 games for Toronto this season, logging a 4.57 ERA over 41 1/3 innings with 42 strikeouts. The well-traveled 32-year-old will add depth to the Dodgers bullpen

Rays add Lukes, Salinas from Indians: The slumping Rays dealt from outfield depth before Monday's deadline, moving Brandon Guyer for outfielder Nathan Lukes and right-hander Jhonleider Salinas.

The 22-year-old Lukes, a seventh-round pick in 2015, earned a promotion from Class A Lake County to Class A Advanced Lynchburg after slashing .301/.375/.453 with five homers, 54 runs scored and 14 stolen bases in 89 games with the Captains, his first extensive Minor League action. Lukes spent 2013-15 at Cal State Sacramento with a battling line of .336/.405/.449 with nine homers, 27 steals and 137 runs scored.

Salinas was signed in March 2015 out of Venezuela, and the 20-year-old has a 2.67 ERA and 77-to-54 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 70 2/3 innings against Rookie-level competition. After walking 40 batters in 40 2/3 innings last season, Salinas has cut his walk rate in half, allowing 14 free passes over 30 frames in 2016 with 38 strikeouts.

Guyer was hitting .241 with seven homers in 212 at-bats with Tampa Bay this season. A lefty masher, Guyer is hitting .344 with four homers and nine RBIs in 64 at-bats against southpaws this season.

Reds acquire Herrera, Wotell for Bruce: After weeks of speculation, Reds outfielder Jay Bruce was moved just before the trade deadline, heading to the Mets in exchange for second baseman Dilson Herrera and left-handed pitcher Max Wotell.

Herrera slashed .276/.327/.462 in 86 games for Triple-A Las Vegas, down from his .327/.382/.511 line in 2015. His power numbers (13 home runs, 55 RBIs) have remained steady, although he's 6-for-13 on the basepaths after swiping 13 bases in 22 opportunities last season. The 22-year-old has a plethora of Major League experience, slashing .215/.308/.383 in 49 games with the Mets. He debuted in the Minors at age 17 in the Pirates organization before getting traded to the Mets in a 2013 deal for catcher John Buck and outfielder Marlon Byrd.

Wotell, 19, got off to a hot start for Rookie-level Kingsport this season, racking up a 2.49 ERA, 24 strikeouts and seven walks in his first four starts, spanning 21 2/3 innings. An athletic 6-foot-3 left-hander, the Mets' No. 16 prospect sits in the low-90s with the potential to develop a plus curveball.

Bruce leads the National League with 80 RBIs and is tied for fourth in the league with 25 homers.

Yankees nab Tate in Beltran deal: The Yankees continued to build up what's becoming one of the game's strongest farm systems Monday with a deal that sent All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran to Texas for No. 5 Rangers prospect Dillon Tate.

Tate was the No. 4 overall pick in last year's Draft, but hasn't put things together yet in his first full Minor League season. The 22-year-old right-hander has posted a 5.12 ERA and 1.62 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 27 walks in 65 innings at Class A Hickory. He was limited by a hamstring injury that sidelined him almost a month in May and July and has seen his velocity drop since. However, MLB.com still gave the former UC Santa Barbara hurler, who pitched mostly in relief in college, plus grades for his fastball and his slider.

Tate will enter the conversation with right-handers Domingo Acevedo and James Kaprielian as to whom should be considered New York's second-best pitching prospect behind Sheffield. 

Beltran, who was named to his ninth All-Star Game this season, hit .304/.344/.546 with 22 homers in 99 games with the Yankees. He'll help the AL West leaders overcome injuries to Prince Fielder and Shin Soo Choo. 

Red Sox turn Light over to Twins: The Twins and Red Sox swapped relievers with Major Leaguer Fernando Abad going to Boston and No. 14 Red Sox prospect Pat Light heading to Minnesota.

Light was the 37th overall pick in the 2012 Draft and made the move to Minor League bullpens last season. Armed with a fastball that has hit triple digits, the 25-year-old right-hander sported a 2.32 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 36 strikeouts and 17 walks in 31 innings at Triple-A Pawtucket. He made two appearances for the Major League club -- April 26 and July 2 -- and struggled, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits and one walk in 2 2/3 innings. He'll be added to Minnesota's 40-man roster.

Abad is considered a left-handed specialist who should help out the Boston bullpen down the stretch. The southpaw has held lefties to a .163 average and .458 OPS in 52 plate appearances with a 2.65 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 34 innings this season for Minnesota.

D-backs acquire righty Campos from Yanks: Arizona sent Major League relief pitcher Tyler Clippard to the Bronx in exchange for starting pitcher Vicente Campos. In 20 outings between Class A Advanced Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, the right-hander has gone 9-3 with a 3.20 ERA and 105 strikeouts against 38 walks in 121 innings pitched.

This is the second trade in Campos' short career. The 24-year-old originally signed with the Mariners out of his native Venezuela in 2009. Seattle shipped him to the Yankees with pitcher Michael Pineda as part of a 2013 deal in which catcher Jesus Montero went to the Mariners.

Campos slotted in as Arizona's No. 4 prospect when the deal was made official. The righty's fastball is his best pitch, grading at 65 on MLB Pipeline's 20-to-80 scouting scale. Campos works in the mid-90s with his fastball, and the 2016 season is his first full campaign back since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014.

In his most recent outing, Campos allowed one run while scattering eight hits over five innings during his Triple-A debut for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

White Sox deal for outfielder Tilson: A Chicago-area product is going home. The White Sox traded Major League southpaw Zach Duke to the Cardinals in exchange for outfielder Charlie Tilson, now Chicago's No. 5 prospect.

The Wilmette, Illinois native has spent the entire season with Triple-A Memphis in the St. Louis system. With the Redbirds, Tilson batted .282/.345/.407 with four homers, 34 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 18 attempts. Tilson's speed is his best tool, grading out at a 65, according to MLB Pipeline.

The Cardinals selected Tilson in the second round of the 2011 Draft. Tilson's New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, Illinois is located 24 miles from U.S. Cellular Field on Chicago's South Side.

Mariners get rights to Miranda: Baltimore sent southpaw Ariel Miranda to Seattle in exchange for Major League left-hander Wade Miley. Miranda made his big league debut with two innings for the Orioles on July 3, but has spent the bulk of the season with the Triple-A Tides. He went 4-7 with a 3.93 ERA over 100 2/3 innings in 19 starts for Norfolk this year.

Tyler Maun is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @TylerMaun. Sam Dykstra is a reporter for MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @SamDykstraMiLB. Chris Tripodi is an editor for MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @christripodi.