Prospect Stock Watch: Chargois, De Leon, Tellez, Zagunis

The summer of 2015 is finally upon us and so too is the beginning of the trading (or perhaps more aptly known as the rumoring) frenzy that comes to Major League Baseball every July. Below are four names you could see change hands during some of the bigger deals.

J.T. Chargois, RHP, Twins: Minnesota likely doesn’t have much spare change lying around but they could probably afford a half-year rental or two given their early successes. Chargois (whom my auto-correct hates) isn’t on many people’s radar right now after throwing just 39.2 innings in parts of four seasons due to injury but he’s a bullpen arm that’s hit triple-digits on the radar gun in the past. So far this year, after missing the previous two seasons, he’s pitched in both High-A and Double-A with 27 strikeouts in 23.2 innings. He possesses the ceiling of a high-leverage reliever and now might be the best time for the Twins to try and squeeze some value out of him before something else goes clink-clang-boom in his shoulder or elbow. [Value Up]

Jose De Leon, RHP, Dodgers: Los Angeles has a sick amount of talent in the minor league system. I mean, I kind of hate the Dodgers but envy them at the same time. An unstoppable juggernaut, the organization can afford to pay any player just about anything they want and they can afford to go out and get just about any player they want with their embarrassment of riches. Players like Julio Urias, Grant Holmes and Corey Seager might be next to impossible to pry free (much like freshman Joc Pederson) but De Leon might be available. He’s had a breakout season in 2015 and is missing bats like crazy in both High-A and Double-A with 107 Ks in 77.2 innings. A 24th round pick out of Puerto Rico just three years ago, he doesn’t have a huge track record of success and he still needs to polish a third pitch but he could be a top prospect in a lot of systems — instead of fourth or fifth like he is with the Dodgers. And he might pitch in the Majors at the end of this year or almost certainly by mid-2016. [Value Up]

Rowdy Tellez, 1B, Blue Jays: Like De Leon above, Tellez was a later round pick but it was a result of signability concerns, not a lack of talent or rawness. The burly first baseman (or DH depending on who you talk to) was selected in the 30th round of the 2013 draft and has done nothing but rake over the past two years. He opened the 2015 season in Low-A ball — the first time he’s begun the year in full-season ball — and he’s already earned a promotion to High-A ball at the age of 20. And after hitting more than .300 with seven home runs in the Midwest League, he’s swatted three more in just four games in the Florida State League (which is supposed to be tough on power hitters). Tellez, 20, has the kind of left-handed power that you can dream on and could make another club very, very happy if Toronto chooses to part ways with #GettinRowdy for a short-term fix to the rotation. [Value Up]

Mark Zagunis, OF, Cubs: The Cubs are another organization that’s rife with talent and they definitely don’t shy away from drafting catchers with defensive questions (Hello, Kyle Schwarber). Zagunis is a lesser known prospect — selected in the third round of the 2014 draft — and he’s played just 19 games behind the dish while spending most of his time in the outfield (including six games in center field!). Playing in High-A ball in 2015, the young hitter has a .317 average with 23 extra base hits and more walks than strikeouts (49-39). He doesn’t have the prototypical power teams typically look for in a corner outfielder but he’s an on-base machine that can serve as a third catcher and play a decent outfield role.The Cubs certainly wouldn’t miss Zagunis in an organization this deep in talent, but a lot of clubs would also happily find a spot for him. [Value Up]