Cleveland Indians: 3 prospects to watch for in return packages at deadline

Cleveland Indians Trade Target #3: Dasan Brown, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto is starting to see the fruits of its rebuild. Vlad Guerrero Jr and Bo Bichette are the real deal offensively, and the pitching is coming along as well with Alek Manoah making a very strong debut. Toronto is 49-46 this season, within striking distance of an AL Wild Card, but likely won’t be the biggest buyers at the deadline unless they can land a player with a few years of team control left.

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The Blue Jays are still probably a year or two away from serious contention, but a second half run isn’t out of the question. Now, stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Cleveland needs outfielders with an above average bat and tools to round into an every day player. The first two players on this list are in the high minors, but Toronto’s Dasan Brown is a longer term project.

Brown is 19-years old and in Toronto’s A-Ball affiliate in Dunedin, but is far and away the fastest prospect in the Blue Jays’ farm system. His speed makes him a solid defensive prospect, able to cover a lot of ground in center field, but the bat will need the most work as he moves up through the minors and fills out his six-foot, 185 pound frame. There’s potential for more power, and more importantly the possibility of a four-tool player down the road.

Brown is Toronto’s No. 14 ranked prospect despite how long his development is expected to be, but ultimately not untouchable if the Blue Jays make a play for someone young and under control for several years (think James Karinchak). Brown should intrigue any team that gets a call from Toronto, but whether the Indians lean into this as a rebuild or a re-tool will be the determining factor in who Mike Chernoff decides to pursue as a return.