This was a minor league trade that could have a major impact.
Top prospect Brett Wallace, who had been hitting .301 with 18 home runs and 61 RBI in the Toronto Blue Jays’ system, was traded to the Houston Astros for speedy outfield prospect Anthony Gose. Gose had 36 stolen bases prior to the trade, stealing 76 bases the year prior. Previously, he had been traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Astros in the deal for Roy Oswalt.
At first glance, the Astros received the better end of the deal. Wallace is a proven prospect—he has a .304 career average in the minor leagues, hitting for power and posting a high on base-percentage. He strikes out a fair amount, however that is not uncommon with the modern-day power hitter. Gose might be a surprise later on, however he is not the ballplayer Wallace is. For instance, he too strikes out often, lacking the power to supplant that undesirable quality. His OBP suffers as a result.
Though a highly-rated young ballplayer, the former first-round draft pick Brett Wallace has been traded three times now—initially, he was in the St. Louis Cardinals system, being traded to the Oakland Athletics in the deal that brought them Matt Holliday. He was then involved in the four-team trade that sent Roy Halladay to the Phillies and Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners.
