How quickly fortunes can change:
Carlos Quinten was one of the players chronicled on The Show. He was a first round pick. He finished 2006 as an every day outfielder on the D'backs. He got injured and started slowly in 2007. He was traded yesterday for an A level player.
I think back now to a comment Quinten made about being a "top prospect." He said "It's just a label. A player still has to take the field and get it done."
From azcentral.com (Arizona Republic):
The trade in some ways illustrates how much Quentin's value has changed in the past 12 months. This time last year, he was untouchable, a part of the club's rebuilding process and expected to be a central figure for years to come.
But a shoulder injury that required surgery contributed to a frustrating 2007 season in which he was optioned to the minor leagues in July and ultimately saw his long-term standing in the organization dissolve with phenom Justin Upton's emergence and Eric Byrnes' contract extension.
With the White Sox, he could get a chance to be their everyday left fielder. Quentin is hoping to be fully recovered from the shoulder surgery by Opening Day.
"It's bittersweet for him because he feels like he didn't get a chance to accomplish everything he wanted in Arizona," said Brodie Van Wagenen, Quentin's agent. "So he leaves there with a sense of unfulfillment but at the same point he's appreciative of the Diamondbacks to give him a chance to go play elsewhere."