Post by Royals GM (Adam) on Dec 26, 2021 21:57:25 GMT -5
With 2021 about to turn the corner, it’s time to take stock on ODC’s minor league systems. We’re ranking each team’s minor league system from 1-30. I’ll start from worst two first and break it into three categories. 30-20 will be labeled as the “meh, rebuilding” group. This portion includes the small, insignificant systems coming off of trading away prospects to win now. They’re the replenishing group. 19-11 will be the “just average group.” These systems are better, might have one or two top prospects, but are barren outside of those players. The top 10 will be laid out in order, with a little blurb on each system. Here we go:
30-20:
Seattle Mariners
Arizona Diamondbacks
Minnesota Twins
Washington Nationals
Atlanta Braves
San Francisco Giants
Cincinnati Reds
Los Angeles Dodgers
St.Louis Cardinals
San Diego Padres
New York Mets
This is the group of farms that are rebuilding, retooling and reshaping.
19-11:
Toronto Blue Jays
Los Angeles Angels
Chicago White Sox
Texas Rangers
Detroit Tigers
Milwaukee Brewers
Chicago Cubs
Oakland A’s
Pittsburgh Pirates
This is the group of farms that have one elite prospect, or some good depth guys, but haven't quite hit the elite tier. Now for your top 10 farms:
10. Miami Marlins
This rests solely in the fact that Abrams is elite, so they’re the top of the meh pile. Marlins have some solid names, guys that seem like they'll be good depth, and then Abrams who is elite, letting them slip into the top 10.
9. Colorado Rockies
Hard one to rank. Some really good prospects (Yorke, Watson) and some good depth guys (Edwards, Cannon), but is that enough to rank them this high?
8. Houston Astros
Some intriguing names that can become depth on a winning team (Langliers, Hall, Conine, Gil). A little more names in the farm than the Rockies that overall project a bit higher, so they get the eighth spot over Colorado.
7. Tampa Bay Rays.
Lots of future depth guys in this system. Like Colorado, feels hard to rank the depth they have amassed, but overall ranks pretty solid.
6. Philadelphia Phillies
Lots of good stuff going on here. Between Lawler and Veen, there are legitimate players. Then the pitching core goes deep (Liberatore, Duplantier, Groome, Espino) and then guys that can become depth options beyond that (McKay, Hiraldo).
5. New York Yankees
There is a lot to this system, but outside of Cruz and Hassell, is there much appeal? There’s a lot of smaller names (Cavalli, Bradley, Alexy) that can add some depth.
4. Kansas City Royals
I feel bad ranking my own team because I always feel biased, but I think there is a lot to like here. Some top prospects in Gore, Hancock, Medina, Bleday, Peraza, Sweeney, some depth guys that can contribute (Ryan, Vientos). It’s a decent system.
3. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have a truly elite farm system. They have two prospects within the top 10 fantasy prospects (Rutschman, Torkelson), another just outside the top 10 (Luciano) and several big names in the system (Greene, Busch, Dominguez). Although they have two very good prospects at the top, they’re a tick below the top two because they don’t have as much depth.
2. Baltimore Orioles
Orioles have built up a strong farm system. Several players rank within the top 100 in fantasy baseball prospects (Baz, Leiter, Jung, Cowser, Armstrong) and several more just outside the top 100. This system is promising with some interesting names that are both close to the majors and a few years away, creating a potential for multiple years of elite talent added to the major league roster.
1. Cleveland Indians
This is a hard one to rank. The Indians have four out of the top five prospects (Witt, Marte, Greene and Davis). There are some intriguing names outside of this core group as well. Although the system feels like there is something lacking because there is a huge drop-off after these four, but it’s hard to say the Indians don’t have the best system when they have so many elite, top-five prospects.
Let's get the talk going, what does everyone think? Where did I go wrong and what arguments can you create as to why your system ranks higher than the rest?
30-20:
Seattle Mariners
Arizona Diamondbacks
Minnesota Twins
Washington Nationals
Atlanta Braves
San Francisco Giants
Cincinnati Reds
Los Angeles Dodgers
St.Louis Cardinals
San Diego Padres
New York Mets
This is the group of farms that are rebuilding, retooling and reshaping.
19-11:
Toronto Blue Jays
Los Angeles Angels
Chicago White Sox
Texas Rangers
Detroit Tigers
Milwaukee Brewers
Chicago Cubs
Oakland A’s
Pittsburgh Pirates
This is the group of farms that have one elite prospect, or some good depth guys, but haven't quite hit the elite tier. Now for your top 10 farms:
10. Miami Marlins
This rests solely in the fact that Abrams is elite, so they’re the top of the meh pile. Marlins have some solid names, guys that seem like they'll be good depth, and then Abrams who is elite, letting them slip into the top 10.
9. Colorado Rockies
Hard one to rank. Some really good prospects (Yorke, Watson) and some good depth guys (Edwards, Cannon), but is that enough to rank them this high?
8. Houston Astros
Some intriguing names that can become depth on a winning team (Langliers, Hall, Conine, Gil). A little more names in the farm than the Rockies that overall project a bit higher, so they get the eighth spot over Colorado.
7. Tampa Bay Rays.
Lots of future depth guys in this system. Like Colorado, feels hard to rank the depth they have amassed, but overall ranks pretty solid.
6. Philadelphia Phillies
Lots of good stuff going on here. Between Lawler and Veen, there are legitimate players. Then the pitching core goes deep (Liberatore, Duplantier, Groome, Espino) and then guys that can become depth options beyond that (McKay, Hiraldo).
5. New York Yankees
There is a lot to this system, but outside of Cruz and Hassell, is there much appeal? There’s a lot of smaller names (Cavalli, Bradley, Alexy) that can add some depth.
4. Kansas City Royals
I feel bad ranking my own team because I always feel biased, but I think there is a lot to like here. Some top prospects in Gore, Hancock, Medina, Bleday, Peraza, Sweeney, some depth guys that can contribute (Ryan, Vientos). It’s a decent system.
3. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have a truly elite farm system. They have two prospects within the top 10 fantasy prospects (Rutschman, Torkelson), another just outside the top 10 (Luciano) and several big names in the system (Greene, Busch, Dominguez). Although they have two very good prospects at the top, they’re a tick below the top two because they don’t have as much depth.
2. Baltimore Orioles
Orioles have built up a strong farm system. Several players rank within the top 100 in fantasy baseball prospects (Baz, Leiter, Jung, Cowser, Armstrong) and several more just outside the top 100. This system is promising with some interesting names that are both close to the majors and a few years away, creating a potential for multiple years of elite talent added to the major league roster.
1. Cleveland Indians
This is a hard one to rank. The Indians have four out of the top five prospects (Witt, Marte, Greene and Davis). There are some intriguing names outside of this core group as well. Although the system feels like there is something lacking because there is a huge drop-off after these four, but it’s hard to say the Indians don’t have the best system when they have so many elite, top-five prospects.
Let's get the talk going, what does everyone think? Where did I go wrong and what arguments can you create as to why your system ranks higher than the rest?
