MLB: Top 5 farm systems post trade deadline
Now a few days after the MLB non-waiver trade deadline, the dust has settled and teams have had a few games with their new pieces. Below the major league level, though, reside the farm systems that have undergone major overhauls as as a result of the wheeling and dealing.
The 2017 MLB trade deadline saw some of the most highly-touted names in baseball shipped off to new teams.
Major talents such as Jose Quintana, Sonny Gray, Yu Darvish and Todd Frazier were all wearing new uniforms after July 31. What teams got in returns for these players, though, is even more interesting.
Elite prospects have become the name of the game. It’s not so much about trading a star for a star anymore. Rather, it’s about trading proven, reliable stars for unproven, yet elite minor league talents.
After this year’s deadline, that mentality has become more true than ever.
Just for the four players mentioned above, they collectively acquired five of Baseball America’s top 100 prospects at their midseason rankings. Teams value the future potential of elite prospects over the minimal value that their stars have on an average or bad team. It’s quite simple.
So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the game’s top farm systems and how they fared after the trade deadline.
No. 1: Chicago White Sox
The number-one spot in the rankings was a toss-up between the Chicago White Sox and the Atlanta Braves.
However, a quick look over both reveals that the answer is pretty simple. Amazingly, Chicago’s top eight prospects are all scattered throughout Baseball America‘s top 100 prospect list.
By trading Jose Quintana to the Chicago Cubs, the White Sox acquired Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease as the centerpieces. Jimenez, the team’s No. 2 prospect, has looked like a future star according to scouts. Cease being the team’s eighth-best prospect shows how stacked Chicago’s farm really is.
After general manager Rick Hahn dealt a package of David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle and Todd Frazier to the New York Yankees, the farm got yet another boost. Former first-round pick Blake Rutherford was the jewel of the trade and is now the organization’s No. 5 talent.
Michael Kopech, Lucas Giolito and Reylando Lopez are the organization’s top pitching prospects and have the looks of rounding out the White Sox’s rotation of the future.
It’s safe to say that not only do the White Sox have an abundance of elite talent, but that their rebuild is off to a blazing start.
No. 2: Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves were one of the first teams to initiate the trend of trading top stars for talented youth. Pair this with smart international signings and you have the second best farm system in baseball.
Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies are two excellent examples of international signings beginning to bloom. Acuna and Albies are Nos. 1 and 2 in the team’s prospect rankings, respectively. Both are in Baseball America’s top 30 prospects list in all of baseball.
Kyle Wright, the No. 5 selection in this year’s draft, has the makeup to be a dominant arm once he eventually reaches the majors.
The Braves have an abundance of one of the most coveted things in all of the game: controllable left-handed pitching depth. Four of the organization’s top 10 prospects are left-handed pitchers. None of them are older than 23. Now, that is impressive.
Luiz Gohara, the team’s No. 4 prospect, could reach the majors by season’s end with an electric fastball and a slider that wipes out lefties.
No. 3: Philadelphia Phillies
Don’t look now, but the Philadelphia Phillies will soon be a solid team, a far cry from the laughingstock they currently resemble.
Former No. 1 overall pick Mickey Moniak is just a 19-year-old, but he’s done well in the low levels of the minor leagues.
J.P. Crawford has been on the Phillies’ prospect list for a long time now, but he’s still just 22 and has time to figure things out.
Sixto Sanchez has been a fast riser in the system, as the 19-year-old right hander has excelled at the Class A level and appears to have a fast track to the majors.
Seven of Baseball America’s top 100 prospects are on the Phillies’ top 30 prospect list. One of them being 23-year-old Scott Kingery. The second baseman has slashed .299/.329/.643 with five home runs and 15 RBI through 32 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Even Jorge Alfaro, the team’s No. 5 prospect, is still ranked among the elite, despite his low average at Triple-A.
No. 4: New York Yankees
For those who have given unwarranted criticism to Yankees GM Brian Cashman over the past few years, well, stop. The veteran executive once again proved his worth at this year’s trade deadline, as he bought… a lot.
After acquiring a trio of players from the White Sox, all he gave up was Blake Rutherford. While Rutherford may be an elite talent, Cashman dealt from an area of strength, as the Yankees have quality outfield depth all throughout the majors and minors.
In dealing for Sonny Gray, he gave up three elite talents, too. However, both Dustin Fowler and James Kaprielian are question marks after coming back from major injuries, and Jorge Mateo was blocked at the major league level.
The Yankees still have Gleyber Torres, Clint Frazier and Chance Adams. All three are on Baseball America’s top 100 list, as is outfielder Estevan Florial.
Torres is regarded as baseball’s second best prospect, while Frazier is starting to cement his status as the Yankees’ future left fielder.
Add in lefty Justus Sheffield and third baseman Miguel Andujar, and you’ve got a pretty good farm system.
No. 5: Houston Astros
Many expected the Houston Astros to be wild buyers at this year’s deadline. However, it was far from it. With the exception of adding Francisco Liriano from the Toronto Blue Jays, the team was mostly quiet.
But did they really need to do much?
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This is a team that is 70-39 and has a stellar offense and starting staff. So, not much needed to be fixed. In the American League, it’s really them and everyone else.
Even though staff ace Dallas Keuchel was upset at the lack of moves made at the deadline, he should rest assured knowing that his team is well positioned for the postseason.
By standing pat at the deadline, the team was able to keep together its still-elite farm.
Their top five prospects Kyle Tucker, Forrest Whitley, Franklin Perez, Derek Fisher and J.B. Bukauskas are as good as any.
Four of them are included on Baseball America’s top 100 list. That’s pretty good for a team that is a clear-cut favorite to make it to the World Series.
Next: Predicting Yankees Outfield of the Future
Keep in mind, they still have Colin Moran, David Paulino, Francis Martes and Daz Cameron.
It’s safe to say that Houston is in a pretty good situation. They’re stacked at the major league and minor league levels.