MLB Farm System Ranks Show the Haves and Have-Nots

The middle

I can see an argument for the ordering of the middle 15 teams in about 100 different ways. There are a few teams that are near the top of the middle bunch and a few that are near the bottom of the bunch, but outside of that, it’s a mix of teams that could be arranged in any way without really a major argument to be had.

The few teams near the top would certainly include Tampa Bay and Cincinnati. The improvements in high-ceiling prospects in both systems is a huge reason for both. Certainly production from top prospects like Brent Honeywell and Nick Senzel helps, but guys like Taylor Trammell and Lucius Fox have been examples in both systems of high-ceiling guys who are playing well and showing that the high-ceiling approach in each organization will have some productive results.

Toward the bottom are two teams that were there before the season as well in Oakland and Washington. The Athletics have seen a number of their top prospects take a step back, though A.J. Puk‘s performance this year has certainly been a bright spot, and the depth in the system is impressive. The Nationals have made acquisitions this season without giving up their top three “stud” prospects in Victor Robles, Juan Soto and Carter Kieboom, but the depth of the system has again been stripped underneath those guys after trading away top guys in the offseason.

In the middle, there are some systems that are certainly on the way up, like Minnesota and Colorado, and other systems that are headed toward that bottom group, especially as upcoming graduations come to their systems, in Boston and the New York Mets.

This winter will be a tough assignment to truly put those teams into an order that makes sense in the middle group!