The 2016 MLB season is a lot closer than you think. It's so close that MLB experts are beginning to rank farm systems throughout the league as we approach spring training.
ESPN Insider Keith Law released his rankings earlier today. The Atlanta Braves are his top overall farm system and the Los Angeles Dodgers sit closely behind them in second.
Here's his full list:
1. Atlanta Braves
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Chicago Cubs
5. Milwaukee Brewers
6. Philadelphia Phillies
7. Colorado Rockies
8. Pittsburgh Pirates
9. Texas Rangers
10. Boston Red Sox
11. Cleveland Indians
12. Cincinnati Reds
13. New York Yankees
14. Tampa Bay Rays
15. Washington Nationals
16. New York Mets
17. Houston Astros
18. Oakland Athletics
19. St. Louis Cardinals
20. San Diego Padres
21. San Francisco Giants
22. Chicago White Sox
23. Kansas City Royals
24. Arizona Diamondbacks
25. Toronto Blue Jays
26. Detroit Tigers
27. Baltimore Orioles
28. Seattle Mariners
29. Miami Marlins
30. Los Angeles Angels
The Braves, Dodgers and Twins each have seven prospects in the Top 100 rankings, Law notes. I believe that's based off Law's Top 100 prospect list, which is expected to be released in the next few days. However, MLB.com released its list of Top 100 prospects recently, and according to that, the Braves have six (Dansby Swanson, Sean Newcomb, Ozhaino Albies, Aaron Blair, Touki Toussaint and Kolby Allard), the Dodgers have five (Corey Seager, Julio Urias, Jose De Leon, Frankie Montas and Grant Holmes) and the Twins have six (Byron Buxton, Jose Berrios, Tyler Jay, Jorge Polanco, Nick Gordon and Max Kepler) in the league's Top 100.
The top two teams in Law's rankings are very different. The Braves' rise to relevancy in this category occurred over the past two seasons thanks to numerous trades and rebuilding. The club traded away stars and top veterans Justin Upton, Jason Heyward, Craig Kimbrel, Evan Gattis, Shelby Miller, Andrelton Simmons, Jordan Walden, Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson, Chris Johnson, Bronson Arroyo, Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson, Jose Peraza, Alex Wood, Jonny Gomes, Cameron Maybin and others to re-tool the MLB roster and farm system.
In those deals they were able to acquire notable prospects/young players including Swanson, Blair, Toussaint, Newcomb, Miller (who they then dealt to the Diamondbacks), Arodys Vizcaino, Tyrell Jenkins, Manny Banuelos, Max Fried, Mallex Smith, Jace Peterson, Mike Foltynewicz, Matt Wisler, Jordan Paroubeck, Hector Olivera, Gabe Speier, Ian Krol, Ender Inciarte and others.
On the other hand, the Los Angeles Dodgers took years of drafting, international scouting and cultivating to get Seager, Urias, De Leon and others recognized as some of the best in the minor leagues. Yes, they did pay a lot of money to bolster their farm system, but the organization's scouting helped find those players. The team drafted Seager, Holmes, Cody Bellinger, and Austin Barnes and signed Urias, De Leon and Yadier Alvarez, all of whom are in their Top 10, according to Baseball America.
These rankings could be affected before Opening Day as the trade market is still a viable source of acquiring players for teams that don't want to spend any more money. The Dodgers are one club that has been rumored to potentially make a big move because of their plentiful young talent, so be sure to keep tabs on them through the non-waiver trade deadline.
