Over the primary three elements of the 2024 MLB Pipeline Ballot sequence, all the questions had been about particular person gamers and their instruments. Within the finale of the sequence, we’re switching gears and have requested entrance workplace executives to take a deeper have a look at farm methods.
This line of questioning gives a peek into which organizations are perceived to be good at constructing a farm system, buying and growing expertise. Which methods received essentially the most love? Let’s discover out.
Which workforce has the very best farm system?
Additionally acquired votes: Brewers, Cubs, Nationals, Rangers, Crimson Sox, Yankees
It’s not a shock that the Orioles led the voting right here. They topped the survey a yr in the past and have been on the high of our farm system rankings for 5 straight editions, relationship again to the 2021 midseason re-rank. It’s noteworthy simply how a lot of a runaway this was, although, particularly given the graduations to Baltimore that helped it attain the postseason in 2023. However the trade clearly has a favourite.
Which workforce makes use of the Draft finest?
Additionally acquired votes: Brewers, Cardinals, D-backs, Mariners, Padres, Yankees
The Dodgers edge the Orioles for the second straight yr on this class. They proceed to do a terrific job at discovering expertise in each spherical, and keep in mind, they sometimes don’t choose early within the first spherical, both. The O’s have finished properly with their early picks (and have used their bonus pool properly). It is going to be attention-grabbing to see if they will preserve constantly discovering expertise as they transfer down the Draft order because of their success within the large leagues.
Which workforce performs the worldwide market higher than some other?
Additionally acquired votes: Braves, Guardians, Mariners, Mets, Phillies, Rangers, Reds
This vote was a lot nearer than the Draft one was, with the Yankees’ efforts getting the sting; they do boast 10 of their Prime 30 prospects from worldwide signing efforts. The Dodgers are the one group to get a number of votes in each the Draft and worldwide questions, an indication of long-term respect for the way the franchise acquires newbie expertise, even when the farm system isn’t as extremely thought to be the Orioles.
What workforce is the very best at buying prospects in trades?
Additionally acquired votes: Dodgers, Orioles, White Sox
This backs up the sentiment we’ve lengthy had: If the Rays name asking a couple of prospect, particularly a comparatively lesser-known one, dangle up the telephone. Even once they’re working to tinker with the large league roster, their knack for getting a “throw-in” who turns right into a Prime 100 prospect is clearly well-known. Bear in mind, they received high prospect Junior Caminero from Cleveland and fellow Prime 100 prospect Curtis Mead from the Phillies in related style.
Who has essentially the most underrated farm system?
Additionally acquired votes: Giants, Rays, White Sox, Yankees
Some questions are extra subjective than others, and “underrated” could possibly be interpreted in many alternative methods. That’s in all probability why 14 methods received a number of votes, topped by the Mariners, Crimson Sox and Tigers. A complete of 18 groups had been talked about, so extra groups acquired votes than didn’t on this one. To not toot our personal horn, however we did have the Reds and Rangers within the high 10 of our midseason farm system rankings final summer season.
Which workforce hoards its prospects essentially the most?
27% – Orioles23% – Guardians14% – Pirates9% – Reds7% – Brewers7% – Rockies5% – Mets
Additionally acquired votes: Blue Jays, Braves, Cardinals, Nationals
I feel a lot of this vote comes from the 2023 season and maybe this offseason, when everybody was ready for the Orioles to lastly unlock the prospect vault to assist an already-talented large league roster get to the following stage. They haven’t finished that … but, however the 2024 season needs to be a giant one by way of a expertise logjam on the higher ranges and the hope to play deep into October. The Guardians topped this query a yr in the past and nonetheless have the fame of actually liking what they’ve in home.
Which workforce finest develops pitchers?
38% – Dodgers17% – Guardians11% – Mariners11% – Rays4% – Astros4% – Braves4% – Orioles4% – Yankees
Additionally acquired votes: Brewers, Marlins, Twins
Not solely do the Dodgers appear to accumulate younger arms properly, they’ve a well-earned fame for teasing essentially the most expertise out of them. From guys who made massive contributions to the present large league rotation to mid-round finds like Nick Frasso and Gavin Stone of their Prime 5, they preserve churning them out. The Guardians additionally proceed to seek out hidden expertise, with Rookie of the 12 months runner-up Tanner Bibee, a fifth-round choose, the most recent instance.
Which workforce finest develops hitters?
34% – Dodgers30% – Orioles7% – Braves7% – Cardinals5% – Astros5% – Rangers5% – Rockies
If I had been to circle again and ask a follow-up query, it could be why the Dodgers didn’t get extra assist as the general high farm system after being chosen as finest at growing hitters and pitchers, along with utilizing the Draft finest (and getting a number of votes for his or her work on the worldwide market). In fact, a few of that has to do with expertise within the system proper now, and the Orioles proceed to get hitters to Baltimore and are pooling them up in Double- and Triple-A.
Which workforce is finest at uncovering and growing “sleeper” prospects?
28% – Dodgers22% – Rays11% – Brewers7% – Astros7% – Guardians7% – Rangers4% – Padres4% – Twins
See above concerning the Dodgers and the way good they’re at discovering expertise each which approach and serving to them turn into authentic prospects and massive leaguers. The Rays, who had been lauded for his or her penchant for stealing low-level prospects in trades, do superb work in serving to them grow to be the Junior Camineros of the world.
