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Prospect Week continues here with Keith, and Ken caught up with Team USA manager Mark DeRosa ahead of March’s World Baseball Classic. Welcome to The Windup!
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Prospects: Ranking all 30 MLB farm systems
No team ever really sets out to win “the best farm system in baseball” title. The goal is to win a World Series, not a paper award in the offseason that often comes about as a result of years of poor performance in the majors, leading to higher draft picks and trades of veterans for prospects. There is, however, a real point to develop a strong farm system, one that combines high-ceiling talent to provide future stars for the big-league club and future regulars and role players who can be traded for established major leaguers when the club is in contention.
In my ranking of all 30 farm systems published today, you’ll find a snapshot of where your favorite team might be headed in the near future, or maybe the long-term future for teams towards the bottom of the list, and how well they stack up against their rivals in terms of scouting, player development and R&D. Because many MLB owners choose not to spend up to the levels of their competitors — in many cases taking revenue-sharing payouts from the league and pocketing them rather than investing in the product — those front offices must rely more on their farm systems to help build contenders at a discount, and thus rely more on better scouting, coaching or analysis to find those players.
Here’s my top 10 farm systems:
- Brewers
- Dodgers
- Mariners
- Pirates
- Guardians
- Nationals
- Tigers
- White Sox
- Orioles
- Red Sox
What is unusual about the best farm systems in baseball right now is that the top ones are all current contenders. The first three clubs on the list all reached their league’s championship series in 2025, all doing so either by playing or trading some of their top prospects. Yet they haven’t taken their eyes off the future or mortgaged the farm (pun intended) to reach the top of the standings. The Dodgers even managed to boost their system at the deadline with the trade that sent Dustin May to the Red Sox for two prospects who are now in the Dodgers’ top 20.
This ranking doesn’t reflect players who have already graduated from prospect status. A team like the Cubs, with many homegrown players on their major-league roster, can rank below the median because there isn’t as much talent on the minor-league side now that Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw and Cade Horton and Ian Happ are all in the majors. Such rankings can change very quickly after the draft or the trade deadline or a year where a bunch of players make big leaps forward or get hurt — both of which happened in the Cardinals’ system last year.
My prospect rankings continue on Monday as I begin the team-by-team reports, which include the top 20 prospect for each system as well as notes on potential sleepers and prospects who might have an impact in 2026.
You can also see my other rankings:
Now let’s go to Ken for an update on the World Baseball Classic.
Ken’s Notebook: How Team USA is shaping up for WBC
Manager Mark DeRosa, in a telephone conversation yesterday, talked about how he put this U.S. team together for the WBC, the spots that remain to be filled, the players he wished he could include and more. Here are a few items of note from my full Q&A:
Q: How are you going to use Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal?
A: We’re going to start ’em. One thing Skenes said when I talked to him in April was that he wanted to be surrounded by guys he could learn from as well. He was big about that. He wanted to be around guys he thought could help him get better. I called (Zack) Wheeler. Wheeler was in until he went down (in August when he underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his right shoulder). I obviously called Tarik.
With Tarik, I completely understand the situation he’s in (as a potential free agent next offseason). We just slow-played it throughout the year. I told him, “I’m trying to build a Dream Team.” And if I’m building the best rotation the game has to offer, you’re certainly at the top of it. And until I hear you tell me no, I’ll just circle back every two months and see where you’re at. Andy Pettitte was doing the same.
We left these guys alone the entire year, but every once in a while, I would check in with them. He kept saying, “Don’t give up on me, I really want to do it.” I talked to (Detroit Tigers manager) A.J. Hinch about it. A.J. felt good about it. Tarik felt good about it. When I hung up the phone with him, I was like, “Oh my God, I can’t believe he’s going to do it.” We are super excited to have him.
Q: How many spots do you still need to fill?
A: One or two. One will be a position player. One will probably be a starter. The insurance component and the team signing off on it all play massive parts in it.
Q: The last position spot on the roster, what do you want, someone who is versatile?
A: Yeah. We’re going to look at it. I had my eye on (Cody) Bellinger. I thought Bellinger would serve a perfect purpose for it. But him signing with the Yankees and going through everything, he has decided not to do it. And I completely understand that. So, someone in that vein.
Q: Anyone you wanted to include but couldn’t?
A: I wish the roster was 40 guys deep. There are guys deserving of being on this team that won’t be. And it kills me.
Q: Who in particular?
A: J.T. Realmuto certainly comes to mind. The way the rules are, it just doesn’t warrant having three catchers. Like I said, we could go that route and use Raleigh and Will as pinch-hitters, potentially. But that’s the one position if a guy (gets injured) that you can replace him instantly. Every other position you can’t. I don’t know if we’ll go that route.
Trea Turner is another one. Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson are probably going to play short. Trea, he carried our offense the last time. I just feel like it’s Bobby’s time. Gunnar gives us a different look from the left side. I wanted to have some youthful energy in there mixed with some veterans and try to get after it for 2 1/2 weeks.
Q: Overall, you’re ready to go?
A: I couldn’t be more jacked up for it.
Read more here.
Handshakes and High Fives
Dodgers star Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named to Team Japan’s World Baseball Classic roster after months of speculation.
Meanwhile, Carlos Correa will not play for Team Puerto Rico for insurance reasons.
With Olympic baseball coming to Dodger Stadium in 2028, Dave Roberts says he wants to manage Team USA. (Though we don’t know yet if MLB players will be there.)
Jayson Stark went in-depth on a handful of questions for his Hall of Fame mailbag earlier this week, including listing his top five past players (excluding PED cases) who should be in Cooperstown.
The Yankees added depth to their depleted bullpen by acquiring right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli in a trade with the Rockies yesterday, sending first baseman TJ Rumfield to Colorado. Full analysis here.
After posting the best offensive season of his career, outfielder Harrison Bader (our No. 32 free agent) agreed to a two-year, $20.5 million deal with the Giants.
Curious about baseball card outlooks for Konnor Griffin and other top prospects on Keith’s list? Larry Holder is on the case.
Most-clicked in our last newsletter: Keith’s top 100 prospects list.
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