Down on the farm: Execs pick best systems for 2024

Over the primary three elements of the 2024 MLB Pipeline Poll collection, all the questions had been about particular person gamers and their instruments. In the finale of the collection, we’re switching gears and have requested entrance workplace executives to take a deeper take a look at farm programs.

This line of questioning supplies a peek into which organizations are perceived to be good at constructing a farm system, buying and creating expertise. Which programs received probably the most love? Let’s discover out.

Which group has one of the best farm system?

Also acquired votes: Brewers, Cubs, Nationals, Rangers, Red 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 prime of our farm system rankings for 5 straight editions, relationship again to the 2021 midseason re-rank. It is 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. But the trade clearly has a favourite.

Which group makes use of the Draft greatest?

Also 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 usually 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 might be attention-grabbing to see if they’ll maintain persistently discovering expertise as they transfer down the Draft order because of their success within the huge leagues.

Which group performs the worldwide market higher than another?

Also 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 Top 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 a way the franchise acquires novice expertise, even when the farm system isn’t as extremely thought to be the Orioles.

What group is one of the best at buying prospects in trades?

Also acquired votes: Dodgers, Orioles, White Sox

This backs up the sentiment we’ve lengthy had: If the Rays name asking a few prospect, particularly a comparatively lesser-known one, grasp 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 Top 100 prospect is clearly well-known. Remember, they received prime prospect Junior Caminero from Cleveland and fellow Top 100 prospect Curtis Mead from the Phillies in comparable vogue.

Who has probably the most underrated farm system?

Also acquired votes: Giants, Rays, White Sox, Yankees

Some questions are extra subjective than others, and “underrated” might be interpreted in many various methods. That’s in all probability why 14 programs received a number of votes, topped by the Mariners, Red Sox and Tigers. A complete of 18 groups had been talked about, so extra groups acquired votes than didn’t on this one. Not to toot our personal horn, however we did have the Reds and Rangers within the prime 10 of our midseason farm system rankings final summer time.

Which group hoards its prospects probably the most?

27% – Orioles
23% – Guardians
14% – Pirates
9% – Reds
7% – Brewers
7% – Rockies
5% – Mets

Also 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 huge league roster get to the following degree. 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 repute of actually liking what they’ve in home.

Which group greatest develops pitchers?

38% – Dodgers
17% – Guardians
11% – Mariners
11% – Rays
4% – Astros
4% – Braves
4% – Orioles
4% – Yankees

Also acquired votes: Brewers, Marlins, Twins

Not solely do the Dodgers appear to accumulate younger arms properly, they’ve a well-earned repute for teasing probably the most expertise out of them. From guys who made massive contributions to the present huge league rotation to mid-round finds like Nick Frasso and Gavin Stone of their Top 5, they maintain churning them out. The Guardians additionally proceed to search out hidden expertise, with Rookie of the Year runner-up Tanner Bibee, a fifth-round choose, the most recent instance.

Which group greatest develops hitters?

34% – Dodgers
30% – Orioles
7% – Braves
7% – Cardinals
5% – Astros
5% – Rangers
5% – Rockies

If I had been to circle again and ask a follow-up query, it is perhaps why the Dodgers didn’t get extra help as the general prime farm system after being chosen as greatest at creating hitters and pitchers, along with utilizing the Draft greatest (and getting a number of votes for his or her work on the worldwide market). Of course, 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 group is greatest at uncovering and creating “sleeper” prospects?

28% – Dodgers
22% – Rays
11% – Brewers
7% – Astros
7% – Guardians
7% – Rangers
4% – Padres
4% – Twins

See above in regards to the Dodgers and the way good they’re at discovering expertise each which manner and serving to them grow to be respectable prospects and massive leaguers. The Rays, who had been lauded for his or her penchant for stealing low-level prospects in trades, do excellent work in serving to them develop into the Junior Camineros of the world.