The Tigers have moved out of the days when Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson topped their prospect rankings, just as they graduated Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning from prospect status a year before.

Let's see, now: Meh, sucks, hurt, hurt and hurt, respectively. Plus, Detroit has exactly two prospects in the Top 100, and none in the Top 40.

Back when the Tigers were swept in the 2014 ALDS by the Orioles (the Orioles, ferchrissake!), I predicted: "This team will not win again for ten years." Looks like I'll have to extend that prediction.

The cardinals have quite an under -25 team developing with 3-4 guys likely to be on team next year along with Gorman, Carlson, Nootbar and yepez on the big club. They could be joined by Thompson, Liberatore, Walker, Burleson and Yepez and most of them have a legit chance to be In the starting lineup. I expect the Cards may deal Tyler O'Neal this winter to make room for the new recruits. Walker will slot into his spot. Yepez and Burleson will time share the DH role. Carlson in CF and Nootbar in RF. The two pitchers may slot into rotation.

As good as Arenado has been I can see the Cards letting him opt out and move Gorman to his natural slot at 3B.

As good as Arenado has been I can see the Cards letting him opt out and move Gorman to his natural slot at 3B.

"Let"? Isn't it completely up to Arenado?

The Dodgers claim the most Top 100 prospects on our list with seven, including four in the Top 50 (Diego Cartaya, Bobby Miller, Miguel Vargas, Michael Busch).

I don't follow the Dodgers transactions closely enough (other than when my team trades them a well-loved future Hall of Famer just for funsies): what is the explanation for how they keep the pipeline so well stocked while also spending piles on the major league roster?

I don't follow the Dodgers transactions closely enough (other than when my team trades them a well-loved future Hall of Famer just for funsies): what is the explanation for how they keep the pipeline so well stocked while also spending piles on the major league roster?

They spend a lot of money on player development too. They have more and better player development staff. Plus, they spend money on providing housing and high quality food for their minor league teams.

It also helps that they are one of the best drafting teams in baseball.

I don't follow the Dodgers transactions closely enough (other than when my team trades them a well-loved future Hall of Famer just for funsies): what is the explanation for how they keep the pipeline so well stocked while also spending piles on the major league roster?

They're the best run team in baseball with a Tampa style development system and an-over-Yankees style MLB budget?

They're good at drafting. They're good at signing overseas FA. I mean, they make mistakes sometimes (Yordan Alvarez traded to Astros for a RP). But, usually the mistakes they make are because their minor league system is so stocked they go "eh, Alvarez looks like he might hit, but the fielding is questionable and we don't have a DH anyhow."

I'd swear Friedman must have hacked my computer and watched me dominate Baseball Mogul ca 2006. Watching the Dodgers' success is like looking in the mirror. I won a lot more WS though. :-)

3. Let him go in the sense that they don't sweeten the pot to stay

Plus, they spend money on providing housing and high quality food for their minor league teams.

It’s crazy to me that teams with even the lowest payrolls have operating costs (mlb payroll, baseball operations, baseball management, scouting, minor league payrolls, etc) north of $60M can’t spare a million to improve the outcomes of their future players. The DBacks hace more minor leaguers than the Dodgers, I count 224, and providing free housing and team meals should cost no more than $1,000/month per player during the season.

All Brewer Twitter has been going crazy over Chourio. After killing it at Carolina got moved to High A where at 18 years old he has been solid. Plays centerfield and apparently he's ok or maybe better than ok.

Basically played a season's worth of at bats in the minors between last year and this and has a line of .306/.371/.528 124 strikeouts in 491 at bats so no Joey Gallo type.

And FWIW Baseball America has him as midseason top 3 prospect in all of baseball. Or at least per the post on Twitter I saw from last week. Maybe that has changed or I read it wrong.

Should not forget the journey of Sal Frelick. Started season at High A. After 21 games moved to AA. Put up an .844 OPS and I guess because of injuries or something elevated to AAA where he is hitting. .440/.525/.540 in 50 at bats. He's 22 years old with doubles power and really good plate control so basically nothing like hitters currently in Brewers lineup. Which isn't a bad thing because some variety would be nice.

Just cool to think that maybe instead of counting on Stearns finding a Renfroe or Tellez or Adames maybe Milwaukee gets a guy from the org who can help out who is not a pitcher.

trivia: the player rated No. 28 has a 6-foot-6 father and former first-round NBA draft pick who played for the Bulls, Kings, Hawks, Magic, and Nets.

They're the best run team in baseball with a Tampa style development system and an-over-Yankees style MLB budget?

Which is the answer to the 2014 trivia question, "gee, I wonder how well Friedman will do a with a big payroll"

It’s crazy to me that teams with even the lowest payrolls have operating costs (mlb payroll, baseball operations, baseball management, scouting, minor league payrolls, etc) north of $60M can’t spare a million to improve the outcomes of their future players. The DBacks hace more minor leaguers than the Dodgers, I count 224, and providing free housing and team meals should cost no more than $1,000/month per player during the season.

The reality is that housing and nutrition probably make zero difference in players' age 22-30 performance. Bad nutrition catches up to you in your 30s. Even the fattest players (Fielder, Mo Vaughn, etc.) are good until 28-30. Teams don't give two shits about players' performance after their control years are over. Teams won't spend $50K to improve a player's post-age 30 value by $50M unless they already control those years.

trivia: the player rated No. 28 has a 6-foot-6 father and former first-round NBA draft pick who played for the Bulls, Kings, Hawks, Magic, and Nets.

Who is this? It's almost certainly not the father of the player rated No. 28, but I can't figure out who it would be.

Reggie Theus is Brennen Davis' (biological) father.

Reggie Theus is Brennen Davis' (biological) father.

Thank you. He's 51 on the list, but at least his father was an NBAer.

that's odd - not sure what I clicked. maybe they also linked to the obsolete preseason list or something.

The reality is that housing and nutrition probably make zero difference in players' age 22-30 performance. Bad nutrition catches up to you in your 30s. Even the fattest players (Fielder, Mo Vaughn, etc.) are good until 28-30. Teams don't give two shits about players' performance after their control years are over. Teams won't spend $50K to improve a player's post-age 30 value by $50M unless they already control those years.

This is pure snapper brain.

The reality is that housing and nutrition probably make zero difference in players' age 22-30 performance. Bad nutrition catches up to you in your 30s. Even the fattest players (Fielder, Mo Vaughn, etc.) are good until 28-30. Teams don't give two shits about players' performance after their control years are over. Teams won't spend $50K to improve a player's post-age 30 value by $50M unless they already control those years.

That seems like a weird take. The second part I agree about whether the teams care about those years, but the first part just seems wrong on so many levels. When you have a player who is spending full time practicing his craft, instead of working five shifts a night at a gas station to cover rent, who's diet consists more of fast food than a healthy diet (you can get 3 McChickens and a large soda for the cost of a salad at McDonald's) that is definitely going to figure into their development as a player. Also working a second job means more potential bad influences you are going to run into, so you are also talking about potential deviations due to lifestyle choice that is out of your control as an owner.

The benefits outweigh the cost to be honest. Just getting 3-5 war out one player who wouldn't have made it at all to the show is probably worth the 2.5-3mil that ReggiThomasLives suggested.

I don't know which teams spend on the minors, but my guess is that the teams that we see in the top of the standings year in year out, probably also spend the money on the farm system.


Just to clarify one thing though, starting in 2022 MLB does provide housing for minor leaguers. during the season.

My thoughts weren't just linked to nutrition but also player motivation and productivity. Not having to worry about finding a place to stay, or a roommate, spending less time shopping and arguing with roommates over food, etc could lead to a little better mental outlook and little more time for development/exorcize. Lastly, when picking up minor league free agents having a reputation as the best system to play minor league baseball in might be very helpful.

Most importantly, how did the DBacks have three of the top 13 prospects when Alek Thomas is already in the MLB?

I have actually seen three of the top 100 play in person. Josh Jung in an exhibition game late in 2019; Marcelo Mayer with the Salem Red Sox this summer, and Shea Langeliers with the A's, earlier this week.

I'm pretty pleased with myself. There have been years when I would have no clue about anybody on a list like this.