Baseball Prospectus recently ranked all 30 farm systems. Here’s what they said about the Mets:
5. New York Mets
Farm System Ranking in 2014: 8
2015 Top Ten Prospects: Link
Top Prospect: Noah Syndergaard (9)
Prospects on the BP 101: 6
State of the System: Not the best, but likely the most balanced farm system in all of baseball, the Mets have everything you could want from a group of minor-league players—a potential ace (Noah Syndergaard), a major-league ready, everyday player (Dilson Herrera), an up-the-middle regular (Kevin Plawecki), a next wave of prospects coming behind them (Brandon Nimmo and Steven Matz), potential bats with a few years to go (Dominic Smith and Michael Conforto), and young, unproven, high-ceiling talent (Amed Rosario and Jhoan Urena). Not all of these players are going to work out, but the Mets, as an organizational whole, have enough safety nets to continue to refill their major-league roster for the next few years.
Must-See Affiliate: Triple-A Las Vegas
Prospects to See There: Noah Syndergaard, Dilson Herrera, Kevin Plawecki, Rafael Montero
Source: Baseball Prospectus
Well worth clicking on the link to see their thoughts on the other 29 teams.
Brian,
I wonder how fast Conforto may move…this is going to be an interesting year to follow him.
He seems steady, mature, and should he do well, perhaps a September look?
One of the things I’m looking for each time I view a top prospect list for the Mets is the relative ranking of Nimmo and Conforto. They’re within a month of each other birth-wise. Nimmo signed out of high school while Conforto was a college product. It’s a mini-referendum on the value of going to college.
I would be shocked if Conforto got a call-up this year.
Did a little research after Conforto was drafted and based on other polished college hitters, I thought he’d be up sooner than later. Honestly, it feels like they’ve been holding him back.
Hope they’re not just waiting to avoid making the Cuddyer or Granderson deals look less terrible.
It’s absolutely a positive.
Two things:
1) Recently read a piece — sorry, can’t source it now — where the “expert” opined that the Braves, after dumping 3 players for Prospects, had jettisoned their farm system from bottom 10 to top 10. All they had to do was decide to forfeit the ML season and aim for 2017.
2) When the intention is to not compete at the ML level . . . when you won’t sign free agents to help the ML team . . . when you refuse to forfeit picks . . . when you dump good players in favor of prospects . . . when you refuse to trade any prospects . . .when your team is bad enough to rank in the top 15 for overall picks . . . when you don’t care about revenue . . . when you do this for four solid years . . . then you’ve made it relatively easy on yourself to stockpile talent at the minor league level. Sandy did this, but I don’t think it’s all that awesome an achievement. We’re still chasing the K.C. Royals, and working from a faulty either/or business model. I remember when he used to get praised all over the blogosphere for “clearing salary,” helping the team get down to a smaller payroll. That is, praised for allowing time to pass and for doing nothing to help the team in Flushing. He was willing for the Mets to suck. Okay. Should we give Phil Jackson a medal for what he’s done with the Knicks? Necessary, hard core, but not exactly genius. The test will be what happens after.
Still, I’m glad to have some potential on the farm. It’s a good thing. There’s a lot of eggs in that basket.
Bingo.
I have been saying for a long time what Alderson or better yet what Depo has done while Alderson watched the contracts run out and payroll vanish is not that difficult. Is it really that hard to trade a future HOF OFer for an A-ball pitcher with promise? Is it really that tough to trade a sitting Cy Young winner for a package of minor league prospects? While Depo handles the scouting and drafting process.
I could have saved the Wilpon’s a bunch of money I would have done that for a mil a year and they could have saved the other 4 mil a year they pay Alderson.
Two big differences would have been is I stink at golf, and I am not nearly as accomplished a liar as Alderson is.
But i’d be willing to work real hard on improving my golf game.
In order to project the Braves into top 10 farm system right now you have to believe that all of the guys they acquired hit their ceilings. In other words – I’m not buying it.
It’s going to be an ugly road ahead for the Braves. They were next-to-last in offense in the NL last year and they got rid of three of their top four hitters. Freddie Freeman’s going to be calling David Wright to ask for advice on how to deal with being the only threat in the lineup. And if Nick Markakis is an example of the types of free agents they’re going to acquire — good luck.
The Braves are not going to be contenders for years. The 2011-2014 Mets will have won more games than the 2015-2018 Braves.
Braves are opening new stadium in 2017 and they are willing to spend. I think that’s the target date — and cratering (something the SA chose not to do, unlike the Cub) gets elite draft picks. We’ll see.
If teams are willing to spend, they can turn things around quickly.
Braves already have $87 million allocated for just nine players in 2017. How much more do you think they’re going to add? In the last 10 years they’ve been over 100 million just twice. They’re still stuck paying BJ Upton and Chris Johnson and Nick Markakis and they’re still hoping Simmons and Bethancourt can hit major league pitching.
I don’t see the Braves being good before 2018
The Braves and Phillies are ranked 19th and 20th respectively. Nationals are 11th, and the Marlins are 29th.
The addition to that collection of talent next year is Jhoan Urena. Big year this year replaces Thor on the list in 2016.
There appears to be enough depth now in the farm system to trade for improvements at the major league level. It is time to start balancing the future with the present.
Sandy has already mismanaged this one. Last winter he gave up a draft pick and draft money for Cuddyer a 36 year old. He could have traded prospects not named Syndergaard or Matz, for Kemp who is younger and more productive hitter. (30 YOA, 150 games, 346/506/852, 25HR) I hope Sandy does better the next time.
Amen.