ankings by the Baseball America staff. First ranking is for 2006, with rankings also listed at right for the previous five seasons.
| TALENT RANKINGS |
| Rk. |
Team |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
| 1. |
Arizona Diamondbacks |
13 |
13 |
21 |
23 |
29 |
| Signing Justin Upton is the icing on the cake for minor’s most loaded system. |
| 2. |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
2 |
2 |
14 |
25 |
28 |
| Even without top 2005 draft pick Luke Hochevar, the Dodgers have depth and star power. |
| 3. |
Florida Marlins |
14 |
14 |
8 |
10 |
9 |
| Postseason fire sale brought depth, top-tier talent to a system that already had some of both. |
| 4. |
Los Angeles Angels |
1 |
3 |
5 |
17 |
25 |
| Elite infielders head impressive group of hitters; pitching hinges on ‘04 picks Weaver, Adenhart. |
| 5. |
Milwaukee Brewers |
3 |
1 |
16 |
26 |
30 |
| Despite graduating young talent to Milwaukee, Brewers still have plenty left on the farm. |
| 6. |
Minnesota Twins |
4 |
5 |
4 |
6 |
15 |
| Healthy return by Jason Kubel would provide boost to organization loaded with young pitching. |
| 7. |
Atlanta Braves |
5 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
5 |
| Lowest ranking in years for Braves only comes after graduating 19 rookies to big league club. |
| 8. |
Boston Red Sox |
21 |
23 |
27 |
28 |
24 |
| Improved pitching depth leads to quantum leap forward. |
| 9. |
Cleveland Indians |
7 |
6 |
1 |
20 |
26 |
| Depth is the Tribe’s biggest strength, and Marte acquisition boosted team into top 10. |
| 10. |
Tampa Bay Devil Rays |
9 |
9 |
10 |
15 |
6 |
| Former scouting director Tim Wilken left behind much-improved pitching depth. |
| 11. |
Colorado Rockies |
6 |
15 |
25 |
24 |
16 |
| Fruits of three consecutive productive drafts starting to percolate up through the system. |
| 12. |
Baltimore Orioles |
25 |
19 |
30 |
29 |
27 |
| A farm system on the way up could improve even more if Adam Loewen fulfills his potential. |
| 13. |
Detroit Tigers |
29 |
22 |
12 |
18 |
18 |
| Biggest mover on the list thanks to pair of elite power arms, Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya. |
| 14. |
Chicago White Sox |
12 |
20 |
15 |
9 |
1 |
| Championship closer Bobby Jenks heads list with outfield depth to spare. |
| 15. |
Chicago Cubs |
10 |
7 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
| Felix Pie takes up mantle as top prospect in a rapidly thinning organization. |
| 16. |
Texas Rangers |
16 |
16 |
19 |
8 |
13 |
| Trio of Double-A pitchers, improved depth give new GM Jon Daniels pieces to deal. |
| 17. |
New York Yankees |
24 |
27 |
17 |
5 |
7 |
| Premium talent on hand, but Yankees’ top prospects have yet to venture beyond A-ball. |
| 18. |
San Francisco Giants |
17 |
24 |
11 |
12 |
22 |
| Bulk of top hitters reach make-or-break Double-A in ’06; Matt Cain gives team elite arm. |
| 19. |
Pittsburgh Pirates |
18 |
11 |
18 |
22 |
19 |
| Last two first-round picks, Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen, provide best hope for impact. |
| 20. |
Houston Astros |
22 |
29 |
23 |
3 |
10 |
| Farmhands helped big league team to first pennant, yet minor league talent still improved. |
| 21. |
St. Louis Cardinals |
30 |
28 |
28 |
30 |
23 |
| Early returns on their bountiful 2005 draft boost stock of previously moribund system. |
| 22. |
Philadelphia Phillies |
20 |
21 |
7 |
11 |
12 |
| Jim Thome trade nets pair of lefties who can step in if top prospect Cole Hamels gets hurt again. |
| 23. |
Kansas City Royals |
28 |
19 |
26 |
21 |
14 |
| No. 2 overall pick Alex Gordon, Billy Butler provide 1-2 punch for club in need of hope. |
| 24. |
Washington Nationals |
26 |
30 |
29 |
16 |
21 |
| Scouting director Dana Brown has done well in tough circumstances to accumulate talent. |
| 25. |
Toronto Blue Jays |
15 |
8 |
6 |
13 |
17 |
| System has some depth, particularly on the mound, but few players project as regulars. |
| 26. |
Oakland Athletics |
8 |
17 |
22 |
19 |
11 |
| Talent inevitably eroded after A’s graduated four impact rookies to big leagues in 2005. |
| 27. |
Seattle Mariners |
11 |
12 |
9 |
2 |
4 |
| Utter lack of pitching prospects has roots in run of poor drafts in late 1990s, early 2000s. |
| 28. |
New York Mets |
19 |
10 |
13 |
27 |
20 |
| It’s Lastings Milledge, Mike Pelfrey and a lot of players who wouldn’t make other teams’ top 10s. |
| 29. |
San Diego Padres |
27 |
25 |
20 |
4 |
8 |
| At least the best the Padres have to offer are close to helping the big league club . . . |
| 30. |
Cincinnati Reds |
23 |
26 |
24 |
14 |
3 |
| While nearly all the Reds’ best hopes for the future are in A-ball or below. |
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