We're getting a quartet instead of a trio today, as we get through the AL West's top-15 prospect lists. And if you thought that we missed your favorite team, well, you're probably right. We've left the best for last, so you'll be getting dual lists from Dave and I for the top five systems in the game. Tomorrow we'll be putting up Toronto, Atlanta and New York, and on Friday you'll get Tampa Bay and Kansas City. Also, don't forget that top-100 lists from Dave and I will be going up next Monday, so get ready to put Kevin Goldstein to task for disagreeing with us. Links to the other top-15 lists are included at the bottom of the page, as usual.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
1) SS Grant Green
2) 1B Chris Carter
3) OF Michael Choice
4) OF Michael Taylor
5) C Max Stassi
6) LHP Ian Krol
7) 2B Jemile Weeks
8) RHP Tyson Ross
9) OF Aaron Shipman
10) SS/3B Yordy Cabrera
11) 3B Stephen Parker
12) RHP Fautino De Los Santos
13) 3B Renato Nunez
14) 2B/3B Adrian Cardenas
15) C/1B Josh Donaldson
I talked about Oakland's apparent strategy to building up their farm system a couple weeks ago. It's a sound strategy for low-revenue teams like the A's, although the system isn't in the best shape at the moment after a host of graduations. They have an impressive crop of hitters, led by consensus top-100 guys Green and Carter, as well as some interesting toolsy guys like Shipman and Nunez. I like Cardenas and Donaldson at the bottom of the list as well; I think they can be solid role players. The lack of pitching in the system is the obvious issue here. Ian Krol isn't a bad prospect but he's not really top-pitching-prospect-in-the-system material, and they don't even have impressive depth to make up for that lack of impact talent. They only have three pitchers in their top-15, and that's primarily due to the sorry state of the club's minor league pitching.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
1) OF Mike Trout
2) 2B/SS Jean Segura
3) C Hank Conger
4) RHP Tyler Chatwood
5) RHP Jordan Walden
6) 3B Kaleb Cowart
7) RHP Garrett Richards
8) RHP Fabio Martinez-Mesa
9) RHP Cam Bedrosian
10) LHP Trevor Reckling
11) 1B Mark Trumbo
12) OF Randal Grichuk
13) 2B Alexi Amarista
14) OF Chevez Clarke
15) RHP Daniel Tillman
Trout is the obvious No. 1 guy here, and he leads a system that's quietly become one of the best in the game. They have potential impact guys at premium defensive positions in Segura and Conger, and Cowart has the tools to displace Trout as the system's top player once the 2009 first-round pick graduates. The pitching isn't as impressive, but they do have some nice arms and good depth. Walden should emerge as one of the best relievers in the game, and there are people that really, really like Tyler Chatwood. Toss in Richards, Martinez-Mesa, Reckling and 2010 pick Cam Bedrosian, and this system is doing a nice job of stocking up on quality arms. It wasn't a great offseason for Angels fans, but having a strong farm system should help to soften that blow.
SEATTLE MARINERS
1) 2B Dustin Ackley
2) RHP Michael Pineda
3) SS Nick Franklin
4) OF James Jones
5) RHP Taijuan Walker
6) OF Guillermo Pimentel
7) SS Marcus Littlewood
8) 3B Alex Liddi
9) LHP Mauricio Robles
10) OF Johermyn Chavez
11) RHP Stephen Pryor
12) 2B Kyle Seager
13) RHP Daniel Cortes
14) RHP Blake Beavan
15) C/1B Ji-Man Choi
This was a pretty tough system to rank. It's somewhat top-heavy, with Ackley, Pineda and Franklin carrying most of the weight, but they're just loaded with guys that could slip into the bottom five. I ended up going with Pryor, Seager, Cortes, Beavan and Choi, but I still had to omit guys like Ramon Morla, Greg Halman, Josh Lueke, Nate Tenbrink, Estelion Peguero, Jordan Shipers, Carlos Peguero, James Paxton, Rich Poythress, Dennis Raben or even Carlos Triunfel. They have some interesting outfielders, namely Pimentel and Jones, and I like some of their power relievers as well, like Pryor and Cortes. This is a pretty strong system, primarily thanks to the elite guys at the top, but the lower levels are littered with guys that could move up the ranks pretty quickly if things start to click.
TEXAS RANGERS
1) LHP Martin Perez
2) SS Jurickson Profar
3) RHP Tanner Scheppers
4) OF Engel Beltre
5) LHP Robbie Erlin
6) LHP Robbie Ross
7) SS Luis Sardinas
8) LHP Michael Kirkman
9) 3B Mike Olt
10) RHP David Perez
11) LHP Miguel De Los Santos
12) RHP Neil Ramirez
13) OF Jake Skole
14) RHP Roman Mendez
15) RHP Cody Buckel
This system isn't as stacked as it was a couple years ago, but they still have a deep system and a couple of impact prospects. Perez is still among the best pitching prospects in the game, and Profar isn't that far off from being the best shortstop in the minors. They don't have a ton of position player talent, but they're loaded with interesting pitchers- I didn't even have room to mention Wilmer Font or Luke Jackson. Sardinas is another toolsy shortstop that's raw but loaded with upside, and 2010 draft picks Olt and Skole both could emerge as solid regulars. It's impressive that this system is still so strong after losing Feliz, Moreland, Holland, Smoak, Lueke, Main and Beavan to graduations and trades over the past year.
OTHER 2011 TOP 15 LISTS
- Pirates, Cardinals and Brewers
- Nationals, Diamondbacks and Rockies