Fangraphs ranks Braves minor league system 27th

[PurpleBrave]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/ranking-the-minor-league-systems-16-30/

27 – Atlanta Braves

- IMPACT- RHP Lucas Sims

- Other 2013 Impact – RHP Julio Teheran (MLB)

- Strength/Weakness – RHP is the closest thing to a strength in the system. There is very little offensive punch, as their two best position player prospects, C Christian Bethancourt and SS Jose Peraza, are both defensively oriented.

- Depth Ratio – 0.89

- One I Like More – Peraza. Though his defense is ahead of his bat, he’s far from a zero offensively, hitting .288-.341-.371 with 64 steals as a teenager in a full-season league last season. Another such year makes him an impact guy.

- One I Like Less – RHP JR Graham – Missed most of 2013 with a shoulder injury, and hasn’t logged an inning above AA at age 24. A ground ball guy, my guess is that he winds up in the pen as a 6th-7th inning type, not an impact type.

- Observation – Can’t be too hard on the Braves either, as their collection of young, entrenched MLB talent ranks among the very best in the game. Their next high impact homegrown MLB hitter might not even be in their system yet, however.

 

[thethe]

Thats ok....I think it makes sense to do that at this juncture. But, just like in years past when the Braves farm has been on the "downswing", there will be several players who will become major leaguers and contribute to the major league team winning games. Half of the teams above us won't match the production.

 

[zitothebrave]

Braves have had like 2 seasons in the last decade where they've drafted in the top half of the draft or something like that.

Braves since 2010 (aka last 4 years) have graduated Heyward, Freeman, Simmons, Minor, Julio, Wood, andn kimbrel, and have used pieces to acquire J-Upton and more. There's bound to be a few lean years and we're in them now where basically you have to hope talent falls.

That said, Braves younger players are very intriguing and some development in the lower minors and our rank rises. Not saying to a top 10 team, but out of the bottom 10.

 

[nsacpi]

Losing our #1 pick hurts.

 

[thewupk]

Losing our #1 pick hurts.

our farm yeah and possibly only temporarily. tremendously helps the current team though. and with our current window that's what should matter.

 

[zitothebrave]

our farm yeah and possibly only temporarily. tremendously helps the current team though. and with our current window that's what should matter.

Agree, since odds are we lose Justin or Jason in 2 years.

Losing our 1 sucks but if we pick it up next year (aka Santana pitches well) are we really out that much? We traded say the 24 picks for something in the 30s.

 

[nsacpi]

our farm yeah and possibly only temporarily. tremendously helps the current team though. and with our current window that's what should matter.

Yeah. Plus there is about a 50% chance we get the draft pick back at the end of this season via Santana getting a qualifying offer.

 

[ChadWC]

Hursh could take a step forward this year and he and Sims could be viewed as a couple major pieces. Factor in the first round pick this year and the likliehood we have a pair of first rounders next year and we should improve.

 

[thethe]

Hursh could take a step forward this year and he and Sims could be viewed as a couple major pieces. Factor in the first round pick this year and the likliehood we have a pair of first rounders next year and we should improve.

For the most part farm systems follow a historical pattern. No reason to ever bet against the Bravse long term when thinking about farm system productivity.

 

[cajunrevenge]

The goal of the farm system is not to rank high on these lists. Its to provide talent to the mlb club and none has done a better job the last few years. The Royals were supposed to have the best farm system ever. Rank teams on 25 and under talent and the braves top that list.

 

[Teheran_49]

They've said this for years yet all we do is produce top notch MLB talent. While outside of Sims the "upper echelon talent" may not be there but they also said Andrelton Simmons was not going to be special yet I think just about every team would stick him at SS on their team. If anything the Braves know how to scout and develop that's for damn sure.

 

[Teheran_49]

The goal of the farm system is not to rank high on these lists. Its to provide talent to the mlb club and none has done a better job the last few years. The Royals were supposed to have the best farm system ever. Rank teams on 25 and under talent and the braves top that list.

Exactly, yet they have nothing to show for it but James Shields.

 

[50PoundHead]

Losing our #1 pick hurts.

Then spend some money in the Latin market.

Not surprising. Some pitching, but the offensive talent in the minors is pretty sparse. That said, we've had a bunch of guys graduate on the fast track over the past five years.

 

[Enscheff]

This is no surprise since the farm system is terrible. You guys can try to sugarcoat it all you want and make predictions about guys making unexpected strides, but the farm is currently in complete shambles.

Unfortunately, guys like Lipka and Salcedo have completely tanked, and they were the positional "studs" for the past few years. Luckily, the recent extension spree makes the horrid farm system hurt a lot less.

 

[Tapate50]

Then spend some money in the Latin market.

Not surprising. Some pitching, but the offensive talent in the minors is pretty sparse. That said, we've had a bunch of guys graduate on the fast track over the past five years.

I like this post a lot.

You can mitigate the loss of that pick very easily IMO with some high profile signings in the IFA market. As i recall, we didn't sign much of anyone of note last year (maybe the year before also).

 

[nsacpi]

Here is some information on the tiered bonus pool system that major league baseball adopted a few years ago when it comes to international signings.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/international-bonus-pools-for-2013-14/

These restrictions are one reason why teams are valuing their #1 draft picks higher. In the past teams that lost their #1 pick could use the money to draft and sign hard-to-sign prospects at above-slot levels in later rounds or could use the money on the international market. Those options are not really available anymore. There are substantial penalties in place now for teams that exceed their overall spending targets for the domestic draft or in the international market.

 

[cajunrevenge]

This is no surprise since the farm system is terrible. You guys can try to sugarcoat it all you want and make predictions about guys making unexpected strides, but the farm is currently in complete shambles.

Unfortunately, guys like Lipka and Salcedo have completely tanked, and they were the positional "studs" for the past few years. Luckily, the recent extension spree makes the horrid farm system hurt a lot less.

If the goal is to rank highly on these lists then sure the farm system is in shambles. Braves farm system rates near the best in talent produced which is what really matters.

 

[50PoundHead]

Here is some information on the tiered bonus pool system that major league baseball adopted a few years ago when it comes to international signings.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/international-bonus-pools-for-2013-14/

These restrictions are one reason why teams are valuing their #1 draft picks higher. In the past teams that lost their #1 pick could use the money to draft and sign hard-to-sign prospects at above-slot levels in later rounds or could use the money on the international market. Those options are not really available anymore. There are substantial penalties in place now for teams that exceed their overall spending targets for the domestic draft or in the international market.

The point I was trying to make is that with one less high draft pick to invest in, the Braves could use some of those bucks to go after a higher-profile international guy instead of swimming in the shallow end.

 

[nsacpi]

The point I was trying to make is that with one less high draft pick to invest in, the Braves could use some of those bucks to go after a higher-profile international guy instead of swimming in the shallow end.

With the current system you can't boost your international spending by using funds that might have been used elsewhere.

 

[50PoundHead]

You are not getting me. I am saying that whatever the international signing cap, use more of those funds to sign a higher-profile guy rather than 10 low-profile guys. Aim for signing the equivalent of a first round pick in the international market within the MLB budget allotment for international signings.