FanGraphs posted its ranking of the top 100 prospects in the game this past week and has been the case with most publications, the Cubs are heavily represented.
The top two prospects in the Cubs system, Javier Baez and Kris Bryant, made it into FanGraphs top 10. Baez was ranked No. 4 behind Byron Buxton (Twins), Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox) and Oscar Taveras (Cardinals). Archie Bradley (Diamondbacks) followed Baez and Bryant slipped in behind the top pitching prospect in the game at No. 6.
Seven Cubs ended up in FanGraphs list of the top 100 prospects … Javier Baez (4), Kris Bryant (6), Albert Almora (21), Jorge Soler (49), Arismendy Alcantara (52), Pierce Johnson (77) and C.J. Edwards (78).
FanGraphs’ list included the same names as Baseball Prospectus and Keith Law, just slotted differently.
Baseball Prospectus had Baez (4), Bryant (17), Almora (25), Soler (45), Edwards (81), Alcantara (83) and Johnson (91) in its top 101 while Law included six Cubs in his top 100 list … Baez (7), Bryant (15), Soler (26), Almora (28), Edwards (67) and Alcantara (71). And over at Baseball America, the likes of Baez, Bryant, Almora, Edwards and Soler dominated the editors’ top 50 lists.
Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo debated which team has the best trio of prospects. Jim Callis took the Twins’ trifecta of Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano and Alex Meyer due to the best prospect in the game residing in the Twins’ system. Jonathan Mayo likes the Cubs’ trio of Javier Baez, Kris Bryant and Albert Almora a little more than Callis. Mayo posted the results of the Prospects Points system that had the Twins one point ahead of the Cubs trio and 12 points ahead of the Astros.
On the statistical side, C.J. Edwards ended up with the best FIP last year among this season’s top 100 prospects. Edwards had a 1.96 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) and his rotation mate, Pierce Johnson finished 16th among the top 100. (h/t to @Jon_Greenberg for the link).
Jason McLeod discussed the farm system in depth on MLB Network Radio last Tuesday. McLeod provided more information on the usual names as well as the team’s plans for Arodys Vizcaino and Mike Olt going into Spring Training.