Phils with 4th Best Farm System in Baseball.

Baseball America ranks the 30 Major League Baseball farm systems twice a year. Once in the Spring and once in December. The Texas Rangers have the top system led by "special" arm Neftali Perez and impressive pitching depth. The Rays follow with 2 major league ready pitchers and 5-tool centerfielder Desmond Jennings. The Giants are led by Elite talents, catcher Buster Posey and southpaw Madison Bumgarner. Phils after the break.

Here is what Baseball America had to say about the Phillies system:

4. Phillies: Philadelphia had the depth to trade for Cliff Lee and still have a top-flight farm system. Outfielder Michael Taylor has hit .333 over the last two seasons, rocketing to Triple-A, and fellow outfielder Dominic Brown has better tools, though he's still a bit raw. Righty Kyle Drabek, son of the former Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek, has three above-average pitches to go with excellent athletic ability. Beyond their Big Three -- all of whom have performed at Double-A or above -- the Phillies are bursting with young power arms, toolsy Latin American infielders and athletic outfielders, such as Anthony Gose.


Interesting enough, Cleveland is next led by Jason Knapp - who was acquired in the Cliff Lee deal.

The Phillies really stand out in that top 5 because they have not had a bad season where they can get the "elite" guy in a draft class. They also have not had to trade a star in order to gain a handful of prospects to rebuild with. Despite producing winning teams year in and year out, the Phillies draft well and develop their home grown players.

(BA)
(SI)