Biggest Shake-Ups to MLB Farm System Rankings After 2025 Trade Deadline
The whirlwind of activity on the MLB trade market each summer not only sees contenders shore up their rosters for the stretch run, but also leads to a significant shuffling of the prospect landscape.
The Athletics were the biggest risers in our farm system rankings as a result of their trade deadline maneuvering, adding Leo De Vries as the centerpiece of the blockbuster deal that sent Mason Miller to the San Diego Padres, along with several other notable prospects.
On the flip side, the Philadelphia Phillies paid a steep price to acquire closer Jhoan Durán from the Minnesota Twins, while the Padres once gutted their top prospect list for the second year in a row.
Ahead is a closer look at the three teams that climbed the most and three teams that fell the furthest in our farm system rankings as a result of their trade deadline activity, along with an updated look at their current Top 10 prospect lists.
A full rundown of all the newcomers who were added to organizational top 10 prospect lists and an updated list of where all 30 farm systems stack up rounds out our farm system rankings update in the aftermath of this year's trade deadline.
No. 3 Faller: Toronto Blue Jays
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Pre-Deadline Rank: 25
Post-Deadline Rank: 27
Notable Subtractions: RHP Khal Stephen (No. 4 prospect, Tier 4), RHP Juaron Watts-Brown (No. 5 prospect, Tier 4), LHP Kendry Rojas (No. 9 prospect, Tier 5)
Updated Top 10 Prospect List
1. SS JoJo Parker (Tier 3)
2. RHP Trey Yesavage (Tier 3)
3. SS Arjun Nimmala (Tier 3)
4. LHP Ricky Tiedemann (Tier 5)
5. RHP Gage Stanifer (Tier 5)
6. LHP Johnny King (Tier 5)
7. SS Josh Kasevich (Tier 5)
8. OF Yohendrick Pinango (Tier 5)
9. RHP Fernando Perez (Tier 5)
10. RHP Landen Maroudis (Tier 5)
The Blue Jays were the No. 4 biggest riser in last year's version of this article following a busy trade deadline as sellers, but this summer they were on the other end of things while closing out July atop the AL East standings.
Their three notable trades netted them starter Shane Bieber (via CLE for Khal Stephen), reliever Seranthony Domínguez (via BAL for Juaron Watts-Brown) and reliever Louis Varland and first baseman Ty France (via MIN for Kendry Rojas and Alan Roden).
There's a chance both Stephen and Watts-Brown find their way onto leaguewide Top 100 prospect lists in the near future, but they were also in the middle of breakout seasons, so selling high made sense for a Toronto team eyeing a deep playoff run.
No. 3 Riser: Baltimore Orioles
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Pre-Deadline Rank: 18
Post-Deadline Rank: 14
Notable Additions: RHP Juaron Watts-Brown (Tier 4), LHP Boston Bateman (Tier 5), SS Cobb Hightower (Tier 5), RHP Wellington Aracena (Tier 5), SS Wilfri De La Cruz (Tier 5), RHP Anthony Nunez (Tier 5)
Updated Top 10 Prospect List
1. C Samuel Basallo (Tier 1)
2. C/OF Ike Irish (Tier 2)
3. SS Wehiwa Aloy (Tier 4)
4. OF Dylan Beavers (Tier 4)
5. RHP Michael Forret (Tier 4)
6. OF Slater de Brun (Tier 4)
7. RHP Juaron Watts-Brown (Tier 4)
8. RHP Esteban Mejia (Tier 5)
9. LHP Boston Bateman (Tier 5)
10. C Caden Bodine (Tier 5)
The Orioles did a great job selling off their short-term veteran pieces without mortgaging their long-term outlook, trading the likes of Ryan O'Hearn, Cedric Mullins, Ramón Laureano, Charlie Morton, Gregory Soto, Seranthony Dominguez, Andrew Kittredge and Ramón Urías for an influx of prospect talent.
Pitchers Juaron Watts-Brown and Boston Bateman ended up being the only new additions to their top 10 prospect list, but several others fit into the top 25 prospects in the system with several low-level minor leaguers capable of taking a step forward in the coming years.
The 2025 season has not gone as hoped for an Orioles team that won 91 games a year ago, but credit the front office for making the most of a surprise role as trade deadline sellers.
No. 2 Faller: San Diego Padres
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Pre-Deadline Rank: 26
Post-Deadline Rank: 30
Notable Subtractions: SS Leo De Vries (No. 1 prospect, Tier 1), LHP Boston Bateman (No. 5 prospect, Tier 5), RHP Henry Baez (No. 6 prospect, Tier 5), RHP Braden Nett (No. 8 prospect, Tier 5), SS Cobb Hightower (No. 9 prospect, Tier 5), RHP Tyson Neighbors (No. 10 prospect, Tier 5)
Updated Top 10 Prospect List
1. C Ethan Salas (Tier 3)
2. LHP Kash Mayfield (Tier 4)
3. LHP Kruz Schoolcraft (Tier 4)
4. RHP Humberto Cruz (Tier 5)
5. RHP Miguel Mendez (Tier 5)
6. OF Kavares Tears (Tier 5)
7. RHP Isaiah Lowe (Tier 5)
8. 3B Kale Fountain (Tier 5)
9. SS Deivid Coronil (Tier 5)
10. RHP Bradgley Rodriguez (Tier 5)
It might come as a bit of a surprise to see the Padres anywhere but the "No. 1 Faller" position, but considering they already had one of the thinner systems in baseball ranked No. 26 overall in our latest update, they simply didn't have very far to fall.
Shortstop Leo De Vries is one of the best prospects ever traded at the deadline, with a chance to be a franchise cornerstone at shortstop, but he is also still only 18 years old and at least a couple years away from reaching the majors.
They managed to add Mason Miller, Ryan O'Hearn, Ramón Laureano, JP Sears, Freddy Fermin and Nestor Cortes without parting with catcher Ethan Salas or their most recent first-round picks Kash Mayfield (No. 25 in 2024) and Kruz Schoolcraft (No. 25 in 2025). Tip of the cap to A.J. Preller, but the pressure is on for this to add up to more than just a trip to the postseason.
No. 2 Riser: Minnesota Twins
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Pre-Deadline Rank: 12
Post-Deadline Rank: 3
Notable Additions: C Eduardo Tait (Tier 3), RHP Mick Abel (Tier 4), LHP Kendry Rojas (Tier 5), OF Hendry Mendez (Tier 5), RHP Ryan Gallagher (Tier 5), C Enrique Jimenez (Tier 5)
Updated Top 10 Prospect List
1. OF Walker Jenkins (Tier 1)
2. OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (Tier 2)
3. C Eduardo Tait (Tier 3)
4. 2B Luke Keaschall (Tier 3)
5. SS Marek Houston (Tier 3)
6. SS Kaelen Culpepper (Tier 4)
7. LHP Dasan Hill (Tier 4)
8. RHP Mick Abel (Tier 4)
9. LHP Connor Prielipp (Tier 4)
10. LHP Kendry Rojas (Tier 5)
The Twins were always likely to be sellers at the trade deadline, but they took things a step further than expected when they not only moved their upcoming free agents, but also traded away both Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax along with dumping Carlos Correa's contract.
The end result is a thoroughly restocked farm system, with their haul of prospects headlined by 18-year-old catcher Eduardo Tait, who was one of only two players on the B/R Top 100 moved at this year's deadline.
Further down the prospect rankings, outfielder Hendry Mendez (via PHI for Harrison Bader) and right-hander Ryan Gallagher (via CHC for Willi Castro) were both great pickups for rental players, with the potential to climb into the organizational top 10 as they turn in breakout 2025 campaigns.
No. 1 Faller: Philadelphia Phillies
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Pre-Deadline Rank: 5
Post-Deadline Rank: 13
Notable Subtractions: C Eduardo Tait (No. 4 prospect, Tier 3), RHP Mick Abel (No. 6 prospect, Tier 4), OF Hendry Mendez (No. 9 prospect, Tier 5)
Updated Top 10 Prospect List
1. RHP Andrew Painter (Tier 1)
2. OF Justin Crawford (Tier 2)
3. SS Aidan Miller (Tier 2)
4. 2B Aroon Escobar (Tier 3)
5. RHP Gage Wood (Tier 4)
6. RHP Moisés Chace (Tier 5)
7. OF Dante Nori (Tier 5)
8. RHP Jean Cabrera (Tier 5)
9. OF Gabriel Rincones Jr. (Tier 5)
10. OF Griffin Burkholder (Tier 5)
The Phillies addressed their glaring need at the back of the bullpen and found a right-handed hitting platoon partner for Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh in the outfield, completing a pair of trades with the Twins to acquire Jhoan Durán and Harrison Bader.
Three of their top 10 prospects went the other way in those trades, but for a team with a high-priced veteran core and a closing window of contention, it was exactly the type of trade deadline they needed to have to put the finishing touches on their roster.
They were always going to need some sort of stopgap between J.T. Realmuto and Eduardo Tait, but now the lack of a clear catcher of the future is even more pronounced, and that will need to be addressed going forward.
No. 1 Riser: Athletics
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Pre-Deadline Rank: 21
Post-Deadline Rank: 9
Notable Additions: SS Leo De Vries (Tier 1), RHP Braden Nett (Tier 5), RHP Henry Baez (Tier 5)
Updated Top 10 Prospect List
1. SS Leo De Vries (Tier 1)
2. LHP Gage Jump (Tier 2)
3. LHP Jamie Arnold (Tier 3)
4. OF Colby Thomas (Tier 3)
5. RHP Luis Morales (Tier 3)
6. RHP Jack Perkins (Tier 4)
7. OF Henry Bolte (Tier 4)
8. RHP Braden Nett (Tier 5)
9. 3B Tommy White (Tier 5)
10. OF Devin Taylor (Tier 5)
A tip of the cap to the Athletics for making the decision to sell high on flame-throwing closer Mason Miller. He is one of the best young relievers in baseball and controllable through the 2029 season, but an elite closer is a luxury when you are not a contender, and that trade better positions them for future success.
Shortstop Leo De Vries immediately jumps to the No. 1 spot on the organizational top prospect list, and there is a case to be made that he is the most highly regarded prospect in the Athletics system in the last 25 years.
Right-hander Braden Nett also deserves a second glance with a fastball that touches 99 mph and a nasty slider. He will continue to be developed as a starter for now, but he could end up being Miller's replacement in the closer's role down the line.
Full List of Newcomers to Organizational Top 10 Lists
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Pitchers
RHP Mick Abel (PHI to MIN)—No. 8 MIN prospect
LHP Boston Bateman (SD to BAL)—No. 9 BAL prospect
LHP Kohl Drake (TEX to ARI)—No. 9 ARI prospect
LHP Griffin Herring (NYY to COL)—No. 9 COL prospect
RHP Sean Paul Linan (LAD to WAS)—No. 8 WAS prospect
RHP Braden Nett (SD to ATH)—No. 8 ATH prospect
LHP Kendry Rojas (TOR to MIN)—No. 10 MIN prospect
RHP Khal Stephen (TOR to CLE)—No. 6 CLE prospect
RHP Juaron Watts-Brown (TOR to BAL)—No. 7 BAL prospect
Hitters
SS Jesus Baez (NYM to STL)—No. 8 STL prospect
SS Leo De Vries (SD to ATH)—No. 1 ATH prospect
C Rafael Flores (NYY to PIT)—No. 7 PIT prospect
1B Tyler Locklear (SEA to ARI)—No. 8 ARI prospect
SS Sammy Stafura (CIN to PIT)—No. 10 PIT prospect
C Eduardo Tait (PHI to MIN)—No. 3 MIN prospect
OF James Tibbs III (BOS to LAD)—No. 7 LAD prospect
Updated Farm System Rankings
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Updated Farm System Rankings
1. Seattle Mariners
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Pittsburgh Pirates
5. Cincinnati Reds
6. Detroit Tigers
7. Tampa Bay Rays
8. Cleveland Guardians
9. Athletics
10. Milwaukee Brewers
11. Arizona Diamondbacks
12. St. Louis Cardinals
13. Philadelphia Phillies
14. Baltimore Orioles
15. Chicago Cubs
16. New York Mets
17. Miami Marlins
18. Colorado Rockies
19. Kansas City Royals
20. Chicago White Sox
21. San Francisco Giants
22. Washington Nationals
23. Boston Red Sox
24. Houston Astros
25. New York Yankees
26. Atlanta Braves
27. Toronto Blue Jays
28. Texas Rangers
29. Los Angeles Angels
30. San Diego Padres
Note: This update also accounted for players who have exhausted their prospect status since our last update on July 16. That notably led to significant drops in the rankings for the Red Sox (Roman Anthony), White Sox (Kyle Teel, Grant Taylor) and Brewers (Jacob Misiorowski).
