Biggest Shake-Ups to MLB Farm System Rankings After 2024 Trade Deadline

The flurry 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 Miami Marlins were the biggest risers in our farm system rankings as a result of their trade deadline maneuvering, adding Connor Norby, Agustin Ramirez, Deyvison De Los Santos, Robby Snelling and several other notable prospects.

On the flip side, the San Diego Padres gutted their top prospect list to add relievers Jason Adam and Tanner Scott to the back of their bullpen, tumbling to the bottom tier of the farm system rankings.

Here, we've put together a closer look at the five teams that climbed the most and five 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 list.

Finally, a full updated farm system rankings list is included to show where all 30 teams stand in the aftermath of this year's summer wheeling and dealing.

Pre-Deadline Rank: 26
Post-Deadline Rank: 29

Notable Subtractions: RHP Jake Bloss (No. 3 prospect, Tier 2)

Updated Top 10 Prospect List

1. OF Jacob Melton (Tier 1)
2. SS Brice Matthews (Tier 2)
3. C Walker Janek (Tier 2)
4. RHP A.J. Blubaugh (Tier 2)
5. OF Luis Baez (Tier 2)
6. RHP Miguel Ullola (Tier 3)
7. OF Zach Cole (Tier 3)
8. 3B Zach Dezenzo (Tier 3)
9. IF Shay Whitcomb (Tier 3)
10. RHP Ryan Forcucci (Tier 3)

The Astros paid a steep price to acquire rental starter Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays, sending top pitching prospect Jake Bloss along with rookie Joey Loperfido and infielder Will Wagner.

The farm system was already thinned by last summer's blockbuster deal to re-acquire Justin Verlander from the New York Mets, so this sends them further down into the bottom tier of systems.

With that said, infielder Brice Matthews has been a breakout performer in his first full season, and they did well to add catcher Walker Janek and right-hander Ryan Forcucci atop this year's draft haul.

Pre-Deadline Rank: 9
Post-Deadline Rank: 6

Notable Additions: C Thayron Liranzo (Tier 2)

Updated Top 10 Prospect List

1. RHP Jackson Jobe (Tier 1)
2. OF Max Clark (Tier 1)
3. 2B Jace Jung (Tier 1)
4. SS Bryce Rainer (Tier 1)
5. SS Kevin McGonigle (Tier 1)
6. C Thayron Liranzo (Tier 2)
7. RHP Jaden Hamm (Tier 2)
8. 2B Hao-Yu Lee (Tier 2)
9. C Dillon Dingler (Tier 3)
10. RHP Keider Montero (Tier 3)

The Tigers stopped short of completely reshaping their farm system with a Tarik Skubal trade, but they did sell high on rental starter Jack Flaherty, acquiring highly regarded catching prospect Thayron Liranzo and infielder Trey Sweeney from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

They also picked up a solid pitching prospect in Eric Silva from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Mark Canha, along with some organizational depth at catcher in 2023 Arizona Fall League standout Liam Hicks in return for Carson Kelly.

Even after graduating Colt Keith and Justyn-Henry Malloy to the big leagues, the Tigers have a no-doubt top-10 system that was already trending up heading into the deadline. Kevin McGonigle and Jaden Hamm have both turned in breakout seasons, while Detroit added top high school bat Bryce Rainer in the first round of the 2024 draft.

Pre-Deadline Rank: 21
Post-Deadline Rank: 25

Notable Subtractions: C Agustin Ramirez (No. 3 prospect, Tier 2)

Updated Top 10 Prospect List

1. OF Jasson Domínguez (Tier 1)
2. OF Spencer Jones (Tier 1)
3. OF Everson Pereira (Tier 2)
4. SS Roderick Arias (Tier 2)
5. LHP Brock Selvidge (Tier 3)
6. RHP Chase Hampton (Tier 3)
7. SS George Lombard Jr. (Tier 3)
8. LHP Henry Lalane (Tier 3)
9. RHP Will Warren (Tier 3)
10. RHP Ben Hess (Tier 3)

Catcher Agustin Ramirez has been one of the breakout prospects of the 2024 season, posting an .862 OPS with 19 doubles, 21 home runs and 73 RBI in 93 games in the upper levels of the minors. He was the headliner in the deal to acquire Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Miami Marlins.

The Yankees also sent infielder Jared Serna to the Marlins in that blockbuster deal. While he doesn't have the highest ceiling, he has been extremely productive. The 22-year-old is hitting .270/.358/.462 with 32 doubles, 13 home runs, 66 RBI and 12 steals in 95 games between High-A and Double-A.

Unrelated to the trade deadline, first baseman Ben Rice (Tier 2) has also exhausted his prospect eligibility since our last update, so he was another notable name removed from the team's Top 10 list.

Pre-Deadline Rank: 17
Post-Deadline Rank: 14

Notable Additions: LHP Alex Clemmey (Tier 2)

Updated Top 10 Prospect List

1. OF James Wood (Tier 1)
2. OF Dylan Crews (Tier 1)
3. 3B Brady House (Tier 1)
4. RHP Jarlin Susana (Tier 2)
5. SS Seaver King (Tier 2)
6. LHP Alex Clemmey (Tier 2)
7. RHP Travis Sykora (Tier 2)
8. C Caleb Lomavita (Tier 3)
9. 3B Yohandy Morales (Tier 3)
10. RHP Andry Lara (Tier 3)

It seemed like the Nationals might have missed their opportunity to sell high on outfielder Lane Thomas last summer during his 28-homer, 20-steal, 3.3-WAR breakout season. But they still managed to secure a solid prospect haul when they shipped him to the Cleveland Guardians at this year's trade deadline.

The headliner of the three-player package acquired in that trade was left-hander Alex Clemmey, who was the No. 58 overall pick in the 2023 draft and signed to an above-slot $2.3 million bonus as one of the top prep pitchers in the class. The 6'6" southpaw has a 70-grade fastball, plus curveball and frontline potential if he can dial in his command.

The Nationals also picked up a quality pitching prospect in right-hander Tyler Stuart from the New York Mets in exchange for rental outfielder Jesse Winker.

Pre-Deadline Rank: 5
Post-Deadline Rank: 10

Notable Subtractions: 2B/OF Connor Norby (No. 4 prospect, Tier 1), RHP Seth Johnson (No. 10 prospect, Tier 3)

Updated Top 10 Prospect List

1. 2B/SS Jackson Holliday (Tier 1)
2. 3B Coby Mayo (Tier 1)
3. C Samuel Basallo (Tier 1)
4. LHP Cade Povich (Tier 1)
5. RHP Chayce McDermott (Tier 2)
6. OF Vance Honeycutt (Tier 2)
7. OF Enrique Bradfield Jr. (Tier 2)
8. LHP Luis De León (Tier 3)
9. OF Dylan Beavers (Tier 3)
10. RHP Patrick Reilly (Tier 3)

Connor Norby checked in at No. 86 on Bleacher Report's most recent Top 100 prospect list update, which was released shortly after the 2024 draft. He was the only top-100 prospect who changed teams on deadline day.

The 24-year-old is hitting .294/.382/.506 with 22 doubles, 16 home runs and 57 RBI in 84 games at Triple-A this year. He was the centerpiece in the deal to acquire left-hander Trevor Rogers from the Miami Marlins.

The Orioles also traded away top-20 prospects Mac Horvath and Jackson Baumeister to acquire Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays, and No. 10 prospect Seth Johnson to add Gregory Soto from the Philadelphia Phillies.

On the flip side, they also added right-hander Patrick Reilly in a prospect swap that sent outfielder Billy Cook to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Reilly, 22, has a 3.25 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 113 strikeouts in 91.1 innings this year after going in the fifth round of the 2023 draft.

Pre-Deadline Rank: 30
Post-Deadline Rank: 27

Notable Additions: RHP Jake Bloss (Tier 2), 3B/OF Charles McAdoo (Tier 3)

Updated Top 10 Prospect List

1. LHP Ricky Tiedemann
2. 2B Orelvis Martinez
3. RHP Trey Yesavage
4. RHP Jake Bloss
5. IF/OF Addison Barger
6. RHP Fernando Perez
7. SS Arjun Nimmala
8. 3B/OF Charles McAdoo
9. SS Leo Jimenez
10. LHP Adam Macko

There are only two new names on the Blue Jays' top prospect list, but they added a ton of quality depth to what was one of the thinnest farm systems in baseball.

Outfielder Jonathan Clase (via Seattle), infielder Eddinson Paulino (via Boston) and infielder Will Wagner (via Houston) all slot somewhere in the club's top-30 prospect list, and several other new additions have the potential to join them.

As for the two who did earn a top-10 spot, right-hander Jake Bloss has a 1.64 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in 13 starts across three minor league levels. He emerged as the top pitching prospect in the Houston Astros system before he was flipped in the Yusei Kikuchi deal.

Breakout prospect Charles McAdoo came over from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and he is hitting .299/.386/.512 with 21 doubles, 14 home runs, 65 RBI and 19 steals in 92 games between High-A and Double-A. The 22-year-old was a 13th-round pick in the 2023 draft out of San Jose State University.

Pre-Deadline Rank: 11
Post-Deadline Rank: 17

Notable Subtractions: RHP George Klassen (No. 5 prospect, Tier 2), LHP Samuel Aldegheri (No. 6 prospect, Tier 2)

Updated Top 10 Prospect List

1. OF Justin Crawford (Tier 1)
2. RHP Andrew Painter (Tier 1)
3. 3B Aidan Miller (Tier 1)
4. SS Starlyn Caba (Tier 1)
5. C Eduardo Tait (Tier 2)
6. RHP Jean Cabrera (Tier 3)
7. OF Dante Nori (Tier 3)
8. RHP Mavis Graves (Tier 3)
9. OF Griffin Burkholder (Tier 3)
10. RHP Seth Johnson (Tier 3)

The Phillies added closer Carlos Estévez to solidify a bullpen that had been without a go-to option in the ninth inning for much of the year. But the rental came at a steep price, as they sent top pitching prospects George Klassen and Samuel Aldegheri the other way.

That tandem was the team's best healthy pitching prospects, with Andrew Painter still working his way back from Tommy John surgery and viewed and still viewed as the top overall arm in the system.

They did manage to bring back right-hander Seth Johnson in a deal that sent Gregory Soto to the Baltimore Orioles, and in the grand scheme of things, this team is built to win now. Trading away a pair of rising pitching prospects in exchange for immediate bullpen help makes sense.

Pre-Deadline Rank: 27
Post-Deadline Rank: 23

Notable Additions: RHP George Klassen (Tier 2), LHP Samuel Aldegheri (Tier 2)

Updated Top 10 Prospect List

1. RHP Caden Dana (Tier 1)
2. 2B Christian Moore (Tier 1)
3. SS Joswa Lugo (Tier 2)
4. RHP George Klassen (Tier 2)
5. OF Nelson Rada (Tier 2)
6. LHP Samuel Aldegheri (Tier 2)
7. RHP Dioris De La Rosa (Tier 3)
8. C Dario Laverde (Tier 3)
9. RHP Barrett Kent (Tier 3)
10. SS Denzer Guzman (Tier 3)

Right-hander George Klassen and left-hander Samuel Aldegheri—the two prospects acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for closer Carlos Estévez—immediately slot in behind Caden Dana as two of the top pitchers in the Angels system.

Klassen, 22, had an injury-plagued college career at the University of Minnesota before going in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, but he has turned in a breakout performance this year with a 1.96 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 99 strikeouts in 64.1 innings. With a 70-grade fastball that touches triple digits and a pair of quality breaking pitches, he has huge upside.

Aldegheri, 22, was signed for $210,000 out of Italy in 2019 just before his 18th birthday. The 6'1", 180-pound southpaw has a 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 114 strikeouts in 82.2 innings between High-A and Double-A. It's not out of the question to think he could make a play for a rotation spot sometime next year.

Pre-Deadline Rank: 24
Post-Deadline Rank: 30

Notable Subtractions: LHP Robby Snelling (No. 3 prospect, Tier 2), RHP Adam Mazur (No. 4 prospect, Tier 2), RHP Dylan Lesko (No. 7 prospect, Tier 3), OF Homer Bush Jr. (No. 10 prospect, Tier 3)

Updated Top 10 Prospect List

1. SS Leodalis De Vries (Tier 1)
2. C Ethan Salas (Tier 1)
3. LHP Kash Mayfield (Tier 2)
4. RHP Victor Lizarraga (Tier 3)
5. RHP Isaiah Lowe (Tier 3)
6. 1B Romeo Sanabria (Tier 3)
7. LHP Boston Bateman (Tier 3)
8. OF Kavares Tears (Tier 3)
9. RHP Humberto Cruz (Tier 3)
10. RHP Henry Baez (Tier 3)

The Padres traded away four players from their top-10 prospect list, another highly regarded up-and-comer in catcher J.D. Gonzalez and several other notable prospects in the deals to acquire late-inning relievers Jason Adam (via TB) and Tanner Scott (via MIA) at the deadline.

Exciting teenagers Leodalis De Vries and Ethan Salas still give the organization a pair of headliners with superstar upside, while 2024 draft picks Kash Mayfield (No. 25 overall), Boston Bateman (No. 57 overall) and Kavares Tears (No. 134 overall) helped restock the overall depth.

Keep an eye on under-the-radar pitching prospect Henry Baez, who has a 2.87 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 88 strikeouts in 87.2 innings between High-A and Double-A this year. The 21-year-old has notably trimmed his walk rate from 10.8 to 7.5 percent this year.

Pre-Deadline Rank: 29
Post-Deadline Rank: 11

Notable Additions: 2B/OF Connor Norby (Tier 1), C Agustin Ramirez (Tier 2), 1B/3B Deyvison De Los Santos (Tier 2), LHP Robby Snelling (Tier 2), RHP Adam Mazur (Tier 2)

Updated Top 10 Prospect List

1. RHP Noble Meyer (Tier 1)
2. LHP Thomas White (Tier 1)
3. 2B/OF Connor Norby (Tier 1)
4. C Agustin Ramirez (Tier 2)
5. 1B/3B Deyvison De Los Santos (Tier 2)
6. LHP Robby Snelling (Tier 2)
7. RHP Max Meyer (Tier 2)
8. RHP Adam Mazur (Tier 2)
9. C Joe Mack (Tier 3)
10. OF PJ Morlando (Tier 3)

After trading Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres in May, the Marlins continued to the fire sale this summer by shipping out Jazz Chisholm Jr., Tanner Scott, Trevor Rogers, Bryan De La Cruz, A.J. Puk, Huascar Brazoban and J.T. Chargois.

The result is five newcomers to their top-10 prospect list, including Tier 1 prospect Connor Norby, who could potentially be their starting second baseman for the 2025 season.

Buying low on Robby Snelling gives Miami another high-ceiling young arm alongside Noble Meyer and Thomas White for the rotation of the future. Adam Mazur, whom the Marlins also acquired in the same deal with the San Diego Padres, is a MLB-ready option to immediately bolster the starting staff.

With a return to health down the stretch, Jesús Luzardo could again emerge as a sought-after trade chip this offseason, further bolstering a farm system that has gone from one of the worst in baseball to knocking on the door for a top-10 spot.

Updated Farm System Rankings

1. Seattle Mariners
2. Cleveland Guardians
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Chicago Cubs
6. Detroit Tigers
7. Chicago White Sox
8. Boston Red Sox
9. New York Mets
10. Baltimore Orioles
11. Miami Marlins
12. Oakland Athletics
13. Milwaukee Brewers
14. Washington Nationals
15. Colorado Rockies
16. Cincinnati Reds
17. Philadelphia Phillies
18. Los Angeles Dodgers
19. St. Louis Cardinals
20. Pittsburgh Pirates
21. San Francisco Giants
22. Texas Rangers
23. Los Angeles Angels
24. Atlanta Braves
25. New York Yankees
26. Arizona Diamondbacks
27. Toronto Blue Jays
28. Kansas City Royals
29. Houston Astros
30. San Diego Padres