Atlanta's fast commitment to a complete rebuild has produced the best farm system in the majors today, with incredible depth in pitching and up-the-middle players, which puts the other four clubs here in difficult positions.
The Nats and Mets are built to win now, but have to figure Atlanta will be competing with them quickly and probably with enough payroll flexibility to add talent when they're close. The Phillies started their rebuild later and are playing catch-up, although they're doing the right things, while the Marlins have dealt away prospects for marginal big-league talent and are in the worst long-term position of all.
Here are the top prospects in the NL East:
Atlanta Braves: Top prospects report
Shortstop Dansby Swanson's bid to win the NL Rookie of the Year is just the early harvest from the Braves' bumper crop down on the farm.
Miami Marlins: Top prospects report
Adding Braxton Garrett in the first round of last year's draft gives Miami some upside. Will he make up for the Marlins' shallow pool of prospects?
New York Mets: Top prospects report
Amed Rosario looks like a future cornerstone at shortstop, but the Mets have players such as righty Robert Gsellman, who could help them right now.
Philadelphia Phillies: Top prospects report
The Phillies can look forward to adding J.P. Crawford to the mix soon, but will they get any more help from their farm system in 2017?
Washington Nationals: Top prospects report
Win-now priorities cost Washington most of its best talent in trades this winter as top-10 prospect Victor Robles heads a thinned-out system.
Law's 2017 Prospect Ranks
Farm System Rankings:
• Nos. 30-21
• Nos. 20-11
• Nos. 10-1
Prospects:
• Nos. 100-81
• Nos. 80-61
• Nos. 60-41
• Nos. 40-21
• Nos. 20-1
• Prospects who missed
• Top 100 table
Prospects by team:
AL East
• Orioles | Red Sox | Yankees | Rays | Blue Jays
NL East
• Braves | Marlins | Mets | Phillies | Nationals
AL Central
• White Sox | Indians | Tigers | Royals | Twins
NL Central
• Cubs | Reds | Brewers | Pirates | Cardinals
AL West
• A's | Angels | Astros | Mariners | Rangers
NL West
• Diamondbacks | Rockies | Dodgers | Padres | Giants
Feb. 2: Top prospects by position
Feb. 3: Sleepers