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Which team has the best young players in the MLB?

 

Obviously this website is for MiLB players, but there are plenty of posts regarding prospects that recently reached the majors, and how they are faring. If you guys don't think this is the right place for this post, let me know and I'll take it down. Hopefully though it will generate some discussion and maybe even get rec'd and move Daaron's ridiculous Mazzaro posts.

The reason for this post is a recent post over at MLBTradeRumors.com that was about which team had the best young core of players at the major league level. The discussion generated well over 100 posts, mainly from fans of different defending their team's young players. The two that jumped out were the Dodgers and the Rays, who both do have a very nice group of players. Personally, I'm an A's fan, and I think they should be in the discussion, but I definitely don't think they're number one.

 

Tampa Bay - The Rays have a core of players where Longoria, Upton, and Price jump out at you, but the guys aroung them are pretty damn good, too. Niemann, Sonnanstine, Garza and Shields fill out the rotation, with Navarro as their battery mate. They've gotten plenty of hype due to the WS run last year, and if you ask me, it's deserved.

Los Angeles - The Dodgers are the class of the National League, and it's because they have almost a perfect mix of veteran and young talent. The names speak for themselves: Broxton, Billingsley, McDonald, Kershaw, Martin, Loney, Ethier, and Kemp. Whatever holes they had after these guys, they filled with veterans. Expect them to be competitive for a long time.

Boston - The Sox received a lot of attention that wasn't focused on the Rays. Guys like Lester, Masterson, and Bucholz are the good young pitchers. Papelbon is old, and Bucholz is overrated. Pedroia, Lowrie and Ellsbury are all pretty good to very good position players. Sorry Sox fans, I think Pedroia and Ellsbury are both overrated as well. Very talented core, but if it was the Mariners with that group, Pedroia never would have won the MVP and they wouldn't be receiving as much credit in the best young MLB players.

Oakland - While I don't think Oakland is number one, I think they're definitely top five. With a pitching staff of Outman, Braden, Mazzaro, Cahill and Anderson (all 25 or younger), and Bailey closing games out, it makes up for their weaker position players - though it's not as weak as it seems. I think Barton will be fine if he ever gets another chance, and Suzuki is one of the best young catchers in the game.

Texas - Like the A's, the Rangers skyrocket in about a year or so when they get another handful of prospects graduating into the MLB. Holland is there already, though, along with Teagarden, Saltalamacchia, Andrus, Davis and Kinsler. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I the Rangers and A's will become a pretty damn good rivalry in the years to come (not that it isn't already).

Milwaukee - I think the Brewers wouldn't jump out at a lot of people, but maybe they should. With Gamel, Fielder, Braun, Hardy and Gallardo, they aren't as deep as some teams, but that's a pretty good group of players.

Honorable Mentions

Cincinnati - Cueto, Volquez, Bruce and Votto

Atlanta - Hanson, Jurrjens, McCann, Escobar, and Kotchman

San Francisco - Cain, Lincecum and Sandoval

Florida - Ramirez, Johnson, Coghlan, Volstad, Hermida

Obviously, I've forgotten some, and you disagree with my top five or six (I wrestled with the idea of the Brewers as an honorable mention or not). Hopefully it will generate some discussion. Discuss below.

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