ankings by the Baseball America staff. First ranking is for 2006, with rankings also listed at right for the previous five seasons.
| TALENT RANKINGS |
| Rk. | Team | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 |
| 1. | Arizona Diamondbacks | 13 | 13 | 21 | 23 | 29 |
| Signing Justin Upton is the icing on the cake for minor's most loaded system. |
| 2. | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2 | 2 | 14 | 25 | 28 |
| Even without top 2005 draft pick Luke Hochevar, the Dodgers have depth and star power. |
| 3. | Florida Marlins | 14 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 9 |
| Postseason fire sale brought depth, top-tier talent to a system that already had some of both. |
| 4. | Los Angeles Angels | 1 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 25 |
| Elite infielders head impressive group of hitters; pitching hinges on ‘04 picks Weaver, Adenhart. |
| 5. | Milwaukee Brewers | 3 | 1 | 16 | 26 | 30 |
| Despite graduating young talent to Milwaukee, Brewers still have plenty left on the farm. |
| 6. | Minnesota Twins | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 15 |
| Healthy return by Jason Kubel would provide boost to organization loaded with young pitching. |
| 7. | Atlanta Braves | 5 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Lowest ranking in years for Braves only comes after graduating 19 rookies to big league club. |
| 8. | Boston Red Sox | 21 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 24 |
| Improved pitching depth leads to quantum leap forward. |
| 9. | Cleveland Indians | 7 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 26 |
| Depth is the Tribe’s biggest strength, and Marte acquisition boosted team into top 10. |
| 10. | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | 9 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 6 |
| Former scouting director Tim Wilken left behind much-improved pitching depth. |
| 11. | Colorado Rockies | 6 | 15 | 25 | 24 | 16 |
| Fruits of three consecutive productive drafts starting to percolate up through the system. |
| 12. | Baltimore Orioles | 25 | 19 | 30 | 29 | 27 |
| A farm system on the way up could improve even more if Adam Loewen fulfills his potential. |
| 13. | Detroit Tigers | 29 | 22 | 12 | 18 | 18 |
| Biggest mover on the list thanks to pair of elite power arms, Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya. |
| 14. | Chicago White Sox | 12 | 20 | 15 | 9 | 1 |
| Championship closer Bobby Jenks heads list with outfield depth to spare. |
| 15. | Chicago Cubs | 10 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Felix Pie takes up mantle as top prospect in a rapidly thinning organization. |
| 16. | Texas Rangers | 16 | 16 | 19 | 8 | 13 |
| Trio of Double-A pitchers, improved depth give new GM Jon Daniels pieces to deal. |
| 17. | New York Yankees | 24 | 27 | 17 | 5 | 7 |
| Premium talent on hand, but Yankees’ top prospects have yet to venture beyond A-ball. |
| 18. | San Francisco Giants | 17 | 24 | 11 | 12 | 22 |
| Bulk of top hitters reach make-or-break Double-A in ’06; Matt Cain gives team elite arm. |
| 19. | Pittsburgh Pirates | 18 | 11 | 18 | 22 | 19 |
| Last two first-round picks, Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen, provide best hope for impact. |
| 20. | Houston Astros | 22 | 29 | 23 | 3 | 10 |
| Farmhands helped big league team to first pennant, yet minor league talent still improved. |
| 21. | St. Louis Cardinals | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 23 |
| Early returns on their bountiful 2005 draft boost stock of previously moribund system. |
| 22. | Philadelphia Phillies | 20 | 21 | 7 | 11 | 12 |
| Jim Thome trade nets pair of lefties who can step in if top prospect Cole Hamels gets hurt again. |
| 23. | Kansas City Royals | 28 | 19 | 26 | 21 | 14 |
| No. 2 overall pick Alex Gordon, Billy Butler provide 1-2 punch for club in need of hope. |
| 24. | Washington Nationals | 26 | 30 | 29 | 16 | 21 |
| Scouting director Dana Brown has done well in tough circumstances to accumulate talent. |
| 25. | Toronto Blue Jays | 15 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 17 |
| System has some depth, particularly on the mound, but few players project as regulars. |
| 26. | Oakland Athletics | 8 | 17 | 22 | 19 | 11 |
| Talent inevitably eroded after A’s graduated four impact rookies to big leagues in 2005. |
| 27. | Seattle Mariners | 11 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 4 |
| Utter lack of pitching prospects has roots in run of poor drafts in late 1990s, early 2000s. |
| 28. | New York Mets | 19 | 10 | 13 | 27 | 20 |
| It’s Lastings Milledge, Mike Pelfrey and a lot of players who wouldn’t make other teams’ top 10s. |
| 29. | San Diego Padres | 27 | 25 | 20 | 4 | 8 |
| At least the best the Padres have to offer are close to helping the big league club . . . |
| 30. | Cincinnati Reds | 23 | 26 | 24 | 14 | 3 |
| While nearly all the Reds’ best hopes for the future are in A-ball or below. |