This year, I've changed the format of my ranking of the top 10 prospects in each organization. The criteria for organizing these lists are the same, but I have included a little more explanation of the state of the system and discuss any prospects (top 10 and beyond) who might help the major league team this year.
I've also folded the columns on sleeper prospects -- players who did not appear in the global top 100 but might make a big leap onto the middle of that list next year -- into these organizational reports, mentioning more than one prospect per team where it's warranted.
AL EAST | AL CENTRAL | AL WEST
NL EAST | NL CENTRAL | NL WEST
Atlanta Braves
Org rank: 20
Farm system overview
Atlanta didn't dip much into its farm system to acquire Justin Upton, but its system wasn't strong to begin with thanks to a very weak track record in the draft over the past several years. The Braves' 2009 draft produced Mike Minor but is unlikely to produce anything else. Their 2010 draft gave them Andrelton Simmons, but again, there's little of note left from that crop. Their 2011 draft might fare a little better, with J.R. Graham on my top 100 and Sean Gilmartin probably a fifth starter in the majors, although that's what you'd like your down years in the draft to look like, not your best years. They have traded well and been aggressive with some smaller moves that have helped bolster the system, but the main way you acquire young talent is through the draft, and Atlanta's track record there is weak.
2013 impact
Starter Julio Teheran has been on the radar for years and is likely to spend most of 2013 with the big club, even though his fastball command and breaking ball aren't yet where they need to be. Evan Gattis, 26, might get a break from beating up younger competition in the minors and earn some at-bats as a backup catcher/left fielder.
Sleeper
Just 18 years old in rookie-level Danville last year, Mauricio Cabrera worked at 92-99 as a starter, with an above-average changeup and a developing (but still fringy) hard curveball. He's the younger brother of Alberto Cabrera with the Cubs and should be in Rome's rotation in low Class A to start 2013.
Miami Marlins
Org rank: 16
Farm system overview
In between laughing all the way to the bank, the Marlins' ownership hasn't paid much attention to the farm system over the past few years, spending little on the international market and lowballing its 2012 first-round pick, Oklahoma State lefty Andrew Heaney. The result is a system that's fairly top heavy and was a bottom-10 organization before the big trade with Toronto that netted two of its fop four prospects.
2013 impact
We're probably a full year away from any of the Marlins' top guys seeing the majors, so any impact this year would be lower-tier guys like Adeiny Hechavarria, a very good defensive shortstop with a long swing and poor plate discipline, and Derek Dietrich, a future second or third baseman with some pop but not much on-base ability.
Sleeper
A ninth-rounder out of a North Carolina high school in 2010, Austin Brice turned down soccer scholarships to play pro ball, working in the low 90s with good life and a curveball that misses bats. He's a good athlete who walked a man every other inning last year and needs to not do that. Also keep an eye on Jose Urena, who also worked in the low Class A Greensboro rotation. He has a plus fastball and commands it but needs to develop some average off-speed offerings.
New York Mets
Org rank: 14
Farm system overview
It's a top-heavy system that was boosted substantially by the R.A. Dickey trade. It brought a return that accounts for two of the Mets' top three prospects while they wait for the 2011 and 2012 drafts to start to have more of an impact on the system.
2013 impact
Both of their top prospects, Travis d'Arnaud (acquired from Toronto) and Zack Wheeler (acquired from San Francisco), should spend at least half the year in the majors, d'Arnaud depending on his health and Wheeler on room in the Mets' rotation. Wheeler might be their Matt Harvey, coming up midyear and getting by first on raw stuff as he makes adjustments, while d'Arnaud will have to show he can work the count enough to get to that power.
Sleeper
Domingo Tapia, last year's sleeper, had a strong year in full-season ball, although I think he's been passed by Rafael Montero, who has better command and better secondary stuff than Tapia, who throws harder with more sink but is less of a complete pitcher. Jacob deGrom came back from Tommy John surgery in the middle of the season and was 92-96 with plus life, a good slider, feel for a change and good control. He has yet to throw a full season anywhere, though, as he didn't convert to pitching regularly until the spring of 2010.
Philadelphia Phillies
Org rank: 27
Farm system overview
Years of trades, surrendered draft picks and refusal to go give signing bonuses that exceed MLB's recommendations have taken their toll on a system that doesn't look like it'll spit out an average every-day position player until at least 2015 barring a big step forward from someone like Cody Asche. There are arms and there are a lot of potentially high-upside position players in the lowest levels, but they've hit a dry spell at the worst possible time for the major league club.
2013 impact
Asche could end up earning some big league time at third base if Michael Young gets hurt or the team realizes he's not very good. Darin Ruf could do a little damage as a bench/platoon guy against left-handed bats, although I don't think he's a regular. Of their top prospects, Adam Morgan is the one who might help the big club in 2013. He may be in the rotation by July if there's an injury. If you really want to speculate, Kenny Giles finished 2012 in high Class A, but he's legitimately throwing 99-100 with at least an average slider, and his delivery is under control enough now that he's throwing strikes. He's the kind of reliever who could tear through three levels and end up in the majors soon.
Sleeper
Shortstop Roman Quinn is an 80-grade runner (on the 20-80 scouting scale) who looked great at short even though he was a center fielder in high school, a rare outfield-to-infield conversion that looks like it will result in more than just a fringy defender. He has a sound approach and will drive the ball the other way, although it's going to be more doubles/triples power than homers. Third baseman Maikel Franco showed huge improvement in the second half, with a much better two-strike approach and better overall commitment to his game, hitting .346/.395/.530 after an awful first half. I like a number of guys here as candidates for big jumps in 2013, even right-hander Shane Watson, a 2012 supplemental first-rounder who just missed the team's top 10 and who could push the system into the top 20 overall.
Washington Nationals
Org rank: 21
Farm system overview
I love the Nationals' top five, but after that, there's something of a cliff, although it's at least the result of two productive strategies: the trades for Gio Gonzalez and Denard Span, both of which made the major league club better, and the decision to bet their whole 2012 draft (pretty much) on Lucas Giolito, a No. 1 overall candidate who fell to No. 16 due to well-founded injury concerns. The biggest wild card is lefty Matt Purke, who hasn't been healthy since 2010 and whose arm action was always a big red flag, but if the minor shoulder surgery he had cleaned him up enough, he could end up regaining his old prospect luster. (You might have sensed that I'm not holding my breath.)
2013 impact
Anthony Rendon's bat isn't too far away, although both he and Carlos Rivero are blocked at third base as long as Ryan Zimmerman is healthy. The Nats may eventually move Zimmerman to first, but I don't think that happens this year. Christian Garcia may be very effective as a middle reliever if he can stay healthy, which he hasn't been able to do.
Sleeper
Last year's sleeper, Michael Taylor, went backwards, down a hill and into a canyon in 2012, but the tools that made him my sleeper choice for the Nats going into 2012 are all still present. Sammy Solis missed the year after Tommy John surgery, and while it's not the cleanest arm action ever, he was touching 96 mph before he blew out and can turn over a changeup, making him a potential top-100 candidate for next year if he comes back all the way.