Farm Futures: AL West Top 10s

This marks the fourth installment of this year's top-10 prospect rankings in each organization, continuing with the teams in the A.L. West. These rankings will be updated throughout the season on RotoWire.com when players switch organizations, lose their rookie eligibility, or when a player's development dictates a change in where they are ranked within their team's system.

Please feel free to start a dialogue in the comments section below, or @RealJRAnderson on Twitter.

Rank, Name, Position, Age On 4/1/16, Projected Level For Start Of 2016

HOUSTON ASTROS

1. A.J. Reed, 1B, 22, Triple-A
2. Francis Martes, RHP, 20, Double-A
3. Alex Bregman, SS, 22, Double-A
4. Kyle Tucker, OF, 19, Low-A
5. Colin Moran, 3B, 23, Triple-A
6. Derek Fisher, OF, 22, Double-A
7. Joe Musgrove, RHP, 23, Triple-A
8. Michael Feliz, RHP, 22, Triple-A
9. Daz Cameron, OF, 19, Low-A
10. David Paulino, RHP, 22, Double-A

Overview:

The top three names are easy. Reed is not only one of the best hitting prospects for 2016, but also the top first base prospect in the game by a mile. Martes is one of five or six minor league starters with legitimate SP1 upside, although with just 49.2 innings under his belt above Low-A, he carries plenty of risk. Bregman will be thought of as blocked at the big league level, which he is, but he is still easily a top-50 prospect in the game, thanks to a very high floor and a 60-grade hit tool in the middle infield. From there it boils down to personal preference. Tucker is the high-upside hitter who is four years away from the big leagues. Moran is the second-best bet for 2016-2017 offensive production behind Reed, although his fantasy value hinges on him hitting close to .300. Fisher is a toolsy outfielder with questionable defense and a questionable hit tool, but if he can put it all together, fantasy owners would have reason to be very excited. Cameron will undoubtedly go fairly early in dynasty leagues because of his bloodline (being Mike Cameron's son), but so much of his value will be tied up in his outfield defense. It's far too early to say what he will offer offensively. Of the final three pitchers, Musgrove is the safest bet to stick in the rotation, while Feliz is the closest to the majors, and Paulino has the most upside. The Astros have traded away a lot of prospects over the past 7-8 months, but because they did such an excellent job building up their farm, they could deal from excess in order to fuel a contending big league club. In the end, having that flexibility is the ultimate goal. This is still a top-10 system in the game.

Most Upside/Best Bet For 2016:A.J. Reed - There is something about first base prospects who fall outside the top 10 or 15 picks in their draft class that makes it difficult to say with certainty that they will be quality big leaguers until we actually see it. While Reed fits squarely into this box, he still looks about as safe as a first baseman selected 42nd overall just two years ago can look. He has not played above Double-A, but there are still whispers that he could win the starting job out of spring training. A lot of that has to do with the Astros' other options at the position. Jonathan Singleton will enter camp as the favorite, but he has been a failure to this point, and it's easy to see Reed outplaying him in spring training. Luis Valbuena, Marwin Gonzalez and Tyler White also loom, but Reed could also outclass those three. It's clear that the reason Houston didn't address this position in the offseason is that Reed is their guy, and he will be their guy at some point early this year. The safe money is on him coming up in late-April/early-May, at which point he would still be worth a top-300 pick in single-season drafts. Freddie Freeman-esque numbers could be manageable for Reed initially, and long term he'll offer 30-plus homers annually, with a high average and the counting stats that come with hitting fourth in a loaded big league lineup.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

1. Taylor Ward, C, 22, High-A
2. Victor Alcantara, RHP, 22, Double-A
3. Joe Gatto, RHP, 20, Low-A
4. Kyle Kubitza, 3B/2B, 25, Triple-A
5. Nate Smith, LHP, 24, Triple-A
6. Kaleb Cowart, 3B, 23, Triple-A
7. Jahmai Jones, OF, 18, Low-A
8. Kyle McGowin, RHP, 24 Triple-A
9. Roberto Baldoquin, SS/2B, Double-A
10. Natanael Delgado, OF, 20, High-A

Overview:

Everyone has had the experience of starting to watch a TV show from the beginning, then quickly coming to the realization around the middle of the second episode that the show is not for them. A similar sensation should happen when scouring the Angels' farm system. Reader who presumably likes good prospects, this system is not for you.

Most Upside:Jahmai Jones - He might be the best athlete in the system, but that's not saying much. With big speed potential, it will be worth monitoring his status when he reaches a full-season league at some point in 2016, but he currently isn't worth rostering in almost any dynasty league just yet.

Best Bet For 2016:Kyle Kubitza - The bat doesn't play at third, but he began a transition to second base last season. If he shows he can handle the keystone he could represent an upgrade over Johnny Giavotella at some point this season, but the upside in that scenario is capped at a middle-infield option in deeper mixed leagues.

OAKLAND A'S

1. Franklin Barreto, SS, 20, Double-A
2. Sean Manaea, LHP, 24, Triple-A
3. Renato Nunez, 3B, 21, Triple-A
4. Matt Olson, 1B, 22, Triple-A
5. Chad Pinder, 2B/SS, 24, Triple-A
6. Yairo Munoz, SS, 21, Double-A
7. Casey Meisner, RHP, 20, Double-A
8. Dillon Overton, LHP, 24, Triple-A
9. Matt Chapman, 3B, 22, Double-A
10. Richie Martin, SS, 21, Low-A

Overview:

It's hard to say which of these players will actually stick with the A's long enough to debut in Oakland, but thanks to some excellent pro scouting and development, there are a handful of names worth remembering in most dynasty formats. Barreto is certainly the crown jewel of the system, as he could be playing shortstop and hitting second or third for the A's on Opening Day in 2018, or perhaps a little sooner. Jacob Nottingham would have slotted second on this list prior to being dealt to Milwaukee, and now that honor belongs to Manaea, who can dazzle like a future SP2 on the right day, or leave evaluators pegging him for the bullpen on the wrong day. Nunez and Olson offer corner infield power that is close to the majors, but that might be all they offer in the long run, with Nunez being the better bet in standard leagues and Olson offering more value in OBP leagues. Pinder and Munoz have the minor league numbers and middle infield eligibility to return value in a deep dynasty league trade. It's not clear whether Pinder will play second base or shortstop, but he could be ready to contribute in the second half if the A's have a need. Meisner's six-foot-seven frame allows him to generate excellent plane on his pitches, and while he may not be more than a back-end starter, he could take a step forward this year and establish himself as a top-200 prospect with some advancement in his secondary pitches. If Overton's stuff can jump this year, now two and a half years removed from Tommy John surgery, he could be a big climber on this list, especially now that he is relatively close to the majors. Chapman's minor league power numbers were boosted by playing in Stockton and the Cal League in general, and he is more glove than bat at this point. Richie Martin is all glove and speed, and makes the list simply because he is an uptick in his hit tool away from being a sure thing to make it as a big league shortstop. Dakota Chalmers, a prep righty the A's took in the third round last year, just missed the list, but he could also be a big riser with a strong 2016.

Most Upside:Franklin Barreto - While Barreto doesn't have the safe floor of shortstops like J.P. Crawford or Orlando Arcia, he offers more five-category upside than those two, which makes for an interesting predicament when ranking shortstops for dynasty leagues. Barreto also could move off shortstop to third base, which is enough to slot him third among that bunch, but if he sticks at short, watch out. He'll head to Double-A for his age-20 season, and could force his way to Triple-A or perhaps even the big leagues sometime in the second half. The fact that the A's likely won't be contenders may hurt his chances of getting a sniff before 2017, but he's closer to The Show than most think.

Best Bet For 2016:Sean Manaea - Given how devoid the back half of the top-100 is of high-impact, close to the majors talent, the big lefty is still worth valuing as a top-75 prospect in dynasty leagues, despite being far from a sure thing at 24 years old. The A's will push him up to Triple-A to start 2016, and they don't have the arms in the big league rotation to prevent a callup in the first half if Manaea has earned it. He isn't worth a draft pick in most single-season formats, but he should be firmly on watch lists. Owners who want to stay ahead of the curve should be checking on his minor league starts in April and May to see if it looks like a promotion is coming. The strikeouts should be there for Manaea, but he could be a bit of a risk with ERA and WHIP early on, especially in his road starts.

SEATTLE MARINERS

1. Alex Jackson, OF, 20, Low-A
2. Edwin Diaz, RHP, 22, Triple-A
3. Drew Jackson, SS, 22, Low-A
4. Tyler O'Neill, DH/OF, 20, Double-A
5. Luiz Gohara, LHP, 19, Low-A
6. Luis Liberato, OF, 20, Low-A
7. D.J. Peterson, 1B, 24, Triple-A
8. Greifer Andrade, 2B/SS/3B, 19, Low-A
9. Boog Powell, OF, 23, Triple-A
10. Braden Bishop, OF, 22, Low-A

Overview:

Thanks to Jerry Dipoto's former boss, Arte Moreno, instructing him to deal away much of the Angels farm system for win-now players when he was the general manager in Anaheim, Dipoto's new team does not have the worst farm system in the division. However, the Mariners still have a bottom-five system in the game, after Jack Zduriencik's regime exhibited some of the worst player development results in recent memory. The first three names on this list warrant selection in leagues that roster 150-plus prospects, but after that, it's hard to make a case for anyone else in leagues where fewer than 250 prospects are rostered. Jackson, the shortstop, appears to have been a steal in the fifth round last year, as the Stanford product has an advanced approach and enough speed to swipe 47 bases (on 51 attempts) in 59 games with short season Everett last year. He is not a top-100 prospect yet, but he will be if he can continue to hit in a full-season league this year. O'Neill is a power lottery ticket that probably won't be able to make enough contact in the upper levels. Gohara and Andrade are high-risk, high-ceiling types who are forever away, while Liberato, Powell and Bishop are low-ceiling outfielders who do a little bit of everything, but are likely fourth outfielders or Quadruple-A types in the long run. In most systems, Jackson, the outfielder, would have been the biggest disappointment of 2015, but Peterson was even worse, given his age, and the belief that his bat would play anywhere. As a 1B/DH type, he really needs to hit in 2016 to remain on the prospect radar.

Most Upside:Alex Jackson - Last year was essentially a throw-away season for Jackson, as he failed to handle an assignment to Low-A, and spent most of 2015 with short season Everett. He is a prime example of why getting too excited about prep bats can be dangerous. Jackson was excellent in 2014 in rookie ball after getting selected with the sixth overall pick, and now he is no longer a top-50 prospect in dynasty leagues. Of course, he is still very talented, and his stock could soar with a good first half this year at Low-A. Adam Jones-esque production is still possible, but the lead time remains a big turnoff, especially in shallower leagues.

Best Bet For 2016:Edwin Diaz - A mid-rotation starter pitching half his games in Safeco Field is always an intriguing proposition. Diaz looks to be just that, at least in a year or two. The Mariners enter the season with plenty of candidates for their rotation, but many of those arms are either unproven or health risks, so it's possible Diaz could look like an appealing option to join the rotation in the second half, especially if Seattle is contending. He doesn't need to be rostered right away in single-season leagues, but he should be on watch lists, especially in AL-only leagues.

TEXAS RANGERS

1. Nomar Mazara, OF, 20, Triple-A
2. Joey Gallo, 3B/OF/DH, 22, Triple-A
3. Lewis Brinson, OF, 21, Triple-A
4. Luis Ortiz, RHP, 20, High-A
5. Dillon Tate, RHP, 21, Low-A
6. Yohander Mendez, LHP, 21, High-A
7. Ariel Jurado, RHP, 20, High-A
8. Jairo Beras, OF, 20, High-A
9. Eric Jenkins, OF, 19, Low-A
10. Leodys Taveras, OF, 17, Rookie ball

Overview:

The Rangers system remains one of my favorites. Their list always has a great mix of international signings and high-upside first round picks, and this year is no different. The top five is pretty cut and dried, but reasonable minds could differ on the ordering of Gallo and Brinson, as well as Ortiz and Tate. It's upside, upside, upside in the top five, and Mendez, Beras, Jenkins and Taveras offer plenty more to dream on in the bottom five. Mendez could really shoot up lists if he can show the ability to pitch deeper into games and hold velocity this year. Beras had a mini rebound in 2015 after leaving evaluators wanting more in previous professional seasons. He's still just 20, and there's a ton of power in that bat, which makes him another candidate to climb up lists. Jenkins is a speedy prep center fielder the Rangers popped with the 45th pick last year, and while speed and average will be his tools of note, don't be surprised if he develops double-digit homer pop down the road. He will require a lot of patience, however, and is borderline rosterable in leagues where 200 prospects are owned. Jurado has a mid-rotation ceiling, but he has a very high floor thanks to having the best command in the system. Andy Ibanez, Michael Matuella and Ryan Cordell all had a case for the bottom spot on this list, but Taveras' upside gave him the edge, even though he might be five years away from the majors.

Most Upside:Joey Gallo - One could make a case that Gallo has more fantasy upside than any other prospect, as he could basically be Giancarlo Stanton at third base if everything clicks. I'm not willing to bet that everything does click, but I also wouldn't want to be the owner who sold low on Gallo this offseason only for him to figure it out and haunt my dreams for the next 15 years. He's much better than he showed at Triple-A last year, and he has always displayed a knack for making the offseason adjustments necessary to crush a level the second time around. Don't be surprised if he rakes against Triple-A pitching to start the season, but after his failures in the big leagues last year, the Rangers may opt to keep him down longer than his fantasy owners might like. Even if he reaches the majors in June or July, I think he's still going to hit for a low average initially, as his adjustment period against big league pitching could be long and arduous. In three or four years, however, he could be leading the majors in home runs, so don't get discouraged if there are some more bumps along the way.

Best Bet For 2016:Nomar Mazara - There could be very few bumps along the way for this player. In fact, he could win some owners their fantasy leagues this season, given how late he is going in drafts. It is almost impossible to envision Josh Hamilton blocking Mazara at any point this season once the Rangers decide he's ready. He has passed tests at Double-A and Triple-A with flying colors despite being over four years younger than the average player at each level. The combination of a 60-grade hit tool and 65-grade power makes Mazara a top-five fantasy prospect in the game, and a top-five prospect for 2016. Gallo and Brinson could also make a notable impact this year, but Mazara faces the path of least resistance, while offering the highest offensive floor of the three.