Padres farm system ranking from ESPN is brutal reality after A.J. Preller's aggressive moves

The San Diego Padres have been known to be one of the more active teams in trade talks ever since A.J. Preller took over for the team.

He's helped orchestrate some of the biggest blockbuster deals in recent years, including two Juan Soto trades, and most recently, a stunner for Mason Miller with the Athletics. But, where is the farm system now after all of that action?

According to ESPN's Kiley McDaniel, the Padres farm system is ranked dead last, 30th in the Major Leagues, and it's by a wide margin. Their top prospect isn't great anymore, and their depth is significantly lacking compared to before. It's a bad farm system.

Padres face brutal reality with farm system ranking from ESPN

"The Padres hold on to the last spot that they first claimed after the trade deadline," McDaniel writes. "... Before that 2024 season, they had the fourth-ranked system in baseball, helping to pinpoint exactly when GM A.J. Preller decided to move his chips to the middle of the table."

Preller's aggressiveness has landed them some great players over the years, but it has gutted the farm system in a way that will be difficult to repair.

He's done it before, including overhauling the farm system even after the first Soto blockbuster trade that sent a lot of top prospects to the Washington Nationals.

Currently, McDaniel has the Padres system ranked last in the Majors, with their evaluation at a measly $56 million, down significantly from the $135 million mark from a year ago.

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The Houston Astros are second-to-last, with an evaluation of $82 million. Part of why there's such a big drop-off is that the Padres lack depth, but also the high-end talent.

Their best prospect, catcher Ethan Salas, has regressed over the last few years. He's not just struggled, but he's also been hurt. McDaniel has him ranked 110th, outside of the top 100.

The Padres lack depth and high-end talent in their farm system. But Preller has shown he can navigate the trade market to recoup value and build a strong farm system in short order.

Rebuilding this farm system will be his biggest challenge yet, but it's worth keeping a close eye on, as Preller's knack for wheeling and dealing will, if nothing else, keep things entertaining for fans.

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