*This is where the rankings get tough, because starting with the Cubs, these systems are very good to elite. I have gone back and forth on multiple scenarios, but hey, it’s not life and death, it’s just some pretty awesome farm system rankings.

Top 15:

1. Jose Fernandez (SP)- Fernandez had plenty of talent when he was drafted by the Marlins in the first round of the 2011 draft. However, I’m not sure they even expected what they got from him in 2012. One of the game’s elite pitching prospects, Fernandez has a varied arsenal. He owns a four seam fastball that sits mid 90′s and touches more, a two seam in the low 90′s, a hard curve in the mid 80′s, a slider, and a change. His whole arsenal has the chance to be plus.

2. Christian Yelich (OF)- Yelich is a top notch prospect in his own right and has a chance to be top center fielder down the road. His best tool is his hit tool where Yelich projects to be a guy who competes for batting titles. His smooth stroke is highlighted by quick hands that allow him to adjust nicely and barrel balls consistently. While he doesn’t project for a bunch of power, some believe he will hit 20 homers annually. Defensively, he uses his good speed well, and tracks balls well into the gaps. Yelich owns just an average arm.

3. Justin Nicolino (SP)- I’m a huge fan of Nicolino’s. I think he has #2 starter potential which may be a bit aggressive, but I believe he can get even more out of his fastball. His fastball is already solid, sitting 89-91 from the left side, but his frame suggests he could get a bit more. He teams his fastball up with a solid curve ball as well as a plus change up. His ability to pitch is advanced for his age, and his command helps all of his pitches play up.

4. Andrew Heaney (SP)- Heaney is a tick behind Nicolino in terms of ceiling for me. While he has a bit more on his fastball, and his breaking ball is sharper, his change up isn’t nowhere near as effective, and neither is the command profile despite throwing strikes. Heaney looks like a solid three or four to me unless he can refine his mechanics to consistently throw quality strikes and strengthen his change up.

5. Jake Marisnick (OF)- I’ve had the opportunity to see Marisnick plenty, and while he is impressive physically, there are concerns with his approach at the plate which might not allow his considerable tools to come into play. Marisnick has good speed, and some potential to hit for power. Defensively, he could be an above average to plus defender in CF.

6. Marcell Ozuna (OF)- Ozuna is another toolsy outfielder who profiles to work in the RF corner thanks to a plus arm. With the bat, Ozuna has 20 plus home run power annually, and maybe more if he continues to refine his pitch recognition and approach. Ozuna runs well also.

7. Adam Conley (SP)- Conley has a low to mid 90′s fastball, that he pairs with a solid change up that shows nice armside fade. His breaking ball is loopy and not all that effective at this point. His command can waver on him, but may get better as he gets stronger and improves his stamina.

8. Mason Hope (SP)- Hope has an ideal pitchers frame that has a bit of projections still left on it. As, is he pounds the zone with a heavy fastball that sits in the low 90′s and occasionally hits 94-95. His curve ball has above average potential, but suffers from inconsistency from time to time. His change up is developing and could become a solid offering as well. Has mid rotation potential.

9. Austin Brice (SP)- Brice has a good physical frame that still has a bit of projection on it. He already sits low to mid 90′s with his fastball, and it isn’t out of the question he sits 94-96 down the road. He pairs the potential plus fastball with an equally potentially plus hammer curve. His change is a work in progress with a lot of work. So is his command. Could be a high end reliever if starting doesn’t work out.

10. Rob Brantly(C)- Brantly is someone I am familiar with as an ex-Tigers prospect. Brantly shows a good hitting stroke at the plate that is more suited for gap power and line drives. His well refined approached could lend him to hitting .270 or even better. Defensively, Brantly shows solid athleticism and a good arm, but he struggles at times blocking pitches and with the nuances of catching.

Oct. 2, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins catcher Rob Brantly (19) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

11. Adeiny Hechavarria (SS)- Hechavarria is a plus defender at SS who some still believe has a chance to hit a little bit as well. He does have some pop, but it’s really the defensive prowess that is important. I am going to have to see the bat get better before I’m sold on him though.

12. Jose Urena (SP)- Urena’s calling card is arm strength. He sits in the mid 90′s with his fastball, and can touch higher with some projection left on a skinny frame. His secondaries at this point are essentially non-existent though he shows an occasional good slider.

13. Derek Dietrich (SS)- Dietrich is interesting in that he could provide above average power from a middle infield position. However, that isn’t going to be SS with the Marlins because of Hechavarria. He is solid enough to play short, but Dietrich likely ends up at 2B or 3B in the end. His lack of plate discipline is going to stall him as a hitter a bit, but the power and solid defensive ability should allow him to play second every day.

14. Jesus Solorzano (OF)- Solorzano is a guy who has made some slow progress, but things seemed to come together a bit for him in 2012. He isn’t as toolsy as some of the other outfielders in the Marlins system, but he is solid across the board. He will probably have to get more selective to let his power show up more in games, but he is on his way.

15. Avery Romero (2B)- Romero is a guy that is going to have to make a living off of his bat. Reports on his defense are rough at best. Romero does have the power potential to hit 20-25 home runs a year.

Just Missed The List:

Kolby Copeland (OF), J.T. Realmuto (C), Alfredo Silverio (OF), and Charlie Lowell (SP)

Copeland is an athletic outfielder that has to learn how to play baseball. Realmuto has potential as an every day catcher if the bat comes along. Silverio is a Rule 5 pick that has a chance to stick because of solid across the board potential. Lowell is a big lefty that throws hard but has to command better.

Sleepers:

Jake Esch (P) and Noah Perio (2B)

Esch is still relatively raw since he didn’t pitch a ton at Georgia Tech, but he does have quality arm strength and generates lots of ground balls with a good pitchers frame. Perio was a top 10 Marlins prospect heading into 2012 and I could see bounce back from the physical second baseman.

Summary:

There is a good mix of pitching and hitting in this system that was obviously helped out by the trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. I am a little more skeptical of Jake Marisnick probably than most and Ozuna’s plate discipline could be much better, but I like some of the Marlins second tier arms quite a bit like Hope, Conley, and even Charlie Lowell. If starting doesn’t work out, Brice, Urena and Esch could form a heck of a back end of a bullpen in the future as well.

Obviously, it’s a very good system and should get better with a high draft pick in 2013.

August 03, 2011; Houston, TX, USA; Cincinnati Reds pitcher Dontrelle Willis (50) pitches against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

We all know that Willis did not work out – though at the time we at least hoped that he would provide decent rotation depth. The problem there wasn’t so much that Willis was bad (though he obviously was) but since he hardly pitched that Dombrowski immediately signed him to a contract extension that went up in smoke. It’s also safe to say that Willis was a throw-in to save the Marlins money and that his inclusion did not force the Tigers to give up more in the way of prospects. We also know that Miguel Cabrera did work out – as should have been expected. After all, he was only 24 at the time of the deal and coming off three consecutive seasons with an OPS between .947 and .998. The incentive for the Marlins to move him was primarily financial – though he was only a second-year arb eligible guy he made $7.4 million in 2007 and would get a raise to $11.3 million for 2008. It’s also worth mentioning that there were some who were concerned about Cabrera at the time: specifically about his conditioning, ability to continue to play third base and ability to hit at a high enough value to be a top tier first baseman (as opposed to a third baseman). In a nutshell that he would be a 4 win guy paid like a 6 win guy. These grumblings got louder after a (relatively) weak 2008 which saw Cabrera produce only 2.8 WAR despite leading the AL in total bases. Those grumblings have, of course, long since been silenced.

One of the toughest things to accomplish in running a baseball team is to get star-level talent and pay it only what it is worth. That is to say, no paying a 3 win guy $25 million per year. Most free agents are 30 or older and the best guys want the longest deals – which inevitably push them well past their prime. Cabrera has not been cheap, but he has been well worth what he has cost Mike Ilitch: according to Fangraphs calculations he has been paid $86.7 million over his 5 years in Detroit but has added value (in terms of wins) equal to $126.2 million.

There was also some criticism at the time of the trade about the steep price that the Tigers paid. They were forced to sacrifice top prospects Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller as well as Dallas Trahern, Burke Badenhop, Mike Rabelo and Eulogio De La Cruz. Prior to the 2007 season, pitcher Eulogio De La Cruz was considered to be the Tigers #6 prospect (and he had a decent 2007 in Erie & Toledo at age 23). Dallas Trahern was the Tigers #8 prospect, a late-round pick who had a solid 2007 in Erie’s rotation (12-6 with 3.87 ERA). Neither Trahern (who never made the big leagues) no De La Cruz (with a big league ERA over 8) has amounted to anything at all. Mike Rabelo was a big-league backup catcher at the time of the trade, he’s out of baseball now. Burke Badenhop was not such a highly touted prospect, a guy who had a decent season for himself as a starter for the Whitecaps in 2007 – but was a little too old for that club. The Marlins quickly converted him and he has had a decent career for himself as a middle reliever.

Those guys were, of course, the quantity of the trade as opposed to the quality. The Marlins are probably disappointed that the ultimately provided so little value, but not by any means surprised. The quality of the trade was Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin, the Tigers top two prospects. Prior to the 2007 season (and the prior-to-2008 rankings had not come out yet at the time of the trade) Miller was the BA #10 prospect and Maybin was the #6 prospect, making these two among the best Tiger prospects of the past few decades and not just 2007-2008. Hence the criticism for the high cost of the deal… For contrast, Nick Castellanos was BA #45 and Jacob Turner was BA #22 – which makes a cost of Miller/Maybin look significantly higher than a cost of Turner/Castellanos (a cost most Tigers fans considered – prior to 2012 – wholly unacceptable no matter who might be acquired). Justin Verlander peaked at #8, so we can split the difference and say that (in addition to the quantity) that deal looked like getting Cabrera in exchange for two Verlanders.

Oh what a difference five years can make… Andrew Miller never really put it together at the big league level. He developed some control problems not apparent as of 2007 (in which he put up a 2.73 ERA between 3 levels) and has averaged 5.1 walks per nine innings as a minor leaguer and 5.3 per nine in the bigs. In three years (off-and-on) in the Marlins rotation Miller went 10-20 with an ERA close to 6. In 2012 he had something of a renaissance as a member of the Red Sox bullpen (with a 3.35 ERA and more than a strikeout an inning) but while the book is not yet closed on Miller that Marlins chapter has.

While Miller simply flopped, Maybin has been something more of a success – though perhaps not commensurate with his prospect status prior to the trade. The fact is, he was young when he was dealt and he’s still young (25) now. From 2008-2010 he played the equivalent of one full season for the Marlins and gave them about 2 WAR worth of value – absolutely nothing wrong with that. The Marlins, apparently, got fed up with waiting or just got cheap and dealt him to San Diego for Edward Mujica and Ryan Webb. As a Padre, Maybin has produced 7 WAR in two years – as a center fielder who is slightly above average with the bat but quite good in the field. Mujica is a solid if unexceptional big-league reliever, as is Webb. All together, I’d have to say that not only did the Marlins get burned in trading FOR Cameron Maybin they also got burned in trading AWAY Cameron Maybin.

In the end, this was a pretty fantastically good deal for the Tigers – despite the fact that Maybin has actually materialized as a near-star and still potential future star (so it isn’t as though none of those prospects panned out). The Marlins lost in part because (as is so often the case) most prospects didn’t end up being very good major leaguers, but also because they didn’t actually have the patience to wait for them to contribute to the big league club.

Feb 21, 2012; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski during spring training at Joker Merchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

Unless something major pops up in the next 24+ hours, the Tigers will be done making trades.  The past few years, they have been active using the waiver wire in August, so we might see action there.  That would likely require adding some more payroll though.  With the budget situation as it is, I can only imagine that happening if the Tigers continue to play well and make a push towards the playoffs or an injury of significance occurs (The former over the latter…if I have any say).

Dave Dombrowksi told Jason Beck that the Tigers were “set at this point“.  Granted, given that this is Dombrowksi we are talking about, he could have literally meant “at this point” and 2 minutes later, with it not being “this point” any longer, he was once again looking at trade possibilities.  It will be interesting to see what rumors pop up in the next 24 hours.  I have to think, with Dirks on the road to recovery, the real question will surround the possible impact of the forgotten Tiger, Victor Martinez.  If he can come back and contribute down the stretch it would be (offensively speaking) just as big as any name I have seen thrown around.