Dodgers Draft Better Than Anyone In Baseball, According to Poll of MLB Executives

MLB.com’s recent poll of big league executives brings about another chance to use the infamous Andrew Friedman in a bathrobe picture. Obviously, some in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ fan base feel that Friedman’s way of doing business has its warts. Still – you can’t knock his results – especially when it comes to drafting future big league players that pan out.

Notably, the Dodgers are ranked as the team that drafts the best in the MLB Draft according to a poll of MLB executives on MLB.com. Let’s take a look at this interesting read.

Which #MLB team has the best farm system? The most underrated? Overrated? Who uses the #MLBDraft the best? The international market?

In the final installment of our three-part poll, baseball executives answer those questions and more: https://t.co/0qH3KXnucf pic.twitter.com/vs2AVQngb1

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) January 12, 2020

First, here are the results of the poll. Overwhelmingly, the Dodgers came in ahead of any other team in the NL; and are ahead of the Tampa Rays by a wide margin. Notably, the survey was conducted with general managers, scouting directors and executives across all 30 teams. Therefore, this carries some good unbiased weight.

Which team uses the Draft best?

1. Dodgers (28%)
2. Rays (20%)
3. Cardinals (12%)
T4. Padres (8%)
T4. Rockies (8%)

It’s also interesting to note that intelligent people around baseball feel that the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies are doing things the right way at the roots level of drafting to build the farm system. Why is this important? For one, the San Diego Padres are noted as a contender for the Dodgers in the near future. Remember that you saw this when the Padres someday look like they could be the team to challenge the Dodgers.

Related: Assessing the Dodgers Path to an 8th Consecutive NL West Crown

Here’s what prospect pundit Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com says of the Dodgers’ top ranking.

A total of 11 teams received votes, but it’s easy to see why the Dodgers got the most votes, albeit narrowly, when you look at the core of talent in Los Angeles that all came via the Draft (Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, to name a few). And draftees like Gavin Lux and Dustin May are ready to make major contributions in 2020. After a bit of a dip, the Rays have really drafted well the past few years, a big reason why many consider their farm system the best in baseball.

Without question, the Dodgers have done a great job of drafting guys who can not only make it to the big league level but who can also make an impact. So often you hear that the game of baseball is a ‘crapshoot’ when it comes to drafting and developing prospects. However, the Dodgers have it down to a science under the Andrew Friedman regime. This is one of the many reasons they have sustained a level of success unparalleled in the game today.

NEXT: A Glance at the Dodgers Upgraded Starting Pitching Depth