With the statement being made recently that the Phillies haven’t been able to develop major league talent well for 100 years I thought I’d take a look at the 2020 teams remaining in contention for their respective League championship to ascertain how they were built and see how it’s presently done.
Notes :
The Astros and Dodgers lead the way with internal development ... 61 percent of the Houston roster was acquired in that manner while LA’s roster consists of 50 percent internally developed players.
The Rays acquired 78 percent of their roster via trade or free agency ( 57 percent via trade ) ... although they have a highly ranked development system by the experts they predominantly have traded players away to acquire the current big league crew.
Not surprisingly the Yankees have acquired 58 % of their roster via trade or free agency but have equally developed as many players ( 36 % ) as they have traded for.
The Braves have built the present roster with 64 % of it coming via trade or free agency ... they match the Yankees at 36 % being internally developed.
The Dodgers have an even split on their roster ... half via trade/free agency and half via internal development. Free Agents on the roster equate to 25 percent while trades also amount to 25 percent.
Note that of the the players on the five rosters who were originally signed and developed by the team only four are from 2017 or later ... here’s a breakdown of when they were signed ... almost half were signed in 2014 or prior. Most were not overnight big leaguers 🤔.
Signed prior to 2014 - 39 %
2014 - 10 %
2015 : 27 %
2016 : 18 %
2017 : 5 %
2018 : 1 %
As a comparison amongst the Phillies present 40 man roster ( excluding the 3 IL listings ) 18 players ( all have at least appeared in the big leagues ) are originally signed and developed ( 45 % ) with 10 being pitchers ... of the 18 players 45 % ( eight ) are from the 2016 thru 2018 draft or signing periods ...
Here is the breakdown of the 28 players that each 2020 still contending team selected thus far to be on the playoff rosters ...
Houston Astros :
Pitchers : 13
Acquired in trade : 6
Zach Greinke
Ryan Pressly
Andrew Scrubb
Cy Sneed
Brooks Raley
Blake Taylor
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 7
Luis Garcia
Josh James
Cristian Javier
Lance McCullers
Enoli Paredes
Jose Urquidy
Framber Valdez
Signed in 2017 : 1
Signed in 2015 : 4
Signed in 2014 : 1
Signed in 2012 : 1
Catchers : 3
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 1
Garrett Stubbs - drafted and signed in 2015
Free Agent : 2
Dustin Garneau - signed in 2019
Martin Maldonado - signed in 2019
Infielders : 6
Acquired in trade : 1
Aledmys Diaz
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 5
Jose Altuve - signed in 2007
Alex Bregman - drafted and signed in 2015
Carlos Correa - drafted and signed in 2012
Yuli Gurriel - signed in 2016
Abraham Toro - drafted and signed in 2016
Outfielders : 6
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 4
Chas McCormick - drafted and signed in 2017
George Springer - drafted and signed in 2011
Myles Straw - drafted and signed in 2015
Kyle Tucker - drafted and signed in 2015
Free Agent : 2
Michael Brantley - signed in 2018
Josh Reddick - signed in 2016 - although originally acquired in trade with Oakland
Astros 28 man roster summary :
Acquired in Trade : 7
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed : 17
Free Agent Signing : 4
61 % of the roster developed internally
25 % acquired via trade
14 % acquired via free agency/waiver claims
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Tampa Rays :
Pitchers : 13
Acquired in trade : 5
Nick Anderson
Oliver Drake
Pete Fairbanks
Tyler Glasnow
Ryan Yarbrough
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 3
Diego Castillo - signed in 2014
Shane McClanahan - drafted and signed in 2018
Blake Snell - drafted and signed in 2011
Free Agent : 4
John Curtiss - signed in 2020
Charlie Morton - signed in 2018
Aaron Slegers - signed in 2020
Aaron Loup - signed in 2020
Waiver Claims : 1
Ryan Thompson - claimed from Astros - 2018
Catchers : 2
Acquired in trade : 2
Mike Zunino
Michael Perez
Infielders : 6
Acquired in trade : 4
Willy Adames
Yandy Diaz
Ji-Man Choi
Joey Wendle
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 2
Mike Brosseau - signed 2016 as amateur free agent
Brandon Lowe -drafted and signed in 2015
Outfielders : 7
Acquired in trade : 5
Randy Arozarena
Manuel Margot
Hunter Renfroe
Austin Meadows
Brett Phillips
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 1
Kevin Kiermaier - drafted and signed in 2010 ( 31st round 😳)
Free Agent : 1
Yoshi Tsutsugo - signed in December, 2019
Rays 28 man roster summary :
Acquired in Trade : 16
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed : 6
Free Agent Signing : 5
Waivers Acquisition : 1
21 % of the roster developed internally
57 % acquired via trade
22 % acquired via free agency/waiver claims
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New York Yankees :
Pitchers : 14
Acquired in trade : 3
Luis Cessa
Chad Green
Michael King
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 4
Deivi Garcia - signed in 2015
Jonathan Holder - drafted and signed 2014
Jordan Montgomery - drafted and signed 2014
Nick Nelson - drafted and signed 2016
Free Agent : 7
Zack Britton - signed in 2019
Aroldis Chapman - signed in 2016
Gerrit Cole - signed in December, 2019
JA Happ - signed 2018
Jonathan Loaisiga - signed 2016
Adam Ottavino - signed 2019
Masahiro Tanaka - signed 2014
Catchers : 2
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 2
Kyle Higashioka - drafted and signed 2008
Gary Sanchez - signed 2009
Infielders : 6
Acquired in trade : 3
Gleybar Torres
Gio Urshela
Luke Voit
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 2
Mike Ford - signed 2013
Tyler Wade - drafted and signed 2013
Free Agent : 1
DJ LeMahieu - signed 2019
Outfielders : 6
Acquired in trade : 4
Clint Frazier
Aaron Hicks
Giancarlo Stanton
Mike Tauchman
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 2
Brett Gardner - drafted and signed 2005
Aaron Judge - drafted and signed 2013
Yankees 28 man roster summary :
Acquired in Trade : 10
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed : 10
Free Agent Signing : 8
36 % of the roster developed internally
36 % acquired via trade
28 % acquired via free agency/waiver claims
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Atlanta Braves :
Pitchers : 15
Acquired in trade : 4
Max Fried
Shane Greene
Mark Melancon
Huascar Ynoa
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 5
Ian Anderson - drafted and signed 2016
AJ Minter - drafted and signed 2015
Jacob Webb - drafted and signed 2014
Bryse Wilson - drafted and signed 2016
Kyle Wright - drafted and signed 2017
Free Agent : 5
Chris Martin - signed 2019
Tyler Matzek - signed 2019
Darren O’Day - signed 2019
Wil Smith - signed 2019
Josh Tomlin - signed 2020
Waiver Claims : 1
Grant Dayton - 2017 from Dodgers
Catchers : 2
Free Agent : 2
Travis d’Arnaud - signed 2019
Tyler Flowers - originally drafted by Braves in 2005 ... went to White Sox 2009 - signed by Braves 2015
Infielders : 6
Acquired in trade : 2
Charlie Culbertson
Dansby Swanson
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 3
Ozzie Albies - signed 2013
Freddie Freeman - drafted and signed 2007
Austin Riley - drafted and signed 2015
Free Agent : 1
Pablo Sandoval - signed 2020
Outfielders : 5
Acquired in trade : 1
Adam Duvall
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 2
Ronald Acuna Jr - signed 2015
Cristian Pache - signed 2015
Free Agent : 2
Nick Markakis - signed 2014
Marcel Ozuna - signed 2019
Braves 28 man roster summary :
Acquired in Trade : 7
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed : 10
Free Agent Signing : 10
Waiver Claim : 1
36 % of the roster developed internally
25 % acquired via trade
39 % acquired via free agency/waiver claims
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Los Angeles Dodgers :
Pitchers : 14
Acquired in trade : 3
Dylan Floro
Brusdar Graterol
Adam Kolarek
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 8
Pedro Baez - signed 2007
Walker Buehler - drafted and signed 2015
Tony Gonsolin - drafted and signed 2016
Victor Gonzalez - signed 2012
Kenley Jansen - signed 2009
Clayton Kershaw - drafted and signed 2006
Dustin May - drafted and signed 2016
Julio Urias - signed 2012
Free Agent : 2
Joe Kelly - signed 2018
Blake Treinen - signed 2019
Signed off Waivers : 1
Jake McGee - signed 2020
Catchers : 2
Acquired in trade : 1
Austin Barnes
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 1
Will Smith - drafted and signed 2016
Infielders : 7
Acquired in trade : 1
Enrique Hernandez
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 4
Matt Beaty - drafted and signed 2015
Cody Bellinger - drafted and signed 2014
Gavin Lux - drafted and signed 2016
Corey Seager - drafted and signed 2012
Free Agent : 2
Max Muncy - signed 2017
Justin Turner - signed 2014
Outfielders : 5
Acquired in trade : 2
Mookie Betts
Chris Taylor
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed internally : 1
Joc Pederson - drafted and signed 2010
Free Agent : 2
Terrance Gore - signed 2020
AJ Pollock - signed 2019
Dodgers 28 man roster summary :
Acquired in Trade : 7
Drafted or Originally Signed and Developed : 14
Free Agent Signing : 6
Signed off Waivers : 1
50 % of the roster developed internally
25 % acquired via trade
25 % acquired via free agency/waiver claims
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It’s only data but I thought I would share ...
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
Photo of ongoing player development - 2020 Instructs Camp - Mark Wylie