Dodgers spend big to build baseball's best farm
Jim Callis / MLB.com
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- In the middle of last decade, the Dodgers had a stacked farm system that ultimately sent Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton, Edwin Jackson, Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, James Loney, Russell Martin and several others to the Major Leagues. That homegrown talent has contributed to Los Angeles winning five of the last eight National League West titles.
The Dodgers still haven't returned to the World Series since winning it in 1988, however, even after spending a record $257.3 million on big league payroll in 2014 and upping that mark to $291.1 million last year. But their farm system is overflowing with talent once again, which could help Los Angeles get back to the Fall Classic and definitely should allow them to cut costs.
No. 1 in MLBPipeline.com's farm rankings, the Dodgers have baseball's best prospect (shortstop Corey Seager) and second-best pitching prospect (left-hander Julio Urias). After a scintillating September debut, Seager will start at shortstop for Los Angeles once he recovers from a sprained knee. Urias and right-hander Jose De Leon, who led the Minors with 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings last year, could plug holes in a rotation that already has sprung a few leaks.
Behind that group is another wave of younger blue-chip prospects headlined by right-hander Grant Holmes, first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger and outfielder Alex Verdugo. And behind that group is yet another wave led by righties Walker Buehler and Yadier Alvarez and outfielder Yusniel Diaz, all of whom were acquired in 2015.
MORE: http://m.mlb.com/news/article/167638092/dodgers-prospects-at-spring-training
Yeah, well the Giants are loaded too. Lots of fun to come ...
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Fertilized with boxcar loads of manure. 
Hunter Pence is already eying the kale and broccoli this year, although I suspect the tomatoes will be grown by their farm team up in Sack-o-tomatoes (I miss Herb Caen).
