MLB Pipeline's Top-100 prospect update has Padres' plan paying off in promising way

AJ Preller has used the San Diego Padres farm system over the past several seasons in order to bolster the team's big league roster. This isn't a revolutionary way to construct a roster, and it's worked out quite nicely over the years.

Rebuilding franchises are willing to deal expensive, yet talented, players in order to restock their farm systems. As such, the Friars have benefited by adding the likes of Dylan Cease, Tanner Scott, and Luis Arráez this year, and players like Josh Hader and Juan Soto in years past.

But Preller didn't decimate the entire Padres' farm system at this year's trade deadline. During trade negotiations this summer, there were at least two prospects whom the Padres President of Baseball Operations deemed untouchable. Both players are now ranked among the top 50 prospects in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.

MLB Pipeline's Top-100 prospect update has Padres' plan paying off in promising way

About this time every year, the contributors at MLB Pipeline rerank the top 100 prospects in the sport and also rearrange their rankings for the top 30 prospects in each organization. The Friars' top two prospects — Ethan Salas and Leodalis De Vries — not only rank among the top 100, but earned top-50 recognition.

Salas, considered by many to be the top catching prospect in the minor leagues, is ranked No. 20. De Vries comes in at No. 47 after showcasing his immense talent at Low-A Lake Elsinore this season. Seeing as how both Salas and De Vries survived the trade deadline sell-off, it's safe to assume that Preller has big things planned for the Padres top two prospects.

Interestingly enough, none of the players the Friars dealt to the Miami Marlins this season rank among the top 100. Even within the Marlins' organization, none are even ranked among the top five. Robby Snelling and Dillon Head both cracked the team's top 10, but that's it.

As for the rest of the Padres' top prospects, every player in the top 10 is 21 years old or younger. In fact, every player in the top five is a teenager. But based on the Padres' recent history, this bodes well for San Diego.

The Padres are stacked at nearly every position on their current major league roster with a number of players signed to long-term deals. Having their farm system stocked with young and developing talent will allow Preller to either eventually replace those players whose contracts are set to expire in the coming years, or trade away his young assets to bolster the Friars big league roster. Either way, it's win-win for the Padres.

More San Diego Padres News and Rumors