With the cost of free agents at an all-time high and big league teams trending towards signing and developing their own talent, it’s almost ironic that the six most productive teams in terms of drafting and signing the 1,279 players who played in the big leagues in 2007 didn’t reach the postseason.
The Atlanta Braves, who missed the playoffs for the second straight year, signed more big leaguers (61) than anyone, followed by the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays with 55 each. At the opposite end of the spectrum were the Milwaukee Brewers (22), Cincinnati Reds (25) and San Diego Padres (28). Predictably, none of the 12 poorest-producing teams reached the playoffs.
Following are the top 10 organizations that originally signed the most 2007 big leaguers: |
| |
| |
Club |
Big Leaguers |
| 1. |
Atlanta Braves |
61 |
| 2. |
Oakland Athletics |
55 |
| |
Toronto Blue Jays |
55 |
| 4. |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
52 |
| 5. |
Pittsburgh Pirates |
50 |
| |
Seattle Mariners |
50 |
| 7. |
*Arizona Diamondbacks |
49 |
| |
*New York Yankees |
49 |
| 9. |
*Cleveland Indians |
48 |
| 10. |
*Boston Red Sox |
47 | |
| *2007 playoff team |
| --ALLAN SIMPSON |
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