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Where MLB Pipeline Ranks Dodgers' Farm System Heading Into 2025 Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alec Musa | Last updated Mar 8, 2025 11:30 AM ET

The Los Angeles Dodgers will have the highest payroll in Major League Baseball history this season, surpassing the $320 million mark, per Spotrac.

In addition to their impressive financial backing, Los Angeles will be one of just eight teams with an average roster age of over 32.

Despite having an elite, albeit aging, roster that includes some of the game's most recognizable names, such as Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, the Dodgers have numerous ways to keep their roster competitive.

MLB.com released its top farm system ranking for the 2025 season on Friday. The Dodgers have the fourth-best collective of young talent.

Top 5 MLB farm systems, per @MLBPipeline:

1. Detroit Tigers
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
5. Seattle Mariners

Sox were #1 on @BaseballAmerica, now top 3 on Pipeline. And that’s after trading 4 of their top ~15 prospects. pic.twitter.com/figGy1MQxz
— Boston Sports Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) March 7, 2025

Powering their roster, Los Angeles has 13 players making an adjusted payroll salary of at least $12 million this season. On the mound, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto headline the staff, not to mention two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, when healthy.

The lineup, anchored by Ohtani, also features former MVPs Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and newly re-signed Teoscar Hernández, who opted to return to the Dodgers rather than head elsewhere.

Undeterred by their hefty payroll, the NL West club has kept most of its top prospects. Since trading blue-chip prospects Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz for Trea Turner and Max Scherzer in 2021, the Dodgers have prioritized maintaining their young core of minor leaguers.

Seven players appear on the MLB.com Top 100, with international signee Roki Sasaki leading the charge.

Alongside Sasaki, shortstop Alex Freeland and catcher-turned-outfielder Dalton Rushing remain the team's likeliest top prospects to make an impact this season at the Major League level.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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