In recent years, Orioles GM Dan Duquette has answered critiques on the weakness of the O's farm system with some variation on the following quote: "The same people who rate our farm system low are the people who pick us last in the division every year." This rejoinder packs less punch now that the Orioles did, in fact, finish last in the AL East in 2017.
At least as far as the farm system is concerned, though, things are improved at the moment, with the Orioles being judged to have three of the top 100 prospects in MLB, according to the Baseball America rankings released this week.