In the weeks after the July 31 trade deadline, Jim Bowden of The Athletic polled those around MLB to grade the farm systems of all 30 teams, reaching the conclusion that the Mets' system was 26th. But that doesn't jive with the general consensus about their system.

Bowden's sources agree with top prospect lists that SS Andres Gimenez, RHP Justin Dunn and 1B Peter Alonso are worthy of being the organization's top talent, adding each has enough talent and maturity to reach the big leagues within the next year.

In addition to Gimenez, Dunn and Alonso, league executives told Bowden that youngsters Ronny Mauricio and Jarred Kelenic, as well as Franklyn Kilome (who was acquired in July for Asdrubal Cabrera) are expected to also quickly rise in value.

I respect Bowden's research, but I get a totally different impression about the team's farm system when talking to scouts and friends with rival team player development departments.

The overall system is perceived as weaker than it is, people told me, probably because the Mets are not getting enough credit for the influx in young talent they acquired this past summer.

Kelenic, 19, who was drafted with the team's top pick this past June, is already considered by MLB.com to be the organization's third-best prospect. He has also appeared on most publications' revised league-wide Top 100 lists.

"He's a pure hitter and has the potential to be one of the bigger names to come out of this draft when all is said and done," a scout that watched him in college told me. "He plays center field now, but he has a good arm, and he'll add size, so I see him more as a corner guy."

Kelenic hit .417 in the Gulf Coast League and quickly earned a promotion to the Appalachian League. He'll likely reach Single-A St. Lucie next season, at which point he'll be considered on the fast track to reach the Mets within the next few years.

In addition to Kelenic, the farm system has also seen a meaningful bump in international talent, thanks in large part to Omar Minaya rejoining the organization this past winter.

The most notable international signing has been 16-year-old Venezuelan C Francisco Alvarez, who was signed to a team record $2.7 million signing bonus.

"Alvarez is strong, he's stocky and has obvious raw power for a teenager," an international scout told me. "We liked that he's already using the entire field, but also has the potential for plus power. He's got a strong arm behind the plate, but I don't think they're going to keep him there."

The Mets also added Dominican outfielder Freddy Valdez with a $1.45 million signing bonus, as well as Dominican shortstop Willian Lugo. Lugo was able to signed for $475,000 by using International Bonus Money acquired from the A's in exchange for Jeurys Familia.

Again, I don't doubt there are league executives that frown on the Mets, if for no other reason than that is often the thing to do in baseball. However, like I said, my read from insiders I talk with is that they're more middle of the pack with the potential to be top 10 next summer. Similarly, a recent list published by Baseball America ranked the Mets as having the No. 19 overall farm system, which was up eight slots from their preseason rankings.

The point is, no matter how it's sliced, the system is improving. And with what is likely to be another top 10 draft pick next summer, the next GM is set up to inherit a much better, quickly improving foundation than people currently think.

Matthew Cerrone (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Contact) is lead writer of MetsBlog.com, which he created in 2003. He also hosts the MetsBlog Podcast, which you can subscribe to here. His new book, The New York Mets Fans' Bucket List, details 44 things every Mets fan should experience during their lifetime. To check it out, click here!

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