We've heard for two or three years about the dearth of major league hitters in the cubs farm system, and that they're really just trumped up triple A lifers (and god forbid we have a true major league talent in the minors, because they only become Pie or Patterson). 

Now from what's occurred in the past few years we've seen to either

a) rely on them in short burts -- witness Bobby Scales or Micah Hoffpauir this year

b) trade them for something (sometimes we get value, sometimes not) a la Murton, Cedeno, (or longer ago B. Hill and Choi)

or

c) turn into bona fide major leaguers -- Soto or Theriot

Certainly these guys don't seem to ever be the nine-figure salary guys, but they do seem to be the guts of a 25 man roster.