Mid-Season Top 100 Prospects for 2016 Fantasy Baseball

Do you think Moncada starts 2017 in the majors? Or does he stay down in the minors?

Brednan Rodgers ranked so highx yet his ETA is 2019…..not that I disagree, but just confused. Please elaborate. Was thinking of stashing him, although I already have Bregman, Baez, Anderson and Reyes (ugh, can’t be dropped). Just reading some beat reporters, they seem to think he’s their best prospect.

Hi Ralph, appreciate the prospect work, I’m an addicted prospect hound and have been loving following all of the minor league levels and prospects.

A few guys outside your top 100 that I wanted your take and ETA on:
Luke Weaver
Ronald Guzman
Bobby Bradley

I just took over an abandoned team in a 30-team dynasty league where each team can hold a max of 6 minor league players. I was glad to find that I could grab these available prospects:
Harrison Bader
Willie Calhoun
Rhys Hoskins
Dylan Cozens
Anthony Alford
Luke Weaver

I’m hoping to have a couple of these guys get promoted by the end of the year so I can add additional prospects, there are quite a few that I have my eye on. Because I only have 1 pitching prospect I was hoping Weaver might be an option by the middle of next year. With talent and ETA in mind, would you rather have Frankie Montas or Domingo Acevedo over Weaver? I realize in the list above you have them ranked where Weaver is not on the list. I have been really impressed with Weaver’s numbers thus far and of course the Cardinals pedigree as a pitching prospect certainly helps his chances of making an impact in my eyes.

Thanks again for your insights!

Hey Ralph, I’m in a 10tm Dynasty League w/ 15 MiLB spots. Our annual draft allows us to replace 8(plus any acquired picks via trade) Is Swihart worth rostering? He’d be my 5th player dropped.

Uh, how do you not include Joey Gallo? Jesus…

I’m in a 16 team dynasty, 6×6 H2H with K/BB and OPS extra cats, plus QS instead of W. the leader of each roto cat at the end of the season wins $.

Here is my roster. C – Wilson Ramos, 1B – hosmer, 2B – kipnis, SS – correa, 3B – bryant, OF – Blackmon, nelson cruz, marte UTIL – beltre, ortiz BN – brantley, stanton, harrison, jose ramirez SP – price, teheran, sonny gray, Quintana, jose fernandez, salazar, gausman, liriano, jamie Garcia RP – papelbon, seung oh, melancon, neris, dull, madson, mau cabrera, karns. Minors roster is Susac, Lara, Mateo, Guerra, Verdugo, Yusniel Diaz, phillips, tyler o’neill, pete o’brien luis alexander basabe, austin voth, alex reyes, Jorge lopez, clevinger, cease, Oscar de la cruz, kuhl.

back of rotation (gausman, liriano, sonny, karns, jaime garcia) has been garbage behind jofer, price, teheran, quintana, salazar. looking for another SP. doesn’t necessarily have to be young.
1. can you rank order in which you’d attempt to acquire (or give me the top 5 you’d go after)… rich hill, wainwright, smyly, paxton, duffy, bauer, odorizzi, eickhoff, tanaka, verlander, pomeranz, mccarthy, matt moore, kyle hendricks, verlander. These are my “bargain” targets.
2. my big time ticket is carrasco. go for a cheaper option above, or go after carrasco to grab an elite guy? 3. is alex reyes, mateo, and a first rd pick a reasonable opening offer for carrasco?

These are the lists and comments that I love to see! Sorry I’m a few days late, but here’s what I got.

I play in a 10 team, h2h, keep forever league. I conceded last year with an eye on this year and beyond. My team has looked great at times and I’ve made some tough decision as of late. Just want to run a few things about my team by you. I love following the prospects, but in this league no one has roster room to hold more than 1, maybe 2, prospects and still compete. I’ll go ahead and give you the lineup since this is really a once a year thing. (lots of points categories but we do take -2 per K on batting)

C Gattis
1B Goldschmidt
2B Schoop (just dropped Russell before his HR explosion)
3B Bryant
SS Segura
LF Yelich
CF Betts
RF Polanco
Util Lamb
Util Heyward
Util Profar
Bench Kang
Bench Bregman (dropped Turner since it looks like he’ll be moving to the OF and I feel pretty set there)
DL Soler

P Arrieta, Syndergaard, Lester, Salazar, Stroman, Matz, Rodon, Shoemaker, Snell (streaming), Cole (DL), Melancon, Rondon, Nate Jones (points for Holds)

My pitching was looking great until maybe 3 weeks ago. I think I’m just going to have to ride that one out, but I’m here for suggestions.

My team obviously could compete to win this year, but next year was my real goal of competing and I’m trying not to be short sighted.

Anyone that you think I should be selling. I’m thinking Yelich at this point and play Bryant in Lf and Lamb at 3B. Maybe package Yelich and Profar and see what I can get. Profar has been great, but there just doesn’t seem to be a lot of room for him to get ABs.

I’m looking for a Segura replacement for next year, but he’s had a great year and is just getting to his prime and in a great line up and ball park.

Thank Ralph

Notice that Patterson is playing 1B for the Isotopes today. That could speed up Dahl’s eta, if he’s not second in line in the OF

Drop Maurer for Glasnow? Somehow I’ve ended up with a gaggle of garbage closers outside of Ramos (Vizcaino, Street, Cingrani, Maurer and Herrera).

See you put a Hoskins in front of Cozens….do the home/away splits make that decision for you?

I recently picked up Cozens over Hoskins due to Power/Speed (15 SB).

Nice! Any context on when Lourdes could potentially make an impact in MLB, as well as his floor/ceiling? Is he even signable yet?

Also, on Otani, what are you thoughts on chances of him posting? I ask because players like Darvish and Maeda tend to get plucked up in these prospect drafts before most people know who they are, to potentially huge benefits. If there is even a decent chance at him posting, and he has the chance to be close to them, it’s totally a risk worth taking.

Really appreciate the help! Though you were great on the podcast a few weeks ago by the way.

Hey Ralph, love the list – and it’s timely too. We have our prospect draft next week, where each of our 10 owners pick 3 prospects that we can keep for free beyond our other keepers for this year and 2 more. Our only restriction is that the player must never have made an MLB appearance. Can you suggest any international players I should consider, and where you may rank them in your list?

Thanks for the help!

Does the fact that the leaderboard is awash in OF prospects change your valuation?

If you look at the infield it’s Bregman and Moncada then a BIG step down.

Also, you are Really down on Healy. For a guy who has a clearer path to the majors than most, I’m curious what your take is.

Love your articles Ralph! We have 7 minor league spots and I was glad to see that 6 of my guys are in your top 35 (3 in the top 10 is even better!). One guy didn’t make the top 100 however, and that was Hunter Dozier. We can’t keep guys in the minors forever, so I generally focus on picking up players in AA or AAA. The following top 50-ish are my available in my league: A. Rosario, R. Tapia, D. Paulino, and J. Hoffman. 6 of my 7 are hitters, with Hader my only pitching prospect. Would you drop Dozier for any of these guys? Dozier’s AAA numbers do look good, though it is the PCL.

Second question re Hader. I know his starts so far aren’t as pretty as they were in AA. We all talk about the Coors effect. What about the Colorado Spring Sky Sox effect?

Thanks Ralph!

Austin Hedges has been absolutely stupid at the plate lately. Something like 10 dongs in 11 games. When do you see him coming up? Power out of nowhere, just PCL being PCL? Or legit power?

Thanks Ralph!

Ralph

With all the news on Pittsburgh staff taillon on dl Etc you think Glasnow is up sooner now?

Who contributes more this season Conforto or Dahl. I have Conforto in my NA spot now.

In a keep forever dyno would you trade away Todd Frazier to get bregman?

Willson Contreras: I know he’s not on this particular list, but where does he rank in terms of a keeper league? Is he immediately head and shoulders above the crowd at the top of the catcher ranks, or will he produce at the level of say a Sal Perez (I.e., doesn’t warrant keeper status)?

I currently own Posey (12 tm roto, keep any 6 players), and to give you an idea of positional depth, Posey and a pre-injury Schwarber were the only catchers that were kept last year.

Great write-up glad to see some Donnie love.

What are your thoughts on Jack Flaherty (A+ SP StL)?
After starting the season poorly, he’s been really good. I like the K/BB numbers as well-is he one to just watch or target?

Love your articles, btw.

I ended up doing my Buxton, Matz, L Martin for his Mazara, Jeffress, Porcello.

I’m happy with it for this season and beyond. I’m not confident about Buxton and Matz’s immediate to mid future.

Thank you for this article! Great to see Bregman getting his due, I don’t understand why I’ve seen him consistently ranked outside the top 30 on most other lists..he’s been raking from day one and completely mashed in SLC this weekend. Wish he wasn’t so blocked in Hou.

Some of these call up dates, particularity the 2016 ones, are hyper aggressive. Frankly, barring injury, I’d be surprised if Meadows is more than a September replacement, Margot needs a couple trades plus to wait his turn behind Dickerson and Renfroe, I think the Yankees wait to see if Judge has improved or is on a hot streak (plus the Yankees are Ridiculously slow with position players), and there is no reason at all for the Phillies to rush up Nick Williams. I would love to see all these guys, but July 2016 seems like wishful thinking.

The one you may be conservative on is Moncada – I think , barring a trade, he gets a September ‘cup of coffee’, but you’re right, call up for good is probably 2017

Great article. Do you see Harrison Bader starting next year and why?

Thanks!

Ralph, I’m in a keeper league (15 keepers) in first place and I’m trying to hold on some guys that are performing pretty bad. I’d like to stash trea turner (Segura as SS currently). Would you cut any of Taillon, Heyward, Justin Upton or Franco for him? Considering not only their value for the rest of the season but also for the next two seasons.

Thanks

I come on almost daily for the notes, dig Grey. But your prospect stuff has become my next most enjoyable stuff on here. Really appreciate this list. Printing it and stashing it for reference.

Dynasty trade.

My Buxton and Matz for Mazara, Porcello,

Great stuff
Very difficult to find helpful and useful dynasty info anywhere
Keep up the great work

Have Bregman and judge riding Bennch with Glasnow on na. If I’m in 3rd place 12 team redraft would you expect those guys to outhit guys like Moya and Baez?

Amir Garrett or Vladimir Gutierrez?

Where do you see Austin Meadows playing with the Pirates this season? Tough to see them moving anyone in that great OF, although I have heard those cutch trade chatter.

is David Dahl not expected up until next year June due to service time ? Any chance he’s up sooner?

And finally, is there a prospect, not called up yet this year, that you could see hitting ~15 HR and 8-10 SB’s with a decent average ROS? Who has the highest fantasy ceiling ROS?

Thanks Ralph!

Today I was offered Jason Heyward for Hanley Ramirez.
Its a keeper league and I’ve already thrown in the towel and farmed my top five players (max sherzer, daniel duffy, maikel franco, carlos correa and yoenis cespedes).
Should I trade Hanley for Heyward in hopes of a cheap bounce back candidature for next season?

What’s the reason that you prefer Hoskins over cozens? Previous production? Both have been very pleasant surprises for phils fans like myself this year.

Thoughts on Dominic Smith’s latest power surge, better prospect than Vogelbach…I know, I know, I see your rankings, but Smith was a first round pick..

What are your thoughts on Zunino? Was playing well in AAA and connected twice last night, any staying power?

Any insight on Kevin Maitan? Top 50 prospect from the get go, or have to wait and see?

Again Ralph, this stuff is gold, thanks very much for all your effort.

Looking at the list, 12 team, 15 man milb roster, I have 12 players in your top 100. Guess who has been following your advice? The only ones not on your top 100 are Gallo, Lucius Fox and Sam Travis. They worth cutting for Prospects in the 80-100 range if they are not owned ? Thinking Mountcastle, DeMerritte as two I know are not on a roster anywhere.

In another league, I am allowed 5 NA players. We keep between 9 and 18 next year and they are slotted in to the first 9-18 rounds. What would your strategy be ? I’m not really competing this year and have stocked my 5 NA’s with prospects who have ETA’s in 2016.

Looks like the Icelandic dream is over.

Thanks for reading,
Dan

Lists like these are incredibly helpful. Thanks Ralph!

I’ve been holding Dahl for most of the year in my dynasty. The speed/power in Coors was too alluring. Would you bet on him not seeing the majors this year? Meadows, Williams, Margot are all available. Would you look to add these guys over Dahl? Thanks

Big jump for Amed Rosario. He is off to a great start in Double A too. Do you have a player comp for him? Is he another Lindor in the making?

1st time playing keeper auction in baseball keep 10 prices in ($)…going for it this year I was really hurting at sp, made a trade today let me know how I did.

My villar(10$)/myers(12$)/chapman (15$)

His C seager (26$)/Degrom (30$)/Maeda (6$)

10 team h2h 6×6 OBP / QS league Which side?

1)My cueto/yelich for

springer/shoemaker or Jaime or rodon

2)cueto/yelich/merrifield for Paxton/springer/schoop

I’m weighing making an offer on Wieters in a dynasty league, my catching situation isn’t pretty (Cervelli/Suzuki/Avila). But I know the other owner is gonna ask for Judge and/or Zimmer in return. I have an aging OF so I’ve turned down most deals involving those two automatically. Would Wieters be enough of an upgrade to justify trading one of those two?

What are your thoughts on Greg Bird? (Dynasty)

Great list and thanks again for all that you do. Really appreciate all the all work and the inclusion of both stat lines and ETAs with this list, it helps a lot.. With that being said I had two questions for you. Just curious why you are so high on Willie Calhoun at 21? Especially considering he is a middle infielder who doesn’t steal bases. I ask because he is a free agent in my NL only keeper league, and I was going to target Rhys Hoskins instead with my next pickup. But you have Calhoun much higher, and I wanted to get your thoughts as you may change my section.

As for my second question, why so love on Kevin Newman? I know that you have him on your honorable mention list, but for such a strong bat at SS I would think he would be closer to number 50 or so. He has a slash line this season of .353/.409/.480 and is now at AA, so I would think he would be much closer to Adames and Rosario. Especially in light in the drop of Arcia and Crawford because of their respective poor slash lines.

What I love is Newman now seems to have a clear path to the majors. Kang has settled in for good at 3B, Hansen is at 2B, and it’s only Jordy Mercer blocking him for the time being at SS. I would think he is in line to be called up in classic Pirates fashion right after the Super 2 deadline next year. Any thoughts on Newman? Thanks again for all that you do…

Just my 2 euros from the other side of the pond..I believe MLB needs to have all teams set their lineups before the first game each day, this way I can set my fantasy lineup at the same time..

chance sisco?

Good stuff as always Ralph…Have a happy fourth

Okay Ralph, everywhere else, it seems bloggers are pessimistic about Bregman being called up before Sept. Why do you feel otherwise? I have been “cyclopsing” him for months now. …go throw some tea in the harbor for me. ?

Question: Trade Corey Seager for Gerrit Cole?

So, my league is such: 14 team, 14-keeper, 26-roster size, so it’s like a keeper/dynasty hybrid. It’s a 7×7 H2H. We add OBP and TB, and QS and L.

I have needed SP help all season, but I love the offense I’ve built (at the expense of my pitching staff) and want to go for it this year but still have a competitive squad for years. I especially love Seager. This is what my team looks like:

C- Lucroy
1B- Miguel Cabrera
2B- Matt Carpenter
SS- Xander Bogaerts
3B- Josh Donaldson
IF- Corey Seager
OF- Mike Trout
OF- Bryce Harper
OF- Byron Buxton
OF- Melvin Upton
Util- Danny Valencia
Util- Leonys Martin
BN- Yoan Moncada
BN- Hunter Renfroe

SP- Carlos Carrasco
SP- Aaron Nola
SP- Stephen Matz
SP- Jeff Samardzija
RP- Francisco Rodriguez
RP- Kevin Gausman
P- Jason Hammel
P- Lucas Giolito
BN- Jose De Lion

I think of Seager as top-15, maybe top-10 bat in a dynasty league. I tend to favor young hitting over young pitching. Would you trade Corey Seager for Gerrit Cole (and a throw-in of Brad Ziegler) in my situation? I just really hate writing off the future forever of a 22 year old stud hitter vs. a young (albeit studly as well) pitcher who is injured right now.

Great list! One of the best I have seen. Love the rankings gor Happ, Adames, Meadows and Calhounand the dropping of Crawford and Arcia. At some point players have to put up numbers and not rely on potential alone. That being said, Robles is the one guy I can go either way on. He could be #1 based on potential/production. But for now I agree with where you have him. I want to see a little more power in the 2nd half from him. And his on-base is more due to hit by pitches than walks…which is a tiny bit concerning,

Awful, just awful

How do you see Judge producing once he’s called up? Think he’s Stanton-lite or will he platoon too frequently to produce consistently?

Thanks for the list, happy 4th! I have Bader and O’Neil is available too. You have them separated by two spots. Worth making the swap or at this point they’re essentially the same? (Also have Glasnow, Rodgers, Happ, Eloy)

In my league we can draft a single player and hold his rights for four seasons if we select him while he still has “Rookie” status. Looking toward 2017, who on the list would you want for the next four years? Additionally, I’d get him in the following drafts in the 12th, 10th and 8th rounds respectively. Thanks in advance. Great article!
As an A’s fan, I love seeing Puk in the rankings already.

In my league we can keep one “Dynasty” player for four seasons if we draft him while he has rookie status. From your list, who would be your draft pick for 2017 and beyond?
Great column btw. Cheers,

Great list!

Would you drop Severino for Renfroe or Phillips?

Great work Ralph..good read as always. Had a chance to watch Nick Williams over the last couple of years he was a Rangers farmhand and was always impressed. Saw him play in person at the Double A level several times and he looked like a 5 tool guy. Does he get everyday at bats assuming he gets the call this month for the Phillies?

What are your thoughts on Casey Gillaspie? I picked him up immediately when I saw where you’d ranked him, but now I’d like to hear more about the guy I just added.

Where is Aaron judge though?????

As a Moncada owner, love that ETA. Where do you see him slotting in? OF or banking of Pedroia injury?

Ralph,
I have Tim Anderson in my SS position, doing decent based on my yahoo league stats (10-tm h2h). Do you think Bregman is worth the swap? He’s sitting out there on the wire. I also have snell in my pitching staff but trying to trade him instead of dropping him.
Thanks bud

Hey Ralph, Happy 4th and thanks for the list. It’ll be very useful!
I have Hader and Musgrove stashed in my 30 team dynasty. Can’t wait to put them together with my current staff. Any thoughts on Brady Rodgers who started the AAA all-star game?

Great write up, Ralph. Have a question about Benintendi. What kind of projection do you have for him as far as his MLB ceiling…avg,runs, hrs, rbis, sbs etc.?

Great list, thanks!!!! Most of your top 100 already taken in my league and next week we have a NL draft of prospects that were affiliated with teams as of April 1. Can you throw out another 5 or more names with big upside? Thanks!