X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community!

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Chicago Cubs Top MLB Prospects for 2016 Dynasty Leagues

Everyone knew that when the Chicago Cubs promoted their young prospects it would not take long for them to become a dominant force within the National League. But I don’t know if anyone envisioned them finishing with the third best overall record in baseball, winning 97 games, beating the Pirates in the Wild Card, and advancing all the way to the National League Championship Series. Offensive contributions from players like Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant combined with sharp pitching from Jon Lester and NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta provided the Cubs with enough fuel to make a long run into the postseason last year and should help them do it again in 2016.

What should scare the rest of the National League is that the Cubs still have one of the deepest farm systems in baseball. Every player on this list has the potential to be a major contributor and help keep the Cubs’ dynasty rolling. Some names on this list are probably household names at this point, but there are others who could have an impact in the majors and have kept a relatively low profile in dynasty leagues.

Make sure to also check out our awesome 2016 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard, where you will find more of my team prospect rankings. You'll also find RotoBaller staff rankings for all positions, tiered rankings starting to ramp up, dynasty rankings for 2016, and much more. Okay, let's get to it.

 

Chicago Cubs Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

These are the top ten prospects for the Chicago Cubs in terms of fantasy production for fantasy owners in the next few seasons.

1. Gleyber Torres (SS, A+)
Stats: (from A) 514 PA, .293/.353/.386, 3 HR, 22 SB, 8.4% BB rate, 21.0% K rate
ETA: 2018
Addison Russell may be firmly entrenched in the role of shortstop for the Cubs right now, but he will face some competition from Gleyber Torres in a few years. Where Russell has more power, Torres excels by making consistent solid contact. Torres should be counted on to hit at least .280 every season with 10 home runs. Another area where he should be a regular contributor in is stolen bases where owners should be able to count on 20 per season. Torres does not have the offensive upside that Russell possesses, but he should still hit more than enough to be owned in all dynasty leagues.

2. Willson Contreras (C, AA)
Stats: 521 PA, .333/.413/.478, 8 HR, 4 SB, 10.9% BB rate, 11.9% K rate
ETA: 2017
The questions surrounding Kyle Schwarber about whether or not he is defensively sound enough to stay behind the dish do not apply in any way to Willson Contreras. Though still not an excellent defender, Contreras is quick enough behind the dish that he should not have to need a position change. Contreras may not possess near the same kind of power that Schwarber has (few catching prospects do), but he should be able to hit around .280 with 10 home runs per season which is enough to make him a valuable fantasy asset. Contreras will likely start off the year in Triple-A with a chance to get his feet wet in the majors should something happen to Miguel Montero, but he should be considered a must-own in all dynasty leagues with a chance to be a franchise catcher.

3. Ian Happ (2B/OF, A)
Stats: 165 PA, .241/.315/.448, 5 HR, 1 SB, 10.3% BB rate, 23.6% K rate
ETA: 2018
Taken with the ninth pick in the 2015 draft, Ian Happ has the potential to a consistent top of the batting order bat for the Cubs in the not-so-distant future. Happ shows excellent balance from both sides of the plate and has the quickness in his swing to help him catch up with most pitches. He displays enough power and speed to be able to make himself an eventual 20/20 player which gives him immense fantasy value in keeper leagues. There is some swing and miss in his game right now, but scouts see that improving as he continues to mature. If he stays at second base, he would be considered an elite second base prospect because of his bat. Even if his defense necessitates a move to the outfield, his bat plays well enough to maintain his status as a must-own player in dynasty leagues.

4. Billy McKinney (OF, AA)
Stats: 308 PA, .285/.346/.420, 3 HR, 0 SB, 8.8% BB rate, 15.3% K rate
ETA: 2017
One of the prospects in the Jeff Samardzija/Jason Hammel deal between the Cubs and Oakland in 2014, Billy McKinney is just a pure hitter. He has a mature approach to the plate which helps him take a lot of walks and his quick, steady swing should help him hit for a high average. He should be able to consistently hit around 12-18 home runs per season. McKinney will not steal many bases, but the rest of his game should make up for the lack of steals. The 21-year-old lefty is probably a year away, but he is definitely worth owning in dynasty leagues as he is a low risk/medium reward player.

5. Eddy Martinez (OF, NA)
Stats: NA
ETA: 2019
Eddy Martinez has received favorable comparisons to Andruw Jones because of his elite potential, but scouts are unsure if Martinez will ever be able to reach his full potential. Early in his days at Cuba, Martinez looked like a future 30/30 player, but it does not look like a guaranteed thing that Martinez will develop 30 home run power. The speed is there to steal more than 25 bases per year and his approach to the plate should allow him to hit .270 or higher. Even if he can’t reach his ceiling, there is enough talent with Martinez that he should be at least a solid everyday contributor for fantasy teams down the road. The 21-year-old Cuban has a high enough ceiling that he must be owned in all keeper leagues.

6. Donnie Dewees (OF, A-)
Stats: 303 PA, .266/.306/.376, 5 HR, 19 SB, 4.6% BB rate, 17.8% K rate
ETA: 2018
Donnie Dewees was considered to be one of the top bats in the 2015 draft class, the only problem was his lack of defensive ability. There is no question that Dewees can hit. He has a quick, compact swing and has plenty of pop that will eventually translate to 20+ home runs per season. His speed is more than enough to steal 25+ bases per year, which could help make him a future 20/20 player in the future. The issue with Dewees is his defense. Dewees’ arm is well below-average which will ultimately keep him in left-field even though he does have the mobility to play center. With Schwarber likely destined to stay in left-field for the near future, Dewees’ future with the Cubs is limited and owners will need a trade for him to get regular playing time. Right now, his offensive upside is enough to own him in all leagues and he would become a must-own if he was traded to another team.

7. Eloy Jimenez (OF, A-)
Stats: 250 PA, .284/.328/.418, 7 HR, 3 SB, 6.0% BB rate, 17.2% K rate
ETA: 2019
There are very few prospects with as high of a ceiling as Eloy Jimenez. Much like the aforementioned Eddy Martinez, Jimenez has been considered by many a future candidate to go 30/30 in the majors. Where Martinez excels with speed rather than power, Jimenez flashes more power than base-stealing speed. Jimenez also possesses the plate discipline needed to remove some of the risk involved with the 19-year-old outfielder. Make no mistake, the tools are there for Jimenez, the only question is whether or not he will be able to put everything together. Players with a ceiling as high as his are worth the high risk in dynasty leagues.

8. Albert Almora (OF, AA)
Stats: 451 PA, .272/.327/.400, 6 HR, 8 SB, 7.1% BB rate, 10.4% K rate
ETA: 2017
Considered more of a defense first prospect than the other previously two discussed outfielders, Albert Almora still has plenty of talent with his bat to make him worth owning in dynasty leagues. There is virtually no power in his bat and he is not fast enough to have a major impact on the basepaths, but Almora should be able to hit for a .275 average or higher per season. With their abundance of outfield prospects and the recent signing of Jason Heyward, Almora’s future value could hinge on the possibility of being traded. Almora is worth owning as a future fourth outfielder with decent upside, but owners will need to hope for a trade to another team.

9. Dan Vogelbach (1B, AA)
Stats: 313 PA, .272/.403/.425, 7 HR, 1 SB, 18.2% BB rate, 19.5% K rate
ETA: 2017
Once considered one of the top first base prospects in the minors, Dan Vogelbach has slipped in a lot of people’s rankings. Why, I’m not really sure. Though Vogelbach dealt with some injuries in 2015, he has continued to flash 20 home run power and well above average plate discipline that has seen his strikeout rate sit below 20% every season since 2012 and his walk rate stay above 10% every year of his Minor League career (except for his 27 PA in 2011). Much like a few other names on this list, Vogelbach will only see potential fantasy value if he is dealt to another team because there will be no displacing Anthony Rizzo at any point in the near future. His bat and well advanced plate discipline makes him worth owning in all dynasty leagues.

10. Duane Underwood (SP, A+)
Stats: 73.1 IP, 2.58 ERA, 4.16 FIP, 5.89 K/9, 2.95 BB/9, 0.74 HR/9
ETA: 2018
Duane Underwood has a very high ceiling, but so far in his minor league career he has been unable to effectively turn stuff into results. Underwood’s fastball sits in the upper-90s with a wipeout curveball that looks like a well above-average Major League offering. He needs to continue to improve on his changeup if he wants to remain as a starter. His ceiling is that of a front of the rotation starter, but he still has a lot of work to do before he can reach that ceiling. Underwood is worth owning in dynasty leagues, but owners need to understand that there is risk associated with owning him as he does have a relatively low floor as a middle relief pitcher.

 

MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

 




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Garrett Whitlock5 hours ago

Still Not Cleared For Mound Work
Max Scherzer5 hours ago

Serves Up Two Homers In Rehab Start
John Means5 hours ago

Could Start Sunday
Alec Marsh6 hours ago

X-Rays Come Back Negative On Alec Marsh
Francisco Lindor6 hours ago

Comes Alive With Two Long Balls
Shohei Ohtani6 hours ago

Three Doubles For Shohei Ohtani
Mike Trout6 hours ago

Cracks MLB-High 10th Homer
Corey Seager7 hours ago

Removed From Game After Being Hit By Pitch
Naz Reid7 hours ago

Named Sixth Man Of The Year
Mitchell Robinson8 hours ago

Questionable For Game 3
Joel Embiid8 hours ago

Questionable For Game 3
DJ LeMahieu8 hours ago

To Be Shut Down For A Week
Zack Gelof8 hours ago

Likely Heading To Injured List
Alec Marsh8 hours ago

Leaves Game After Being Hit By Comebacker
Bam Adebayo8 hours ago

Looks Good In Win Over Boston
Ozzie Albies8 hours ago

Runs The Bases Wednesday
Kristaps Porzingis8 hours ago

Struggles Offensively In Game 2
Jayson Tatum8 hours ago

Has A Decent Showing On Wednesday
J.P. Crawford8 hours ago

Dealing With Oblique Soreness
Jaylen Brown8 hours ago

Leads The Way In Game 2
A.J. Puk8 hours ago

Rejoining Bullpen When Healthy
Zack Gelof9 hours ago

Nursing Abdominal Soreness
Tyler Herro9 hours ago

Gets It Done On Wednesday Night
Thairo Estrada9 hours ago

Experiencing Hamstring Tightness
Manny Machado9 hours ago

Expected To Return Friday
Sean Murphy9 hours ago

Hasn't Resumed Swinging
Cristian Javier9 hours ago

Plays Catch Wednesday
Christian Yelich9 hours ago

Still Not Swinging
Dallas Cowboys10 hours ago

Cowboys Pick Up Micah Parsons' Fifth-Year Option
Ezekiel Elliott10 hours ago

Cowboys Meeting With Ezekiel Elliott
Cincinnati Bengals10 hours ago

Trey Hendrickson Requests A Trade From Bengals
Carlos Correa11 hours ago

Could Return Soon
Nic Claxton11 hours ago

Nicolas Claxton The "No. 1 Priority" For Nets In Offseason
Grayson Allen12 hours ago

Not Ruled Out For Game 3
Nikola Jovic12 hours ago

Available For Game 2
Ryan Lomberg12 hours ago

Could Be Back For Game 3
Cam Talbot13 hours ago

Starts Game 2 For Kings
Logan Thompson13 hours ago

Heads Out For Another Win Wednesday
Jake Oettinger13 hours ago

Tries To Bounce Back Wednesday
Jani Hakanpaa13 hours ago

Remains Out On Wednesday
Tyler Myers13 hours ago

Battling The Flu
Michael Penix Jr.14 hours ago

Could Be Among Top-Four Quarterbacks Selected
Jared Goff14 hours ago

No New Deal “Imminent” For Jared Goff
J.J. McCarthy15 hours ago

Broncos Interested In J.J. McCarthy
Detroit Lions16 hours ago

Penei Sewell Becomes Highest-Paid Offensive Lineman
Justin Fields16 hours ago

Steelers Not Expected To Pick Up Justin Fields' Fifth-Year Option
Rashod Bateman16 hours ago

Ravens Sign Rashod Bateman To Contract Extension
Ja'Marr Chase16 hours ago

Bengals Exercise Ja'Marr Chase's Fifth-Year Option
Amon-Ra St. Brown16 hours ago

Lions Agree To Four-Year Extension With Amon-Ra St. Brown
Nicolas Hague17 hours ago

Out For Vegas On Wednesday
James van Riemsdyk17 hours ago

To Make Series Debut Wednesday
Sam Bennett17 hours ago

To Miss Significant Time
William Nylander17 hours ago

Looking Unlikely For Game 3
Brett Pesce17 hours ago

Likely Out For Remainder Of First Round
Thatcher Demko17 hours ago

Listed As Week-To-Week
Ilya Sorokin17 hours ago

To Start Game 3
Cale Makar20 hours ago

Registers Two Assists In Game 2
Tom Wilson20 hours ago

Notches Two Points In Tuesday's Loss
Alexis Lafrenière20 hours ago

Alexis Lafreniere Collects Two Assists In Game 2 Victory
Filip Forsberg20 hours ago

Leads The Charge As Nashville Ties Series
Victor Hedman20 hours ago

Posts Two Assists In Game 2
Carter Verhaeghe21 hours ago

Hits Overtime Winner In Game 2
Sam Bennett21 hours ago

Sustains An Upper-Body Injury In Game 2
James Harden21 hours ago

Settles For 22 Points In Game 2
Luka Doncic21 hours ago

Leads All Scorers With 32 Points In Game 2
Damian Lillard21 hours ago

Scores 34 Points In Losing Effort
Tyrese Haliburton21 hours ago

Collects A Double-Double In Game 2 Win
Pascal Siakam21 hours ago

In Fantastic Form Once Again Versus Milwaukee
Devin Booker22 hours ago

Leads Suns With 20 Points In Game 2
Anthony Edwards22 hours ago

Struggles In Game 2
Daniel Gafford1 day ago

Returns To Game 2
Karl-Anthony Towns1 day ago

Has A Rough Night On Tuesday
Jaden McDaniels1 day ago

Erupts In Game 2
Andrew Peeke2 days ago

Considered Week-To-Week
Brandon Aiyuk2 days ago

Trade Remains "Very Much In Play"
Denver Broncos2 days ago

Broncos Pick Up Fifth-Year Option On Patrick Surtain II
New England Patriots2 days ago

Patriots Haven't Received "Serious" Offers For No. 3 Pick
Kadarius Toney2 days ago

Still In Chiefs' Plans
Jake Browning2 days ago

Bengals Re-Sign Jake Browning
Brandon Aiyuk3 days ago

49ers Have Received Calls Regarding Brandon Aiyuk
Dak Prescott3 days ago

Not Trying To Be Highest-Paid Player
Zach Wilson3 days ago

Broncos Acquiring Zach Wilson From Jets
Matt Ryan3 days ago

Officially Retires From NFL
Cincinnati Bengals3 days ago

Sam Hubbard Recovering From Ankle Surgery
Tyler Reddick3 days ago

Survives At Talladega For First Win Of 2024
Brad Keselowski3 days ago

Finishes Second At Talladega After Last-Lap Wreck
Anthony Alfredo3 days ago

Gets Best Finish For Beard Motorsports Since 2022
Todd Gilliland3 days ago

One Of The Strongest At Talladega
NASCAR3 days ago

Bubba Wallace Finishes 36th At Talladega Superspeedway
Kyle Larson3 days ago

Fails To Deliver Value In DFS At Talladega
NASCAR3 days ago

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Finishes Fourth At Talladega
Noah Gragson3 days ago

Surprisingly The Most Consistent Driver At Talladega
Shane Van Gisbergen3 days ago

Shane van Gisbergen Acquits Himself Nicely In Drafting Debut
Michael McDowell3 days ago

Ends Talladega Wrecked From The Lead
Alex Bowman3 days ago

Quietly Captures Top-Five Finish At Talladega
Daniel Hemric3 days ago

Surges To Ninth-Place Result At Talladega
Harrison Burton3 days ago

Squeezes Into Top 10 At Talladega
NASCAR4 days ago

Bubba Wallace Will Start 14th For the GEICO 500
Tyler Reddick4 days ago

Avoid Rostering Tyler Reddick At Talladega?
John Hunter Nemechek4 days ago

Should DFS Players Roster John Hunter Nemechek At Talladega?
Joey Logano4 days ago

Expect Joey Logano To Compete For The Win At Talladega
Denny Hamlin4 days ago

Is Denny Hamlin Recommended For Talladega?
Justin Haley4 days ago

Is A Top DFS Value At Talladega
William Byron4 days ago

Is One Of The Top Favorites To Win Talladega
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Is Best Suited As A Tournament Play At Talladega
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Adonai Mitchell - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2024 NFL Draft: Top 100 Prospect Rankings (Final Update)

With the NFL Draft just a day away, it’s time to submit my final rankings for this class. Below, you will find the top-100 prospects on my board for 2024. There will be some changes from last month, as well as some surprises. Feel free to criticize my choices and views on the platform formerly... Read More


Rome Odunze - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

Final 2024 First-Round NFL Mock Draft - Predictions for all 32 Teams

It's Christmas Eve. The NFL Draft is my favorite day of the year, and the picks made tomorrow night will have an enormous impact on the future of the NFL. With the Chicago Bears expected to select Caleb Williams at No. 1, the real draft begins at No. 2, where the Washington Commanders' pick remains... Read More


Caleb Williams - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

2024 NFL Draft - Brandon Murchison's First-Round NFL Mock Draft

In the realm of fantasy football, anticipation and strategy reach a fever pitch as the NFL Draft approaches. Every selection, every pick holds the potential to reshape not only the fortunes of real-life franchises but also the fantasy landscape for millions of enthusiasts. As the curtain rises on this year's first-round NFL Mock Draft, fantasy managers... Read More


2024 NFL Mock Draft Round 1 - Final Predictions from All 32 Teams

Alright, folks, NFL Draft week is finally here: that magical time when every fan can dare to dream again! If you've been reading some of these mocks during the season, you know what a ride it's been and I sincerely appreciate any of you who've been following along. With the first big wave of NFL... Read More


Rome Odunze - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

Coach Knows Ball: Rome Odunze NFL Draft Film Breakdown of Washington WR

Welcome to Coach Knows Ball, an NFL Draft series analyzing the top prospects in the 2024 class. I'm a college football coach with nine years of NCAA experience and have been scouting NFL Draft prospects for over 15 years. This series will give a deep dive into the film of some of the top players... Read More


Jordan Travis - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

2024 NFL Draft Injury News - Updates For Jonathon Brooks, Jordan Travis, Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry

The 2024 NFL Draft is here! It's an exciting time for NFL fans and prospects alike, but unfortunately, there are a handful of players who are battling injury concerns before their professional careers even begin. Some injuries will affect a player's draft stock, so it's worth glancing over the latest injury news regarding rising rookies.... Read More


Caleb Williams - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

2024 NFL Mock Draft - Best Case First Three Round Scenario for All 32 Teams

NFL Mock Drafts can be conducted in various ways. The most common practice is attempting to predict what will happen, which is futile, especially in March. That is because so many team opinions are going to change. Teams haven't even started doing pre-draft visits yet, which will undoubtedly shed more light on which prospects teams... Read More


Rome Odunze - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

Blockbuster Trade Ideas for the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and the rumor mill is heating up. While the NFL Draft is full of chaos and excitement without trade action, everyone loves to see a blockbuster deal made. A few expected blockbuster deals are getting thrown around on social media, headlined by the Minnesota Vikings trading... Read More


Brian Thomas Jr. - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Rounds 1, 2, 3 Predictions (Post Stefon Diggs Trade)

The better part of free agency is done. While we continue to watch the depth pieces trickle through on smaller deals, the lion’s share of noteworthy moves are behind us. That is usually a sign that another mock draft is needed. In this mock, I will dive three rounds deep. I will factor in A... Read More


Marvin Harrison Jr. - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, WR, NFL Draft Sleepers

2024 NFL Draft - Pro Player Comparisons for the Top 12 Fantasy Football Rookies

Rookie fever is nearing its peak, and in just a few days, we'll know with full certainty where these prospects will be playing their games on Sundays. In turn, fantasy football gamers will be poring over player tapes, stats, and metrics like "Oops, I forgot to study, and my final is tomorrow" for upcoming rookie... Read More


Brock Bowers - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers, NCAA College Football, Prospects

2024 NFL Draft - Overvalued Prospects Who Could Slip on Draft Night

A few weeks ago, I was watching the 2007 NFL Draft. It was on the NFL's Pluto TV channel and I didn't have anything else to do, so I figured I'd turn it on. I was struck by two things. First, it's wild how far technology has come since 2007. They kept advertising that you... Read More


Bo Nix - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

2024 NFL Mock Draft - Round 2 and 3 Final Predictions

Can you feel it? We're just over one day away from the 2024 NFL Draft, folks! Summer's breeze is almost here as well, but not before we dive deep into draft season. With the initial wave of free agency settling down, the roster blueprints for our 32 teams are coming into sharp focus. Hunting for... Read More


Tyler Boyd - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Is Tyler Boyd a Free Agent? Top Landing Spots for Boyd This Offseason

For eight seasons, Cincinnati was Tyler Boyd’s home. He amassed 6,000 receiving yards on 513 receptions and scored 31 touchdowns during his time with the Bengals. Boyd was a trusted option for quarterback Joe Burrow and was great as the team’s primary slot receiver. Unfortunately, the club opted not to re-sign him this offseason. After... Read More