When a team finishes 83-79 with the unanimous NL MVP and a Top-5 NL Cy Young finisher, it is not often categorized as a complete failure of a year and a total disappointment, but that’s exactly what was thought of the Washington Nationals’ 2015 season. Prior to the start of the season, the Nationals were considered by many to be the favorite to win the World Series and instead they wound up missing the playoffs entirely and losing the division in the last month of the season to the New York Mets.

All is not lost for the Nationals however. They have a strong farm system with prospects like Trea Turner and Lucas Giolito ready to make a major impact on their team in 2016 and help them with their unfinished business. Other prospects further down the road like Victor Robles and Erik Fedde will help to make sure that the Nationals remain a competitive team for years to come. Though they probably don’t have a top five farm system, the Washington Nationals possess a handful of talented prospects that could help give dynasty owners an edge in their leagues.

If you are interested in more MLB prospects columns, head on over to our 2016 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. You can find the rest of my team prospect breakdowns, fantasy baseball prospect rankings, tiered positional rankings, keeper values articles, and more - all in one easy place.

Washington Nationals Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

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

1. Lucas Giolito (SP, AA)
Stats: 47.1 IP, 3.80 ERA, 3.18 FIP, 8.56 K/9, 3.23 BB/9, 0.38 HR/9
ETA: 2016
Lucas Giolito is one of the most talented pitching prospects that baseball has seen in a long time. He has arguably the best repertoire of pitches in the minors with a fastball that consistently sits in the upper-90s, a power 12-6 curveball that is probably the best secondary pitch in the minors, and a changeup that gives him a third above-average option to turn to. Those numbers that Giolito put up in Double-A were the closest that the 21-year-old pitching prospect has ever put up that could barely resemble vulnerability in the minors. Expect to see Giolito in the majors this season and be an immediate ace in their rotation. Giolito should not only be considered a ‘must-own’ in all leagues, but he is the closest pitching prospect to deserving the title, ‘untouchable’ in trades.

2. Trea Turner (2B/SS, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 205 PA, .314/.353/.431, 3 HR, 14 SB, 6.3% BB rate, 20.0% K rate
ETA: 2016
There are very few prospects in the minors as fast as Trea Turner is and even fewer who can mix that speed with a pure hitting ability. Turner has shown at every level to this point an ability to consistently drive the ball and has an ability to reach base, which makes him a prime candidate to be a future leadoff hitter in the majors. Turner will not necessarily win the shortstop gig out of Spring Training this season (because of Dusty Baker’s tendency to lean with veterans over unproven rookies), but there is no doubt that he has little to prove in the minors and is ready to have a major impact for both the Washington Nationals and any fantasy team that owns him. Turner should be considered an elite shortstop prospect and absolutely worth owning in all dynasty leagues.

3. Victor Robles (OF, A-)
Stats: 167 PA, .343/.424/.479, 2 HR, 12 SB, 4.8% BB rate, 12.6% K rate
ETA: 2019
A player with a similar offensive profile to Trea Turner, Victor Robles looks to be a top of the lineup, on-base machine with elite base-stealing capabilities. Robles is still only 18-years-old, but he has already shown a knack for reaching base whether it be by taking a walk or driving the ball with his well above-average bat handling abilities. In the majors, Robles should be expected to hit over .300 almost every year and steal 30+ bases per season. Though he has several years left in his development, Robles is a ‘must-own’ in all dynasty leagues because of his immense upside.

4. Wilmer Difo (2B, MLB)
Stats: (from AA) 381 PA, .279/.312/.387, 2 HR, 26 SB, 3.1% BB rate, 20.7% K rate
ETA: 2016
The eventual double play partner for Trea Turner, Wilmer Difo, like Turner, is Major League ready and just needs a chance to get some playing time. Difo’s offensive profile is very similar to Roble’s and Turner’s in that he should be able to reach base at a high clip and make full use of his well above-average speed. Though not as fast as Turner, Difo is absolutely worth stashing in dynasty leagues as he is more than capable of stealing 30+ bases per season at a fairly weak offensive position.

5. Erick Fedde (SP, A)
Stats: 29.0 IP, 4.34 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 7.14 K/9, 2.48 BB/9, 0.31 HR/9
ETA: 2017
The Nationals knew the risk when they drafted Erick Fedde who had already undergone Tommy John surgery, but they saw enough potential in Fedde to take him with their first pick in the 2014 draft. Scouts who have followed on Fedde are blown away by how quickly he has shown improvements in his game since the surgery. They always knew about his phenomenal command, but his fastball still shows life with mid-90s velocity. His slider has made great progress and looks like it will serve as his go-to strikeout pitch while his changeup is steadily improving as well. Fedde is already 22-years-old so once he has finished recovering from his Tommy John surgery, expect him to quickly rise to the majors. Fedde does not have ace potential, but he could be a dependable middle of the rotation starter, making him worth owning in keeper leagues.

6. Reynaldo Lopez (SP, A+)
Stats: 99.0 IP, 4.09 ERA, 2.95 FIP, 8.55 K/9, 2.55 BB/9, 0.45 HR/9
ETA: 2018
Reynaldo Lopez is an intriguing prospect because he has a relatively high ceiling and a low floor (at least in terms of fantasy value). Lopez right now really only has one pitch, an upper-90s fastball with excellent life. His curveball and changeup need a lot more development if he is going to remain as a starting pitcher. Why did I say that he has a high ceiling and a low floor? Because he could either be a middle of the rotation starter who racks up gaudy strikeout totals or a bullpen arm. His upside should be enough to justify owning him in dynasty leagues, but how he performs in the upper levels of the minors will really dictate how far he can go as a starting pitcher and so dynasty owners will need to keep an eye on him.

7. AJ Cole (SP, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 105.2 IP, 3.15 ERA, 3.90 FIP, 6.47 K/9, 2.90 BB/9, 0.77 HR/9
ETA: 2016
Though his ceiling is not that high, AJ Cole should be worth owning in keeper leagues. Outside of his fastball, his repertoire is not overpowering, but he knows how to pitch contact and should eventually be a reliable backend starting pitcher for the Nationals and dynasty owners. Don’t expect great things from Cole, but instead be satisfied with consistent, solid production.

8. Osvaldo Abreu (2B/SS, A)
Stats: 513 PA, .274/.357/.412, 6 HR, 30 SB, 9.7% BB rate, 17.3% K rate
ETA: 2019
Osvaldo Abreu could be a solid contributor at the Major League level, but he will need to continue to improve on his hitting and plate discipline in order to grab a starting role. Abreu has enough speed to be fantasy relevant, but he has no power to speak of. Abreu is worth owning if dynasty owners are willing to continue to follow up on his development. He could pan out and turn out to be a real solid contributor in the majors at the middle infield positions.

9. Jakson Reetz (C, A-)
Stats: 132 PA, .212/.326/.248, 0 HR, 3 SB, 9.8% BB rate, 28.0% K rate
ETA: 2019
Jakson Reetz is a decent catching prospect, but he doesn’t excel at any real categories. Reetz at this point should be expected to be a backup catcher with starter potential, but don’t expect him to ever be a potent enough offensive contributor to justify owning him.

10. Rhett Wiseman (OF, A-)
Stats: 231 PA, .248/.307/.376, 5 HR, 6 SB, 7.9% BB rate, 22.5% K rate
ETA: 2018
Though there is some upside to be seen in him, Rhett Wiseman does not have any standout skills that make him a dynasty standout. His overall balance of skills should make him worth owning, but he is not a player that dynasty owners should take in the early rounds of their redraft. Expect low home run and stolen base totals and a modest .260+ batting average and don’t get your hopes too high with him.

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