Fantasy Baseball Prospects to Stash and Trade For - Dynasty League Targets (2026)

February 16, 2026

Andy's fantasy baseball prospects sleepers to stash, target and trade for in dynasty leagues for 2026. His fantasy baseball prospect trade targets for dynasty.

The offseason is often the most exciting time for dynasty managers. During this time, managers can reassess their roster and examine whether they are in the contending stage or still in a retool.

With spring training underway and games just days away, we will analyze five prospects who are strong trade and stash targets (depending on your league size) ahead of the 2026 regular season.

These five prospects are poised to see their dynasty value soar, and now is the best time to acquire them at potentially the lowest price they will ever be at. Be sure to follow RotoBallerMLB on X and feel free to hit me up with any trade questions at @A_Smith_FS. Let's dive in!

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Jurrangelo Cijntje, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

Prospect Rank (MLB.com) - No. 90 Overall, St. Louis No. 4 

Jurrangelo Cijntje was already a must-watch prospect in college when he was a "switch-pitcher" at Mississippi State. In his final college campaign (2024), Cijntje posted a solid 3.67 ERA across 90 2/3 innings. He struck out 113 batters while posting a 1.10 WHIP.

By now you’ve probably heard of the switch-pitching Jurrangelo Cijntje. Well today he got his first career start and it’s pretty mind blowing to see a freshman punching guys out at 90+ from both sides.

7 Ks over 4.0 IP allowing just 1 H.

📹: @HailStateBB pic.twitter.com/8ahm8PIyK0

— SEC Baseball (@SECbaseball) February 22, 2023

He was drafted by the Mariners with the 15th overall pick in 2024, but did not have the most consistent debut season in the pros in 2025.

He began the summer with High-A Everett and logged 74 2/3 innings to the tune of a 4.58 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP. In this stint, he racked up 83 points unchallenged with 35 free passes. He then earned a second-half ticket to Double-A, where he showed some solid improvement, holding a 2.67 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and a 37:16 K:BB across 33 2/3 innings.

However, much of his success was capped due to his struggles throwing from the left-hand side. When facing left-handed hitters (pitching as a lefty), Cijntje posted a rough 44:39 K:BB with an overall 1.98 WHIP. However, when facing right-handed batters (pitching as a right-hander), Cijntje was far more impressive, striking out 76 batters over 66 2/3 innings with a 0.78 WHIP.

Earlier in the offseason, Cijntje was the primary piece in the package that sent Brendan Donovan to the Mariners. However, prior to the trade, the Mariners noted that the young pitcher would attend camp as a right-handed pitcher and would not be used as a "switch-pitcher." According to Cardinals reporter Tamar Sher, Cijntje will continue to build up on both sides but was seen throwing primarily from the right side early in camp.

If the 22-year-old finds his footing at Double-A this summer as a primary right-hander (with occasional matchups as a lefty), he would see his prospect stock soar following his uneven debut season. Dynasty managers should look to acquire him before the Cijntje finds his footing as a primary right-handed pitcher.

Abimelec Ortiz, 1B, Washington Nationals

Prospect Rank (MLB.com) - Washington No. 24

Another prospect who moved to a new club this offseason was Abimelec Ortiz. Unlike Cijntje, Ortiz did not have the same prospect pedigree ahead of the trade and was not even the central piece of the trade that sent MacKenzie Gore to Texas.

The 23-year-old began the 2025 season with Double-A Frisco and held a solid .247/.343/.444 line with 19 doubles, 16 home runs, and an 87:43 K:BB. He then made his Triple-A debut in the second half, where he was actually far more productive, posting a .283/.383/.565 line with a dominant .953 OPS over a 41-game stint.

Despite facing the top pitching in the minors, Ortiz only saw his ground-ball rate increase by 0.7% (35.8% - 36.5%) and his wRC+ increase from 119 to 134 in comparison to his first-half statistics at Double-A. Additionally, his swinging-strike rate was lowered to just 10.5% from 12.2% in his move to the top level of the minor leagues.

While he remains an underrated prospect and is likely not rostered in most shallow dynasty formats, Ortiz could break camp with the MLB roster and see his value skyrocket. Currently, the Nationals have minimal options at first base, and with a strong showing in camp, Ortiz could easily claim the job over Andres Chaparro or Luis Garcia Jr.

His raw power opens the door for a 25+ HR upside on a yearly basis in the big leagues. He could claim an everyday role right out of camp.

BREAKING: Abi Ortiz just traded your baseball for three runs pic.twitter.com/9V7jir48Da

— Frisco RoughRiders (@RidersBaseball) August 1, 2025

Colt Emerson, SS, Seattle Mariners

Prospect Rank (MLB.com) - No. 9 Overall, Seattle No. 1

While Ortiz was the sleeper pick, Colt Emerson is the far opposite. However, the top prospect can still be acquired at a relatively lower cost before his eventual MLB debut, which may happen much sooner than expected.

Emerson joined the Mariners with the 22nd pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of John Glenn HS and has since established himself as one of the top infield prospects in the game. Last summer, Emerson opened the season at High-A and would eventually cap off his stellar season at Triple-A Tacoma, just one stop away from Seattle.

Through his first 34 games at Double-A, Emerson held a strong .282/.360/.430 line with three home runs and seven stolen bases. In his brief cup of coffee with Triple-A (six games), Emerson did far more than keep his head above the water, posting a dominant .364/444/.727 line with two long balls. Through 130 total games last summer (90 of them at High-A), Emerson hit 16 home runs and swiped 14 bags, showcasing his five-category potential.

While reports earlier in the winter suggested that Emerson may need additional seasoning at Triple-A, a recent update from the team's President of Baseball Operations, Jerry Dipoto, noted that it's not "out of the question" that the budding star breaks camp in the majors.

Emerson's trade value will significantly increase, especially if he puts together an outstanding spring training. Emerson is a top asset for teams in a retooling phase, as he could be a must-start fantasy option in the very near future.

Colt Emerson in Consideration to Break Camp with MLB Rosterhttps://t.co/nEY2S8k012

— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) February 13, 2026

Jarlin Susana, SP, Washington Nationals

Prospect Rank (MLB.com) - No. 87 Overall, Washington No. 4

The other pitcher we will discuss is Jarlin Susana of the Nationals. With Travis Sykora set to miss a lot of the 2026 season after undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery, Jarlin Susana enters camp as the top arm in the nation's capital.

Susana opened the 2025 campaign with his second stint at High-A but needed only nine innings before moving up to Double-A, where he spent most of his season. At High-A, Susana allowed just three runs while racking up 16 punchouts.

Though 47 1/3 innings at Double-A Harrisburg, Susana held a 3.61 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP, but continued to flash immense strikeout upside, totaling 70 punchouts compared to a rather high 32 free passes. His season would be cut short in August due to a lat strain, and he could see a slightly slower build-up in camp as a result.

However, the right-hander is quickly climbing prospect boards and should be in a good position to contend for a second-half MLB debut in 2026.

According to FanGraphs, Susana generated a 3.12 FIP (at Double-A) but held a 2.96 xFIP under the hood, suggesting he was quite unlucky during his first stint. Overall, in 2025, Susana posted an elite 38.9% K%, a slight jump from the 35.4% K% he posted the previous year at the lower levels. The driving force for his strikeout totals is his slider.

Per the FanGraphs scouting report, this pitch earned a 70 present grade with an impressive 80 future grade, showing the elite whiff ability this pitch could have once he reaches his final stage of development. He also has a fastball with a 60 present grade (65 future grade), which will continue play off the slider extremely well.

🔟 more strikeouts for Jarlin Susana (5.0 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 BB) this afternoon against Erie.

It was his second 10+ strikeout game against them this week. pic.twitter.com/KRlPHvhyey

— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) August 24, 2025

Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

Prospect Rank (MLB.com) - No. 66 Overall, Arizona No. 1

Rounding out this list will be another hitting prospect, like Emerson, who is quickly knocking on the MLB door. Waldschmidt joined the Snakes in the 2024 draft out of Kentucky and progressed through the system at a rapid pace last season. After earning a brief look at Low-A in 2024, Waldschmidt began 2025 with High-A and eventually reached Double-A in the second half.

Through 134 games (68 at High-A, 66 at Double-A), Waldschmidt posted a .289/.419/.476 line with 18 home runs, 29 stolen bases, and an impressive 106:96 K:BB. In fact, at Double-A, he was far more productive, as evidenced by the .921 OPS with nine HRs and 16 SBs compared to the .862 OPS, nine long balls, and only 10 swiped bags at High-A.

Under the hood, the Kentucky product lowered his ground-ball rate by five points at Double-A and raised his line-drive rate by 13 points. Even though Waldschmidt has not even taken a step into a Triple-A game, with Corbin Carroll on the shelf with a hamate bone fracture and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) facing an extended delay to the season, Waldschmidt has a viable path to be the team's starting left fielder on Opening Day.

Ryan Waldschmidt has Easier Path to Make Opening Day Roster? https://t.co/yhtBfRB3i9

— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) February 13, 2026

If he picks up where he left off in early camp, I'd suggest you send trade offers, as he would carry starting-caliber OF3/OF4 upside in standard leagues as soon as he reaches the majors, given his fantasy category still set. Waldschmidt has the upside to not only be a short-term solution but also become the franchise's long-term answer in the outfield.

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