👉 TAP TO SAVE 30% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

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

#1 Expert Projections
Save 30% Now
Import Your Leagues
Top-Rated Accuracy
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
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

[iflychat_embed id="c-12" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]

 




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

#1 Expert Projections
Save 30% Now
Import Your Leagues
Top-Rated Accuracy
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Ryan Rollins

Expected to Return Against Celtics
Bobby Portis

to Remain Out Friday
Daniel Gafford

Ready to Face Magic
Jalen Brunson

Back in Action Friday
Isaiah Jackson

Clippers Will Re-Evaluate Isaiah Jackson in One Week
Karlo Matković

Karlo Matkovic Won't Play Thursday
Isaiah Collier

Remains Out Friday
Trey Murphy III

Returns From Three-Game Absence
Tre Jones

Could Miss Friday's Game
Seth Curry

Won't Play Thursday Night
Gui Santos

Active Thursday
De'Anthony Melton

Good to Go Thursday
Tobias Harris

Exits Early Thursday
Jayden Daniels

Could Benefit from Influx of Young Talent
Marvin Bagley III

Unlikely to Play Friday
Joe Burrow

Ceiling is Still QB1
Alex Caruso

Not Available Thursday
Andrei Iosivas

Lacks the Standalone Value to Make Him More Than a Deep Bench Stash
P.J. Washington

May Miss Third Straight Game
T.J. McConnell

Ruled Out Friday
Jaylen Wright

Role Could Be Secure for Foreseeable Future
Aaron Nesmith

to Miss Third Straight Game
Tyjae Spears

' Dynasty Value Linked to NFL Draft
Myles Turner

Cleared to Return Friday
Kyle Kuzma

Set to Return Friday
Joel Embiid

Likely Out Friday
Konnor Griffin

Secures $140M Deal; Pittsburgh Building Around Young Star
Carter Yakemchuk

in Concussion Protocol
NJ

Arseni Gritsyuk Done for the Season
Tyson Foerster

Available Against Red Wings
Zach Hyman

a Game-Time Decision Thursday
Bryan Rust

Will Play Thursday
Carter Hart

Returns to Action Thursday
Aaron Ekblad

to Be Out for "Weeks" With Broken Finger
NFL

Emmett Johnson's NFL Ceiling in Question?
Ollie Gordon II

Dynasty Value Rising Amidst Organizational Changes in Miami?
Colby Parkinson

Faces Heavy Competition for Targets in Los Angeles
Rashee Rice

Legal Issues Limit His Dynasty Value
Omarion Hampton

Remains a High-End Dynasty Running Back Despite Injury-Marred Rookie Season
NFL

Germie Bernard Has the Versatility to Make Him an Early Contributor
NFL

Is Demond Claiborne Worth a Late-Round Flier in Rookie Drafts?
Roman Hemby

Likely Little More Than a Fantasy Dart Throw
NFL

Can Bryce Lance Be the Next Small School Fantasy Gem?
NFL

Where Does Michael Trigg Fit into Crowded Tight End Class?
Tyler Shough

a Sneaky QB1 Option in 2026?
Blake Corum

Not Just a Handcuff Going Forward?
Jaxson Dart

Gets Top Receiver Back in New-Look System
Calvin Ridley

Comes Back to Uncertain Role
Kirk Cousins

Raiders Sign Kirk Cousins
Konnor Griffin

Being Promoted to MLB Roster Ahead of Friday's Contest
Tony Pollard

Remains the Lead Back for Now
Brandon Hagel

Likely Out on Thursday
Damon Severson

Not Expected to Return During Regular Season
Igor Chernyshov

a Game-Time Call Wednesday
Radko Gudas

Out Wednesday
Cutter Gauthier

Questionable for Rest of the Week
Evander Kane

Unavailable Wednesday
Cale Makar

to Miss "Some Time"
Konnor Griffin

Pirates in "Deep" Negotiations for Long-Term Contract
Carlos Estévez

Royals Place Carlos Estevez on 15-Day Injured List
CFB

Gunner Stockton Looking "Great" After Offseason Injury
CFB

Sam Leavitt Showing "Encouraging Signs" at LSU Practice
J.J. Spaun

Needs the Putter to Cooperate in San Antonio
Thorbjorn Olesen

Trending Up in San Antonio
Denny McCarthy

Carrying Momentum into San Antonio
Matt Grzelcyk

Unavailable for Reminder of Season
Artyom Levshunov

Ruled Out for Rest of Season
Mathieu Olivier

to Miss Couple of Weeks
Evan Rodrigues

to Have Season-Ending Surgery
Sam Reinhart

Won't Return This Season
Carter Yakemchuk

Injured in Tuesday's Loss
Aaron Ekblad

Hand Injury "Doesn't Look Good"
Jose Fernandez

Launches Two Home Runs in Historic MLB Debut
Chase DeLauter

Exits Tuesday's Game with Foot Injury, X-Rays Come Back Negative
Chris Kirk

Has Course History on His Side in San Antonio
Billy Horschel

a Volatile Option at the Valero Texas Open
Joe Highsmith

Still Searching for Form in San Antonio
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks to Find Form at the Valero Texas Open
Seiya Suzuki

to Begin a Rehab Assignment Soon
Jordan Spieth

a Horse for Course History at TPC San Antonio
Robert MacIntyre

Has One Flaw to Overcome at Valero Texas Open to be a Must-Play
Maverick McNealy

In Exceptional Form This Season
Michael Thorbjornsen

Playing Well But Still Searching For A Win
Hideki Matsuyama

Playing Well Heading to the Valero Texas Open
Si Woo Kim

Heads to Valero Texas Open For Final Tune-Up Before Masters
Cody Ponce

Diagnosed With ACL Sprain, to Miss "Significant Time"
Collin Morikawa

Withdraws From Valero Texas Open
PGA

Stephan Jaegar Still Looking For Consistency at Valero Texas Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

is Red-Hot Coming to TPC San Antonio
Tony Finau

a Risky Proposition at Valero Texas Open
Ludvig Aberg

Looks to Shake Off Collapse at Valero Texas Open
Jacob deGrom

Cleared for Season Debut on Tuesday
Colt Emerson

Signs an Eight-Year Extension with Mariners
Patrick Rodgers

Needs to Make More Birdies in San Antonio
Sepp Straka

Seeks Opportunity in San Antonio This Weekend
Nick Taylor

Could Again Struggle at the Valero Texas Open
Jose Altuve

Tallies Four Hits, Two Homers in Big Night
Miguel Vargas

Hits Grand Slam, Drives in Six in Win Over Miami
Tanner Bibee

to Start on Tuesday Against Dodgers
Chase Elliott

Takes Advantage of Pit Strategies for Second Career Martinsville Win
Denny Hamlin

Dominates but Finishes Second at Martinsville
Joey Logano

Bounces Back with Third-Place Finish at Martinsville
Ty Gibbs

Gains his Fourth Top-Five Finish of the Season at Martinsville
William Byron

Scores Another Top-Five Finish at Martinsville
Joe Pyfer

Extends His Winning Streak
Israel Adesanya

Loses Fourth Consecutive Fight
Maycee Barber

Suffers Her First Knockout Loss
Alexa Grasso

Scores Highlight-Reel Knockout
Niko Price

Retires After UFC Seattle Loss
Michael Chiesa

Victorious In His Retirement Fight
Julian Erosa

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Lerryan Douglas

Scores First-Round Knockout Win In His UFC Debut
Alex Bregman

Clobbers First Two Homers in Sunday's Loss at Wrigley
Yandy Díaz

Yandy Diaz Records Five Hits, Drives in Four in Win Over Cardinals
Kyle Larson

Is Likely to Pay Off for DFS at Martinsville
Christopher Bell

Could Have Another Top-10 Performance At Martinsville
William Byron

Is A Threat to Win Again at Martinsville
Chase Elliott

is A Solid DFS Option for Martinsville Lineups
Chase Briscoe

has Plenty of Upside for DFS Lineups at Martinsville
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Unlikely to See High-Leverage Opportunities in Near Future
Jacob deGrom

Feels "Much Better," Hopeful he Can Start This Week
Ty Gibbs

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Ty Gibbs at Martinsville?
Ryan Preece

Is A Solid DFS Option for Martinsville Lineups
Josh Berry

Could Josh Berry Pay Off for Tournament DFS Lineups At Martinsville?
Carson Hocevar

May be Too Inconsistent to Start in Martinsville DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Is Austin Cindric Worth Rostering for DFS At Martinsville?
Denny Hamlin

the Favorite to Win at Martinsville
Ryan Blaney

Should Contend at Martinsville
Tyler Reddick

Should Come Back Down to Earth at Martinsville
Joey Logano

Will Be Strong at Martinsville
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Looking to Rebound at Martinsville
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Showing Progress, Qualifies Fifth at Martinsville
Dylan Cease

Fans 12 in Blue Jays Debut on Saturday
Andrew Vaughn

Needs Hand Surgery, Expected to be Out 4-6 Weeks
Jacob deGrom

"Confident" he Will Make his Next Start
Jacob deGrom

Scratched From Saturday's Start Due to Neck Stiffness
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF