It is crazy to think that a team could spend over $300 million in a single season only to be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, but that is exactly what happened with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015. Even with Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke going one and two in the rotation and players like Corey Seager and Adrian Gonzalez in the middle of the lineup, the Dodgers were unable to win the NLDS against the Mets.
Certainly if there is any upside for Dodgers’ fans, it’s that there does not appear to be an end coming to their dynasty at any point in the near future. They have one of the most loaded farm systems in all of baseball with several impact bats and future front of the rotation arms that should keep them in contention for years to come. Dynasty owners should be ready to check their leagues and see if any of these names are unowned as most if not all of these names could have a major impact down the road.
Editor's note: Be sure to also check out our 2016 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. Our rankings assistant tool combines all our staff's ranks in one place. You can easily filter and export all sorts of rankings and tiers - mixed leagues, points leagues, AL/NL only, top prospects, dynasty ranks, keeper values, and more.
Los Angeles Dodgers Top 10 Dynasty Prospects
These are the top ten prospects for the Los Angeles Dodgers in terms of fantasy production for fantasy owners in the next few seasons.
1. Corey Seager (SS, MLB)
Stats: 113 PA, .337/.425/.561, 4 HR, 2 SB, 12.4% BB rate, 16.8% K rate
ETA: 2016
Was there any doubt of who would be the number one prospect for the Dodgers? Everyone had to know that it was going to be standout shortstop Corey Seager. Seager is unlike many shortstop prospects in that his speed is probably his weakest tool. Seager likely will max out at 10 stolen bases per season if he can even get that many and his lack of speed could eventually necessitate a move to third base. Dynasty owners should not be concerned by this, however, as his bat plays well enough that he would still be a major contributor at third. Almost all scouts agree that Seager’s pure approach to the plate and easy swing will not only enable him to hit above .300 in the majors, but also mash 25-30 home runs. Seager will be the starting shortstop for the Dodgers this year and enters 2016 as the favorite for the NL Rookie of the Year and a dark horse for NL MVP. Needless to say, Seager should be owned in all dynasty leagues and should be untouchable in trades.
2. Julio Urias (SP, AAA)
Stats: (from AA) 68.1 IP, 2.77 ERA, 2.59 FIP, 9.75 K/9, 1.98 BB/9, 0.53 HR/9
ETA: 2017
The best left-handed pitching prospect in the minors by far, Julio Urias looks like a future ace to join Clayton Kershaw at the top of what will be a dominant Dodgers rotation. Urias has three elite pitches: a mid-90s fastball with a lot of life to it, a wipeout curveball, and one of the best lefty changeups in the game. The 19-year-old lefty also possesses advanced command over all three of his pitches. Still very young and oozing potential, Urias will likely not see any time this year as the Dodgers will want him to continue his development at Triple-A, but he should be ready to contribute in the majors by 2017. Urias is an elite pitching prospect and should not only be considered a must own in dynasty leagues, but should also be considered near untouchable in trades.
3. Jose De Leon (SP, AA)
Stats: 76.2 IP, 3.64 ERA, 3.64 BB/9, 12.33 K/9, 3.40 BB/9,
ETA: 2017
The top right handed punch to the Dodgers’ trio of outstanding pitching prospects, Jose De Leon could be ready for the majors as early as next season when he would likely join Julio Urias and Clayton Kershaw to make one of the most dominant rotations in baseball. De Leon has one of the best repertoires of any right handed pitching prospect as he possesses a mid-90s fastball, a wipeout slider, and an elite changeup. Early in his career, De Leon struggled with command, but he has made extraordinary improvements to now make himself look like a solid bet to contribute in the majors. De Leon is an absolute must own in all dynasty leagues with the expectation that he will be ready to contribute as early as next season.
4. Grant Holmes (SP, A)
Stats: 103.1 IP, 3.14 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 10.19 K/9, 4.70 BB/9, 0.52 HR/9
ETA: 2018
Though he is further away from reaching the majors than Julio Urias and Jose De Leon, Grant Holmes will undoubtedly have a major impact once he arrives. Taken with the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 draft, Holmes is still only 19-years-old, but already he could be ready to arrive at Double-A in the second half of 2016. His repertoire is undeniably good: he has a mid-90s fastball that can touch triple digits, a heavy power curveball, and an above-average changeup. His command could use some improvement, but scouts have no doubt that he will improve on that as he continues his development. Though he does not have the upside of Urias or De Leon, Holmes could still wind up as a two or three starter in the majors and is definitely worth owning in dynasty leagues.
5. Cody Bellinger (1B, A+)
Stats: 544 PA, .264/.336/.538, 30 HR, 10 SB, 9.6% BB rate, 27.6% K rate
ETA: 2018
Taken with the 124th overall pick in 2013, Cody Bellinger was never really expected to be the next superstar and did not make much noise in the minors. But in 2015, Bellinger exploded onto the scene, mashing 30 home runs only one season removed from hitting a mere three homers in 51 games. As he continues to develop power, Bellinger will see a decline in batting average as his swing tends to get long when he is aiming for the fences. For a first baseman, Bellinger is very athletic and he could steal 10 bases at the big league level to go with 25+ home runs. Something along the lines of a .250 batting average with 25 home runs and 10 stolen bases would be a reasonable expectation for Bellinger in the majors. He is one of the better first base prospects in the minors and is absolutely worth owning in dynasty leagues.
6. Alex Verdugo (OF, A+)
Stats: 96 PA, .385/.406/.659, 4 HR, 1 SB, 4.2% BB rate, 12.5% K rate
ETA: 2018
Though he may not possess any standout skill, Alex Verdugo is a well-rounded player who could potentially contribute in five fantasy categories. For a 19-year-old, Verdugo possesses a very advanced approach to the plate which helps make him a relatively low risk player to own in dynasty leagues. Scouts praise Verdugo’s quick bat and believe that he should be able to maintain a .290+ average in the majors. He has enough power and speed to be an eventual 20/20 player, though 15/15 is much more likely. Verdugo is a low risk/medium reward outfielder who warrants owning in all dynasty leagues.
7. Yusniel Diaz (OF, NA)
Stats: NA
ETA: 2019
Rated as the third best international prospect by MLB.com, Yusniel Diaz has the potential to be a major contributor in dynasty leagues. Diaz’s best tool is his well above-average speed that many believe should see him steal 25+ bases per season in the majors. He possesses a quick swing that helps him hit just about any pitch thrown up to him and should help him hit for a solid .280 average at the big league level. Some scouts see him eventually adding some power to that swing, but don’t expect him to ever hit more than 20 home runs per season. Diaz is a young, projectable centerfielder with the potential to be an outstanding bat in the majors. Even if dynasty owners are taking a risk this early, Diaz’s upside is well worth gambling on.
8. Starling Heredia (OF, NA)
Stats: NA
ETA: 2020
There are few prospects in the minors with as many tools as Starling Heredia. The 17-year-old Dominican has a powerful swing that many scouts see as being capable of mashing 20-30 home runs in the big leagues. There is still some swing and miss to his game, but he is young enough that many scouts believe he can get past this and hit for a decent average. He has some speed now, but he is a big player and will likely slow down as he continues to develop. Still, 10 stolen bases per year is not out of the question for Heredia. As many young Cuban prospects are, Heredia is a high risk/high reward player. Dynasty owners are encouraged to take the risk as he could be a major impact bat down the road.
9. Frankie Montas (SP/RP, MLB)
Stats: (from AA) 112.0 IP, 2.97 ERA, 3.04 FIP, 8.68 K/9, 3.86 BB/9, 0.24 HR/9
ETA: 2016
Frankie Montas would be higher on this list, but I personally envision him as a future reliever. He has an electric fastball, but lacks the quality secondary pitches to flash starter potential. He certainly has the potential and is worth owning because of his upside as a middle of the rotation starting pitcher, but dynasty owners should not be shocked if he winds up as a setup man for the Dodgers.
10. Walker Buehler (SP, NA)
Stats: NA
ETA: 2019
Taken out of Vanderbilt with the 24th overall pick in the 2015 draft, Walker Buehler has the upside of a middle of the rotation starter, but the fact that he had Tommy John surgery back in August makes him something of a Wild Card in that we don’t know how well he will develop post-surgery. If he regains the form he had before the surgery, he could be a must-own dynasty prospect. But at this point, he is a high risk/medium reward pitcher in keeper leagues.
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