Fantasy Baseball: Deep League Dynasty Stash

Fantasy Baseball: Deep League Dynasty Stash

Whether your team is still in the hunt or out of the playoff race there is always work to be done for those owners that play in dynasty leagues. Over recent seasons there have been many a player who has turned in elite fantasy seasons and even reached major league stardom, yet at no point were considered an elite prospect. Were you one of the owners that were able to grab Paul Goldschmidt despite

scouts concerns as to whether he could translate his minor league success to the majors?, were you one of the owners that jumped quick on Jose Altuve, despite the elite 2nd baseman being buried on top prospect lists when he was learning craft?

Whether the answer is yes or no it serves as a reminder that not every major league star was once considered an elite prospect, and with us now entrenched into the second half of the season maybe it is time to look towards the future and potentially find those hidden gems in the minor leagues that might not be getting as much recognition as their talent deserves.

Next: Luke Weaver

LUKE WEAVER, SP, ST LOUIS CARDINALS:

Drafted in the first round back in 2014, the Cardinals pitching prospect has suffered a series of injuries which delayed his progression early in his career. After starting 2016 on the DL with a fractured wrist the former Florida state star has not missed a beat for the AA Springfield Cardinals striking out 65 batters in just 55 innings whilst issuing only 8 free passes. Add to that the fact that Weaver has reduced hitters to just a .235 average and you have all the makings of a talented pitching delivering on the promise that made the Cardinals invest a first round pick on him. Although Weaver’s innings have limited due to his early season injury, he has still enjoyed success to the tune of a 1.31 ERA and 1.07 WHIP whilst seeing decreases in his walk rate (3.5%) and FIP (sitting at an impressive 1.53).

Concerned about the small sample size?, you shouldn’t be. Over Weaver’s minor league career the Cardinal’s pitching prospect sports a cool 1.86 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a K:BB ratio of 165:31.

Luke Weaver will not be helping fantasy teams anytime this year, but if you are out of the race and play in a deep dynasty league then this is a player that is worth investing in.

Next: Willie Calhoun

WILLIE CALHOUN, 2B, LA DODGERS

For those of you that follow me on Twitter, or have followed my work within the industry you will not be surprised to see the name Willie Calhoun appear in this article. My tip at the start of the season for ‘one to watch’, Willie Calhoun has continued to develop the bat and prove that he was one of the steals of the 2015 draft, being selected in the 4th round by the Dodgers. 12 months on from being drafted, the 5’8 power hitting middle infielder is already hitting cleanup for the AA Tulsa Drillers, as well as adding a Texas League All-Star start and an invite to Team USA for the 2016 Futures game to his already impressive resume. After hitting 11 HR’s at .316 in his first taste a pro and mashing his way through 3 levels in 2015 Calhoun found himself starting 2016 in AA in just half a season of professional baseball. Now in 2016 Calhoun has continued to see success hitting 21 home runs thus far in 350 AB’s whilst striking out just 51 times. The .263 batting average is also a little misleading after a slow start to the season and should continue to push closer to the .280 mark as the season continues to progress. It is extremely unlikely that Calhoun will stick at 2B, and a move to LF in the future is likely on the horizon, but the bat is strong enough to play regardless of whether his future is in the outfield or infield.

Although Calhoun only stands at 5’8 he has a great deal of raw power as well as an excellent approach at the plate, which gives him an excellent ability to barrel the ball more often than not. Coming from a draft class which boasted first round hitters such as Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson, Brendan Rodgers and Andrew Benintendi it easy to lose sight of the value plays for the future outside of these guys. But with the emergence in 2016 of players such as Willie Calhoun and Harrison Bader from the 2015 draft class it is evidence that there is always bargains to be had for the deep dynasty league owner who is willing to dig that bit deeper.