The end of the 2025 fantasy baseball season will be upon us before we know it. For those of you who are out of contention and looking forward to next year, I can’t blame you. That’s why this week’s waiver wire breakdown will feature six prospects, broken into categories based on availability and floor/ceiling profile.
According to MLB Pipeline, all of the following players are expected to crack the big leagues either late this year or next season. That makes them great pickups for managers in dynasty fantasy baseball leagues, as well as players to watch heading into drafts next year. All rostered rates are via Fantrax.
0-20% Rostered
High Ceiling: Edgardo Henriquez
(RP, Los Angeles Dodgers)
ETA: 2025
Signed by the Dodgers in 2018, Edgardo Henriquez made his big-league debut on September 24th of last season. He was impressive despite a very small three-game sample size, during which he struck out five batters and averaged 98.7 MPH on his fastball.
His velocity has catapulted from impressive to elite this season. He’s tossed six scoreless innings with four strikeouts, averaging 101.3 MPH on his sinker and 101.2 MPH on his four-seam fastball.
Despite his struggles in Triple-A this year (he has a 6.85 ERA in 23.2 IP, largely due to a .303 opponent batting average), Henriquez’s stuff is simply too good to ignore as a potential high-leverage reliever. According to Fangraphs’ Stuff+ metric, which measures pitch quality using result-independent metrics like velocity and spin, Henriquez’s sinker and slider both graded out as the best among their respective pitch types among pitchers with at least five innings pitched this season.
The knock on Henriquez? His shallow arsenal consists almost completely of three fastballs: a sinker, cutter, and four-seam. Developing a pitch with a significant velocity difference would be a game-changer for the Dodgers reliever; among pitchers with at least five innings pitched this season, only Mason Miller, Diamondbacks reliever Juan Morillo, and Jacob Misiorowski average at least 99 MPH on their fastball and throw a changeup.
High Floor: Khal Stephen
(SP, Cleveland)
ETA: 2026
After being drafted by the Blue Jays in the second round last July, Khal Stephen was traded to Cleveland for Shane Bieber at this year’s deadline. The one-to-one swap speaks volumes about the quality of pitcher the Guardians believe Stephen can become.
Stephen has a 2.06 ERA this season, which is his first in professional baseball. While he only has 99 strikeouts in 91.2 innings pitched, he’s done an excellent job limiting walks and attacking batters with a deep four-pitch arsenal. Three of his offerings rate as slightly above-average (fastball, slider, changeup), and his curveball is a solid offering.
Stephen’s excellent control and deep arsenal give him a high floor, making him an excellent option for fantasy baseball managers in need of consistent starters. He’s likely to get innings next year, given the uncertain state surrounding Luis Ortiz and the fact that the Guardians have posted the 5th-worst rotation WAR in MLB this season.
21-40% Rostered
High Floor: Sal Stewart
(2B/3B, Cincinnati)
ETA: 2026
Like Stephen, Sal Stewart has a clear path to make an impact at the big-league level. The Reds have struggled mightily at both second base and the hot corner this year, both positions with which Stewart has experience.
MLB Pipeline gives Stewart a 60-grade hit tool, and he’s hit for a high batting average at every level of the minor leagues. He owns a .289/.390/.460 slash line in over 1,100 at-bats, 102 of which have come this season at Triple-A.
Stewart’s bat-to-ball skills give him a high floor, one that will be higher if he ends up playing second base due to the lesser power expectations that come with manning that position. His comps at second base include players like Brendan Donovan and Nico Hoerner, who have 10-15 home run power with a batting average that hovers around .280.
High Ceiling: Carlos Lagrange
(SP, New York Yankees)
ETA: 2026
Late-game breakdowns have been a significant issue for the Yankees this season. After acquiring former Milwaukee closer Devin Williams in December, New York thought they had found their new high-leverage arm.
Instead, Williams has posted a 5.32 ERA in 47.1 innings pitched. With Williams, Ryan Yarbrough, and Luke Weaver all set to reach free agency this offseason and the rest of the bullpen becoming increasingly expensive, the Yankees could use a cheap, high-ceiling bullpen arm in 2026.
They have just that in right-hander Carlos Lagrange, who could be placed into a late-game role as soon as 2026. Lagrange was signed in 2022 and has touched 102 MPH with his fastball, which has helped him strike out 74 batters in 55 innings pitched this season at Double-A.
Opponents are batting just .173 against Lagrange, who pairs his electric fastball with a well-above average slider. He’s currently a starting pitcher, but he could slide to the bullpen due to command issues. He’s walked 49 batters in 96.2 innings pitched this season, which would be extremely high as a starting pitcher but less notable as a reliever.
For fantasy managers seeking a potential future closer, look no further than Lagrange. Take a look at the following excerpt from his MLB Pipeline scouting report:
“He'll never have pinpoint control but he has improved his ability to locate his arsenal this year. He has the stuff to be a frontline starter or closer and is creating much more optimism that he'll be able to reach his lofty ceiling.”
41-60% Rostered:
High Ceiling: Jonah Tong
(SP, New York Mets)
ETA: 2026
Right-handed starting pitcher Jonah Tong has been extremely impressive this season. Before his recent call-up to Triple-A, he had posted 162 strikeouts in just 102 innings pitched.
Tong was drafted in the 7th round of the 2022 draft and made his professional debut in 2023. After a rough initial season (he owned a 6.00 ERA over 21 innings pitched), he’s wowed evaluators at every minor-league stop since.
The right-hander operates using a well-above-average fastball, curveball, and changeup and mixing in a developing slider. While command has never been his selling point, Tong’s strikeout-to-walk ratio has drastically improved since his debut season. This year, it sits at 171/46. In 2023, he walked 22 batters and struck out just 38.
Dynasty managers looking for the next electric starting pitcher need look no further than Tong, who has cemented himself as one of the most promising prospects in the Mets’ system.
High Floor: Owen Caissie
(OF, Chicago Cubs)
ETA: 2025
Owen Caissie made his MLB debut on August 14th, and he’s showing why he’s the Cubs’ first-ranked prospect despite initial struggles. Caissie’s 75.5 MPH bat speed ranks in the top fifth of big leaguers, and his minor league statistics are too elite to ignore.
While some think of Caissie (somewhat justifiably) as a high-ceiling, low-floor player, his floor is what intrigues me the most. In addition to his 60-grade power and strong 6’3 frame, Caissie is a career .280 hitter with a .384 on-base percentage.
Prior to his call-up, Caissie was slashing .289/.389/.566 in Triple-A. He’s hit for a high batting average at every stop on his way to the big leagues. When combined with his power potential, it’s easy to be confident that Caissie will at least be a .260/.350/.440 hitter in the big leagues.
Make sure to keep an eye on these six players for the rest of the 2025 season and while drafting next year. Whether it's a high-floor prospect with MLB experience or a high-ceiling starting pitcher with one year of professional baseball under his belt, they all have a good chance to be impact players in dynasty fantasy baseball leagues for a long time.
Make sure to check back next week for more fantasy baseball content.