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Buy or Sell: Top Fantasy Baseball Prospects Added to 40-Man MLB Roster

By Wes Hughes
Owen Caissie Double-A Fantasy Baseball Prospects

The deadline to add players to the 40-man roster for teams has come and gone and the Winter Meetings are days away setting up the Rule-5 draft. While it isn’t always a direct indication of making a roster, being added to the 40-man roster is a step in the right direction for prospects looking to break into the big leagues. While we would love to focus on the available Rule 5 players, the fantasy baseball impact of those Rule 5 picks is minimal with maybe one or two players being serviceable. Instead, we want to focus on players who were added to 40-man rosters and could have an impact as early as this season.

While there were many players added to their team’s 40-man, we will discuss those we think could make a fantasy impact and if we buy or sell top prospects added to the 40-man roster.

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Top Prospects Added to 40-Man Roster

Owen Caissie OF | Chicago Cubs | Level: AAA | Age: 22

Assessment: BUY

Owen Caissie possesses a ton of raw power and consistently gets 65 and above grades for it. His 2024 season showed he’s MLB-ready and was an obvious 40-man addition. In 2023, he hit .289 with 22 home runs at AA, breaking out as a top prospect. In 2024, he followed with a .278/.375/.473 slash line, 19 home runs, and 29 doubles. Reports from the Winter Meetings suggest the Cubs may move Cody Bellinger and/or Seiya Suzuki this offseason. If that happens, Caissie or Kevin Alcantara could make the roster in spring 2025. The Cubs seem committed to a youth movement and have one of the deepest farm systems in baseball. Caissie’s 13.3% swinging strike rate is below average and raises some concerns about his swing and miss issues. His 82.2% zone-contact rate could improve. By comparison, Heston Kjerstad had a 13% swinging strike rate but an 86.7% zone contact rate in AAA in 2024. Caissie’s 29.7% swing rate outside the zone suggests he doesn’t chase much. However, he struggles with pitches in the zone. If he limits MLB strikeouts, Caissie’s stock could rise quickly in the Cubs’ current youth-focused environment.

Tink Hence RHP | St. Louis Cardinals | Level: AA | Age: 21

Assessment: SELL

Tink Hence climbed prospect boards after a strong 2022 season. His progress stalled in 2023 after struggling in AA. He posted a 5.47 ERA in AA and 4.78 ERA overall in 2023. In 2024, he bounced back in AA with a 2.71 ERA, 12.3 K/9, and 1.067 WHIP. Hence doesn’t have overpowering stuff, sitting 93–95 mph, though he occasionally flashes 98 mph. His changeup is a plus pitch for swings and misses, paired with a fringe slider that flashes plus. So why is he a sell? Health concerns and injuries have kept him from surpassing 100 career innings so far. The Cardinals’ recent struggles in player development also impact his long-term outlook. Gone are the days of developing internal starters like Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, Kyle Lohse or Michael Wacha. They haven’t developed a successful starter since Jack Flaherty in 2018. Before Flaherty, the last successful pitchers developed were Carlos Martinez in 2014 and Shelby Miller in 2013. A decade later and only two successful starters emerged with none in the past seven years. Several former top pitching prospects, like Alex Reyes, Dakota Hudson, or Mathew Liberatore failed to develop into starters. Since John Mozeliak became President of Operations in 2017. The Cardinals’ pitching development has struggled. Despite promises to improve in 2025, their track record raises concerns about Hence’s future success.

Zac Veen OF | Colorado Rockies | Level: AAA | Age: 22

Assessment: BUY

We recently wrote about Veen in the 5 Buy Low Prospects for 2025 Dynasty Baseball. Veen has faced injury issues, making it difficult for him to stay on the field consistently. Despite this, I believe in his bat, especially considering he will play half his games at Coors Field. The Rockies have no reason to hold him back in 2025, and there are no positional roadblocks. Veen’s 2023 was injury-riddled and disappointing, as he hit .209 with just two home runs in 200 plate appearances. However, he bounced back in 2024 by repeating AA and earning a promotion to AAA during the season. He finished with a .258 average, 11 home runs, and 21 stolen bases across both levels. His 12.8% swinging strike rate was average to above, and his 87.4% zone contact rate at AAA was encouraging. Those numbers suggest he is making strides in limiting swing-and-miss issues, an important step forward. Veen possesses the coveted power-speed combination that makes players highly valuable in fantasy baseball. He might not make the Opening Day roster, but I fully expect him to contribute later in 2025. His tools and situation in Colorado give him significant upside for the future.

Colson Montgomery SS | Chicago White Sox | Level: AAA | Age: 22

Assessment: SELL

Colson Montgomery entered 2024 with some of the highest expectations of any prospect in baseball. Heading into spring training, he was considered to have a chance of breaking camp with the White Sox, despite no AAA experience. Unfortunately, he became one of the biggest disappointments among prospects this season. He slashed .214/.329/.381 over 573 plate appearances with a 29% strikeout rate. Montgomery’s talent suggests he is capable of much better, and I don’t expect him to struggle that badly again. The White Sox, however, just completed one of the worst seasons in MLB history, adding complexity to his situation. While Montgomery might benefit from more minor-league seasoning, the White Sox have little reason to keep him there. They appear headed for a full rebuild and won’t likely be competitive for several years. It’s difficult to buy into a prospect who declined like Montgomery, especially with the dysfunction at the major league level. On the bright side, scouting reports still praise his talent and believe he has superstar potential, even on a struggling team. However, the poor state of the major league roster could hinder his overall development and limit his potential impact.

Moises Chace RHP | Philadelphia Phillies | Level: AA | Age: 21

Assessment: BUY

I expect Moises Chace to appear on many breakout lists, including FantraxHQ’s, heading into the 2025 season. Baseball America recently showcased top Stuff+ leaders in the minors under age 24, where Chace ranked second to Jackson Jobe at 21 years old. Chace’s four-seamer sits in the mid-90s and plays up with added ride and finish at the top of the zone. His three-pitch mix also includes a changeup and sweeper, both of which consistently miss bats. Chace’s pure stuff has always been impressive, but his lack of command has held him back. His 1.5 K/BB ratio isn’t ideal, but there are reasons for optimism after his trade to the Phillies. In AA, he posted a 35K to 7BB ratio with a 1.07 WHIP, showing encouraging signs of improvement. For a pitcher with this level of stuff, these strides in command are promising for his future development. Moving to a new organization, increased maturity, and strength often help refine command in young arms as they progress. Despite his career 4.42 ERA and 1.40 WHIP, there’s plenty of reason to believe Chace can take big steps in 2025.

Emiliano Teodo RHP | Texas Rangers | Level: AA | Age: 23

Assessment: BUY (As Reliever) SELL (As Starter)

I might be cheating here, but Emiliano Teodo looks more like a future closer than a starter to me. He has three plus pitches, but several red flags suggest he may not stick as a starter. Teodo started 19 of 20 appearances in 2024, but his electric stuff is better suited for shorter outings. His fastball consistently touches triple digits, occasionally reaching 102 or 103 mph, making him one of the hardest throwers in the minors. Teodo has been the hardest thrower in the Rangers’ system for some time, but command remains a major issue. His walks continue to be a Sisyphean task, limiting his effectiveness in extended outings as a starter. His breaking ball is a devastating pitch, featuring high spin rates and significant depth rather than horizontal movement.

Another concern as a starter is the lack of a reliable third pitch. Though he throws a changeup, it’s inconsistent and mostly a “show me” offering. Teodo is listed at 6’1” and 165 pounds and relies on a max-effort delivery to generate his elite velocity. While I don’t believe smaller pitchers are inherently less durable, Teodo’s frame and effort raise logical durability concerns. SABR studies show no statistical evidence that smaller pitchers are less durable than larger ones. Even so, producing this level of velocity with his size might be unsustainable in a starting role. Let Teodo come in for one inning, light up the radar gun, and limit his exposure to walks and durability issues. I believe Teodo can become the next superstar closer for the Rangers.

Follow me on X: @ProspectsOnWes | Get an early start on your 2025 Draft Prep with the updated Top 500 Dynasty Rankings.

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