Which players are we targeting this year? Is it the young player poised for a breakout year or the consistent veteran who may not be flashy but quietly contributes to several fantasy categories? Or could it be the rookie/prospect who is being overlooked in fantasy circles? The Dynasty Guru writers are happy to share some of the names we’re targeting in drafts and trades.

Nico Hoerner, Cubs, (#12)

Hoerner is my kind of player.  He is rock solid every year and obviously under-rated.  He was the fifth-rated second baseman and 81st overall on the Razzball Player Rater.  With his stellar defense, he put a 6.4 WAR and will play every day he’s healthy.

In our mock dynasty draft, Brice Turang went 54th overall, and I took Hoerner 108th overall.  Turang is more valuable than Hoerner in most formats.  Turang is three years younger and hit ten more home runs.  But how much more valuable?  There are some questions about whether Turang will repeat his power.  Other than health, there’s really no questioning Hoerner’s floor, including a high batting average and a plus in stolen bases.

It’s a really high floor.  Likely Hoerner will never have enough power to be a top-tier second baseman.  And he doesn’t seem aggressive enough to steal more than 50 bases.  But he’ll outperform most of the other second baseman by hitting his floor.

Jorge Polanco, Mets, (#21)

David Stearns is a smart guy.  The Mets aren’t paying Jorge Polanco Merrill Kelly money to sit around.  When I put Polanco’s name in this WordPress window, I was assuming that I was going to highlight Polanco’s big-fly power.  Polanco was the shortstop on the rabbit-ball Bomba Squad.

He had another season (2021) where he hit 33 home runs.  And last year he hit 26 home runs despite playing in Seattle and missing 20 games.  But, on the whole, he’s not an overwhelming power hitter.  His Savant sliders are “just” above average.

What I found instead is that his offensive profile is oddly comparable to another second baseman who has been much more popular

From 2019 to 2025:

Polanco hit .260/.330/.450 with 131 home runs and 36 stolen bases in 800 games.

Player B hit .265/.320/.455 with 127 home runs and 76 stolen bases in 813 games.

From 2023 to 2025:

Polanco hit .245/.318/.436 with 56 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 336 games.

Player B hit .258/.316/.430 with 59 home runs and 35 stolen bases in 404 games.

Notably, neither player is a picture of health. Other than Player B’s speed advantage, they’re basically the same, right?

Player B is Ozzie Albies, our number 1 ranked second baseman for 2022, who is ranked 8th this year.  Now Polanco is 3.5 years older than Albies and his defensive abilities are likely moving him off of second base forever.  But, I gave you something to think about, right?

Jadher Areinamo, Rays, (Unranked)

I recently joined an incredibly in-depth fantasy league.  We have a rule V draft, a salary cap, arbitration . . . .  I thought they were kidding about the live Winter Meetings, but I was wrong and dutifully attended.  I’ve gotten unsolicited hits on only three of the players on my roster: James Tibbs III, Hunter Greene, and Jadher Areinamo.  So, it must be asked.  Is Jadher Areinamo the next Hunter Greene?

I guess not.  But I think the more serious question is “What does Demetrios Crisantes (ranked: 44) have that Areinamo ain’t got?”

In 2025, Crisantes hit .252/.358/.415 with 4 home runs and 6 stolen bases in 34 games at High-A Hillsboro as a 20 year-old.  In 2024, Areinamo hit .301/.349/442 with 10 home runs and 32 stolen bases in High-A  Wisconsin.

Comparing apples to apples, Crisantes had a bit more power and a bit more patience, but he also had an injury history.  But there’s no reason to be limited only to Areinamo’s 2024.

This year, Areinamo was traded from the Brewers to the Rays for Danny Jansen and made it Double-A Montgomery.  There’s always the bias to treat all prospects traded to the Rays as though they’re the next coming of Junior Caminero.  In Winter Ball, this year, Areinamo took it seriously and became the Venezuelan League MVP with 13 home runs in 36 games.  If any of those power gains are real, the Rays are looking at someone who can hit for average, hit for power, and steal bases.