Big Contracts, Big Futures: Dynasty Baseball Implications for Cooper Pratt and Colt Emerson

Most of our fantasy baseball coverage here pertains to redraft leagues, but I have a dynasty-focused article to discuss here.

Let's go over two signings for prospects, Cooper Pratt and Colt Emerson, going over real-world and fantasy baseball implications in the long run.

Explore the best in-season tool to manage lineup/start decisions including waiver pickups, projections, trade suggestions, trade value charts, rest of season rankings, power rankings, and tons more with Fantasy Assistant.

The Two Deals and Prospect Marks

The Milwaukee Brewers are signing Pratt to an eight-year deal. He will make close to $51 million over the life of the deal, and it has two club options on it.

The Seattle Mariners are giving Emerson an eight-year deal worth $95 million reportedly. There's a club option for a ninth year, and that could push the deal toward the $130 million mark. It also has a no-trade clause included.

Pratt is the No. 62 prospect in baseball and is just 21 years old. He's playing in Triple-A and is expected to debut sometime in 2026.

Emerson is the No. 7 prospect in baseball. The 20-year-old is also in Triple-A and is expected to make his MLB debut in 2026.

Pratt was the Brewers' sixth-round pick in 2023. He's graded as a 55-overall prospect, with his best marks being in the field. Pratt has a 50 grade for hitting and running, and a 45 grade in power.

In parts of four minor league seasons, Pratt has a .261 average and .354 on-base percentage. He has played 231 games, posting 220 hits (16 homers, 39 doubles and five triples). Pratt also has 116 RBIs, 136 runs scored, 114 walks, 63 stolen bases and 175 strikeouts.

Emerson was the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 draft by the Mariners. He has a 60-overall grade, with his best tool being hitting (65). He has 55s for his defense and 50s in power and running.

In parts of four minor league seasons, Emerson is hitting .288 and getting on base at a .398 clip. He has played 227 games, posting 255 hits (23 home runs, 56 doubles, seven triples). He also has 130 RBIs, 167 runs scored, 37 stolen bases, 138 walks and 187 strikeouts.

There's talent in both prospects, but it's clear that Emerson has performed better so far, and he was rewarded for it. Pratt is more known for his defense, but could still develop into an above-average hitter.

Let's break down the long-term outlooks for both players, starting with Emerson.

Emerson's Fantasy Outlook

If teams are willing to hand out big contracts to players who have never played in meaningful big league games, it's likely only a matter of time before we see them in the MLB.

Emerson is expected to be up this season, and it might not take much longer after getting paid a huge deal. 

He is a shortstop first, but also has played third base and second base in the minor leagues. That position versatility gives him a better chance at cracking the big leagues.

J.P. Crawford is the usual shortstop, but he's injured and on the 10-day injured list to start the season. Leo Rivas is the shortstop for the time being as a result.

Cole Young is another former first-round pick who is manning second base, so it doesn't seem like Emerson would be brought up to play there, unless Young was hurt.

At third base, Seattle has Brendan Donovan, who was traded for this offseason. The Mariners aren't benching Donovan, but they could move him to left field to make room for Emerson. Randy Arozarena is there for now, but he, or Donovan, could be moved to right field, where there's currently a platoon between Luke Raley and Victor Robles.

Dominic Canzone and Rob Refsnyder are in a platoon at designated hitter, which is another spot the Mariners could use to get Emerson onto the big league roster in time.

Usually things work themselves out in one fashion or another, and after paying Emerson big, I wouldn't worry about him reaching the big leagues when he's deemed ready.

Be watching Emerson and be ready to add him in redraft leagues when he's called up. He's already a great dynasty option, and should be owned in all those leagues. Be expecting him to help you out later this season, but probably not too far down the line.

Pratt's Fantasy Outlook

I also expect Pratt to be called up relatively soon. Especially in Milwaukee, where they don't give out big contracts hardly ever, I doubt a prospect marinates in the minor leagues too long on that big of a deal.

He has played shortstop primarily in the minor leagues, while also getting a little run at second base. Pratt could serve as a designated hitter as well.

Brice Turang is the everyday second baseman, and he'd move to shortstop if anything. He will remain an everyday starter for the Brewers in 2026.

Joey Ortiz is the shortstop, and is coming off a down 2025 season. He's looked better to open 2026, but was given a day off on Monday. Coming on the day of the Pratt deal, that is noteworthy in my eyes.

Christian Yelich is the team's regular designated hitter, and Pratt won't be moving him out of that spot. Yelich could play the outfield some more as Jackson Chourio is out, so that could make room for Pratt.

Andrew Vaughn is also out at first base, so those two injuries create a big league need, so it's not crazy to think Pratt could be up soon.

I'd be watching Pratt for when he gets called up. He'll be worth adding in deep redraft leagues, but I'd need to see him deliver before adding him in standard leagues.

Pratt is a good dynasty asset, and gets a boost after signing a long-term deal. If his bat eventually comes around, he could be an everyday player and good fantasy asset, and that's someone you want to be rostering in a dynasty league.