Big Kid Adds (Week 14)

While the NFBC Main Event garners most of the attention, there are a handful of leagues with even a larger entry fee ($2.5K to $15K). They get originally named “High Stakes Leagues” and this year there are nine of them. With so much money on the line, these fantasy managers are going to try to gain any advantage. Most of the time, these managers will be a week or two ahead of everyone else on their adds. Here are the players and some information on the ones added in four or more of these leagues.

Note: Just four starters were readily available and were added in half of the leagues. And two were rookies with this free agent run being the first time they could be rostered. Fantasy managers are going to hold onto every reasonable starter they have and stream the hitters.

Batters

Henry Davis (9): While Davis has a high ranking in prospect lists (#37 on our list), he was worth adding but not someone to break the bank on. His profile is similar to MJ Melendez. Here are their rest-of-season projections.

They are both low-AVG guys with some power and speed who play more in the outfield than at catcher.

Davis is one of the few catching options who can provide some steals.

Alek Thomas (8): Thomas has been promoted back to the majors but he is still a platoon bat (career .365 OPS vs LHP, .716 OPS vs RHP). With the Diamondbacks only facing three righties this week, he can’t be started until the next week when he’s scheduled to face five righties.

Now, he has probably raised his Launch Angle. In his career up until this last demotion, he posted a 57% GB%. Since the call-up, it has dropped to 48%. Additionally, his swing path has increased about 10 degrees from 6 degrees to 16 degrees (background and source).

For now, he’s just a streaming option.

David Hamilton (8): Hamilton is interesting because he provides some power and speed (2 SB already). In AAA, he had 11 HR, 27 SB, and a .255 AVG. In the majors, he has four starts, all against righties, and only has a .298 OPS so far. A gamble that he can hit enough to stay in the bigs and use his speed.

Eduardo Escobar (8): While Escobar changed teams, he was going from one part-time role to what seems another part-time role, especially with the team signing Mike Moustakas. Both play third base and are better against righties. And Luis Rengifo is still around.

Here at FanGraphs, we have Escobar with a better projection but it’s not that much better.

As for Escobar’s talent, here are his projection comps.

It is interesting to see Jared Walsh on the list since Escobar is basically replacing him. It’s a list of hitters who are fantasy relevant if they have full-time at-bats.

Joey Votto (7): There is not much to say about Votto. He’s been good as recently as 2021 (36 HR, .266 AVG). Everything so far seems to be in place for him to be a productive hitter with 3 HR so far. The only issue holding him back is that he might sit once a week against a lefty.

Billy McKinney (7): The 28-year-old is an outfield volume play as he has started in 16 straight games while hitting .302/.327/.623 with 4 HR this season. So far, he’s a new guy with a 49% Savant HardHit% and a 51% Pull%, both career bests. Also, he’s cut his strikeout rate from 28% to 15%. There is no magic BABIP (.293) luck going on. As of now, he’s possibly a must-roster down to 12-team leagues to see if the production continues.

Elehuris Montero (6): He has started four straight at first base and stayed there with C.J. Cron off the IL. Montero has just been horrendous at the plate this year with a 39% K% and just a 3% BB%. At home (where he is all week), he is hitting just .300/.326/.375. A .701 OPS won’t cut it since it is 39% worse than everyone else when they hit in Colorado.

Andy Ibáñez (5): He has been hitting fine (.232 AVG, 5 HR, and 0 SB) while qualified at three positions (2B, 3B, and OF).

Two items have his value up this week. First, the Tigers have three games at Coors. Second, Nick Maton was demoted so some playing time opened up. I’m not sure if Ibanez is worth rostering after this week but he might make a nice bench bat with three position eligibilities.

Drew Waters (5): The 24-year-old is playing (started in nine of the last 10 games) and has stolen bases in previous seasons. The problem is that in almost 200 MLB plate appearances, he has a 39% K% and a sub-.600 OPS. It’ll be interesting to see if he keeps his role with Kyle Isbel off the IL.

Starters

Gavin Williams (8): Covered in detail by others.

Bryan Hoeing (8): I had my eye on Hoeing and others must have also after he allowed zero runs over two starts (9 IP) last week. As a starter this season (17 IP while starting and also relieving), he has a 3.06 ERA, 6.6 K/9, and 3.1 BB/9. My projections have him as a 4.20 ERA arm. Not the worst pitcher available on the waiver wire.

One issue that worried me was his playing time. This week, he was scheduled to face Atlanta and that game was a hard pass. Also, Johnny Cueto is expected off the IL soon. If a team has the room on their bench, he’s not the worst stash.

David Peterson (7): Those who rostered Peterson showed faith in his projections. Before his Tuesday start, he had an 8.08 ERA and 1.74 WHIP, but with a 3.41 xFIP. He was getting hit around with a 1.9 HR/9 and .404 BABIP before getting demoted to the minors. In the minors, he continued to struggle (5.6 BB/9 and 4.86 ERA) while still getting strikeouts (10.5 K/9).

On Thursday, his results were great (6 IP, 0 ER, 5 K, 3 BB) but his fastball velocity was down 2 mph compared to earlier this season. The only big change to his pitch mix was him utilizing his sinker more which allowed him to have an 81% GB%. How his start goes on Sunday will determine a lot about how much his demand will be heading forward.

Jhony Brito (7): I know Brito has a 1.59 ERA in his two starts since returning, but it has been just 5 K and 3 BB in 11 IP. On the season, he has a 4.70 ERA (5.27 xFIP), 1.34 WHIP, and 6.1 K/9. He’s not been any better in AAA with a 7.08 ERA (5.27 xFIP), 1.82 WHIP, and 7.5 K/9.

Part of the allure might have been his two starts (OAK and STL). There is just nothing pointing to him being even a weekly streamer.

Ronel Blanco (5): I can understand people having hesitancy about rostering Blanco. In the majors this season, he has a 4.70 ERA (5.01 xFIP), 1.30 WHIP, and 8.2 K/9 as a starter (23 IP as an SP, 13 IP as an RP). I missed on a repertoire change that made him a bit more interesting.

He changed his pitch mix by adding a changeup (19% usage, 28% SwStr%) over his last two games. The pitch comps aren’t great or bad.

The change gives him a third offering to go with his elite slider (24% SwStr%) and horrible four-seamer (4% SwStr%, 1.256 vsOPS). It’s possible the four-seamer could perform better considering its comps.

He has not been perfect during this two-game stretch with a 6.17 ERA (4.72 xFIP), 8.5 K/9, and 1.11 WHIP but he might be worth taking a chance on.

Relievers

None