Big Kid Adds (Week 16)

Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

While the NFBC Main Event garners most of the attention, there are a handful of leagues with even larger entry fees ($2.5K to $15K). They are named Elite leagues (previously called High Stakes Leagues), and there are nine of them. With so much money on the line, these fantasy managers try to gain every 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 five or more leagues.

Batters

Luis Lara (8): I buried Lara in this past weekend’s bid lists for the simple reason he wasn’t playing regularly. In the seven games since being promoted, he has started in just four.

Lara’s top trait is his patience with more walks than strikeouts in both the minors and majors this year. Additionally, he makes a ton of contact with an 88% Contact% in AAA and an 91% Contact% in the majors. Finally, he can steal bases with 45 SB in ’24, 44 SB in ’25, and 24 SB in AAA this year.

The one trait he doesn’t have is power. This year in AAA was the first time he had an ISO over .100. Normally, his on-base rate is higher than his slugging. Besides a lack of umph, he has a groundball rate around 50%.

A high on-base, speedster would be useful for some fantasy teams, but not playing as little as he has so far.

Ryan Waldschmidt (6): Since being recalled, he’s started two games in centerfield. So far in the majors, he’s a speed-only play (6 SB in 128 PA).

A .392 BABIP is keeping his OPS up at .652. I could see a speedster like him have a high BABIP if he just put the ball on the ground and legged out a few singles. Instead, he has just a 30% GB%, so he’s unsuccessfully been trying to be a home run hitter (0 HR).

On top of his flyball nature, he has a 34% K% (68% K%) with teams feeding him a steady diet of sliders (21% SwStr%). If a fantasy team really needs speed, he’s an option.

Vaughn Grissom (5): While he’s been hot so far in July (.890 OPS, .444 BABIP), the only reason I can see for adding him is a roster fill-in since he’s qualified at three positions (1B, 2B, 3B). He’s not hitting at all with his plate discipline tanking as the season has gone on.

Sung-Mun Song (4): Song started in eight of the last 10 games. While he hasn’t hit for power (1 HR) and average (.212 AVG), he does have 11 SB. One trick pony.

Brett Baty (4): Counting stats/positional flexibility play (1B, 2B, 3B, OF) play. He is not a productive hitter (.610 OPS in ’26, .653 OPS for his career).

Jacob Gonzalez (4): Traded to the Pirates and has not started once since the trade. Ignore until his playing time materializes.

Jake Cronenworth (4): First, playing time doesn’t seem to be an issue since he’s started in nine of the last 10 games. In 48 PA since coming off the IL, he has hit .304/.319/.457 with 2 HR and 2 SB. I examined his profile and could not find any changes, so the production might not last.

Cooper Pratt (4): The rabbit (0 HR, 6 SB) started in eight of the last 10 games. I wish he were showing some signs of power. It’s tough to take a zero in home runs.

Tim Tawa (4): Starting at first base for the Diamondbacks with 3 HR and 2 SB in 99 PA. While he showed some signs of power in the minors (31 HR in ’24), it hasn’t materialized in the majors because of a 51% GB%.

Marcus Semien (4): Finished his rehab assignment. He hit .214/.271/.341 with 9 HR and 6 SB before going on the IL.

Starters

Zach Thornton (7): Thornton made two spot starts in May and June, and for now, he’s in the Mets’ rotation. In AAA this season, he struggled with walks (3.9 BB/9), leading to a 1.36 WHIP and 4.78 xFIP. He showed no improvement in AAA with a 5.5 BB/9 since June 1st.

He has been better in the majors with a 2.6 BB/9 (0.92 WHIP) to go with his 2.60 ERA (3.92 xFIP) and 7.8 K/9.

His arsenal isn’t the best, and our STUPH models aren’t fans with an 89 Pitching+ and 4.24 botERA. A 92-mph fastball is never going to get much love. All of his swing-and-miss is coming from his cutter (13 SwStr%, 44% usage) and slider (20% SwStr%, 15% usage).

There is enough to be interested in adding him in medium to deep leagues, but I’m not sure I’m comfortable starting him just yet.

Patrick Sandoval (6): If a person believes in our STUPH models, they should buy into Sandoval’s debut when he posted a 107 Pitching+ and 3.54 botERA. In 4 IP, he had 5 K and 1 BB, leading to 1 ER.

I’m a little surprised with the results after he struggled with control during his rehab (4.9 BB/9). In 15 IP in AAA, he had a 6.3 K/9 and 6.3 BB/9.

While he’s struggled with walks over his career (4.0 BB/9, 1.39 WHIP), he has a solid 8.9 K/9 and 4.00 ERA (4.04 xFIP). Like with Thornton, Sandoval is worth adding in case something is there.

Clay Holmes (5): Before going on the IL, Holmes (fractured fibula) was having a solid season with a 2.39 ERA (3.70 xFIP), 1.10 WHIP (3.1 BB/9), and 7.7 K/9. He just threw a 40-pitch bullpen. He’s still a ways away from a rehab assignment.

Bailey Ober (5): While Ober’s return from the IL was acceptable (1 ER, 3 H, 5 K, and 1 BB over 5 IP), he’s struggled this season (4.40 ERA, 4.95 xFIP, 1.19 WHIP, 6.4 K/9) with his fastball velocity under 89 mph (88.2 mph in his last game). While he’s not throwing his fastball much (31% usage), it’s a non-factor right now.

Additionally, the results on his changeup (11% SwStr%) and slider (10% SwStr%) are below their historic numbers.

Finally, our STUPH models were not a fan with a 4.59 botERA and 91 Pitching+.

I don’t see any upside with Ober.

Janson Junk (4): In his debut off the IL (shin), his results were fine (1 ER in 5 IP) but he struggled with his command (4 BB in 5 IP).

He leaned into his fastballs (67% combined usage, 33% before going on the IL). The fastballs aren’t great, and the sinker hasn’t generated one swing-and-miss all season. He’s never missed many bats over his career (6.66 K/9), and nothing seems to have changed.

With that said, our STUPH models love him with a 3.15 botERA and 110 Pitching+. The verdict seems out.

Relievers

Andrew Kittredge (8): Kittredge got the last Save for the Orioles, with Ryan Helsley possibly out for the season. Kittridge is not producing like an ideal closer with a 4.32 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 8.3 K/9. Those stats look like they are for a streaming starting pitcher.

Looking over his arsenal, there are no signs of improvement, so we’ll see if he keeps the job. That said, the Orioles have slim playoff odds (22%), so maybe he’s being featured for a potential trade.

Mason Montgomery (5): During a Saturday doubleheader, Montgomery got a Save. I’m not reading into the Save since Gregory Soto got the Save in the first game of the twin bill. Montgomery might be a bit better than Soto, but it seems like Soto still has the closer’s job for now.

Luke Weaver (5): Weaver has been great this year with a 1.85 ERA (3.35 xFIP), 9.9 K/9, and 0.82 WHIP. If Weaver gets traded, there is a good chance he’ll be a closer.