Big Kid Adds (Week 21)

D. Ross Cameron-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.

Just six players hit the five minimum so I included some interesting players added in four leagues.

Batters

Zac Veen (8): Veen is a platoon bat, and that makes him tough to roster, especially in shallower leagues. Additionally, it’s late in the season where every week counts. In these NFBC leagues where hitters can be swapped out mid-week, he’s projected to face three or more lefties in just three of the next eight scoring periods. He was going to face four lefties this week, so he shouldn’t be started even though he is in 35% of the shallower 12-team Online Championship leagues.

In AAA, Veen was an all-around contributor with a .327 AVG, 24 HR, and 17 SB. This being his second round in the majors, he continues to struggle by batting a combined .173/.232/.385 over the past two seasons with a 38% K% (62% Contact%).

The power is real with 2 HR in 19 PA so far, but he has some major flaws.

Joshua Báez (7): Since Báez’s 3 HR debut, he is batting .056/.143/.056 with a 33% K% and 2 SB. This Rece Hinds (high power, high strikeouts) profile is what fantasy managers signed up for.

I have two observations so far. First, teams are not throwing him fastballs, and when they do, they average 95.6 mph (32% SwStr%). Second, his 72% Contact% is an improvement over his 68% in AAA. I want to see him keep his Contact% over 70%.

Rafael Flores Jr. (4) and Eduardo Valencia (4): The pair seem to be the best available catching options in these deeper leagues. Flores has been great with 6 HR and a .313 AVG in 56 PA. The 25-year-old started in six of the last seven games, with three coming at first base.

Valencia has similar production (6 HR and .356 AVG in 61 PA), but it has been spread out over more games. I’m not sure why he doesn’t play more.

José Fermín (4): Fermín seemed to be gaining playing time with seven straight starts, but over the last five games, he started twice, both times against lefties. The 27-year-old has shown a balanced approach with 5 HR, 6 SB, and a .242 AVG.

Pedro Ramírez (4): With the injury to Dansby Swanson, Ramírez is now the full-time second baseman for the Cubs. While the 22-year-old rookie won’t hit for much power, he has stolen seven bases in 152 PA with a .285 AVG. I’m guessing his add rate wasn’t higher because he was already on several teams.

Starters

Jackson Kent (7): Kent was respectable in the minors with a 3.72 ERA (3.96 xFIP), 1.12 WHIP (2.9 BB/9), and 10.0 K/9. The strikeouts (10.6 K/9) have continued in two major league starts, but with a 9.4 BB/9. The walks have led to a 9.39 ERA (4.86 xFIP) and 2.48 WHIP.

There is nothing to build off. His slider has a higher Zone% than his four-seamer (46% vs 40%).

I feel he’s a drop until he can string together a couple decent, low-walk starts.

Jack Leiter (6): When I saw that Leiter was returning, I stayed away. He’s been horrible over 267 career innings with a 4.95 ERA (4.55 xFIP), 1.38 WHIP, and 8.8 K/9. His results this year are even worse.

Feel free to ignore.

Cal Quantrill (5): While Quantrill isn’t the best arm, he faced two manageable opponents (Nationals and Angels) this week. Against the Nationals, he went seven scoreless innings with 5 K and 0 BB.

He has bounced between starting and relieving and has been better at starting (4.21 xFIP vs 5.55 xFIP) because of a better walk rate (1.8 BB/9 vs 3.5 BB/9). He hasn’t changed his repertoire or velocity, so I don’t expect any breakout, but just a nice one-week stream.

Brayan Bello (4): Over Bello’s last seven appearances (27 total innings), he has a 0.99 ERA, 2.95 xFIP, 0.80 WHIP, 59% GB%, and 7.6 K/9. During that stretch, he’s seen a significant increase in his fastball velocity.

Janson Junk (4): A two-start week means Junk is being added as he faces the Phillies (5 IP, 2 ER, 2 K, 2 BB, 8 H) and Nationals. On the season, Junk has been a low-to-mid-4.00 ERA starter, but for the last three seasons our STUPH models think there is more to him, but he continues to disappoint. A fine dart to take a chance on.

Reliever

Kodai Senga (9): Out of nowhere, Senga took over the Mets closer role with Devin Williams on the IL. Since his last start six games ago, he has a 1.50 ERA (4.02 xFIP) and 10.5 K/9. His last four appearances have resulted in a Save.

The biggest improvement is a drop in his walk rate from 6.5 BB/9 to 4.5 BB/9. Also, he leaned (88% combined usage) into his two best offerings, his four-seamer (54% Zone%) and forkball/splitter (20% SwStr%).