Big Kid Adds (Week 22)

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 were originally named “High Stakes Leagues” and there are ten of them. With so much money on the line, these fantasy managers 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 five or more leagues.

Note: After performing FAAB last week, I knew this week’s adds would be slim. It seemed like there were no obvious adds and teams were filling their roster needs.

Batters

Connor Norby (8): After a brief stint in AAA, Miami promoted him to the majors where he’s hit .333/.385/.667. Most of his improvement came from dropping his strikeout rate from 38% in Baltimore to 20% in Miami. Also, he should be third-base qualified in most leagues any day now (seven games at 3B).

Jake Cave (8): Starts against righties and the Rockies were scheduled for six games against right-handed starts. In 126 PA at home against righties, the 31-year-old has 4 HR while batting .287/.341/.478.

Addison Barger (6): Strong-side platoon bat with seven righties on the schedule. Barger provides a little power (5 HR in 151 PA) but nothing else (1 SB, .204 AVG, .240 OBP).

Gio Urshela (6): With Austin Riley on the IL, Urshela started in eight of the last nine games at third base. The deal is that Urshela doesn’t provide any category juice.

Miguel Amaya (6): Even though the Cubs are looking to replace Amaya with someone else next season, he’s been on fire because of a recent swing change.

José Tena (6): Started in 12 of the last 13 games at third base for the Nationals. He was shortstop qualified when promoted so now he is playable at two positions. In AAA, he hit for a balanced 17 HR, 14 SB, and .298 AVG. In the majors, the results are similar in 57 PA with 2 HR, 1 SB, and .309 AVG. A nice bench streamer.

Jasson Domínguez (5): Managers are gambling that Dominguez will get promoted when rosters expand on the first. In AAA, he’s hitting .299/.351/.453 with 4 HR and 13 SB.

Starters

Jack Leiter (9): Leiter struggled in his first MLB promotion with a 16.39 ERA and 2.57 WHIP in 9 IP. Walks were the main issue (5.8 BB/9) which continued from the minors (5.2 BB/9 in ’23, 4.1 BB/9 in ’24). Before this latest promotion, he dropped his walk rate to 2.8 BB/9 over the last five starts.

In his Wednesday start, he lasted 4 IP (83 pitches) with 2 ER, 4 K, and just 2 BB. The biggest adjustment was leaning into his slider increasing its usage from 24% to 41%. On the season, the slider hasn’t been good with just a 5% SwStr%. Results-wise, his four-seamer has been his best pitch with a 15% SwStr% and a flyball-inducing 26% GB%.

Cooper Criswell (7): He’s in a two-start week with one game versus Toronto and the other at Detroit. In the first game, he only lasted 3 IP with 1 ER while walking three batters and allowing five hits (90% LOB%, 9.95 xFIP).

In the second half, he’s been ineffective with a 1% K%-BB%. The walks pushed him up to a 1.64 WHIP. It’s tough to get excited for a pitcher whose fastball is an 89-mph sinker (2% SwStr%).

Yu Darvish (5): Darvish is back with the team and building his strength to rejoin the rotation. He was decent when he threw earlier in the season (8.5 K/9, 1.07 WHIP, 3.20 ERA, 3.92 xFIP). Worth a gamble.

Relievers

Porter Hodge (7) and Jorge López (5): One of these two could eventually become the Cubs closer but it’s not obvious who yet. Here is their usage over the past week.

It seems like Hodge has more talent but Lopez is getting more Save chances.

Tyler Kinley (5): Kinley might be the Rockies closer again. The issue is that Kinley is a well below-average reliever (6.40 ERA, 4.29 xFIP, 4.5 BB/9, 1.51 WHIP). He’s already been the closer and lost it earlier in the season. A Saves-only play.