Big Kid Adds (Week 3)

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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 seven 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.

Batters

Edouard Julien (5): The 26-year-old has been solid, batting .282/.364/.385 with 1 HR and 2 SB. He’s showing signs of improvement with improved power (+2 mph avgEV) and contact rate (+1% point). He’s just facing righties with just 3 PA versus lefties this year. He was most likely added for the three games in Colorado against the three weakest Dodgers’ pitchers (Glasnow, Sheehan, Sasaki), who are all right-handed.

Wenceel Pérez (5): It looked like Perez would take over in centerfield when he was promoted last weekend. Instead, he’s on the short side of a right field platoon with Kerry Carpenter. Unrosterable.

Nick Yorke (5): He started in eight of the last nine games, with the last start coming at first base. Yorke doesn’t provide any offensive production. Here are his Steamer600 comps.

The team got rid of fantasy-irrelevant Ke’Bryan Hayes to replace him with a nearly identical player in Yorke.

Carlos Cortes (4): With Brent Rooker going on the IL, Cortes has filled in at DH. Cortes (20-grade defense) projects to be a solid hitter with 20 HR upside and a solid .250 AVG. Cortes’s biggest roadblock to the majors is Rooker, who is entrenched in West Sacramento’s DH spot.

Casey Schmitt (4): Well, he has a .419 BABIP, which will boost up his production (.311 AVG). He hasn’t changed much from previous seasons, except that he stole his first base since 2023. He provides some position flexibility, being qualified at second and third with seven games played at first base this season. Fantasy bench streamer as long as he continues to start.

Gary Sánchez (4): His profile hasn’t changed in years. He hits for power with no steals and a negative contributor in batting average. The biggest change for Sanchez is that he’s playing more with the Brewers as they deal with several injuries. Sanchez has started in seven of the last ten games, with three coming at first base, three at catcher, and one at DH. Roster in two catcher leagues while he’s playing.

Javier Báez (4): The Tigers were scheduled to face four lefties, so Báez should get some starts no matter what. Additionally, injuries to Trey Sweeney and Parker Meadows have opened up playing time, with Baez starting in eight of the last nine games. As for his talent, the biggest change has been an improved Contact% (72% to 75%) and a drop in strikeouts (25% to 19%).

Leody Taveras (4): With Colton Cowser on the IL, Taveras is taking over in center field. The only early-season change with Taveras has been an improved eye with his walk rate up 14% points and strikeout rate down 6% points. Taveras will provide minimal power, but could steal 30 bases over an entire season. One interesting note, Blaze Alexander started in centerfield instead of Taveras when the team faced a left-handed starter.

Jeremiah Jackson (4): There is a lot to like about Jackson, especially a lower strikeout rate (27% to 22%) and pulling the ball more (37% to 57%). On the negative, his HardHit% is down from 47% to to 31%. He hasn’t walked yet. Posting an unustanable 31% HR/FB%. Ride this hot streak while he’s playing with Jackson Holliday on the IL, but don’t think his production will continue all season.

Starters: It’s the middle of April, and fantasy managers have looked over the available options and decided, sure Cade Povich is my best option. In deeper leagues, the starting pitcher churn may already be over.

Cade Povich (5): This addition happened because Povich shoved on Sunday with 5 K, 0 BB, and 1 ERA over 6.2 IP. These stats were coming off a start where the 26-year-old walked (3) more batters than he struck out (2). In his previous two seasons, his 4.38 xFIP was about a run lower than his 5.20 ERA. The problem was that his 1.47 WHIP was doing more damage than the ERA.

He throws with more control this year (0.97 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9), but his strikeouts are down (9.5 K/9 to 5.1 K/9) and so is his fastball velocity (-0.5 mph). The strikeouts and walks point to a 4.50 ERA, while he’s experiencing some batted ball (.216 BABIP) and timing (85% LOB%) luck.

Keider Montero (5): In two starts, Montero has been lights out with a 1.74 ERA (3.67 xFIP), 0.68 WHIP, and 8.7 K/9. There haven’t been any adjustments to his arsenal with his changeup (17% SwStr%) missing the most bats. One worry I had that limited my bids was that he might not be in the rotation that long with Justin Verlander returning from the IL soon. Motero’s “issue” is that he’s the only starter with a minor league option and can be freely demoted.

J.T. Ginn (5): A .200 BABIP is keeping his 0.91 WHIP and 3.27 ERA suppressed. My personal projections have him valued as a 4.00 ERA arm. Our STUPH models like him even more with a 3.48 botERA and 114 Pitching+. His changeup has been elite (19% SwStr%). Some team in each league (e.g., the ones who drafted Lopez) need to add Ginn and see how he performs over his next few starts.

Javier Assad (4): He was scheduled to face the Phillies on Monday and possibly have a second start against the Mets on Sunday. His first start could not have gone any worse (9 ER, 2 BB, 11 H, and 3 K in 4 IP). He now has an 8.10 ERA and 4.95 xFIP. Over the previous three seasons, Assad’s 3.43 ERA has outperformed his 4.56 xFIP by over a run. It seems like his luck has run out.

Jacob Lopez (4): Lopez has been getting lit up like a Christmas tree this year (7.43 ERA, 6.71 xFIP, 2.18 WHIP), and then four souls decided that he was the best waiver wire option. When you can add a player -3% K%-BB%, you do (#analysis). I know managers are trying to add talent, but who saw Lopez turning their season around? I think some people outthink themselves. I’ve done it for sure. In this case, take a chance on a middle reliever who could get Saves if someone gets hurt.

Relievers

Jakob Junis (7): Out of nowhere, Junis became the Rangers’ closer with three Saves last week. He’s not a big swing-and-miss guy (6.8 K/9, 92 mph fastball), but limits walks (1.1 BB/9) and keeps the ball on the ground (50% GB%). The job is his for now.

Joel Kuhnel (4): He’s possibly the closer in West Sacramento with two of the last three Saves. The 31-year-old has a career 5.58 ERA (4.08 xFIP) and 1.30 WHP in 98 IP. He might have taken a step forward by adding a cutter (13% SwStr%).

Cole Winn (4): Winn appears to be Junis’s setup man, so some managers added him (most likely, he was a consolation prize to losing on Junis). While Winn throws a harder fastball (94.4 mph), Junis is better in every other aspect (Winn: 4.87 xFIP, Junis: 3.45 xFIP).