FAAB Frenzy and Waivers Wild: Week 13

Every Monday, this column will break down the most popular waiver wire and free agent acquisitions of the weekend.

Fantasy baseball managers know that our game is the ultimate test of grit, grind, tenacity, and patience. Unlike fantasy football, where league titles can be won with minimal in-season activity, fantasy baseball leagues require incessant attention and activity. Particularly when it comes to free agent adds and drops. Real-life baseball managers are constantly adjusting batting orders, players are frequently optioned to and promoted from the Minor Leagues, and injuries occur almost daily. There’s no resting on our laurels. We must always stay vigilant with league news and notes and remain active on the waiver wire if we want to win our leagues.

Every week, I’ll dig into the top adds on the ever-popular Fantrax and in the NFBC Online Championship (OC), a national mid-stakes contest with 240 total leagues of 12 and a six-figure grand prize. Reviewing player adds between the two should provide us with a well-rounded perspective and barometer of the fantasy baseball marketplace.

Week 12 Overview

It was a wildly productive week for the Athletics, who played six games in Las Vegas. They averaged 7.8 runs per game (47 total) and hit 20 home runs. Nick Kurtz and Tyler Soderstrom led the charge with four homers apiece and Zack Gelof hit three. The Colorado Rockies weren’t far behind, leveraging their plus matchups (3 at home, 3 in Vegas) to produce 45 runs. Their offense was powered by catchers Hunter Goodman and Brett Sullivan, each of who hit three homers. Willi Castro drove in seven on Sunday as the Rockies scored nearly half of their runs (23) in that one contest. That’ll be it for the A’s in Vegas, but the good times should continue to roll in Sacramento this week where temperatures will be in the 90s. Jackson Chourio has been the hottest hitter in the league over the last two weeks. He slashed .414/.453/.845 with 7 HR, 18 RBI and 16 R. Over the last 30 days, Shohei Ohtani is batting .404 and Willson Contreras is batting .400.

It was a tough week for two-start pitchers to score wins. Colorado’s Tomoyuki Sugano was the only two-start pitcher to earn two wins, though he was blasted (15 H, 11 ER, 4 BB) over his 10 innings pitched last week. Walker Buehler wasn’t a popular acquisition last Sunday, but he was one of the only universally low-rostered pitchers who didn’t destroy fantasy ratios. In his two starts (vs. CIN, at BAL), Buehler allowed just two earned runs, two walks, and racked up nine strikeouts in 9.2 innings.

NFBC OC and Fantrax – Most Added in FAAB

In last week’s column, I pointed out how several hitters being activated from the IL could be valuable and provide long-term value. Among them were Jordan Lawlar, Jasson Domínguez, Lars Nootbaar, Alejandro Kirk, and Francisco Alvarez. All got off to hot starts: Lawlar stole two bases in his first game back, Domínguez homered in his return, Kirk went 3-for-3, and Nootbaar and Alvarez both homered in their second game upon activation. As we know, the early bird usually gets the great FAAB deals. Lawlar’s AWB in 12-team OCs last Sunday was $22, and this Sunday, it was $40. Domínguez’s went from $24 to $46. Fresh off his promotion back to the Majors, Royce Lewis was added in 44% of OCs for an average of $18, and in 33% for an average of $38 this week. Some managers’ strategy and motto of “I’ve got to see it first” typically results in them missing out on great deals. Success in fantasy baseball comes from being proactive, not reactive. We strike when the iron is warming up, not when it’s already hot.

The big acquisitions of the weekend were rookie prospects Braden Montgomery and Cole Carrigg. A former 12th overall draft pick of the Red Sox and top-five White Sox prospect, Montgomery was batting .314 with a 15% walk rate in the minors before his promotion and wasted no time getting acclimated. He hit a two-run, walk-off bomb in his first game. It’s the only home run Braves’ closer Raisel Iglesias has allowed this season. Montgomery’s average winning bid of $67 was reasonable considering the likelihood of him sticking with his big-league club for the rest of the season, and his potential fantasy contributions in power and speed. Cole Carrigg’s allure was two-fold: his massive stolen base upside and the fact that he’s a hitter on the Rockies with mostly home games in warm weather on tap over the next few weeks. Injured outfielders Jordan Beck and Brenton Doyle aren’t knocking on that activation door anytime soon, so Carrigg could literally run with this opportunity. Carrigg is in the lineup against both lefties and righties, locked into the six-hole. It’s worth noting that the Rockies’ offense isn’t a particularly enticing group to stream in Week 13. They face some tough matchups in Wrigley Field (Shota Imanaga, Javier Assad) and back home this weekend against the Pirates (Paul Skenes, Jared Jones).

Caleb Kilian was added for a reasonable AWB of $30 and is now rostered in 92% of Online Championship leagues. Giants manager Tony Vitello officially named Kilian his closer on Friday, the same day that former closer Ryan Walker was promoted from Triple-A and Keaton Winn was placed on the IL with an elbow strain. Kilian’s primary offering is a 96-97 mph four-seamer that he has utilized well, though his 11.5% walk rate is a slight concern. Nevertheless, expect Kilian to hold onto the role for the balance of the season. I trust Kilian more than Seranthony Domínguez at this point, and would make that swap if it was an option. Meanwhile, Yoendrys Gómez has been pulling away from the pack in the Twins bullpen. Eleven different relievers are responsible for the team’s 20 saves this season, and Gómez has locked down three of their last six since May 26. Cincinnati Reds’ injuired closer Emilio Pagán was added in 15% of OCs, fueled by the news of him ramping up activity and being ready throw bullpen sessions. The Reds bullpen has been brutal since Pagán went down on May 5. Their 5.88 ERA since ranks second worst in the Majors behind only the Rockies’ bullpen (6.15). A healthy Pagán should easily reclaim his role once activated.

The Dominic Canzone average winning bid of $15 was mostly inspired from a solid week (8-for-24, 2 HR, 4 RBI), but is more reactive than proactive. Canzone is an easy streamer when the Mariners face all right-handed starting pitchers (.293 ISO, 160 wRC+ vs. RHPs), but he does not start against lefties. That means fantasy managers must have a bench option ready to swap for Canzone when the Mariners face three Red Sox southpaws this weekend.

St. Louis Cardinals power corner infielder Blaze Jordan was the most popular addition in Fantrax leagues. The Cards have been surprisingly spectacular offensively, and replacing a struggling Nolan Gorman with Jordan helps elevate it further. Jordan, who was dealt for veteran lefty Steven Matz at the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline, hit 19 HR with 99 RBI in 544 plate appearances at Triple-A last season and slashed .313/.373/.548 with 11 HR in 57 minor-league games this season. He has five hits (one home run) through his first three games, covering third base twice and playing first base in Sunday’s contest.

Arguably the least fun game to play this fantasy baseball season is the one where we try to figure out who will earn saves for the Athletics. Wisely, not all participate, since it’s been a sidequest mired in futility and anguish. Manager Mark Kotsay told us before the season that there won’t be just one guy, and several of us continue to play the stubborn game. The latest target, Elvis Alvarado, is actually the most enticing. He hurls fastballs at a 98-99 clip and rocks a 32.3% strikeout rate, albeit in just 15 innings (14 appearances). Alvarado earned his first two career saves last week and looks like the current lead of the committee. This week in Sacramento will be a strong test on his ability to sink or swim. Fantasy managers in desperate need of saves didn’t have much choice. The Alvarado ride likely won’t be a smooth one, but he’s the one reliever in this bullpen who has the make-up of a true closer, so perhaps he will be given the chance to be their primary guy.

For folks in daily leagues, be sure to scour your wire for Pittsburgh Pirates hitters as they play three games in Sacramento and three at Coors Field this week. Any available shares of Ryan O’Hearn should be scooped up immediately. Jake Mangum has been on fire over the last two weeks (.400 AVG, 5 SB) and is a worthy addition for the speed-needy. Spencer Horwitz and Nick Gonzales won’t help much in the power department, but both are plus contact hitters who can assist with batting average. Even recent call-up Tyler Callihan can provide in deeper formats since he’s a strong-side platoon outfielder and the Pirates are projected to face all righty starters.

Drop of the Week

Poor Evan Carter always seems to find a way to hit the injured list. The 23-year-old outfielder with chronic back issue since his teens was placed on the IL on Saturday with an oblique strain. Carter hit six homers and swiped 10 bags in 229 plate appearances, but was batting a mere .176, and mostly only against righty pitchers.