FAAB Frenzy and Waivers Wild: Week 8

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 7 Overview

The Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of their matchups (1 at MIA, 3 vs. ATH, 3 vs. COL) in Week 7. They won five-of-seven games and scored a league-high 39 runs. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper led all hitters in home runs, with five and four respectively. Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages also hit four homers, three on Wednesday against the Astros. Brandon Marsh continued tearing it up. He led everyone in hits (14 in 27 at-bats), though he only drove in three runs. Twins Byron Buxton also had a strong week and has been the top hitter in 5×5 roto over the last two weeks — 11 R – 8 HR – 14 RBI – 3 SB – .316. Luke Raley led all hitters with 10 RBI, seven in one game. He’s a strong streamer in Week 8 with the Mariners slated to face seven right-handed starters.

The Cleveland Guardians and Miami Marlins took no pity on opposing catchers. The Guardians stole 14 bases last week and the Marlins stole 12. Rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana was responsible for five, while José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio swiped three apiece. The Marlins were fueled by Esteury Ruiz. He was successful on several pinch-running opportunities. Ruiz swiped six bases, but had just eight plate appearances. He might be a fantasy unicorn — a true difference-maker without consistent playing time. We’d have to really be deficient in stolen bases and pick our weeks (or days) to start him, though. In weekly head-to-head leagues, he’s a bit of a cheat code.

Here are the only hitters earning $25 or more in 5×5 roto 12-team leagues, per the FanGraphs Fantasy Player Rater. Four catchers in the top 16 — what a time to be alive!

Fantrax and NFBC OC – Top Adds

A hefty number of leagues in Fantrax are 14-teamers and above, which is why we see deeper format additions like Ezequiel Duran, Ty Madden, and Trevor McDonald as the most popular.

Duran has taken hold of the two-hole in the Rangers lineup, between Brandon Nimmo and Corey Seager, batting in that spot for five straight games. The 27-year-old only had four hits over that span (.222), but he homered, drove in four and stole a base. This offense is struggling mightily and could use some good news on Wyatt Langford this week. We can tell how rough things are when manager Skip Schumaker has no choice but to extend the valuable two-hole spot to a hitter who spent a good chunk of last season in the minors and didn’t hit a home run in 219 plate appearances.

Twins infielder Brooks Lee has been on a tremendous stretch over his last 16 games, slashing .355/.394/.516 with 2 HR, 3 SB, 12 R and 12 RBI over 67 PA. He has mostly hit in the bottom third of the lineup, though did draw two starts from the two-hole against righty starters. Lee usually hits higher in the order against lefties. The Twins have only faced three lefty starters in their last 20 games and will only see one in their next nine, before likely lining up for some Boston Red Sox southpaws during Memorial Day Weekend.

Zack Gelof has made the most of his new role as the Athletics third basemen in the absence of that other Max Muncy. Gelof is slashing .316/.395/.553 with two dingers over the last two weeks. He has started at third base in five consecutive games. Though he bats in the bottom third, Gelof is a worthwhile streamer in deeper formats, with the A’s playing six at home this week.

Trevor McDonald will assume Logan Webb’s spot in the rotation while Webb is sidelined. McDonald pitched exceptionally well in his 2026 debut against the Padres last Monday, hurling seven innings of one-run, two-hit ball, with eight punchouts and no walks. He has a tough test this week with two starts on the road against the Dodgers and Athletics. McDonald was added in 16% of Fantrax leagues and 75% of NFBC Main Event leagues, for an average of $23.80. I don’t foresee his week going too swimmingly.

Ty Madden had a 4.71 ERA and 12.9% walk rate in 21 Triple-A innings before getting the call for the Tigers. He looked good last week, allowing just six hits and three earned runs with a 12:2 K:BB in 11 innings. Madden will face the Blue Jays at home this week and the Guardians next week. Casey Mize should be back sometime next week, though his return shouldn’t impact Madden as he’s currently the SP4 for this injury-riddled staff that will likely force struggling multi-inning reliever Drew Anderson to make a start this week. I’m not particularly bullish on Madden over the long-term.

There was a ton of activity in NFBC leagues with four standout prospects available — pitcher Robby Snelling and hitters Ryan Waldschmidt, Bryce Eldridge, and Spencer Jones. Snelling was rostered in 61% of OCs going into Sunday, so he was scooped up in remaining leagues for an average of $135 with a max of $331 and a min of $9. Snelling’s first start was forgettable (5 IP – 5 H – 3 ER – 4 BB – 2 K), but there are better starts ahead. Snelling is a stud lefty who should maintain high rostership in 12-team formats. Unless injury strikes, he should keep his rotation spot.

Waldschmidt’s roster rate soared from 3% to 97%, with a $90 AWB, $311 max and $9 min. I can tell you with the upmost confidence that Waldschmidt’s AWB would have been closer to $40 if not for his 2-4, 3-RBI game on Sunday. After all, the fantasy baseball market is hyper-sensitive to weekend performance. Though a common sense comparison of Waldschmidt versus Jones and Eldridge should have nevertheless led us to the same conclusion – that Waldschmidt was the most valuable acquisition of the three. Why’s that? Because he’s already a more fantasy-friendly hitter and has the best chance of the three to stick with his big-league club all season. He has some power, a lot of speed and is solid defensively. Moreover, the Diamondbacks designated long-time pet project Alek Thomas for assignment, paving the way for Waldschmidt’s long-term opportunity. Jones may have gone for an average of $90 as well if he hit a couple of dingers this weekend. At this point, we’re all aware of his massive minor-league strikeout rate and the high probability of being optioned once Giancarlo Stanton is ready (which, by the way, does not appear to be anytime soon). Eldridge is also a big-power/high-strikeout prospect. Market trepidation on him had to do with his usage and inflexibility in fantasy formats. Eldridge didn’t crack the starting lineup in two starts against RHPs last week, and has yet to play first base. We have no idea when he’ll gain eligibility at a fantasy position beyond DH, and some of our rosters already have that spot filled with the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber and others. By the way, Yordan Alvarez is just one outfield start away from his 10th this season.

Quite intriguing to see Tony Santillan command a higher AWB than Pierce Johnson. When Emilio Pagán hit the IL last week, Tony Santillan (and Graham Ashcraft) appeared to be first in line. Santillan has struggled mightily, allowing earned runs in three of his last five starts, including a 4-spot (2 homers) in Friday’s contest against the Astros. Santillan is currently on the outside looking in at save opportunities, especially after Pierce Johnson locked down a clean save opp on Saturday. Johnson has mostly operated in a setup role in his career, though he did have a run as closer with the Colorado Rockies in 2023, earning 13 saves before being traded to the Atlanta Braves a week before that trade deadline.

I understand that this article comes out on Monday, a day after FAAB has run for most leagues. Though, there are folks playing in daily leagues or can acquire players on Monday. If you have that option and he’s available, consider adding Seattle’s Dominic Canzone. The Mariners will play seven games this week and should face all right-handed starting pitchers. I believe it’s time for some Canzone Bombs.

Drop of the Week

Some of us happily bid adieu to failed Giants closer, Ryan Walker, as he was finally optioned to Triple-A. I should have been less stubborn during draft season and listened more to my Giants friends who told me Walker wasn’t going to hack it. My FTN Fantasy Baseball podcast partner Jason Anthony, a high-stakes fantasy player and long-time Giants fan from the Bay Area, believes that lefty Erik Miller will claim a piece of the ninth-inning role there soon. Miller is on a rehab assignment and should be activated this weekend. My favorite closing option in this bullpen remains Caleb Kilian.