FAAB & Waiver Wire Report (Week 15)
Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
In this article, I cover the players using CBS’s and Yahoo’s ADD/DROP rates. Both sites have the option for daily and weekly waiver wire adds. CBS uses a weekly change while Yahoo looks at the last 24 hours. Yahoo is a great snapshot of right now, while CBS ensures hot targets from early in the week aren’t missed. I start players being added at CBS who started the week on less than 40% of rosters.
The players are ordered for redraft leagues by my rest-of-season preference, grouped by hitters, starters, and relievers.
Note: This article will be a working document over the weekend. I’ll rank the players with the information I have on Saturday morning and will update it when I find time and as information comes in. I’ll put the date and time for any updates below
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- 7/4 morning: All players ranked, and the notes for some I find interesting. Many of the top guys have no write-up because they’ve featured for weeks.
- 7/5 morning: Not much change in movement. I did rerank the top starting pitchers. Baltimore bullpen information added.
- 7/5 morning: Add Victor Bericoto
Batters
Esmerlyn Valdez: A 1.726 OPS and 4 HR over his last seven games.
Jake McCarthy: One of the few Rockies who can be held after this week.
Victor Bericoto: Starting to play most days with 4 HR in 86 PA.
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer: Three starts since being promoted, with 11 PA so far. In AAA, he was batting .323/.367/.478 with 7 HR and 15 SB (90.8% Contact%). There is a nice combination of power, speed, and contact to make him interesting.
Tommy Edman: Starting more (six of last seven) while riding a .457 BABIP to a 1.007 OPS. He’s even stolen a base. More production than I expected.
Kahlil Watson: Two steals on Saturday, now makes him look like a rabbit with 4 SB in 54 PA. The problem is that he has just a .643 OPS. The team may try to improve on it.
Cam Cauley: Since being promoted (.262/.363/.407, 8 HR, 29 SB in AAA), he started in three of four games, all against lefties. He could be a nice source of steals. Ranked higher than projected talent based on the unknown.
Anthony Seigler: For now, an accumulator with a .318 AVG (.394 BABIP).
Joc Pederson: Solid power source (14 HR) but still only facing lefties.
Owen Caissie: He only had a 32% K% in June and posted a .865 OPS. It would be nice if he faced lefties.
Jacob Gonzalez: Strong side platoon bat who is on an eight-game heater (.400/.455/.633, 1 HR).
Griffin Conine: Strong-side platoon bat with 3 HR in 61 PA.
Trevor Larnach: Leading off against righties.
Samad Taylor: Value down. Moved to the end of the lineup with Croneworth batting second.
Ryan Kreidler: Starting in centerfield with Byron Buxton banged up. He’s been solid this season by batting .279/.353/.490 with 5 HR in 116 PA. Tough player to rank.
Javier Sanoja: He’s enjoyed his four games in Colorado (.563/.611/1.063, 1 HR) and now off to West Sacramento. Started four straight, but at three different positions. Tough to know his role.
Ty France: Batting .333/.400/.444 (.500 BABIP) in June and started in seven of the last 10 games. Uneven playing time and production.
Victor Bericoto: Part-time outfielder who has 3 HR (1.359 OPS) in his last six games.
Kyle Karros: No value as the team goes on the road next week.
Esteury Ruiz: Short side platoon bat, irrelevant.
Sean Keys: Part-time player with a 42% K% (56% Contact%) as pitchers throw him a few fastballs (33% FB%).
Catchers
Cooper Ingle: Six starts in nine games so far. He’s struggling at the plate with a 45% K% while batting .059/.200/.059.
Hitting Prospects
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Teel | 40% | 47% | 7% |
| Jake McCarthy | 39% | 63% | 24% |
| Nasim Nunez | 39% | 43% | 4% |
| Cole Young | 38% | 40% | 2% |
| Heliot Ramos | 37% | 41% | 4% |
| Owen Caissie | 33% | 42% | 9% |
| Caleb Durbin | 29% | 57% | 28% |
| Andrew Benintendi | 29% | 32% | 3% |
| Charlie Condon | 29% | 32% | 3% |
| Josh Bell | 29% | 31% | 2% |
| Tommy Edman | 25% | 35% | 10% |
| Samad Taylor | 25% | 27% | 2% |
| Trevor Larnach | 16% | 21% | 5% |
| Esteury Ruiz | 10% | 16% | 6% |
| Jacob Gonzalez | 10% | 13% | 3% |
| Joc Pederson | 9% | 12% | 3% |
| Kyle Karros | 9% | 11% | 2% |
| Zac Veen | 8% | 10% | 2% |
| Tristan Peters | 8% | 10% | 2% |
| Cooper Ingle | 6% | 13% | 7% |
| Jake Croneworth | 6% | 6% | 0% |
| Esmerlyn Valdez | 5% | 36% | 31% |
| Javier Sanoja | 4% | 16% | 12% |
| Kahlil Watson | 3% | 9% | 6% |
| Griffin Conine | 3% | 6% | 3% |
| Sean Keys | 2% | 7% | 5% |
| Ty France | 2% | 4% | 2% |
| Ryan Kreidler | 2% | 4% | 2% |
| Cam Cauley | 1% | 3% | 2% |
| Joshua Kuroda-Grauer | 1% | 3% | 2% |
| Anthony Seigler | 0% | 4% | 4% |
| Victor Bericoto | 0% | 2% | 2% |
Starting Pitchers
Shane Drohan: Over his last six starts, he has a 3.56 ERA (3.70 xFIP), 1.35 WHIP, and 9.2 K/9.
Jake Bennett: While a 6.9 K/9 isn’t ideal, his 52% GB% helps.
Dean Kremer: While the results were great in his first game off the IL, his four-seam fastball velocity is down 0.6 mph, and his sinker lost 1.1 mph.
Brandon Sproat: Turnaround continues. I’m sure he’ll go out on Sunday and throw a clunker.
Ian Seymour: Over his last five appearances as a “starter” (average 5 IP), he has a 2.52 ERA (3.90 xFIP), 0.76 WHIP, and 9.7 K/9. Most of the improvement can be attributed to halving his walk rate from 4.4 BB/9 to 2.2 BB/9.
Robert Gasser: Since rejoining the rotation in June, he has a 3.95 ERA (3.58 xFIP), 1.21 WHIP, and 9.6 K/9.
Walker Buehler: Just when it looked like he got the walks under control, he walked seven batters in 9 IP.
Connor Prielipp: After posting a 4.4 BB/9 in May, he was able to drop it to 2.5 BB/9 in June (4.76 ERA, 3.70 xFIP).
Reynaldo López: Over his last four games (13 IP) as he stretched out to start and started, he has a 1.38 ERA (3.51 xFIP), 0.77 WHIP (1.4 BB/9), and 7.6 K/9. He’s had good stretches before and fallen apart. Adding with trepidation.
Slade Cecconi: He’s been inconsistent this year with some good stretches and some horrible ones. All the ERA estimators, projections, and STUPH models put him as a 4.50 ERA talent. Seems perfect.
Hurston Waldrep: I can’t get behind the king of walks (career 4.5 BB/9, 1.36 WHIP). I’m going to need three good starts before I buy into any improvement.
AJ Smith-Shawver: Returning from an elbow injury (3 IP so far). The key to his fantasy value will be if he can keep his walks under control (4.3 BB/9 in ’25, career 4.1 BB/9).
Jack Flaherty: Walks (4.7 BB/9) have kept him down this year (4.97 ERA, 1.53 WHIP). His 3 BB in 5 IP in his first start back doesn’t relieve the problem
Noah Schultz: A 5.4 BB/9 is bad … m’kay. He had a two-game stretch with just 1 BB in 9 IP, but in his last start, it jumped to 4 BB.
Ryan Johnson: Continues to struggle in the majors (7.40 ERA, 5.10 xFIP, 1.52 WHIP), and I have no faith the Angels will fix him.
Tyler Mahle: Managers bought into his one 0 ER start and then got to eat a 4 ER, 4 BB, and 4 K in 4 IP start. Ignore/drop.
Erick Fedde 페디: Why is a pitcher with a career 4.89 ERA and 1.44 WHIP being added?
JP Sears: I’m guessing Sears was added for his two-start week. In typical Sears fashion, he allowed 6 ER in 4 IP in his first start.
Brandon Pfaadt: He has a career ERA over 5.00 in about 500 IP. He’ll need to do a lot more than have one good start to get into my circle of trust.
Alan Rangel: Optioned to AAA.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Flaherty | 38% | 43% | 5% |
| Noah Schultz | 37% | 42% | 5% |
| Walker Buehler | 35% | 43% | 8% |
| Slade Cecconi | 30% | 31% | 1% |
| Brandon Sproat | 25% | 45% | 20% |
| Shane Drohan | 25% | 34% | 9% |
| Hurston Waldrep | 19% | 24% | 5% |
| Tyler Mahle | 18% | 22% | 4% |
| Connor Prielipp | 18% | 21% | 3% |
| Eric Lauer | 17% | 27% | 10% |
| Jake Bennett | 15% | 40% | 25% |
| Ian Seymour | 14% | 34% | 20% |
| Reynaldo Lopez | 14% | 21% | 7% |
| David Peterson | 14% | 18% | 4% |
| Dean Kremer | 11% | 20% | 9% |
| Robert Gasser | 11% | 15% | 4% |
| A.J. Smith-Shawver | 7% | 9% | 2% |
| Erick Fedde | 6% | 9% | 3% |
| Brandon Pfaadt | 6% | 8% | 2% |
| Alan Rangel | 3% | 4% | 1% |
| Mason Barnett | 2% | 6% | 4% |
| JP Sears | 2% | 4% | 2% |
Relievers: Saves-based ranks
Tyler Wells: Average reliever who appears to be the closer.
Mason Barnett: Good reliever who is sharing the closer duties.
Jimmy Herget: Average reliever who is in a closer committee.
Rico Garcia: Average reliever who might be in a closer by committee.
Yennier Cano: Average reliever who might be in a closer by committee.
Dylan Lee: Great reliever who is the backup closer.
Garrett Whitlock: Great reliever who is the backup closer.
Adrian Morejon: Good reliever who is now the backup closer.
Kevin Kelly: Good reliever who may be the backup closer.
Eduard Bazardo: Average reliever who is a couple of steps away from closing.
Michael Petersen: Good reliever who is a step or two away from closing.
John King: Average reliever who is a step or two away from closing.
Cristian Javier: Long reliever.
Keider Montero: Long reliever now, out of the rotation.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Flaherty | 38% | 43% | 5% |
| Noah Schultz | 37% | 42% | 5% |
| Walker Buehler | 35% | 43% | 8% |
| Slade Cecconi | 30% | 31% | 1% |
| Brandon Sproat | 25% | 45% | 20% |
| Shane Drohan | 25% | 34% | 9% |
| Hurston Waldrep | 19% | 24% | 5% |
| Tyler Mahle | 18% | 22% | 4% |
| Connor Prielipp | 18% | 21% | 3% |
| Eric Lauer | 17% | 27% | 10% |
| Jake Bennett | 15% | 40% | 25% |
| Ian Seymour | 14% | 34% | 20% |
| Reynaldo Lopez | 14% | 21% | 7% |
| David Peterson | 14% | 18% | 4% |
| Dean Kremer | 11% | 20% | 9% |
| Robert Gasser | 11% | 15% | 4% |
| A.J. Smith-Shawver | 7% | 9% | 2% |
| Erick Fedde | 6% | 9% | 3% |
| Brandon Pfaadt | 6% | 8% | 2% |
| Alan Rangel | 3% | 4% | 1% |
| Mason Barnett | 2% | 6% | 4% |
| JP Sears | 2% | 4% | 2% |
Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.
Gasser got sent down and Henderson is coming back next week. Pass.
Woodruff hurt again. Add
The Brewers have a DH on Tuesday, too, and Gasser can get called up strictly due to the DH as well as the injury replacement to Woodruff as mentioned above. If you like him, add him since he’s likely to pitch in at least one of their games this week, probably in STL.