FAAB & Waiver Wire Report (Week 16)
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.
Batters
Garrett Mitchell: Strong-side platoon bat that has maintained a .412 BABIP to offset his 33% K% (65% Contact%). A solid source of power (8 HR) and speed (6 SB).
Blaze Alexander: Nine starts in the last 10 games, while a multi-category contributor (4 HR, 9 SB, .306 AVG) at four different positions.
Cole Young: An OK power source with 11 HR, with seven of them coming after June 11th. Before that time, he posted an 87.6 avgEV. It has been 90.4 mph since then.
Josh Bell: He’s hit 13 dongs so far this season. That’s more homers than the combined total of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr.
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer: The .500 BABIP will not continue, but he’s making a ton of contact, leading to a .432 AVG.
Heriberto Hernández: His 13 HR are solid, but he has been sitting against some righties. With Owen Caissie on the IL, Hernandez might be a full-time player. Ranked high on improved playing time.
Tommy Edman: Plays all over the field while batting .350/.435/.483 (.435 BABIP). One big key is that he’s already stolen two bases after stealing just three last season.
Kyle Karros: Found a bit of power (.375 ISO, 4 HR) over the last 14 games, improving his value. His Bat Speed jumped 1 mph during that time frame while maintaining the same contact rate.
Josh Lowe: Since coming off the IL, he’s starting all the time while batting .273/.319/.455 with 2 HR and 2 SB.
Nathan Church: Steady production (8 HR, 5 SB, .241 AVG) but sat in two of the last four games (.518 OPS in July).
Cedric Mullins: Nice power (11 HR) and speed (14 SB) combo, but a batting average sink (.205 AVG) because he hits everything in the air.
Gavin Sheets: Sheets has hit 14 HR as a strong-side platoon bat but with a .225 AVG.
Luis Lara: Started in four of six games since being promoted. In 9 PA, he’s going for contact (90% Contact%) and no power (57% GB%).
Jake Cronenworth: Since coming off the IL, he’s started in 11 of 13 games while batting .263/.282/.447 with 2 HR.
Trevor Larnach: Strong-side platoon bat who has traded off power (91 avgEV to 87 avgEV) for contact (73% Contact% to 75% Contact%).
Tristan Peters: Strong-side platoon bat with a .303 AVG, 6 HR, and 5 SB.
Masyn Winn: Blah performance … he doesn’t do anything but play every game. Over 350 PA, he has 4 HR, 7 SB, and a .245 AVG.
Javier Sanoja: Starts about 75% of the time, with his only redeeming trait being a .273 OPS
Jake Mangum: Filling in for the injured Oneil Cruz. There isn’t really a spot for Mangum when Cruz comes off the IL soon. When playing, Mangum has been a solid source of steals (18 SB) and batting average (.311 AVG).
Tyler Tolbert: Part-time player with seven starts in the last 14 days. If he could find regular at-bats, he would be a solid source of steals (10 SB) and batting average (.370 AVG).
Romy Gonzalez: Started in just three of the last six games. He has some contact issues with a 67% Contact% leading to 35% K%.
Victor Bericoto: On the IL. Hopefully, he returns to the major league team when healthy.
Catchers
Jonah Heim: Starts most days with 9 HR on the season.
Luis Campusano: Since coming off the IL, he has a 1.222 OPS and 1 HR in 19 PA. Started in six of nine games.
Minor League Hitters
Zac Veen: In AAA, the 24-year-old outfielder is batting .316/.391/.586 with 16 HR and 14 SB in 348 PA.
Charlie Condon: In AAA, the 23-year-old outfielder is batting .289/.414/.584 with 20 HR and 5 SB in 365 PA.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Young | 40% | 42% | 2% |
| Tommy Edman | 37% | 42% | 5% |
| Gavin Sheets | 34% | 35% | 1% |
| Charlie Condon | 33% | 38% | 5% |
| Josh Bell | 32% | 42% | 10% |
| Garrett Mitchell | 28% | 43% | 15% |
| Blaze Alexander | 25% | 26% | 1% |
| Masyn Winn | 23% | 26% | 3% |
| Luis Lara | 22% | 37% | 15% |
| Trevor Larnach | 21% | 23% | 2% |
| Javier Sanoja | 19% | 31% | 12% |
| Cedric Mullins | 18% | 22% | 4% |
| Jake Mangum | 17% | 21% | 4% |
| Kyle Karros | 12% | 36% | 24% |
| Zac Veen | 10% | 12% | 2% |
| Tristan Peters | 10% | 12% | 2% |
| Nathan Church | 9% | 11% | 2% |
| Jonah Heim | 7% | 11% | 4% |
| Heriberto Hernandez | 7% | 11% | 4% |
| Joshua Lowe | 6% | 8% | 2% |
| Jake Cronenworth | 6% | 7% | 1% |
| Luis Campusano | 5% | 7% | 2% |
| Joshua Kuroda-Grauer | 3% | 10% | 7% |
| Romy Gonzalez | 3% | 5% | 2% |
| Victor Bericoto | 2% | 5% | 3% |
| Tyler Tolbert | 0% | 12% | 12% |
Starters
Shane Drohan: Solid arm since rejoining the rotation with a 3.22 ERA (3.97 xFIP), 1.35 WHIP, and 8.2 K/9. The only blemish is that WHIP, which is doing as much ratio damage as an ERA over 4.50.
Reynaldo López: In three games since joining the rotation, he has a 2.08 ERA (3.96 xFIP), 0.92 WHIP, and 8.3 K/9. Compared to the rest of the season, he’s doubled his curveball usage, added 0.5 mph to his fastball, and halved his walk rate from 4.3 BB/9 to 2.1 BB/9.
Brandon Pfaadt: In two games since being promoted from AAA, he has a 0.87 ERA (3.63 xFIP), 0.77 WHIP (0.9 BB/9), and 7.0 K/9. One major change is his horizontal release point moving almost a foot, so there is a reason behind the improvement.
Dean Kremer: He’s struggled with home runs (3.7 HR/9), with all his runs allowed coming off them. So far, he has a 4.09 ERA (3.35 xFIP, 4.98 botERA).
Patrick Sandoval: A small sample “all-in” with Sandoval. His fastball velocity was at a career-high 94.1 mph. He has a 3.55 botERA and 107 Pitching+. He only lasted 4 IP (65 pitches) in his 2026 debut as he builds up.
Spencer Miles: In a hybrid role, Miles has been outstanding (2.95 ERA, 3.17 xFIP, 1.09 WHIP, 8.7 K/9). The problem is how much he’ll throw since he’s at a combined 14 IP over the past three seasons.
Kyle Leahy: He’s been streamable this season with a 3.73 ERA (4.23 xFIP), but his 1.41 WHIP (3.3 BB/9) is a ratio killer. He has improved his WHIP every month: 1.67 to 1.44 to 1.29 to 0.74. After an early-season dip, his fastball velocity has been trending upward.
Janson Junk: Our STUPH models love him with a 3.16 botERA and 110 Pitching+, but the results haven’t matched with a 1.31 WHIP and 4.57 ERA.
Keider Montero: Role keeps changing, but he remains productive. Over his last four appearances (13 IP), he hasn’t allowed a run and has two Wins and a Save.
Trevor McDonald: All signs (STUPH, projection, ERA estimators) point to him being a 4.00 ERA talent, but some bad luck (.313 BABIP, 62% LOB%) has him with a 1.38 WHIP and 5.46 ERA. I can understand the hesitancy of rostering him, but in deeper leagues, I can see the upside.
JP Sears: Since being promoted, Sears as made four straight starts and remains ineffective with a 5.03 ERA (4.47 xFIP), 1.42 WHIP (3.7 BB/9), and 7.8 K/9. They are almost identical to his 2025 numbers.
Ryan Feltner: A person knows there is no one in the starting pitching pool when Rockies show up on most-added lists. A solid 5.00 ERA talent.
Grayson Rodriguez: He’s shown no signs of being a serviceable pitcher. A 7.55 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in seven starts. I ranked a pitcher from Colorado ahead of him, which points to how bad his season has been.
Injured Pitchers
AJ Smith-Shawver: Thrown two rehab starts for 7 IP. Has 9 K and 0 BB against A-Ball hitters.
Clay Holmes: Up to throwing bullpens and could start his rehab after the break.
Jackson Jobe: Thrown 1 IP of rehab. He’ll likely need the whole time.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay Holmes | 36% | 38% | 2% |
| Shane Drohan | 35% | 50% | 15% |
| Grayson Rodriguez | 32% | 33% | 1% |
| Keider Montero | 30% | 32% | 2% |
| Kyle Leahy | 25% | 33% | 8% |
| Reynaldo Lopez | 24% | 48% | 24% |
| Dean Kremer | 21% | 29% | 8% |
| Trevor McDonald | 14% | 20% | 6% |
| Jackson Jobe | 14% | 17% | 3% |
| A.J. Smith-Shawver | 9% | 16% | 7% |
| Brandon Pfaadt | 8% | 17% | 9% |
| Janson Junk | 7% | 8% | 1% |
| Spencer Miles | 6% | 8% | 2% |
| JP Sears | 4% | 8% | 4% |
| Ryan Feltner | 3% | 5% | 2% |
| Patrick Sandoval | 1% | 5% | 4% |
Relievers: Saves-based ranks
Grant Taylor: Good reliever who could be the closer.
Andrew Kittredge: Good reliever who seems to be the closer.
Clayton Beeter: Average reliever who is the closer.
Caleb Kilian: Below-average reliever who is struggling to be the closer.
Trent Thornton: Below-average reliever who may be the temporary closer.
Jacob Webb: Average reliever who may be the temporary closer.
Tyler Wells: Good reliever who seems to be sharing the closer role.
Jordan Romano: Below-average reliever who seems to be sharing the closer role.
Michael Petersen: Good reliever who is the backup to a struggling closer.
Luke Weaver: Great reliever who is the backup to a struggling closer.
Garrett Whitlock: Good reliever who is the backup closer.
Andrew Morris: Good reliever who may be the backup closer.
Garrett Cleavinger: Average reliever who may be the backup closer.
Kevin Kelly: Average reliever who may be the backup closer.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Taylor | 34% | 39% | 5% |
| Caleb Kilian | 27% | 34% | 7% |
| Clayton Beeter | 27% | 28% | 1% |
| Luke Weaver | 19% | 21% | 2% |
| Garrett Whitlock | 18% | 21% | 3% |
| Kevin Kelly | 16% | 19% | 3% |
| Garrett Cleavinger | 8% | 9% | 1% |
| Jacob Webb | 7% | 12% | 5% |
| Andrew Morris | 4% | 6% | 2% |
| Michael Petersen | 4% | 6% | 2% |
| Tyler Wells | 3% | 31% | 28% |
| Jordan Romano | 3% | 7% | 4% |
| Andrew Kittredge | 3% | 4% | 1% |
| Trent Thornton | 1% | 1% | 0% |
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.
Don’t forget that Bell stole his first base since 2018 earlier this year. Power/speed combo who is going to drive in 100? I’m in! 🙂
“Javier Sanoja: Starts about 75% of the time, with his only redeeming trait being a .273 OPS” … Damn, bro!!! Totally killed him here! Chill out a bit…He might have family members reading this! 🙂
There is nobody in the major leagues who isn’t REALLY GOOD at baseball.