FAAB & Waiver Wire Report (Week 17)
In the article, I cover the players using CBS’s (about 40% or less initial roster rate) and Yahoo’s ADD/DROP rates. Both hosting 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. The players are ordered for redraft leagues by my rest-of-season preference grouped by starters, relievers, and hitters.
Batters
Harrison Bader: Might be having his best season (8 HR, 13 SB, .269 AVG) yet. Great balance.
Rece Hinds: Insane start to his career with 5 HR, 2 SB, and a 1.538 OPS. If his OPS gets halved through regression, he’s still worth rostering.
Jake Meyers: Locked in as the centerfielder with 10 straight starts. Hitting fine (10 HR, 7 SB, .239/.307/.418)
Matt Wallner: Was destroying AAA (19 HR, .888 OPS). Since being promoted the second time, he has had seven straight starts while hitting .364/.462/.727.
Max Schuemann: The 27-year-old is having a surprisingly productive season with 6 HR, 9 SB, and a .255 AVG. One note. Shuemann started at third base when Jacob Wilson윌슨 was promoted.
Sal Frelick: Starting most of the time (sits against some lefties). He is getting on base (.349 OBP) and stealing (14 SB) but providing no power (.079 ISO).
Jesús Sánchez: Sitting against most lefties while hitting a middling 11 HR, 6 SB, and a .245 AVG.
Spencer Horwitz: Great at getting on base (.421 OBP) with a bit of power (4 HR).
Xavier Edwards: With 13 straight starts, he’s hitting .345/.415/.414 with 0 HR and just 3 SB.
Angel Martínez: Batting second for the Guardians while hitting .275/.373/.451 with 2 HR.
Michael Toglia: If a fantasy team can handle the batting average drain (.199 AVG), he is at the point of being started at home and on the road with the 16 HR. His strikeout rate is down to 24% in July while at 31% for the season.
Lawrence Butler: Strong-side platoon bat with six righties on the schedule next week. While being a batting average drag (.218 AVG, 30% K%), he provides some power (9 HR) and speed (6 SB).
Ernie Clement: Starting for the Blue Jays at third base while being an acceptable bench option (6 HR, 4 SB, .263 AVG, 203 PA).
Matt Vierling: Has started 12 times in the last 13 games while hitting (.726 OPS, 12 HR) at the top of the Tigers lineup.
Jacob Wilson: The 22-year-old was hitting .438/.475/.687 with 7 HR and 2 SB in 200 PA across three minor league levels until he was promoted, got a hit, and hurt his hamstring before getting a second at-bat. Would be near the top but likely IL trip limits his ranking.
Wenceel Pérez: An accumulator with 6 HR, 7 SB, and .725 OPS in 302 PA.
Jose Iglesias: Starting about two-thirds of the time while being a decent source of batting average (.378 AVG, .430 BABIP) and possibly power with career-highs of 14% HR/FB%, 87.5 avgEV, and 4% Barrel%.
Juan Yepez: He is keeping his .390 AVG (.455 BABIP, 15% K%) up but providing little power or speed.
Eugenio Suárez: Streaky power hitter who is finally on a streak (1.057 OPS in July). Give it a week or two and he’ll be back on the waiver wires.
Charlie Blackmon: He’s only useful at home against righties (sits vs LHP). And he’s not a difference-maker when playing. Ignorable.
Mike Yastrzemski: Was going to Colorado but is likely to sit quite a bit with Colorado going with lefty starters on Saturday and Sunday.
Pete Crow-Armstrong: It’ll be interesting to see how much Crow-Armstrong (.572 OPS) will play with Mike Tauchman (.735) off the IL. In the two games with Tauchman available, Crow-Armstrong started the game and Tauchman replaced him halfway through.
Brooks (Riley) Baldwin: The 23-year-old was recently promoted after hitting .324/.391/.460 with 8 HR and 17 SB in 354 PA across two minor league levels. Barely a prospect.
Esteury Ruiz: Was on the comeback trail, but got hurt again.
Catchers
Patrick Bailey: Remains a solid catching option with 7 HR and a .279 AVG.
Austin Wells: Yankees’ top catcher with some power (6 HR and 198 PA) and is better in OBP leagues (.320 OBP, .216 AVG).
Hitting Prospects
Deyvison De Los Santos: Across two minor league levels, the 22-year-old is hitting .330/.379/.654 with 28 HR and 1 SB in 354 PA.
Dylan Crews: Across two minor league levels, the 22-year-old is hitting .267/.332/.431 with 8 HR and 20 SB.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Bailey C SF | 39% | 42% | 3% |
| Rece Hinds RF CIN | 37% | 84% | 47% |
| Matt Vierling CF DET | 36% | 39% | 3% |
| Dylan Crews OF WAS | 36% | 38% | 2% |
| Harrison Bader CF NYM | 32% | 38% | 6% |
| Eugenio Suarez 3B ARI | 29% | 37% | 8% |
| Sal Frelick RF MIL | 29% | 31% | 2% |
| Spencer Horwitz 2B TOR | 28% | 31% | 3% |
| Esteury Ruiz LF OAK | 27% | 29% | 2% |
| Charlie Blackmon DH COL | 24% | 26% | 2% |
| Pete Crow-Armstrong CF CHC | 22% | 24% | 2% |
| Jake Meyers CF HOU | 19% | 21% | 2% |
| Michael Toglia 1B COL | 18% | 38% | 20% |
| Jacob Wilson SS OAK | 15% | 33% | 18% |
| Wenceel Perez RF DET | 15% | 16% | 1% |
| Austin Wells C NYY | 13% | 15% | 2% |
| Mike Yastrzemski RF SF | 12% | 14% | 2% |
| Angel Martinez CF CLE | 11% | 18% | 7% |
| Deyvison De Los Santos 3B ARI | 11% | 13% | 2% |
| Max Schuemann SS OAK | 10% | 14% | 4% |
| Jesus Sanchez RF MIA | 10% | 13% | 3% |
| Matt Wallner LF MIN | 10% | 13% | 3% |
| Xavier Edwards SS MIA | 5% | 14% | 9% |
| Lawrence Butler RF OAK | 4% | 30% | 26% |
| Ernie Clement 3B TOR | 3% | 5% | 2% |
| Jose Iglesias 2B NYM | 2% | 9% | 7% |
| Juan Yepez 1B WAS | 2% | 8% | 6% |
| Brooks Baldwin SS CHW | 0% | 3% | 3% |
Starting Pitchers
Luis L. Ortiz: In three starts, he has a 2.67 xFIP, 8.7 K/9, and 0.5 BB/9. His 25% K%-BB% would be the 6th highest amoung qualified starters. Must roster to see if the results continue.
Tyler Phillips: Knowing Phillips might be demoted after his weekend start, I like what he’s done over two starts. No walks. Throwing an acceptable 94-mph fastball. His slider grades are great (51 BotStuff, 128 Stuff+, 19% SwStr%). His curve doesn’t grade as well as the fastball but could be average. His 4.50 ERA (2.40 xFIP) will scare away most managers but under the curtain, he’s a decent option.
José Soriano: Solid season with his 60% GB% covering up too many walks (3.5 BB/9).
Yariel Rodríguez: He’s been better in July (vs HOU, SEA, ARI) with a 3.48 xFIP and 19% K%-BB%. His 3.8 BB/9 could be a WHIP killer.
River Ryan: The Dodgers have stated that they are calling him up and he’ll start Monday or Tuesday. In AAA this season, the 25-year-old has a 10.5 K/9, 1.16 WHIP, and 2.76 ERA. Roster-and-monitor.
Yilber Diaz: A 94% LOB% and .206 BABIP has him with a 1.50 ERA with his ERA estimators and projections in the mid to high 4.00’s. His slider is average (14% SwStr%) and 96-mph four seamer generates a ton of flyballs (29% GB%). Maybe decent so a roster-and-hold.
Ryne Nelson: Huge improvement in July with a 24% K%-BB% (3.13 xFIP). I’m not sure if he’s at a new talent level with the only changes I could spot was keeping his walk rate down and huge reliance on his four-seamer (43% GB%, 7% SwStr%).
Kyle Freeland: With his walks under control, he’s worth a one week stream on the road against the Giants.
JP Sears: I’m wondering if the demand was to stream against the Angels coming out of the break. He has been decent over his last four games with a 2.42 ERA (3.55 xFIP), 9.7 K/9, and 1.6 BB/9. The biggest change has been him throwing his fastballs more and his slider and change fewer times. His four-seamer is getting the most swings-and-miss (12%) and his sinker has a 59% GB%. He is generating a ton of weak contact with his slider (28% GB%) and four-seamer (24% GB%) generating easy to catch flyballs and his change (54% GB%) and sinker (59% GB%) keeping it on the ground. Even with the weak contact, he’s not getting enough swing-and-miss (6.8 K/9) to be anything more than a streamer.
Marco Gonzales: Not many strikeouts (6.1 K/9, 90 mph fastball), but he’s kept the runs off the board (2.45 ERA, 4.04 xFIP). Streamer against weak opponents. He faces Philadelphia on Sunday and Arizona next week. Hard passes.
Carson Fulmer: Moving to the rotation where I have no faith in him being productive as a changeup-first arm. He still can’t throw strikes (4.4 BB/9 in 2024, 5.2 BB/9 for career).
Germán Márquez: Struggle with walks (4 BB in 4 IP) in his debut leading to three earned runs. And faces the Red Sox at home next. Monitor from a very safe distance.
Griffin Canning: He’s been a horrible pitcher this year (4.90 xFIP) and now has elbow issues. Ignore.
Starting Pitcher Stash
Tyler Mahle: Began his rehab assignment. The only information I know is that in 2.2 IP in AAA (longest start so far), his fastball averaged 92 mph. The lowest his fastball has ever been during a season was 92.7 mph in 2024 before needing elbow surgery. He is attempting to throw the same pitches. I would prefer Robbie Ray and Jeffrey Springs, but Mahle might be worth the stash if the other two are rostered.
Pitching Prospect
Jackson Jobe: In AAA, the 21-year-old has a 1.69 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 13.5 K/9 in 26 IP.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jose Soriano SP LAA | 36% | 42% | 6% |
| Jackson Jobe P DET | 28% | 30% | 2% |
| Yariel Rodriguez SP TOR | 23% | 26% | 3% |
| JP Sears SP OAK | 22% | 28% | 6% |
| Griffin Canning SP LAA | 21% | 23% | 2% |
| Yilber Diaz SP ARI | 16% | 30% | 14% |
| Luis Ortiz RP PIT | 14% | 24% | 10% |
| Ryne Nelson SP ARI | 11% | 14% | 3% |
| Tyler Mahle SP TEX | 6% | 8% | 2% |
| River Ryan P LAD | 5% | 22% | 17% |
| Kyle Freeland SP COL | 5% | 8% | 3% |
| Tyler Phillips RP PHI | 3% | 11% | 8% |
| Marco Gonzales SP PIT | 3% | 5% | 2% |
| German Marquez SP COL | 2% | 5% | 3% |
| Carson Fulmer RP LAA | 0% | 2% | 2% |
Relievers: Saves-based ranks
Yimi Garcia: Good reliever who is off the IL and should be the closer.
Alex Vesia: Great reliever who is getting the Saves when the Dodgers face a bunch of lefties in the ninth.
A.J. Puk: Decent reliever who is the backup of a closer who is likely to be traded.
Hunter Harvey: Good reliever who is the backup closer.
Jason Adam: Good reliever who is the backup closer.
Ben Joyce: Decent reliever who is a couple of steps away from closing.
Ryan Walker: Good reliever who is still a few steps away from closing.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yimi Garcia RP TOR | 31% | 35% | 4% |
| Jason Adam RP TB | 19% | 23% | 4% |
| Hunter Harvey RP KC | 19% | 21% | 2% |
| Ryan Walker RP SF | 18% | 20% | 2% |
| A.J. Puk RP MIA | 13% | 15% | 2% |
| Alex Vesia RP LAD | 12% | 13% | 1% |
| Ben Joyce RP LAA | 5% | 11% | 6% |
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.
Jobe in AA, ty for article