FAAB & Waiver Wire Report (Week 17)
David Richard-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.
Batters
Lane Thomas: He’s been on heater (possibly healthy) since July 1st, batting .326/.392/.674 with 3 HR … and no make that 4 HR.
Heriberto Hernández: The power bat (13 HR in 232 PA) is now a full-time player with Owen Caissie on the IL.
Kyle Karros: He’s finally getting results from his early-season Exit Velocity increases. Since June 27th, he has hit .283/.403/.633 with 5 HR in 72 PA.
Jake Mangum: Mangum’s value just went up with Oneil Cruz on the IL until at least August 8th. Mangum (.310 AVG, 2 HR, 18 SB) will continue to man centerfield until Cruz returns.
Tristan Peters: The strong-side platoon bat is in a stretch of facing nine straight right-handed pitchers. Decent contributor with 6 HR, 5 SB, and a .300 AVG.
Cooper Pratt: In 92 PA, he still hasn’t hit a home run. At least he has 6 SB so far. He might be on the strong side of a platoon.
Jake Cronenworth: In 52 PA since coming off the IL, he has 2 HR and 2 SB while batting .280/.294/.420.
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer: A great .429 AVG (.488 BABIP), but no home runs or stolen bases in 50 PA.
Brett Baty: Qualified at four positions (1B, 2B, 3B, OF) and is on pace for 10 HR/10 SB with a .224 AVG. Barely a bench streamer.
José Fermín: Started in nine of ten games. He’s not productive besides being qualified at second, third, and outfield.
Colt Keith: Remains a strong-side platoon bat with five righties on the schedule for next week. Some power with 8 HR in 273 PA.
Ryan Waldschmidt: Back in the majors with three starts in the last five games. Strikeouts remain a problem with 5 K in 9 PA. No major league power (0 HR), but has 6 SB.
Tommy White: Just one start in the majors after batting .303/.353/.465 with 10 HR in AAA. He doesn’t seem to be fantasy relevant.
Luis Lara: A .782 OPS (21 PA) since being promoted, but only started in five of nine games.
Injured Hitter
Trevor Story: Doing baseball activities. He wasn’t a difference maker before this injury, so I don’t expect much when he returns.
Hitting Prospects
Charlie Condon: In AAA, the 23-year-old outfielder is batting .288/.412/.579 with 20 HR and 5 SB in 369 PA.
Mike Sirota: Across two minor league levels (A+ and AA), the 23-year-old outfielder is batting .314/.468/.554 with 14 HR and 11 SB in 363 PA.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Karros | 39% | 55% | 16% |
| Charlie Condon | 38% | 41% | 3% |
| Trevor Story | 37% | 39% | 2% |
| Luis Lara | 37% | 39% | 2% |
| Cooper Pratt | 31% | 33% | 2% |
| Colt Keith | 29% | 30% | 1% |
| Ryan Waldschmidt | 25% | 27% | 2% |
| Jake Mangum | 22% | 26% | 4% |
| Brett Baty | 22% | 23% | 1% |
| Tristan Peters | 16% | 28% | 12% |
| Heriberto Hernandez | 12% | 19% | 7% |
| Mike Sirota | 12% | 14% | 2% |
| Joshua Kuroda-Grauer | 11% | 16% | 5% |
| Lane Thomas | 7% | 9% | 2% |
| Jake Cronenworth | 7% | 8% | 1% |
| Tommy White | 4% | 13% | 9% |
| Jose Fermin | 2% | 5% | 3% |
Starting Pitchers
Christian Scott: Since his first start of the season (5 BB in 1 IP), he has a 2.78 ERA (3.50 xFIP), 1.17 WHIP, and 11 K/9. He’s upped it a gear in the last two starts by not allowing a run with 12 K and 1 BB in 10 IP. The only change, besides throwing more strikes, is a 10% point increase in his curveball usage. An add in all leagues to see if the low walk rate sticks.
Brandon Pfaadt: With his new release point, he’s been lights out (1.71 ERA, 3.78 xFIP, 0.89 WHIP). Add now to see if the results can stick.
Zach Thornton: Started three times in three separate months with some solid overall results (2.60 ERA, 3.92 xFIP, 4.24 botERA). He’s lined up to start on Tuesday. I can see adding him, but I’d not want to start him.
Dean Kremer: Among the starters with at least 10 IP (n=191), Kremer’s 21.4% K-BB% ranks 18th. Keeping his value down has been 3.0 HR/9 since returning from the IL. Some team in all leagues needs to roster him.
Patrick Sandoval: On Saturday, Sandoval dropped his stock by allowing 4 ER in 5 IP. I’m intrigued because he did it with 5 K and 1 BB (3.55 xFIP). I’ll buy into the 19% K-BB% and hope for better luck next time.
Spencer Miles: Miles’s playing time is up in the air because he’s not thrown much in the past, but he’s been solid this season (3.52 ERA, 3.21 xFIP, 8.6 K/9, 1.13 WHIP, 55% GB%). His start coming out of the break (6 ER, 6 H, 4 K, and 1 BB in 4 IP) should keep his price down.
Kyle Leahy: Over the last four games, Leahy has allowed just 1 ER (94% LOB%, .185 BABIP), leading to 0.47 (4.27 xFIP) over that stretch. For the season, he’s seen a slow increase in his fastball velocity.
Solid streaming option.
Brady Singer: Singer is on a nice eight-game stretch with a 2.76 ERA (3.91 xFIP), 1.09 WHIP, and 9.1 K/9. Our STUPH models don’t see anything positive with a 4.69 botERA and 88 Pitching+. I could not find any changes to think he’s taken a step forward. I don’t buy any improvement, especially since he’s seen similar eight-game stretches and then struggled on the mound.
Sean Manaea: Since rejoining the rotation, Manaea is streamable with a 4.15 ERA (4.19 xFIP, 4.31 botERA), 1.27 WHIP, and 8.0 K/9.
Matthew Liberatore: Possibly being added for a two-start week (at LAA, vs CIN). All talent indicators point to him being a mid-4.00 ERA talent.
Robert Gasser: Extreme flyball nature (26% GB%) will lead to home runs (1.9 HR/9). He was solid in June (3.95 ERA, 3.60 xFIP) but got lit up in July (7.59 ERA, 5.51 xFIP). I’m keeping my distance for now.
Owen Murphy: For now, I don’t see a good reason to roster Murphy. The longest he’s thrown in any game is 3 IP, and his skills are middling (8.1 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, 20% GB%).
Colin Rea: Nothing to see but a mid-to-high 4.00 ERA talent.
Cal Quantrill: Besides his actual 3.93 ERA, all other signs point to a 5.00 ERA talent with his 5.5 K/9 and 1.4 HR/9.
Injured Pitchers
Clay Holmes: In two AA rehab starts (4 IP), he has a 6.8 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9. Not ideal.
Jackson Jobe: In two minor league rehab starts, he has a 29% K-BB%.
Ronel Blanco: A 5.14 xFIP in 17 IP during his rehab. Not the ideal production.
AJ Smith-Shawver: He has at least one more rehab start, but I’m not interested at all. He’s never shown control and is coming back from an injury. Big pass.
Pitching Prospects
Seth Hernandez: In A-ball, the 20-year-old righty has a 2.61 ERA (3.12 xFIP), 1.07 WHIP, and 14.5 K/9.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay Holmes | 39% | 43% | 4% |
| Christian Scott | 35% | 43% | 8% |
| Kyle Leahy | 33% | 37% | 4% |
| Brady Singer | 29% | 35% | 6% |
| Dean Kremer | 29% | 30% | 1% |
| Sean Manaea | 24% | 29% | 5% |
| Seth Hernandez | 23% | 25% | 2% |
| Colin Rea | 19% | 21% | 2% |
| Matthew Liberatore | 19% | 21% | 2% |
| Brandon Pfaadt | 18% | 30% | 12% |
| A.J. Smith-Shawver | 18% | 26% | 8% |
| Jackson Jobe | 17% | 21% | 4% |
| Robert Gasser | 12% | 13% | 1% |
| Spencer Miles | 8% | 9% | 1% |
| Ronel Blanco | 6% | 9% | 3% |
| Owen Murphy | 5% | 8% | 3% |
| Patrick Sandoval | 5% | 7% | 2% |
| Zach Thornton | 3% | 20% | 17% |
| Cal Quantrill | 2% | 4% | 2% |
Relievers: Saves-based ranks
Kirby Yates: Good reliever who may be the closer.
Grant Taylor: Great reliever who is sharing the closer’s role.
Andrew Kittredge: Average reliever who is sharing the closer’s role.
Tyler Wells: Average reliever who is sharing the closer’s role.
Jacob Webb: Average reliever who is sharing the closer’s role.
Trent Thornton: Below-average reliever who is sharing the closer’s role.
Garrett Whitlock: Good reliever who is the backup closer
Luke Weaver: Good reliever who is the backup closer.
Adrian Morejon: Great reliever who is the backup closer.
Dylan Lee: Great reliever who is the backup closer.
Andrew Morris: Average reliever who is the backup closer.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Taylor | 39% | 46% | 7% |
| Tyler Wells | 32% | 36% | 4% |
| Dylan Lee | 27% | 29% | 2% |
| Garrett Whitlock | 22% | 25% | 3% |
| Luke Weaver | 21% | 25% | 4% |
| Adrian Morejon | 20% | 21% | 1% |
| Kirby Yates | 17% | 18% | 1% |
| Jacob Webb | 12% | 20% | 8% |
| Andrew Morris | 6% | 9% | 3% |
| Andrew Kittredge | 4% | 9% | 5% |
| Trent Thornton | 1% | 2% | 1% |
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.
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