FAAB & Waiver Wire Report: Week 2

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

Taylor Ward: If healthy, Ward should have been a top-10 round pick. He seems to be now. Add everywhere.

MJ Melendez: A 10% point drop in K% from 28% to 18% has the rest of his stats up (.713 OPS in ’23, 1.032 this season). If the strikeout rate games stick, a draft day steal.

Jose Siri: Siri remains the same player from the past few seasons, with decent power (1 HR) and speed (4 SB) while being a batting average sink (34% K%, .231 AVG).

José Caballero: A must-roster in all roto leagues with 4 SB and a .304 AVG. A major difference-maker for stolen bases while providing some batting average help.

Brice Turang: Turang might still be on the strong side of a platoon but running like crazy with 6 SB. Little power in his profile.

Michael Conforto: Remains on fire while hitting .419/.455/.839 (.526 BABIP) with 3 HR. When the BABIP normalizes, his batting average could tank because of a 5% point jump in strikeout rate (22.6% to 27.3%).

Mark Canha: Mr. Consistently Boring has 2 HR and 1 SB to start the season.

Brandon Marsh: Some mixed signals (41% K%, .400 BABIP, .300 ISO) but has provided some speed (1 SB) and power (2 HR) so far. His .384 career BABIP is second all-time for those hitters with at least 1200 PA. I might bet on a mini-breakout for the 26-year-old.

J.D. Davis: He’s been great playing every game for Sacramento with a .308 AVG and 2 HR.

Blaze Alexander: The 25-year-old rookie has a job with Geraldo Perdomo hurt. Mixed results from a .571 BABIP and 38% K%. A balanced bat who is projected to provide 10 HR and 12 SB in a full-time role.

Nelson Velázquez: He has 40-HR potential if playing every day. The problem is that he’s only in the lineup 75% of the time. Take the 30 HR and don’t complain when he sits.

Charlie Blackmon: He has another series at home next week while leading off. Remains a home streamer.

Jared Triolo: A smooth transition to second base and is hitting enough (.250/.364/.393, 1 HR, 1 SB) to keep the job.

Orlando Arcia: The .579 BABIP won’t continue but a steady middle-infielder contibutor.

Jordan Westburg: While playing every day, he hasn’t started hitting (.614 OPS). Balanced profile with a 15 HR, 10 SB, and a .250 AVG projection.

Oswaldo Cabrera: He’s cooled off some but remains entrenched as the Yankees third baseman.

Trey Lipscomb: The prospect has taken over Washington’s third base job. Ranked higher over a few names based on the unknown. Possibly a 15 HR/12 SB talent.

Mitch Haniger: He cut his strikeout rate from 28% to 19%, so his batting average might not be so much of a sink.

Alex Kirilloff: He’s been healthy so far and is hitting .409/.440/.682 with his BABIP up at .429 and his strikeout rate down 17% points (25% to 8%). He might be turning into a spray hitter with just a 24% Pull%

JJ Bleday: Starting for Sacramento while hitting .300/.364/.533. His strikeout rate has dropped for the second straight season (28% to 24% to 15%).

Oliver Dunn: The 26-year-old rookie is staring about two-thirds of the time. Contact issues (28% K%) but had 21 HR and 16 SB in AA last season.

Tyler Freeman: Starting in center field but a .211 BABIP has limited him. Probably just a bench bat who will be qualified at outfield soon.

Michael A. Taylor: A 15 HR/15 SB upside who is getting a chance to play in Pittsburg.

Brenton Doyle: Rockies centerfielder who is streamable at home … maybe. His strikeout rate is again, over 35% so his production is limited.

Jared Walsh: He has gotten more of a run than I would have thought in Texas. Serviceable in deeper formats until Nathaniel Lowe comes off the IL.

Nick Martini: Strong-side platoon bat who will face five righties next week. A 20 HR power profile.

Ezequiel Duran: With Josh Jung on the IL, Duran is splitting time at third base with Josh Smith.

Connor Joe: Short-side platoon bat who has lucked into the Pirates facing several lefties to start the season.

Braden Shewmake: Part-time bat with 15 HR and 15 SB upside if playing regularly.

Justin Foscue: While a ranked prospect in the Rangers system, he’s only got 1 PA so far since being promoted.

Heston Kjerstad: He’ll be a must-roster if he gets a starting role. Until then, ignorable.

Catchers

Travis d’Arnaud: Productive bat and is now getting the majority of catcher at-bats in Atlanta.

Carson Kelly: A .300 BABIP (career .255 BABIP) helps him not be a batting-average sink.

David Fry: A decent bat, for a catcher, but has started in only two games so far and played in five. Playing time will hold him back.

Patrick Bailey: His stats are inflated because of a .500 BABIP. Nothing noteworthy in his profile.

Hitting Prospects

James Wood: In AAA, the 21-year-old is hitting .400/.600/.500 over 15 PA.

Coby Mayo: In AAA, the 22-year-old is hitting .394/.444/.697 over 36 PA.

Starters

Jordan Hicks: He’s not hurt yet and is productive (8.3 K/9, 0.75 ERA) at 96 mph. Start him while healthy.

Tanner Houck: Houck destroyed Sacramento in his first start with 10 K, 0 BB, and 0 ER in 6 IP. He needs to be added to see if he’s a better pitcher. He might not be available next week.

Logan Allen: Over two starts, his walks are down (3.5 BB/9 to 2.3 BB/9) and groundballs are up (43% to 54%). Decent bench streamer.

Ronel Blanco: Can’t argue with a no-hitter. He moved away from his fastball (40% to 30%) and focused on his old change (25% SwStr%) and new slider (21% SwStr%). The biggest issue will be if he remains in the rotation once Verlander comes off the IL.

Garrett Whitlock: I dismissed Whitlock showing much improvement as a starter but didn’t see his fastball usage dropping from 53% to 28%. He threw his slider and cutter more than his sinker. We’ll see if he can maintain the results going forward.

Brady Singer: He’s throwing his slider more than his fastball to get a 16% SwStr%. Additionally, over his first two starts, he’s only walked two batters and has an 80% GB%. Add now to see if the results continue.

Max Meyer: He was limited to 79 pitches as he returns from Tommy John surgery. A couple of his good traits are a 95-mph fastball and a slider that generated a 15% SwStr%. Encouraging first start.

Keaton Winn: While a 5.80 ERA might keep other managers away, 6K and 1 BB over 5 IP in his debut should turn heads. He continues to keep the ball on the ground (54% GB%) and leans into his new slider (20% SwStr%). If the slider is legit, he has two above-average secondaries (the other is a splitter). The biggest issue is if he’ll remain in the rotation with some arms coming off the IL soon.

Spencer Turnbull: His pitch classification is a mess. Some places have his fastball down 1.5 mph. It’s not a fastball but an effective cutter. He shut out the Reds over 5 IP with 7 K. I’m interested to see if he can keep it up on a good Phillies team.

Alec Marsh: I’m not sure how to evaluate Marsh. In one start, his strikeouts and walks were down. His average fastball velocity remained constant. He mixed in five pitches … again. On Sunday, watch to see if he limits the walks again. He can’t repeat the 4.5 BB/9 from previous seasons and remain a fantasy option.

Graham Ashcraft: First, Ashcraft’s average fastball velocity is down over 2 mph (96.7 to 94.5) while his slider is up 1.5 mph (88.3 to 89.7). In his start, the key compared to last season was limiting the walks (1 BB in 6 IP, 34% Ball%).

Paul Blackburn: The 30-year-old is a serviceable pitcher. His average fastball velocity is up from 91.9 mph to 92.7 mph. He’s not throwing his fastball as much (39% to 31%). Another major key is just walking one batter over 13 IP. Finally, a 51% GB% helps. I know he’s on Sacramento, but he is pitching decent enough to possibly get some Wins.

Steven Matz: His fastball velocity is up a bit but he’s not getting many swings-and-misses (5.2 K/9). It’s tough to remain productive as just a fastball-change pitcher.

Middle reliever break: I’d start a middle reliever over the starters below. I’d still consider rostering them but I don’t want them near rotation for now.

Andrew Heaney: In 4.2 IP against the Rays, Heaney struck out seven batters while walking none. He went just fastball-slider with his average fastball velocity down 1.8 mph. I don’t buy any breakout yet, but I’m monitoring.

Louie Varland: I’m not excited to see where this goes. He has proven that he’s a good major league starting pitcher.

Cody Bradford: I’m surprised Bradford is surviving with a 91-mph fastball he throws 49% of the time. A changeup (15 SwStr%, 63% GB%) is his only decent secondary. One key is that he refuses to walk anyone so far (0.7 BB/9).

Javier Assad: He allowed zero runs in his first start going 6 IP with 5 K. None of his pitches missed many bats and he’s getting by with a career 84% LOB%.

Matt Waldron: He remains too hittable. Maybe he’ll correct those issues on Sunday.

Tyler Anderson: He dominated the Marlins. Whoop-itty-doo. I could find no changes in his profile so he should see some regression once he faces a major league team.

Emerson Hancock: I want to like Hancock, but he doesn’t seem cut out to be a major league starter with his current arsenal and/or approach. I’m not sure how he’s supposed to get batters out.

Kyle Gibson: Did people lose a bet and were forced to roster Gibson? There is no reason to have the soft-tosser (fastball velo down 1 mph) on a roster.

Michael Lorenzen: Ignore for now, he’s struggling in AAA.

Edward Cabrera: Over 7 IP during his rehab starts, he has walked seven batters. Until he can consistently find the plate, I don’t want him any where near my roster.

Mike Clevinger: I’ll evaluate him once he starts making some minor-league starts.

Pitching Prospects

Christian Scott: In AAA, The 24-year-old prospect has a 6.75 ERA, 20.3 K/9, and 1.25 WHIP in 4 IP.

Relievers: Saves-based ranks

Michael Kopech: Possibly an above-average reliever who seems to be the closer.

Jason Foley: Good reliever who is sharing the closer’s role.

Justin Lawrence: Below-average reliever who is the closer.

Chad Green: Great reliever who is currently the closer for another week or two.

James McArthur: Average reliever who might be part of a closer committee.

Shelby Miller: Great reliever who may be part of a closer by committee.

John Brebbia: Average reliever who could have a small part in a closer committee.

David Robertson: Decent reliever who is next in line for Saves.

Chris Martin: Good reliever who is the backup closer.

Giovanny Gallegos: Good reliever who is next in line for Saves.

John Schreiber: Average reliever who may get a few Saves.

Ian Hamilton: Good reliever who is the backup closer.

Daniel Hudson: Average reliever who is next in line for Saves.

Andrew Kittredge: Good reliever who is a couple of steps away from closing.

Ryan Borucki: Below-average reliever who is a few steps from closing.

Elvis Peguero: Below-average reliever who is a few steps away from closing.

Cade Smith: Fine reliever who is a few steps away from closing.

Orion Kerkering: Great reliever who is on the IL.

Ryan Yarbrough: OK middle reliever.