FAAB & Waiver Wire Report (Week 23)

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

Pete Crow-Armstrong: Cut his strikeout rate from 26% in the first to 17% in the second half to raise his batting average 70 points. He is no longer an average and power sink to go with his 26 SB.

Jhonkensy Noel: Hit a combined 31 HR in AAA and the majors with a .262 AVG (31% K%). Started in eight of the last 10 games.

Matt Wallner: Now that Wallner plays every game, he’s worth rostering. While he is known for his power, he has 6 SB and a .255 AVG in 492 career PA. It is tough to look past the 34% K%.

Ramón Laureano: Starting every game and hitting in the middle of the Braves lineup. Since joining the team, he’s batting .296/.326/.511 with 7 HR and 3 SB.

Connor Norby: Balanced bat who is leading off for Miami.

Jacob Young: Starts all the time with 31 SB on the season and a .258 AVG.

Matt Vierling: Boring, steady contributions (15 HR, 4 SB, .260 AVG).

Santiago Espinal: A well-rounded bat (9 HR, 8 SB, .265 AVG) with 13 straight starts.

Parker Meadows: In 330 PA in the majors, the 24-year-old has 8 HR and 17 SB but with a .229 AVG (26% K%). A worse version of Crow-Armstrong.

Luke Raley: Some power (16 HR) and speed (9 SB) but a 31% K% will cap his batting average and on-base percentage.

Jacob Wilson윌슨: An on-base machine (.473 OBP in the minors, .385 OBP in 13 MLB PA) who projects for no power or speed.

Whit Merrifield: Leads off for Atlanta and steals some bases (16 SB in 293 PA).

Paul DeJong: Hits for power (24 HR) and that’s it (.238 AVG, 2 SB).

Geraldo Perdomo: He starts and is only a positive in batting average (.276 AVG).

Spencer Horwitz: Volume-only play while batting .257 AVG with 8 HR and 0 SB in 284 PA.

Ramón Urías: [Hurt on Saturday, health status unknown] Everyday third baseman with well-rounded production (.254/.327/.430, 10 in 272 PA).

Jesús Sánchez: Strong-side platoon bat who provides power (17 HR) and speed (10 SB) but a batting average sink (.238 AVG).

Trevor Larnach: A strong-side platoon bat who provides power (14 HR) and is no longer a batting average sink (.256 AVG, 22% K%).

MJ Melendez: Doesn’t start against some lefties (career .636 OPS vs LHP, .728 vs RHP) while providing (17 HR in 383 PA) and nothing else (3 SB/3 CS, .212 AVG).

José Tena: A .305 AVG in the majors and had 18 HR and 15 SB in AAA.

Addison Barger: Playing but unproductive at the plate (.625 OPS).

Joey Loperfido: Starting for the Blue Jays but in 204 PA, he’s been ineffective (4 HR, 3 SB, .223 AVG, 35% K%).

Grant McCray: Across three levels including the majors, he has 15 HR and 16 SB. In the majors, his batting average might be unplayable if he maintains anything close to a 44% K% (struggles against all pitches except sinkers).

Catcher

Adrian Del Castillo: Continues to rake (.340/.411/.560 with 3 HR in 56 PA).

Miguel Amaya: Some swing changes have him hitting .322/.359/.529 in the second half.

Freddy Fermin: Could see more playing time with Perez playing more first base. Has a .747 OPS on the season.

Travis d’Arnaud: Not a batting average (.248 AVG) drain while hitting home runs (14 HR).

Keibert Ruiz: He’s been ineffective this season with 12 HR and a .601 OPS.

Alejandro Kirk: He’s been ineffective this season with 5 HR and a .650 OPS.

Henry Davis: With Joey Bart hurt, Davis and his 39% K% will get another shot.

Hitting Prospects

Roman Anthony: Across two minor league levels, the 20-year-old is hitting .281/.377/.505 with 18 HR and 16 SB in 446 PA.

Starting Pitchers

David Festa: After some adjustments, he’s been on fire in the second half with a 3.06 ERA (3.04 xFIP), 1.05 WHIP, and 12.0 K/9. in 32 IP. His 24.4% K%-BB% is the ninth highest in the second half (min 30 IP).

DJ Herz: He’s turned into a solid arm with some upside by bringing down the walks (3.3 BB/9).

Rhett Lowder: In his major league debut, he had 6 K, 4 BB, and 1 HR over 4 IP (77 pitches). Across three minor league levels, he posted a 3.64 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 9.4 K/9 in 108 IP. He wasn’t immediately demoted so it seems like he’ll remain in the rotation.

Andrew Heaney: Solid 4.00 ERA talent. His upcoming schedule is up in the air. He could start tomorrow against the A’s or have a two-start next week (vs NYY, vs LAA).

Albert Suárez 수아레즈: He’s been solid (3.14 ERA, 4.49 xFIP, 7.0 K/9, 1.27 WHIP) with a start against the White Sox next week.

Mitchell Parker: A low-4.00’s ERA arm with a start at the Pirates next week.

Osvaldo Bido: Great two-start week coming up (vs SEA, vs DET) while continuing to show monthly improvement, especially in his monthly walk rate (6.8 BB/9 to 5.6 BB/9 to 4.3 BB/9 to 2.8 BB/9).

Andre Pallante: Riding a 63% GB% to a 3.80 ERA. Solid option as long as he remains in the rotation.

Brant Hurter: Besides being limited in volume (max of 5 IP and 80 pitches), the 25-year-old has been solid (3.57 ERA 2.99 xFIP, 0.88 WHIP, 58% GB%, and 8.3 K/9).

Tylor Megill: There is always something holding Megill back from being a solid arm. The past two seasons, it has been his 4.0 BB/9. Additionally, he gets hit around as seen by his career .313 BABIP and 1.4 HR/9.

Davis Martin: Over his last four starts, Martin got the walks under control (3.0 BB/9) and posted a 1.71 ERA (4.05 xFIP), 1.14 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, and 57% GB% in 21 IP. Too bad he pitches for the White Sox.

Mitch Spence: Streamable talent as a low-4.00’s ERA talent. In the middle of a two-start week (at CIN, at TEX) and is scheduled to face Detroit next week.

Matthew Boyd: A .174 BABIP keeps his 2.70 ERA under his 4.92 xFIP. He faces the Dodgers next week so likely a bench.

Adam Oller: After struggling with walks in his first start (4 BB in 4 IP), he has been better in the last two (4 BB in 11.2 IP). Additionally, he’s averaging one strikeout per inning with a good changeup (15% SwStr%) and OK curve (10% SwStr%). He’s tough to evaluate at this point.

Ty Madden: In the 24-year-old’s major league debut, he last 5 IP with 2 K, 3 BB, and 1 ER. He leaned into his 94-mph fastball (53% usage, 0% SwStr%) with his slider doing all the damage (21% SwStr%). Going forward, I’m unsure of his usage.

Samuel Aldegheri. The 22-year-old made his major league debut going 5 IP with 3 K, 2 BB, 2 ER (7 Runs). Two issues from his debut are that none of his pitches posted a double-digit swinging-strike rate and everything was in the air (20% GB%). Over two minor league levels, he posted a 3.59 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 12.7 K/9 in 95 IP.

Joey Estes: A below-average arm (4.37 ERA, 5.21 xFIP) who needs the right matchup (vs Seattle next week) to be rosterable. He’s not showing any improvement with K%-BB% remaining the same (12.9% vs 12.5%).

Randy Vásquez: I’m guessing the adds have more to do with his current two-start week (at STL, at TB) than his talent (4.52 ERA, 4.80 xFIP, 1.49 WHIP, 5.7 K/9). It’s a toss-up if his start against San Francisco is streamable. [Update: Got destroyed on Saturday with 9 ER in 4 IP]

Jack Leiter: Called up for a Wednesday spot start (4 IP, 2 HR, 4 K) and immediately demoted to AAA.

Patrick Corbin: The only way I can explain Corbin being added was that the manager was inebriated or lost a bet.

Pitching Prospects

Caden Dana: Starting Sunday. In AA, the 20-year-old posted a 2.52 ERA (3.45 xFIP), 0.94 WHIP, and 9.8 K/9 in 135 IP.

Quinn Mathews: Across four major league levels, the 23-year-old has a 2.41 ERA (2.38 xFIP), 0.89 WHIP, and 12.9 K/9 in 130 IP.

Kumar Rocker: Across three minor league levels, the 24-year-old has a 1.71 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and 13.4 K/9 in 31 IP.

Relievers: Save-based ranks

Jason Foley: Below-average reliever who is the closer.

Seranthony Domínguez: Average reliever who is the closer.

Lucas Erceg: Great reliever who would be the closer but is hurt.

Porter Hodge: Great reliever who is the closer with Lopez hurt.

Aroldis Chapman: Great reliever who is most likely now the closer.

Edwin Uceta: Good reliever who seems to be sharing the closer duties.

Manuel Rodriguez: Decent reliever who seems to be sharing the closer duties.

Tyler Kinley: Below-average reliever who is the closer.

Jorge López: OK reliever who was in closer committee but got hurt.

Tyler Holton: OK reliever who is a step or two away from closing.

Joel Payamps: Good reliever who is a step or two away from closing.