FAAB & Waiver Wire Report (Week 6)

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

Jo Adell: If the strikeouts stay in check (25%), Adell is the breakout player of the year so far (4 HR, 5 SB, .273 AVG).

Tyler Black: In AAA, Black was hitting .303/.393/.525 with 5 HR and 3 SB. He’s holding his own in the majors (.864 OPS) and already stole a base. A huge advantage he has over other callups is that he’s batting third or fourth.

Jacob Young: Young has nine straight starts (the last one at leadoff) while hitting .311 with 12 SB and 0 HR (.067 ISO).

Vaughn Grissom: Grissom just returned from the IL. In 36 PA during his rehab, he posted a .844 OPS with 2 SB. He’s going to be a popular add where available.

Willi Castro: A nice fantasy contributor (.282 AVG, 2 HR, 3 SB) but the stolen bases might end if his 50% success rate doesn’t improve. Castro’s Sprint Speed is down 0.7 mph to 27.9 ft/s (74th percentile).

Tommy Pham: Pham has been great at the plate so far (.876 OPS, 1 HR) and should be a three-category contributor.

Joey Loperfido: The minor league home run leader has just been recalled and has four singles in 11 PA to go with 5 K. So far, pitchers aren’t afraid of him by throwing fastballs 63% of the time (14% SwStr%). Most of those fastballs are high in the zone.

Besides the strikeouts, he sat against the first lefty starter and was replaced by Jake Meyers on Friday when the other team brought in a lefty. I’m probably too high on him, but besides Rooker, there are few power sources available on the wire.

Tyler Nevin: Playing (17 straight starts), hitting (4 HR, .313 AVG), and (nearly) qualified at a third position (first base, seven games).

Wenceel Pérez: The 24-year-old has come out of nowhere to be a productive hitter (.946 OPS, 3 HR, 2 SB). I am surprised with the early power with just a 105 maxEV over the past three seasons including AAA.

Mike Tauchman: Boring but useful contributor (3 HR, 1 SB, .866 OPS).

Matt Vierling: Boring and steady (3 HR, 279 AVG). He’s got career highs in avgEV (93.4 mph), Barrel% (9%), and Launch Angle (17 degrees).

Nick Senzel: Batting at the top of the lineup while hitting 5 HR in just 60 PA. The home runs might be coming since he has raised his launch angle for the second straight season (12 degrees to 15 to 18).

Josh Smith: Nice source of batting average (.304 AVG) and not much else.

Brent Rooker: A solid source of power (6 HR) but his batting average (.211 AVG, 39% K%) can be a drain.

Johan Rojas: The 23-year-old might not be a good hitter (.609 OPS) but he’s stolen seven bases so far and even hit a home run.

Jordan Beck: Beck has four straight starts since being recalled. In AAA, he was hitting .307/.405/.594 with 5 HR and 5 SB. He is struggling in the majors with a 60% K% (20% SwStr%).

Richie Palacios: Strong-side platoon bat who destroys righties (.931 OPS, 3 HR, 4 SB). The Rays are scheduled to face five righties next week.

Trevor Larnach: Strong-side platoon bat (.368/.432/.579, .429 BABIP, 2 HR) who will face six lefties next week.

Josh Rojas: A strong-side platoon bat (3 HR, 2 SB, .338 AVG) with six righties on the schedule next week. Reasonable stream.

Ceddanne Rafaela: Before Rafaela’s 7 RBI game, he had a .463 OPS. Since the game, he has been “en fuego” with a .526 OPS (37% K%).

Jon Singleton: Uninspiring production (2 HR, .255 AVG) but starting every game in a decent lineup.

Trey Lipscomb: The 24-year-old remains a speed threat (5 SB) while starting in eight of the last 10 games at third base.

Pete Crow-Armstrong: The 22-year-old continues to hit (.259/.250/.444) and play (started in 8 out of 9). Will take a major playing time hit with several players poised to come off the IL.

Mike Yastrzemski: This past week was a great time to stream Yaz with six righties on the schedule. Not so much next week with just four.

Carlos Santana: Santana’s batting average has been a drain (.184 AVG, .190 BABIP) but he is providing some power (4 HR).

Andrew Benintendi: Why in the hell are fantasy managers adding a player with a .514 OPS?! Ignore.

Garrett Cooper: Might be on the strong side of a first-base platoon in Boston.

Catchers

Connor Wong: Must roster for a catcher (5 HR, .351 AVG).

Elias Díaz: Next week is six home games for the Rockie.

Patrick Bailey: Great season so far (3 HR, .278 AVG) but may be headed to the concussion IL.

Hitting Prospects

Kyle Manzardo: In AAA, the 23-year-old is hitting .305/.379/.629 with 8 HR and 0 SB in 124 PA.

Orelvis Martinez: In AAA, the 22-year-old is hitting .290/.361/.589 with 8 HR and 0 SB in 119 PA.

Coby Mayo: In AAA, the 22-year-old is hitting .323/.386/.662 with 11 HR and 3 SB in 145 PA.

Starters

Christian Scott: In AAA this season, the 24-year-old had a 12.8 K/9, 0.71 WHIP, and 3.20 ERA. The top prospect debuted on Saturday going 6.2 IP with 6 K, 1 BB, and 1 ER. I expect bidding to be intense with Gekko has “authorized” max bids.

For anyone who didn’t secure Christian Scott on draft day or the faab period(s) he was available, smarten up. With the state of SP injuries, ‘Max Bid’ scenarios have been authorized.

— Gekko Industries (@GekkoIndustries) May 5, 2024

Taj Bradley: He has been shoving in his rehab starts (12.3 K/8, 0.82 ERA, and 0.45 WHIP). In his last start, he threw 6 IP and should be stretched out enough to join the MLB rotation soon.

Jameson Taillon: On Saturday, Taillon had his best start of the season with 7 K and 0 ER over 6.0 IP. He lower his ERA to 1.13 (4.27 xFIP).

Hayden Wesneski: In four appearances and two starts, Wesneski has been decent with a 7.6 K/9, 0.72 WHIP, 0.54 ERA, and 3.49 WHIP. Obvious improvements are tough to find. He increased his slider usage from 36% to 40%. He’s staying in the strike zone more (3.2 BB/9 to 1.6 BB/9 and 53% Zone% to 55% Zone%). His groundballs are up (40% GB% to 49% GB%). They aren’t huge changes but they point to his 2022 production. I’m unsure if the improvements are enough or stick, but he is an interesting bench streamer.

Slade Cecconi: A 51% LOB% has SLADE’S ERA up at 4.96. Besides an inflated ERA, he’s been decent this season with 3.81 xFIP, 0.80 WHIP, and 8.3 K/9. His strikeouts are up by leaning into his changeup (11% SwStr%).

Quinn Priester: Priester has a 68% GB% and somehow a 2.8 HR/9. The difference has him with a 6.87 FIP and 4.07 xFIP. I hope he’d post more than the 6.1 K/9 with three of his four secondaries having a 15% SwStr% or higher.

John Means: Means made his first major league start on Saturday by throwing 7 IP with 8 K, 0 BB, and 0 ER against the Reds. His fastball velocity was in line with the past two seasons but about 1 mph down from 2021. With how Saturday’s start went, this might be the only opportunity to roster him in deeper formats.

Erick Fedde 페디: The 31-year-old has exceeded all expectations (3.46 ERA, 3.67 xFIP, and 9.5 K/9). The biggest surprise is the strikeouts. His previous high in the majors was 8.8 K/9 in his rookie season (15 IP). He’s not getting many swings-and-misses (9% SwStr%) with his sinker generating the most whiffs (10% SwStr%). I don’t buy the high strikeout total and expect some regression. He struggled on Saturday by walking five batters while striking out only two.

Trevor Rogers: A .330 BABIP has his WHIP (1.50) and ERA (4.31) inflated. A 52% GB% has helped limit the damage. Around a 4.00 ERA talent.

Ben Lively 라이블리: At some point, I might buy into Lively being a good pitcher but I’m not there yet. Before his Saturday start, his strikeouts and swing-and-miss were out-of-whack and there was some regression with his strikeout rate dropping from 10.9 K/9 to 10.0 K/9. Almost no major league starter succeeds throwing a 90-mph fastball over 60% of the time.

Cole Irvin: Irvin is surviving (2.86 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 5.7 K/9) by keeping the ball on the ground (52% GB%) and not walking anyone (1.8 BB/9). Solid arm.

Simeon Woods Richardson: So far, so good for him with a 2.45 ERA (4.16 xFIP), 8.0 K/9, and 1.36 WHIP. The improvements have been previously noted (more velo, fewer fastballs, more sliders and curves).

Jake Irvin: He has cut his walks from 4.0 BB/9 to 1.9 BB/9 to become a 4.00 ERA talent. If he can keep the walks down, he a reasonable streaming talent.

Matt Waldron: He’s trying to get by with his knuckleball and 90 mph fastball. His true talent is showing as a low-4.00’s ERA talent who can be streamed.

Bailey Falter: Falter is in the middle of a near-perfect two-step (at OAK, vs COL). His low-strikeout, low-walk, low-groundball approach puts his ERA talent around 4.25. Steamable options as seen this week.

Kyle Gibson: Gibson has a nice 3.79 ERA and 1.13 WHIP via a .225 BABIP. His 9.9% K%-BB% is the 11th lowest among qualified starters. He’s a mid-4.00’s ERA talent.

Trevor Williams: Eventually, he’ll allow a home run even with a 49% GB% and his 2.27 ERA will jump. Streamable option in about half his starts.

Emerson Hancock: Proving to be a consistent 4.50 ERA pitcher. Too bad his talent is not useful in the fantasy game.

Bryse Wilson: Three of the last four appearances by Wilson have been starts. As a starter, he has a 1.93 ERA (4.74 xFIP), 7.1 K/9, and 1.07 WHIP. As a start, his fastball is just under 94 mph while throwing it at least 50% of the time. For secondaries, he has a cutter (10% SwStr%) and curve (8% SwStr%). There is little swing-and-miss in his game.

Alek Manoah: Manoah debuts on Sunday after struggling last season (5.87 ERA, 1.74 WHIP) and in AAA this season (6.50 ERA, 1.67 WHIP). His AAA average fastball velocity is the same as in 2023.

Taijuan Walker: While Walker got a Win in his 2024 MLB debut, he got lit up. In 6.1 IP, he allowed 6 ERA on 2 HR, 2 BB, and just 4 K. His average fastball velocity was down 0.9 mph to a career low. Stay away.

Colin Rea: A .240 BABIP and 89% LOB% have suppressed his ERA down to 2.67. All of his ERA estimators are north of 4.50. Rea doesn’t do anything league average with a 6.2 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, and 38% GB%. Ignore him unless streaming against weak matchups.

Andrew Heaney: No positives on the seasons with a 5.10 ERA (4.63 xFIP), 1.10 WHIP (.232 BABIP), and 7.8 K/9.

Landon Knack: Optioned to AAA. We know he’s a decent arm and the Dodgers will call him up. If a team can stash him, it’s not a horrible option.

Roddery Muñoz: He has dominated in two spot starts (2.45 ERA, 2.66 xFIP, 0.73 WHIP, 11.5 K/9). He is back in the minors for now.

Starting Prospects

Cade Horton: In AA, the 22-year-old had a 1.10 ERA, 9.9 K/9, and 0.92 WHIP in 16 IP. He has just been promoted to AAA.

Relievers – Saves Based Ranks

Jason Adam: Great pitcher who is the closer.

Héctor Neris: Good reliever who is the closer.

Jeff Hoffman: Good reliever who is part of a closer by committee.

Trevor Megill: OK reliever who is part of a closer by committee.

Justin Lawrence: Below-average reliever who is the closer but is on paternity leave.

Yennier Cano: Good reliever who is the backup to a shaky/injured closer.

A.J. Minter: Great reliever who is the backup closer.

Lucas Erceg: Great reliever who is the backup closer.

Garrett Cleavinger: Good reliever who is the backup closer.

Scott Barlow: Good reliever who is the backup closer.

John Schreiber: Decent reliever who is the backup closer.

Reed Garrett: Good reliever who might be the backup closer.

JoJo Romero: Good reliever who might be the backup closer.

Andrew Kittredge: Good reliever who might be the backup closer.

Justin Slaten: Good reliever who is a few steps away from closing.

Danny Coulombe: Great reliever who is a couple of steps away from closing.

Bryan Hudson: Decent reliever who is a couple of steps away from closing.

Luke Weaver: OK reliever who is a couple of steps away from closing.