Sunday Night Waiver Wire & FAAB Chat

Jeff Zimmerman: Welcome.

Jeff Zimmerman: There are no Tout Wars FAAB bids. The leagues run their FAAB on Wednesday night.

Hicks/Gallegos: At what point do you think it’s worth stashing Gallegos or other set up men who you think will benefit from their closers being traded?

Jeff Zimmerman: Previously I’ve looked at the who in the MLBTR top-50 trade targets get traded and the first two rounds are at or over 50%: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/07/top-50-deadline-trade-candidate…

Jeff Zimmerman: research: https://www.baseballhq.com/content/research-odds-player-being-traded-u…

Jeff Zimmerman: I’d focus on those players for stashes coming up.

Guest: Hey Jeff, I’m curious on your approach regarding stashing

Jeff Zimmerman: I usually don’t unless a rookie falls in the draft. After that point, I might add an injured player a week or two out.

Jeff Zimmerman: It comes down to how I manage my teams. I stream pitchers from my bench and only have a couple of bench bats for injuries. I just don’t have room for stashes with unknown timetables.

Schmidt Happen: If you were position agnostic, which minor league hitter (other than Encarnacion-=Strand) would you stash going into the break?   Assume a roto, redraft, OBP league and a focus on overall value (ie ignore the potential that a team might need help in a specific category).

Jeff Zimmerman: Ask someone who covers the minors, it’s just not my lane.

David: What’s your assessment of Moustakas?

Jeff Zimmerman: I don’t care about him. At best, he’s a streamer in the deepest of leagues.

KCbbq: 12 team AL only 5×5 H2H keeper league using OBP. Have my choice of $11 Jarren Duran or $19 Riley Greene. Who puts up better #s ros and who’s the better 2024 keeper? Concern with Duran is will he still be on strong side of platoon or everyday player this year.

Jeff Zimmerman: Greene and it is not close

Ricky L: Hey boss, in a redraft league, how would you prioritize meneses, Lars, Dana myers? Thanks for always doing this!

Jeff Zimmerman: Lars, Meneses, Myers

Rodney Feld: is Christopher Sanchez a must roster in deep mixed leagues at this point?

Jeff Zimmerman: Yep, said so in my waiver wire article

Guest: Hey Jeff, I’m curious about your thoughts on stashing injured players at this point in the season in leagues where you don’t have IL spots. I’m inclined to think you cut anyone missing a few weeks aside from star players, at least in 10/12 team leagues. For example, I’m leaning towards cutting Thairo Estrada who looks set to miss another 3-5 weeks. Is this the type of player you are comfortable cutting, or are you inclined to stash?

Jeff Zimmerman: It comes down to league depth, but I’m cutting Estrada in several leagues. Missing a month is tough and he might be unproductive when he returns

G Money: I picked up Christopher Sanchez last week for nothing, thank you for your advice on him. You seem to really be high on him, do you feel he can stick in the rotation the rest of the way?

Jeff Zimmerman: The only complaint so far is that he has faced weak opponents but he keeps shoving

Guest: Will Cowser get enough PT to matter?

Jeff Zimmerman: Not sure. I’m treating him as a streamer. Projections have Coswer and Colas almost the same.

Dan: Mike Trout’s been a long-term keeper of mine in a 14 teaser. My team’s headed for a rebuild. Depending on the success of yet another rehab, will Trout have any value to a team in my league making a playoff run, or should I try to move him in the off season? Thanks Jeff. Enjoy the A-S game…if you tune in!

Jeff Zimmerman: I think you try to move him this offseason.

2b or not to be: Had altuve at second. Obviously injured. Have Gorman on the bench, would, you roll with Gorman (5×5) or pick up b. Lowe/Mckintsty/Julian and drop Pham or Julks?

Jeff Zimmerman: Roll with Gorman or drop Gorman for one of those three

Meltman: Our wire’s starters are really picked clean. What kind of middle relievers interest you lately?

Jeff Zimmerman: There was a bunch but I didn’t look this week. It’s just too tough to know coming out of the break. I’m adding guys behind trade candidates like the guys with KC and NYM.

Jason: Lost E Ruiz to injury. Should I grab Mccarthy from Ariz and drop Gurriel. Not much else out there for SB. H2H Yahoo league. Thanks and enjoy the all star break! Jason

Jeff Zimmerman: Stolen bases are rough right now. Isbel and Waters are a little interesting in KC

KCbbq: Dropped Lynn last week. Would you drop Reese Olson $2 in a 12 team AL only 5×5 H2H to pick up Lance Lynn or Bryan Abreu? Lynn has been Jekyl and Hyde. How much FAAB if one has $17 of 100 left for Lynn? My SPs are Gausman, Ryan, Jon Gray, Tyler Wells and Gilbert.

Jeff Zimmerman: I’d hold Olson.

TriplesAlley: 12 tm dynasty. Do you consider Ben Lively a bench streamer or droppable? Deciding who to drop between him, Wood, Lorenzen, Canning… or none and drop a hitter

Jeff Zimmerman: I’d consider Wood and Lively the same talent. Roster the one with the better matchup.

Maris9: Any thoughts on Nick Pratto — semi breakout perhaps?

Jeff Zimmerman: I don’t buy a breakout but the playing time has been nice.

Guest: What is torks value in 4×4? I have him he’s ok getting some weak offers feel like holding is better but I can’t get a read on the kid

Jeff Zimmerman: Who are the replacements?

kuff6: Total power and rbi outage for Rizzo for quite a while now. Dump him for Votto or G Cooper in 5×5 with obp instead of avg?  Thanks!

Jeff Zimmerman: Votto for sure.

kuff6: you didn’t seem very interested in Dane Myers.  Why no love? Seemingly playing every day and off to a hot start, and homered again today.

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m not sure how long he has the job and the profile is suspect.

gadawg57: ROS question: Is Vierling a quality guy or is he just having a good time right now?

Jeff Zimmerman: Vierling has skills (lollipop darling) but has put them all together.

Greg: Are you still high on Skubal? How much would you bid in 15 team NFBC?

Jeff Zimmerman: If eligible, he would have been at the top of my WW ranks. I stashed him in three leagues where he was drafted. I’d not be surprised if some teams go $100 or more on him. He might be the best starter to come on the market this year.

Luke: Is stacking relievers or streaming risky sp’s the better way to get out of last in era and whip in roto. Not much to lose, with this amount of time left in the year

Jeff Zimmerman: Depends where are you in the other categories. I was basically last in all but Saves in one league and said screw the ratios. Still do but have moved out of last in ERA and almost in WHIP The key is to pick a lane and stick to it.

kuff6: Thanks for doing these every week. Always nice to bounce ideas/get input from someone else before making a move

Jeff Zimmerman: You’re welcome

gadawg57: Any concerns here? Pitcher, Points, 12 team: Gausman, Garrett, Ohtani, Ober, Eovaldi, Bradish. QS not Ws. ROS.

Jeff Zimmerman: They are fine, sure beats those on the wire

Chickie: Aside from the fact that Shane Bieber starts every fifth day, give me just one compelling reason that he should be rostered in a 12 team Dynasty?

Jeff Zimmerman: Very little

NFBCOC12s: Ji Hwan Bae worth stashing in 12s if you need SBs?

Jeff Zimmerman: No, I’m not sure he’ll play much if Gonzalez keeps hitting

Guest: Aranda in a mixed league?

Jeff Zimmerman: Should remain on the waiver wire

Royce: Is Tyler O’Neill a good stash?

Jeff Zimmerman: Yes … I guess. I wish he gets traded.

John: Any concerns with Skubal maxing out at approx 65 pitches right now?

Jeff Zimmerman: Not enough to no roster him

Porcho Villa: Votto comeback tour for real? K% rough but looking awesome other than that and 2021 wasn’t that long ago

Jeff Zimmerman: Good so far. He might be more of a bench streamer in shallower leagues

Wes: Re: SB being rough. Do you think McCarthy and Maikel are strong holds in 12’ers despite PT for former  team context for latter?

Jeff Zimmerman: I think you have to right now

Josh: How does CJ Abrams value change at MI with him looking like he’ll hit lead off the rest of the way? Is he top 20 in 6×6 h2h categories?

Jeff Zimmerman: No way a top-20 bat. The counting stats won’t be there, especially RBI.

Tim: Any hope for Tony Disco in the 2nd half? “Shoulder fatigue” seems too vague and too ominous IMO

Jeff Zimmerman: Very little but the wire is so bare, he might be a hold in some places.

Chickie: Any chance Mountcastle can return to fantasy relevance? His sub .600 OPS v RHP seems inconceivable. Unless of course we think he’s due for some positive regression, which might render him a 2nd half MVP.

Jeff Zimmerman: The Orioles are getting loaded and playing time is getting scarce. I’d hold on Mountcastle for the next 2 weeks and then re-evaluate

Willie Stargell: Jeff, thanks so much for the Sunday night chat.  At least once or twice a chat you defer questions about minor leaguers to someone who focuses on that area.  How do you handle the situation when a prospect is called up and you need to make a decision about rostering – go with your gut, do instant research, wait for an MLB sample size to develop, phone a friend, run comps, or a combination thereof?

Jeff Zimmerman: I don’t know who is doing what in the minors and when they get called up.

Jeff Zimmerman: For both hitters and pitchers, I have a couple of tools to see how they are doing. It helps a ton that AAA has public StatCast metrics.   For hitters, I go with comps about 90% of the time. For pitchers, I can find their pERA and it gives me a great starting point to find plus pitches.

Dave in slc: In only have 25% of my faab left in AL only. Is cowser worth bidding on or would you just wait? Lots of people still have money so big call ups or trades from nl would likely go pretty high

Jeff Zimmerman: Go 1% or 2% but hold. Many might be waiting for the trade deadline

Jeff Zimmerman: and you can sneak him through.

Guest: Standard NFBC – What % faab would you be putting down on Manoah after his first start back if you were in needing of pitching?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m putting min bids where he was available. I have so little FAAB, I’m not gutting what is left on Manoah

Jeff Zimmerman: I’d rather take a shot on Skubal

Porcho Villa: Rank 1B options ROS (5×5 OBP): Y. Diaz, Torkelson, Votto, Nolan Jones

Jeff Zimmerman: That is the order. Tork and Votto are close.

Dan: Pick 2 of 3 in an OBP league – Julks, Candelario, Nolan Jones.

Jeff Zimmerman: Candelario (could be traded)………………………..Julks, Jones

Erik: Felix Bautista for Matt McClain.  Which side do you prefer?

Jeff Zimmerman: At this point in the season, every trade comes down to needs

Mike Trout: What are my chances of returning before September?

Jeff Zimmerman: It comes down to if the team is in the playoff hunt

Josh: Do you think Scott Barlow’s value goes up or down with a trade to a contender?

Jeff Zimmerman: Not many contenders need a closer. I think ARI is the only team where he might go and close

CS: Very deep NL only league, have Jazz and McCutch on the DL….Myers, Call, Segura, Jahmai Jones? (have some position flex)….thanks, will only bid $2-3 max

Jeff Zimmerman: Call, Segura, … Mayers…………………….. Jones

Verlanded: Serious OF issue…….ROS Marte, Santander, Friedl, Bellinger, Hays. I need to pick 2!!

Jeff Zimmerman: Belly and Marte

Seanold: Hey Jeff, thanks for taking the time on Sunday. Cronenworth is available in my 15 team NFbC roto, would you drop McKinstry or Berti for him? I do need SBs but neither have been helpful lately

Jeff Zimmerman: Berti for sure. He’s been worthlesss

Tim: Worth stashing Robles in a 14 team H2H standard + Bb, tb?

Jeff Zimmerman: I considered it but didn’t pull the trigger.

Rangerism: Is it Grossman or Jankowski, and is either worth a spot in an AL OBP league? (Isbel, Adell are other options)

Jeff Zimmerman: I’d add Isbel and Adell first

Josh: We really appreciate you taking the time to do this every week!

Jeff Zimmerman: Thanks

NFBCOC12s: how much faab for woodruff

Jeff Zimmerman: 5%

Vierling-a-ling: I’ve been enjoying the Vierling hot streak, but am worried about Badoo and Greene coming back. Cut now (Adell, Aranda?) or wait and see what shakes out?

Jeff Zimmerman: Wait

Bobby: 10 team OBP roto, both Suzuki and and Ward dropped today.  Which one to spend on for second half push?

Jeff Zimmerman: Ward

Johnny5Alive: Re: Nolan Jones – is that just a playing time issue bc Colorado?

Jeff Zimmerman: He looks like he might be getting platoon and I usually don’t start Rockies on the road.

OF help: Would you drop suzuki for jarren duran?  Suzuki been awful for a month and seems like he’s hampered by injury. Then again suzuki statcast #s look good. But dont want to miss out on a duran breakout. What say you?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’d go Suzuki but they are close

Big Bird: Do you think J.Walker ends up at 1B if/when Goldy gets traded? Thoughts?

Jeff Zimmerman: No, I think Walker stays and so does Goldy. The Cards see themselves as a good team

Frank: Would you cut Pham for TON, J Polanco or O. Cruz

Jeff Zimmerman: No … quit drinking

Gabe: Still having problems rostering RPs in a h2h league that has Saves and Holds as separate categories. Better to concentrate on Holds in the second half since closers are hard to come by?

Jeff Zimmerman: In these leagues, I’d only draft/roster the cheapest best talents. From a study in The Process, you’ll end up with plenty of Saves and Holds. The best talent will get both.

NFBCOC12s: Thoughts on Willi Castro?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m not sure what to think. I wish he played all the time, but he doesn’t. I think he’s someone to monitor each week hoping for a full-time role

Jiffy: What do you make of Matz’ start today

Jeff Zimmerman: It’s one good start. I’d wait to use him until a see a couple more.

Jeff Zimmerman: That’s it for this week. Talk to everyone later.