Waiver Wire & FAAB Report (Week 5)

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

Brett Baty: While his rostership rate was over my 40% threshold, Sunday will be the first time he can be added in some formats. I’m sure there will be quite a bit of demand for him but he’s only starting against righties and has a .368 OPS after posting a 1.386 OPS in AAA.

Andrew McCutchen: Starting in nine of the last 10 games while hitting .277/.388/.523 with 4 HR and 3 SB on the season. This is about as balanced of a profile available on the wire.

J.D. Davis: Twelve straight starts (vs LHP and RHP) with a .306 AVG (33% K% to 25% K%) and 4 HR.

TJ Friedl: Playing and hitting (.300/.364/.471, 2 HR, 1 SB). Can’t ask for much more.

Spencer Steer: Improved plate discipline (24 K% to 16% K%, 10% BB% to 13% BB%) has him hitting .304/.403/.482.

Joey Gallo: His strikeout rate is under 30% (would be a career low) and has 5 HR so far. Worth adding to see if the lower strikeout rate sticks.

Carlos Santana: Playing all the time while hitting .253/.341/.427 with 2 HR so far.

Brent Rooker: Hitting .325/.417/.650 with 4 HR while batting in the third or fourth in the A’s lineup.

Garrett Cooper: Hitting mostly in the top third of the lineup with a .313/.352/.493 triple slash line.

Rodolfo Castro: Since Cruz went on the IL, Castro has started in 10 of 12 games while posting a .865 OPS with 2 HR on the season. He’s already qualified at three positions (2B, 3B, SS).

Wilmer Flores: Eight straight starts with a mix of lefty and righty starters while hitting .293/.328/.448 with 2 HR.

Brandon Marsh: Leads the NL with a 1.122 OPS but has only started against one of the five lefties. Next week he’s scheduled to face four righties (2 in 1H, 2 in 2H).

Josh Lowe: While hitting (.373/.418/.745, 4 HR, 4 SB), he only starts against righties. Tampa is scheduled to face all righties this week.

Connor Joe: Hitting .377/.459/.679 with 2 HR and 1 SB while starting in nine of the last 10 games while hitting in the middle of the lineup.

Jeimer Candelario: Hitting a respectable .260/.301/.416 with 3 HR in the heart of the batting order.

Jon Berti: Starting but hitting just .224/.246/.310 on the season (1 HR, 4 SB). With Joey Wendle expected to return next week, Berti’s playing time might dry up.

Mauricio Dubón: He is posting an empty (.060 ISO) .343 AVG as a regular starter.

Luis Garcia: The 23-year-old has started seven straight and a .200 BABIP has him with a .594 OPS. He has cut his strikeout rate from 22% K% to 9% K%.

Jarren Duran: He’s started five straight, primarily in center field after posting a .792 OPS in AAA and a 1.076 OPS so far in the majors.

Gio Urshela: Hitting an empty .299 AVG (.075 ISO) while starting in eight of the last ten games. While he is no longer playing shortstop, he does have five games at first base.

Wil Myers: He has sat only once this season while hitting .214/.286/.329 with 2 HR and 1 SB.

Oswald Peraza: Might end up in an infield timeshare with LeMahieu, Torres, and Rizzo. Hit .290/.357/.316 with 0 HR and 5 SB in AAA.

Jack Suwinski: He’s been on the strong side of a platoon (career .836 OPS vs RHP, .507 OPS vs LHP) all season and went off in Colorado (.500 AVG with 3 HR). The key for him going forward is if he can keep the strikeout down (31% to 27%) and walks up (11% to 17%). Since he is laying off breaking balls out of the zone, pitchers are forced to throw him more fastballs (46% to 50%). Scheduled to face four righties next week.

Zach Neto: He’s starting, hitting .130/.286/.217, and batting at the bottom of the lineup.

Enrique Hernández: Just added shortstop eligibility and now has four games at second base with Yu Chang starting at short. His strikeout rate is up at a seven-year high (25% K%) thereby pushing his AVG down to .233.

Kerry Carpenter: Hitting for power (3 HR, .260 ISO) and only starting against righties. He’s scheduled to face six righties next week.

Harold Ramirez: Randomly sits against some righties (started 15 of 20) while hitting .373/.429/.667 with 4 HR.

Ji Hwan Bae: Bae (.670 OPS) has sat in three of the last six games with Mark Mathias (.676 OPS) starting instead.

Jake Burger: He’s getting a nice run at third base with Moncada on the IL. The 27-year-old is hitting .273/.359/.818 with 5 HR and a career-high 118 mph maxEV. It is not known when Moncada will return, but he’ll need a few rehab starts. Burger is a tough rank since his playing time could dry up.

Michael A. Taylor: Starting every day, batting ninth, and hitting .238/.273/.413 with 3 HR and 1 SB.

Taylor Walls: Started in just six of the last nine games but has a 1.135 OPS with 3 HR and 1 SB this season. Must roster if he starts getting full-time at-bats.

Sam Hilliard: On the strong side of a platoon while hitting .333/.429/.500 with 1 HR and 3 SB. Next week, Atlanta faces five righties (3/2).

Pavin Smith: Since being promoted, he’s started in four of the last six games while hitting .333/.448/.708 with 2 HR.

Corey Julks: He’s started in 12 of the 20 games so far while hitting .300/.308/.480.

Nick Maton: Hitting just .140/.246/.333 but he’s still leading off when Detroit faces a righty.

Nelson Cruz: On the weak side platoon with Matt Carpenter.

Alex Kirilloff: I’m not sold the first basemen will be healthy as he ends his rehab assignment (hitting .333/.482/.524 across two levels) and could stay in the minors.

However, multiple team sources indicated Friday that the Twins may decide to option Kirilloff to St. Paul once his rehab assignment is over, an approach they also took in the middle of last season. To do so again would mean the 25-year-old former top prospect has been deemed healthy, but questions remain about his readiness to step back into a big-league lineup after so much missed time.

Catchers

Jonah Heim: He’s been on fire with 4 HR and a .313 AVG. Ride the hot hand.

Christian Bethancourt 베탄코트: He has been a surprise by hitting .268/.348/.634 with 4 HR this year.

Shea Langeliers: He’s hitting for power (3 HR) but not much else (.237 AVG, 5% BB%).

Yan Gomes: Not walking (2% BB%) but has hit 3 HR so far.

Hitting prospects

Matt Mervis: Hitting .255/.403/.527 with 4 HR and 0 SB in AAA.

Jo Adell: Hitting .271/.388/.686 with 8 HR and 0 SB in AAA.

Elly De La Cruz: Just five plate appearances in AAA.

Ronny Mauricio: Hitting .343/.395/.729 with 6 HR and 2 SB in AAA.

Brayan Rocchio: Hitting .338/.405/.446 with 0 HR and 5 SB in AAA.

Starters

Matt Strahm: Managers have to be all in on Strahm with his deserving 3.00 ERA (3.01 xFIP), 13.5 K/9, and 0.94 WHIP. He’s kept his average fastball velocity between 93.2 mph and 93.8 mph in his four starts. Additionally, he’s throwing four pitches with a swinging-strike rate over 10% and his slider at 28%. His roster rate needs to be 100%.

Griffin Canning: He needs to added in all formats even though the 4.80 xFIP doesn’t point to breakout. Right now he’s throwing four pitches almost equally with a 94-mph fastball and three secondaries with at least a 14% SwStr%. His 16% SwStr% is normally associated with a 30% K% (10.5 K/9). This could be the last week to add him on the cheap.

Johan Oviedo: He’s been good with a 9.3 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, 55% GB%, and 2.22 ERA. A 2.54 BABIP means his ERA will increase but near a sub-4.00 value.

Braxton Garrett: Seems like he picked up where he left off last season with a mid-3.00’s ERA. The big issue with Garrett is the over 2 mph drop in his average fastball velocity.

Mike Soroka: In three rehab starts, Soroka has been fine with an 8.9 K/9, 1.32 ERA, and 1.10 WHIP. So far, his fastball has averaged 92.5 mph in AAA which is in line with his preinjury velos.

Mason Miller: Will Miller go for the most FAAB this weekend, most likely? Do I want him over the guys listed above him, absolutely not? Over the past two seasons, he’s thrown a total of 32 IP with elite ratios (16.6 K/9, 2.83 ERA, and 0.69 WHIP) while dealing with a shoulder injury. He made 10 starts during that time and only averaged 3 IP per start. He threw 5 IP once. In his first MLB start, he went 4.1 IP and 81 pitches. His stuff is electric with a 99 mph fastball and 88 mph slider but his workload is going to be limited.

Domingo Germán: His strikeouts (7.2 K/9 to 11.3 K/9) are way up because of the performance on his four-seamer (6% SwStr% to 12%) and change (10% SwStr% to 22%). I’m not sure why the improvement because his pitch mix, shapes, and velocities are consistent with last season.

Tanner Houck: While Houck’s 9.4 K/9 and 59% GB% are enticing, his 3.4 BB/9 could improve. He’s cut down on his four-seam and sinker usage (13% combined decline) and is throwing a new cutter (9% SwStr%, 78 Stuff+).

Eduardo Rodriguez: He’s throwing more strikes (career 3.1 BB/9, 1.9 BB/9 in 2023) and a .258 BABIP has his ERA and WHIP suppressed, but is a streamable option in all formats.

Joey Lucchesi: I know he didn’t allow a run over 7 IP in his 2023 major league debut, but I have some doubts. I’ve never liked that he threw a 90 mph fastball. Second, he’s coming back from Tommy John surgery and struggled in AAA with walks (4.0 BB/9). Finally, while he throws three pitches (some questions on the exact types), two are fastballs based on velocity and a changeup. Pitchers who only throw a change have limited upside. For now, he gets a nice matchup with Nationals next week so possibly add and monitor.

Kyle Bradish: In two starts (7 IP) he has not allowed a run to score while striking out eight guys. Additionally, he has a 62% GB%. He’s backed away from his slider (30% to 17% usage) and his throwing his cutter (13% to 25% usage) more. The cutter isn’t missing bats with a 2% SwStr% while his slider is at a 35% SwStr%.

Wade Miley: He’s allowed weak contact (.245 BABIP, 0.5 HR/9) so his 0.94 WHIP and 1.50 ERA (4.27 xFIP) should head up at some point as the batted ball data stabilizes. I would expect him to be around a 4.25 ERA pitcher.

Peyton Battenfield: The 25-year-old rookie has mixed results so far. A .207 BABIP has his ERA and WHIP looking good while his xFIP is hanging out at 4.76. It seems like he’ll create some fieldable contact with his fastball and curve being worm killers and his cutter generating popups. The cutter (28% SwSwtr%) and curve (14% SwStr%) miss bats but his 91-mph fastball (2% SwStr%) doesn’t. It’ll be interesting to see if the combination works to stay in the majors.

Brayan Bello: There is a lot of matching going one with him. His ERA and K/9 are 16.88. His WHIP, BB/9, and HR/9 are each at 3.38. It’ll take another start to grasp his true talent.

Colin Rea: A nice two-step (vs DET, vs LAA) has him getting rostered while he has never been great (career 4.85 ERA, 1.33 WHIP). He needs to focus on his best stuff since he’s thrown 6 pitches so far and only his cutter (14% SwStr%) has a swinging-strike rate over six percent.

Brad Keller: His 3.00 ERA and 1.29 WHIP (.245 BABIP) might look enticing, but his 5.6 BB/9 will catch up to him.

Tyler Wells: A .175 BABIP leading to a 2.70 ERA and 0.69 WHIP is one reason (not a good one) he’s being considered as an add. Also, faced he Detroit this past week so there might be some love from that game. He changed the shape of his slider (2″ less movement) and its swinging-strike rate has dropped from 12% to 7%.

Dean Kremer: Besides a suppressed ERA (3.23 ERA, 4.43 xFIP) in 2022, there is no reason to be rostering Kremer at this point. While his fastball velocity is up 1 mph, his strikeouts remain the same (6.3 K/9 to 6.6 K/9). Additionally, his flyball nature (38% GB%), has too many balls leaving the yard (2.4 HR/9). He might need to push up his cutter usage over 14% (18% SwSwt%) to take a step forward. Also, he should probably drop a few pitches since he’s throwing six of them between 6% and 41%.

Ryne Nelson: I don’t understand the demand for a pitcher with a 5.7 K/9, 4.91 ERA, and has his fastball velo down 0.9 mph.

Vince Velasquez: A start against the Nationals next week is interesting but he’s been walking too many batters (4.7 BB/9) with five coming in 2 IP against the White Sox. Additionally, he has increased the usage of his slider (14% SwStr%) from 22% to 39% The deal is that he’s always had an issue with walks (career 3.7 BB/9) and home runs (career 1.5 HR/9) leading to career 4.94 ERA over 745 IP. I’ll need to see at least a half dozen good starts to believe there is anything new going on with him.

Ryan Weathers: With Musgrove off of the IL, there is no reason to be rostering Weathers who is headed back to the bullpen.

Pitching Prospects

Matthew Liberatore: In AAA, he has a 2.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 11.9 K/9 in 22 IP.

Brandon Pfaadt: In AAA, he has a 3.54 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 11.1 K/9 in 20 IP.

Tanner Bibee: In AAA, he has a 1.76 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 11.2 K/9 in 15 IP.

Logan Allen: In AAA, he has a 1.26 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 12.6 K/9 in 14 IP. His value and cost will be set by Sunday’s start.

Andrew Abbott: In AA, he has a 1.15 ERA, 0.57 WHIP, and 20.7 K/9 in 15 IP.

Relievers – Saves-based ranks

José Alvarado: Great reliever who seems to be sharing the closer’s role.

Brad Boxberger: OK reliever could be the closer,

José Quijada: Good LOOGY who is getting some Save chances.

Zach Jackson: Below-average reliever who is now out of the Saves mix … until he is back in it.

Colin Holderman: Decent reliever who is the backup closer.

Adam Ottavino: Decent reliever who may be getting some Save chances.

Erik Swanson: Good reliever who is the backup closer.

Giovanny Gallegos: Good reliever who is the backup closer.

Steven Wilson: Good reliever who is the backup closer.

Nick Anderson: Great reliever (when healthy) who is the backup closer.

Mark Leiter Jr.: OK reliever who is a couple of steps away from closing.

Dylan Lee: Fine reliever who is a couple of steps away from closing.

Jesse Chavez: Fine reliever who is a few steps away from closing.

Tyler Rogers: OK reliever who is a few steps away from closing.

Drew Smith: OK reliever who is a few steps away from closing.

Dane Dunning: He got an extended relief appearance and shoved (0 ER, 5 K in 4 IP). There are no reports of him going to the rotation so a big pass right now.

Bryse Wilson: Below-average reliever whose mom must have a ton of CBS fantasy leagues.