Waiver Wire Report (Final Report)
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.
Note: Remember, all these ranks are for the upcoming week, nothing more. Remember, if there is no chance in using the player, lose them.
Batters
Parker Meadows: Starts every game but hits ninth against lefties. Balances approach (8 HR, 9 SB, .242 AVG).
Trevor Story: In 80 PA since coming off the IL, he has 2 HR and 6 SB with a .722 OPS. I’m unsure about the power with his 85 avgEV and 26% HardHit%, both career lows.
Otto Lopez: Great source of speed (19 SB in 406 PA) with 6 HR (16 Barrels) and .263 AVG.
Pavin Smith: Remains on fire by hitting .417/.517/.750 over the past week. The increased production came from hitting the ball harder with all of his power metrics up.
José Tena: Solid everyday bat (3 HR, 6 SB, .284 AVG in 140 PA).
Andrew Benintendi: Hits third or fourth with an .837 OPS and 12 HR in the second half.
Luisangel Acuña and Jose Iglesias: Acuna is hitting great (2 HR, 1.087 OPS) and the same goes for Iglesias (.333/.379/.456 on the season). It’s tough to know how much each will play once Francisco Lindor comes off the IL. I like both if starting but it’s impossible to know how the playing time will be split up. Proceed with caution.
Tommy Pham: Leading off for the Royals while posting balanced numbers (9 Hr, 7 SB, .251 AVG).
Victor Robles: Obvious add if a team needs some steals. I’m unsure how he’ll hit this week since he’s dealing with a hand injury.
Nolan Schanuel: An accumulator (13 HR, 10 SB, .251 AVG) who could provide a stolen base from the first base position.
Jonathan Aranda: Might be a regular (who knows with Tampa) with nine starts in the last 10 games. He is on a heater by hitting .265/.327/.510 with 3 HR this month.
Mike Yastrzemski: Strong-side platoon bat is scheduled to face five righties next week. Provides power (17 HR) but nothing else (3 SB, .234 AVG).
Jared Triolo: While playing every game, he remains unproductive (8 HR, 8 SB, .218 AVG in 423 PA).
Nathan Lukes: Strong-side platoon bat with Toronto facing all righties next week. In 59 PA, he is hitting .333/.390/.471.
Nick Yorke: Since his debut, he started four times in five games, batting seventh or eighth, and playing three positions (2B, 3B, LF). In 15 PA, he has 5 singles and two stolen bases.
Miguel Rojas: Helps with batting average (.292 AVG) with 6 HR and 8 SB in 323 PA. A sore leg has cost him some time and depending on the postseason ramifications, I could see him sit a few games. Low rank based on him sitting in two of six games.
Luke Raley: Strong-side platoon bat but the Mariners face four lefties in the six games. Drop.
Catchers
Hunter Goodman: Playing (eight starts in last 10 games), hitting (.984 OPS over last two weeks), and six games in Colorado.
Gabriel Moreno: He’s back as Arizona’s regular catcher.
Keibert Ruiz: He’s living up to his potential by hitting .288/.328/.458 in September.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keibert Ruiz C WAS | 39% | 40% | 1% |
| Nolan Schanuel 1B LAA | 38% | 41% | 3% |
| Gabriel Moreno C ARI | 34% | 36% | 2% |
| Victor Robles CF SEA | 33% | 38% | 5% |
| Parker Meadows CF DET | 32% | 35% | 3% |
| Trevor Story SS BOS | 27% | 32% | 5% |
| Luke Raley LF SEA | 20% | 26% | 6% |
| Tommy Pham RF KC | 20% | 22% | 2% |
| Luisangel Acuna SS NYM | 16% | 24% | 8% |
| Mike Yastrzemski RF SF | 15% | 16% | 1% |
| Andrew Benintendi LF CHW | 13% | 15% | 2% |
| Jose Tena 3B WAS | 12% | 18% | 6% |
| Jose Iglesias 2B NYM | 11% | 14% | 3% |
| Otto Lopez 2B MIA | 9% | 17% | 8% |
| Jared Triolo 3B PIT | 9% | 10% | 1% |
| Miguel Rojas SS LAD | 5% | 6% | 1% |
| Nick Yorke 2B PIT | 5% | 6% | 1% |
| Hunter Goodman RF COL | 4% | 13% | 9% |
| Jonathan Aranda 1B TB | 4% | 6% | 2% |
| Pavin Smith 1B ARI | 3% | 9% | 6% |
| Nathan Lukes LF TOR | 0% | 1% | 1% |
Starters
Nick Martinez: Solid option who faces the Cubs on the road. As a starter, Martinez has a 4.11 ERA, 4.16 xFIP, 7.4 K/9, and 1.17 WHIP.
Brant Hurter: Hurter won the lottery and will face the White Sox next week. As a starter, Hurter has a 3.60 ERA (4.28 xFIP), 7.2 K/9, and 1.20 WHIP. Solid arm with an ideal matchup for …
FINAL: the number of runs we scored was not greater than the number of runs they scored
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 21, 2024
Andre Pallante: He should get a weekend start at the Giants while being solid with a 3.87 ERA, 7.1 K/9, 1.35 WHIP, and 62% GB%. The WHIP, because of the high groundball rate, might be an issue for teams fighting for that roto category.
Landon Knack: Knack is a volume play, especially for Wins, with starts against versus the Padres and at the Rockies. He should provide at least 10K if he averages 5 IP per start. The issue is that over his last eight major league starts, he’s only thrown five or more innings three times.
Tylor Megill: Megill is in the middle of a two-start week and at Milwaukee next week. While not an ideal matchup, Megill has been serviceable this season (4.08 ERA, 3.98 xFIP, 1.26 WHIP, 10.1 K/9) and is fighting for a postseason rotation spot.
Yariel Rodríguez: Faces the Marlins at home for a nice matchup. He’s showing the talent level of a low-4.00’s ERA starter.
Casey Mize: Mize faces the Rays at home in a winnable matchup. A .328 BABIP has his 1.44 WHIP and 4.36 ERA above his estimators.
Mitch Spence: A blah matchup (vs TEX) for a blah starter (4.30 ERA, 4.04 xFIP, 7.5 K/9, 1.36 WHIP).
Martín Pérez: Perez’s demand is based on this Saturday’s White Sox start rather than his matchup against the Diamondbacks (vs Kelly) next week. Since joining the Padres, Perez has been around 4.00 ERA talent.
Grant Holmes: He gets a start this Sunday and possibly one next weekend against the Royals. As a starter, he has a 4.56 ERA (3.52 xFIP), 1.61 WHIP, and 9.8 K/9. I’d watch how long he goes on Sunday to see if he can accumulate strikeouts and qualify for a Win. In his start earlier this week, he only lasted 4 IP (78 pitches). His ranking could change five spots up or down depending on the Sunday start.
Hayden Birdsong: It seems like Birdsong is lined up for two starts next week (at ARI, vs STL). Birdsong is a strikeout play (10.2 K/9) while being a ratio killer (1.39 WHIP, 5.5 BB/9, 4.74 ERA, 4.46 xFIP). Start at your own risk.
Kumar Rocker: Rocker may become a great starter, but he is borderline useless this upcoming week against Oakland. He’s averaged just 3.5 IP (72.5 pitches) and an unrosterable 1.57 WHIP (7.7 BB/9). It’s just a slim Win chance and ratio destroyer. The hope is for 6 K and some other starter should provide that.
Joey Cantillo: Should start against the Reds next week. This month, the 24-year-old lefty has a 1.10 ERA (2.14 xFIP), 12.1 K/9, and 0.73 WHIP) but a 41% Ball% (equivalent to a 4.7 BB/9). Before this month, he struggled with his command (4.3 BB/9, 7.71 ERA). He hasn’t solved the walk issue and remains unrosterable. The blowup potential is too much for me.
Bailey Falter: A loaded two-step next week against the Brewers and Yankees. I’m not sure what his managers are hoping for. It’s not going to be Wins, Strikeouts, or good ratios. Seems like an add for managers trying to tank.
Jack Kochanowicz: For now, he has a two-step next week at the White Sox and versus Texas. A desperate play since Kochanowicz is the worst pitcher I’m profiling with his 3.5 K/9 and 4.56 ERA (4.71 xFIP). Even “everyone against the White Sox” might have a limit.
Landen Roupp: I’m not sure Roupp will get a start next week. Maybe against the Cardinals on the weekend. In 10 IP as a starter, he posted a 1.80 ERA, 6.3 K/9, and 0.90 WHIP. I like his talent if starting but he can’t be of much help on the bench.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kumar Rocker P TEX | 35% | 42% | 7% |
| Martin Perez SP SD | 32% | 37% | 5% |
| Hayden Birdsong SP SF | 29% | 31% | 2% |
| Nick Martinez RP CIN | 25% | 30% | 5% |
| Luke Weaver RP NYY | 23% | 29% | 6% |
| Andre Pallante SP STL | 23% | 26% | 3% |
| Tyler Holton RP DET | 18% | 22% | 4% |
| Casey Mize SP DET | 18% | 19% | 1% |
| Landon Knack SP LAD | 14% | 19% | 5% |
| Bailey Falter SP PIT | 14% | 16% | 2% |
| Yariel Rodriguez SP TOR | 14% | 15% | 1% |
| Brant Hurter P DET | 12% | 16% | 4% |
| Tylor Megill SP NYM | 11% | 24% | 13% |
| Mitch Spence SP OAK | 11% | 14% | 3% |
| Joey Cantillo SP CLE | 5% | 9% | 4% |
| Grant Holmes RP ATL | 5% | 6% | 1% |
| Jack Kochanowicz SP LAA | 3% | 6% | 3% |
| Landen Roupp RP SF | 1% | 3% | 2% |
Relievers: Save-based ranks
Porter Hodge: Good reliever who is the closer.
Aroldis Chapman: Good reliever who is the closer.
Luke Weaver: Good reliever who is probably the closer.
Edwin Uceta: Good reliever who is part of a closer by committee.
José Quijada: Decent reliever who I believe is the closer but nobody knows.
Tyler Holton: Decent reliever who is the backup closer.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porter Hodge RP CHC | 37% | 38% | 1% |
| Aroldis Chapman RP PIT | 31% | 33% | 2% |
| Luke Weaver RP NYY | 23% | 29% | 6% |
| Tyler Holton RP DET | 18% | 22% | 4% |
| Edwin Uceta RP TB | 16% | 17% | 1% |
| Jose Quijada RP LAA | 0% | 1% | 1% |
Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.
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