Waiver Wire Report (Week 25)
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 for this week: My weekend is packed so I won’t be able to go into detail, if anything at all, on each player. The players are ranked according to my preference and I ended up getting more added than I expected.
Batters
Jordan Lawlar: It sucks that he is batting eighth, but at least he in the majors contributing after hitting for a combined .278/.378/.496 with 20 HR and 36 SB in the minors this year.
Ronny Mauricio: Hitting fine (.773 OPS) with 3 SB in 22 PA.
Davis Schneider: Insane start to his career with a .526 BABIP and .478 ISO. He is the king of the pulled flyball (51% Pull, 18% GB%).
Liover Peguero: Balanced profile of 6 HR, 4 SB, and a .252 AVG.
Evan Carter: Hit ninth in his first game after being promoted. I wonder how much he’ll play once Adolis García comes off the IL.
Nelson Velázquez, Hunter Goodman, DJ Stewart, Ryan Noda: Four power-only bats who are readily available.
Gabriel Arias: Plays.
Michael Brantley: Just five starts in nine games.
Kyren Paris: Watch to see if/how Paris and Neto share time when Neto comes off the IL.
Nick Loftin: Started five straight games all over the infield but might head to the bench with Nick Pratto coming off the IL.
Donovan Solano: Not going to play much with Alex Kirilloff off the IL.
Dominic Canzone and Mike Ford: Both are probably drops in weekly leagues with just three lefties on the schedule next week.
Lenyn Sosa: He was starting every day but now about half of the time.
David Hamilton: Optioned back to the minors with his .438 OPS.
Luis Rengifo: Out for the season.
Catchers
Alejandro Kirk: Will see more time with Danny Jansen out for the season.
Austin Wells: Started in five of seven games since being promoted but with only a .376 OPS so far.
Hitting Prospects
Brooks Lee: Over two minor league levels (AA and AAA), the 22-year-old hit .285/.358/.469 with 14 HR and 7 SB in 519 PA.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luis Rengifo 2B LAA | 40% | 49% | 9% |
| Alejandro Kirk C TOR | 39% | 42% | 3% |
| Gabriel Moreno C ARI | 34% | 40% | 6% |
| Davis Schneider 2B TOR | 33% | 57% | 24% |
| Ronny Mauricio 2B NYM | 32% | 44% | 12% |
| Jordan Lawlar SS ARI | 27% | 39% | 12% |
| Mark Canha DH MIL | 22% | 28% | 6% |
| Ramon Laureano RF CLE | 22% | 25% | 3% |
| Yan Gomes C CHC | 19% | 20% | 1% |
| Evan Carter CF TEX | 18% | 24% | 6% |
| Bo Naylor C CLE | 17% | 21% | 4% |
| Hunter Goodman 1B COL | 15% | 19% | 4% |
| Michael Brantley LF HOU | 14% | 18% | 4% |
| Brooks Lee SS MIN | 12% | 13% | 1% |
| Ryan Noda 1B OAK | 11% | 12% | 1% |
| DJ Stewart RF NYM | 9% | 15% | 6% |
| Austin Wells C NYY | 9% | 11% | 2% |
| Liover Peguero 2B PIT | 8% | 10% | 2% |
| Dominic Canzone LF SEA | 5% | 8% | 3% |
| Nelson Velazquez RF KC | 4% | 12% | 8% |
| Gabriel Arias SS CLE | 4% | 8% | 4% |
| Donovan Solano 1B MIN | 3% | 5% | 2% |
| Mike Ford DH SEA | 2% | 3% | 1% |
| Lenyn Sosa 2B CHW | 2% | 3% | 1% |
| Kyren Paris SS LAA | 1% | 2% | 1% |
| David Hamilton SS BOS | 1% | 2% | 1% |
| Nick Loftin 3B KC | 1% | 2% | 1% |
Starting Pitchers
Griffin Canning: He’s good.
Ryan Pepiot: Fantasy managers have to assume Pepiot will be in the Dodgers rotation and take advantage of his talent (0.86 ERA, 3.88 xFIP, 0.52 WHIP, 7.3 K/9)
Michael King: I’m not so high on King so much as the other options are sh … not good.
Reese Olson: Steady results (4.50 ERA, 4.01 xFIP, 8.8 K/9, and 1.15 WHIP).
Zack Thompson: Continues to shove (3.09 ERA, 9.6 K/9, and 1.22 WHIP) since adding a slider (21% SwStr%).
Andre Jackson: It seemed like he had the walks under control but in his last start he walked five (39% Ball%, equivalent to 10% BB%) in 4.1 IP.
Tylor Megill: Over his last four starts, he has a 10.3 K/9, 3.86 ERA, and 1.52 WHIP (3.9 BB/9). The walks are an issue. While his velocity was up, it’s now trending downward. He is now throwing his slider (15% SwStr%) 24% of the time
Edward Cabrera: WHIP killer (6.0 BB/9) but he strikes guys out (11.2 K/9).
Connor Phillips: He made one major league appearance (4.2 IP, 7 K, 5 ER) with several pitchers on the COVID-19 IL. Across two minor league levels (AA and AAA), he posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 13.2 K/9.
John Means: Unknow role and talent when he returns from the IL.
From Brandon Hyde:
– Still not sure what role John Means will fill when he’s back.
– The six-man rotation has worked as intended, but it’s possible they move away from it in the coming weeks as the postseason approaches.
– Grayson Rodriguez has handled his workload well— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) September 5, 2023
Sean Manaea: Multi-inning middle reliever who doesn’t help or hurt a team.
Zach Davies: After his start against the road Rockies, he has a two-step next week against the Mets and Cubs.
Emmet Sheehan: He might be in the Dodgers rotation, he might not be. I’m not sure it matters since ERA and ERA estimators are all north of 5.00 along with a 1.33 WHIP (4.2 BB/9).
Jose Quintana, Ken Waldichuk, Cal Quantrill, Jesse Scholtens, Touki Toussaint: I can’t recommend any of these guys. Find a middle reliever instead.
Darius Vines: While he’s been acceptable in two appearances (8 IP, 7 K, 3 ER), he’s not in Atlanta’s rotation.
Bryan Hoeing: Hoeing was the follower on Wednesday where he got lit up for 3 ER in just 1 IP. No idea what is his role going forward.
Matt Manning: Out for the season.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Griffin Canning SP LAA | 39% | 45% | 6% |
| Edward Cabrera SP MIA | 36% | 41% | 5% |
| Ryan Pepiot RP LAD | 34% | 46% | 12% |
| Matt Manning SP DET | 32% | 35% | 3% |
| Jose Quintana SP NYM | 31% | 52% | 21% |
| Michael King RP NYY | 26% | 32% | 6% |
| John Means SP BAL | 25% | 34% | 9% |
| Emmet Sheehan SP LAD | 23% | 30% | 7% |
| Cal Quantrill SP CLE | 22% | 23% | 1% |
| Sean Manaea RP SF | 19% | 21% | 2% |
| Reese Olson SP DET | 18% | 21% | 3% |
| Darius Vines SP ATL | 14% | 18% | 4% |
| Tylor Megill SP NYM | 12% | 14% | 2% |
| Connor Phillips RP CIN | 11% | 12% | 1% |
| Jesse Scholtens P CHW | 8% | 13% | 5% |
| Zack Thompson RP STL | 8% | 10% | 2% |
| Ken Waldichuk SP OAK | 8% | 9% | 1% |
| Touki Toussaint SP CHW | 5% | 7% | 2% |
| Zach Davies SP ARI | 3% | 5% | 2% |
| Andre Jackson RP PIT | 2% | 4% | 2% |
| Bryan Hoeing RP MIA | 0% | 1% | 1% |
Relievers: Saves-based ranks
Tanner Scott: Good reliever who is the closer.
Trevor May: Below-average reliever who is the closer.
Tyler Kinley: Below-average reliever who might have been given the closer’s role.
Adam Ottavino: Below-average reliever who seems to be sharing the closer’s role.
José Leclerc: Below-average reliever who has a chance to get Saves in a shaky bullpen.
Brusdar Graterol: Great reliever who is the backup closer.
Robert Stephenson: Good reliever who might be the backup closer, it’s Tampa so who knows?
Julian Merryweather: Good reliever who is a couple steps from closing and a robot’s mistress.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanner Scott RP MIA | 37% | 46% | 9% |
| Brusdar Graterol RP LAD | 23% | 25% | 2% |
| Trevor May RP OAK | 21% | 27% | 6% |
| Adam Ottavino RP NYM | 19% | 20% | 1% |
| Jose Leclerc RP TEX | 11% | 12% | 1% |
| Julian Merryweather RP CHC | 3% | 5% | 2% |
| Robert Stephenson RP TB | 1% | 4% | 3% |
| Tyler Kinley RP COL | 0% | 2% | 2% |
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.
Catcher L Campusano (SDP) is a guy to consider if you need help behind the plate. He’s hit well in limited PA this year, and should be their main C the rest of the way with Sanchez out.