Waiver Wire Targets: Week 2

by
April 10, 2021

Besides Tyler Naquin, no widely available players are generating the buzz for 10% or higher bids. There could be some players who slipped through the cracks last week like Nate Lowe who could go for high in a single league. Overall, it’s a week to save a little money and make some calculated adds.

In the following article, I’m going to at least cover the players in demand using CBS’s (40% or less initial ownership) 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 preference grouped by starters, relievers, and hitters.

Hitters

    • Cedric Mullins: He’s playing every day and hitting so far (.448/.484/.655) but with just 1 RBI from a home run.
    • Nate Lowe: He’s cooled down a bit but still has a .953 OPS.
    • Manuel Margot: With Kevin Kiermaier out, Margot is the Rays lone center fielder.
    • Bryan Reynolds: Steady contributor but his strikeouts are up again (22% to 27% to 30%).
    • Jonathan India: Pitchers are challenging him (72% First Strike%, 58% Zone%) and while not with a ton of power (110 Max EV), he’s generating hits (.400 AVG).
    • Michael A. Taylor: He’s got 20/20 potential with a full-time job. He could move higher if the strikeout rate (17% K%) stays down.
    • Tyler Naquin: Of all these rankings, this one could look the worst at the season’s end. Or even the end of the month. His OPS is more than twice what it was last year (1.444 vs .632).
    • Luis Arraez: Has been leading off against right-handed starters and should be getting third base elligibility sone (4 games). Also he’s hitting 1.033 OPS.
    • Randal Grichuk: He’s tough to rank. I love his short-term value with Springer hurt and Tellez not hitting. I just worry he could end up back in a part-time role.
    • Colin Moran: He is having a decent start to the season (.280/.379/.600) so far in Pittsburgh.
    • Travis Shaw: He’s playing full-time and hitting (.316/.350/.526)
    • Akil Baddoo: While he’s hit great (1.429 OPS), it has been just 14 PA.
    • Yermín Mercedes: A .591 BABIP in 29 career MLB plate appearances.
    • Kyle Isbel: I’m a fan but I’m a little worried about his playing time once Raul Mondesi returns from the IL. The 48% K% is a little disturbing.
    • Isiah Kiner-Falefa: He’s quailified at two positions and can steal a few bases. That’s about it.
    • Ha-seong Kim 김하성: With Tatis out for while, Kim has taken over the shortstop duties for San Diego.
    • Garrett Hampson: Four steals with a .667 OPS (all but one game in Denver).
    • Jazz Chisholm: Two steals so far but could be a drain in AVG leagues (.176 AVG vs .318 OBP).
    • Joey Wendle: Continues to provide some batting average help and is playing a decent amount of the time (five of seven games).
    • Asdrúbal Cabrera and Marwin Gonzalez: They are hitting OK and qualified at a few positions.
    • Phillip Evans: He’s now hitting the ball hard (12% Barrel%) with improving plate discipline (Career 20% K%, 10% in 2021).
    • Andrelton Simmons: On fire (.450/.577/.600).
    • Donovan Solano: 0% BB%, 30% K%, .474 BABIP. He’s nice and shiny for now.
    • Miguel Rojas: The light-hitting shortstop has already stolen a couple of bases.
    • Jurickson Profar: He’s playing but doing nothing special.
    • Yandy Díaz: He’s getting a little more air under the ball (44% GB% in 2021, 55% in his career) but it’s not showing up in the results (.091 ISO).
    • David Dahl: 1 RBI in 28 PA.
    • Garrett Cooper: Replacement level first baseman.
    • Evan Longoria: The replacement level third baseman.
    • Willians Astudillo: He’s hitting (1.128 OPS) and playing everywhere (catcher, second base, third base).
    • Omar Narváez, Pedro Severino, Max Stassi, Wilson Ramos, Tucker Barnhart, Tyler Stephenson, Dom Nunez, Jose Trevino, Victor Caratini: Replacement level catchers.
    • Adam Frazier: A replacement level outfielder and second baseman all rolled into one.
    • Maikel Franco: Not hitting this season (.483 OPS) to continue a career-long tradition.
    • Josh Fuentes: Questionable talent with a 35% K% and .538 OPS after several games in Colorado.
    • Zach McKinstry: Has started five of eight games with the Dodgers dealing with a couple of injuries. He’s an AVG only hitter with maybe 10 HR upside.
    • Nomar Mazara: Why is he being added?
    • Chris Owings: On the IL (thumb).
    • Nolan Jones: Jones should see time in the majors soon.
    • Jo Adell: I think he’ll need to hit in AAA before the team calls him up again.
    • Julio Rodriguez, CJ Abrams, Jasson Dominguez, Marco Luciano, Spencer Torkelson, J.J. Bleday, and Riley Greene : They are just too far away to be a re-draft option.
CBS Hitter Ownership Changes
Name Previous Own% Current Own% Jump
Nate Lowe 1B  TEX 22% 72% 50%
Yermin Mercedes DH  CHW 5% 69% 64%
Jonathan India 2B  CIN 35% 68% 33%
Garrett Hampson CF  COL 37% 60% 23%
Akil Baddoo LF  DET 10% 60% 50%
Manuel Margot CF  TB 39% 53% 14%
Omar Narvaez C  MIL 37% 51% 14%
Isiah Kiner-Falefa SS  TEX 22% 48% 26%
David Dahl LF  TEX 39% 46% 7%
Evan Longoria 3B  SF 21% 44% 23%
Michael Taylor CF  KC 13% 44% 31%
Miguel Rojas SS  MIA 38% 43% 5%
Jazz Chisholm 2B  MIA 34% 42% 8%
Tyler Naquin LF  CIN 1% 41% 40%
Randal Grichuk CF  TOR 29% 40% 11%
Luis Arraez 3B  MIN 26% 40% 14%
Ha-seong Kim SS  SD 33% 39% 6%
Bryan Reynolds LF  PIT 35% 36% 1%
Cedric Mullins CF  BAL 7% 35% 28%
Spencer Torkelson 3B  DET 32% 33% 1%
Andrelton Simmons SS  MIN 16% 32% 16%
Jo Adell RF  LAA 30% 31% 1%
Julio Rodriguez RF  SEA 30% 31% 1%
Pedro Severino C  BAL 30% 31% 1%
Max Stassi C  LAA 27% 29% 2%
Wilson Ramos C  DET 27% 29% 2%
Joey Wendle 3B  TB 17% 29% 12%
Colin Moran 1B  PIT 18% 28% 10%
Maikel Franco 3B  BAL 26% 27% 1%
C.J. Abrams SS  SD 22% 23% 1%
Jasson Dominguez CF  NYY 20% 21% 1%
Adam Frazier 2B  PIT 20% 21% 1%
Donovan Solano 2B  SF 12% 21% 9%
Garrett Cooper RF  MIA 19% 20% 1%
Marco Luciano SS  SF 19% 20% 1%
Jurickson Profar LF  SD 17% 20% 3%
Kyle Isbel RF  KC 10% 20% 10%
Josh Fuentes 3B  COL 18% 19% 1%
J.J. Bleday RF  MIA 16% 17% 1%
Riley Greene RF  DET 14% 15% 1%
Nolan Jones 3B  CLE 13% 14% 1%
Willians Astudillo 3B  MIN 11% 13% 2%
Tucker Barnhart C  CIN 8% 13% 5%
Asdrubal Cabrera 3B  ARI 7% 11% 4%
Chris Owings 2B  COL 4% 11% 7%
Tyler Stephenson C  CIN 7% 10% 3%
Marwin Gonzalez 1B  BOS 7% 9% 2%
Yandy Diaz 1B  TB 7% 9% 2%
Dom Nunez C  COL 6% 9% 3%
Nomar Mazara RF  DET 5% 9% 4%
Jose Trevino C  TEX 6% 8% 2%
Travis Shaw 3B  MIL 5% 8% 3%
Victor Caratini C  SD 5% 7% 2%
Zach McKinstry RF  LAD 2% 7% 5%
Phillip Evans 3B  PIT 1% 5% 4%

Starters

    • Dane Dunning: He relies on his fastball a little too much for me (77%) but a must-add on all leagues.
    • Matt Shoemaker: With a career 3.83 ERA, start him until he breaks.
    • J.A. Happ: A boring consistent play who will be helped from the deadened ball.
    • Nick Pivetta: I feel like I’ve made this call before, but he seems to be a different pitcher with Boston.
    • Alex Cobb: An acceptably boring production. And he’s out of Baltimore.
    • Johnny Cueto: I’m surprised by my rankings but he’s got the walks back under control (2.5 BB/9).
    • Chris Flexen 플렉센: His first start was good after coming back from the KBO. I just wish he wasn’t part of the Mariners six-man rotation.
    • Wade Miley: He’s been decent in two of the last three seasons and is off to nice start this season.
    • Adrian Houser: Another pitcher who is sucking me back in. It’s tough to allow too many runs with a ~60% GB%.
    • Jeff Hoffman: Out of Colorado and added a slider (19% SwStr%).
    • Adrian Morejon: In the Padres rotation with a decent career strikeout rate (10.3 K/9) but gives up a ton of home runs (2.9 HR/9).
    • Adbert Alzolay: Struggled with homers and walks in his first start. Bench, for now, to see if he rebounds.
    • José De León: He kept the walks under control (3.6 BB/9, 6.8 BB/9 for his career).
    • Jordan Lyles: Some interesting changes with a faster fastball and dropping a curve for a slider. Waiting for start #2.
    • Huascar Ynoa: A 96-mph fastball and 53% GB%. I’m intrigued.
    • Jakob Junis: He’s added a cutter and has looked great so far this season (0.00 ERA. 0.71 WHIP).
    • Matt Harvey: This ranking feels weird but he’s throwing strikes (1.9 BB/9) and generating groundballs (55% GB%).
    • Tyler Anderson: He’s throwing fewer fastballs (47% to 41%) and throwing his cutter more. His swinging-strike rate is at 18%
    • JT Brubaker: I’m not sure he’s a good pitcher but I know the ones I ranked below him aren’t.
    • Trevor Williams: He just does what he does which isn’t bad or good.
    • David Peterson: The long ball has hurt him this year (4.5 HR/9), but still a boring consistent play.
    • Taylor Widener: The results have been good so far (2.45 ERA, 1.18 WHIP), but I’m not sold him being a good or even average pitcher.
    • Daniel Ponce de Leon: OK so far. The key for a breakout will be keeping the walk low.
    • Bruce Zimmermann: Decent streaming option when the match-up warrants it.
    • Jon Gray: The strikeouts are back (9.3 K/9 vs 5.1 K/9) and he’s avoided the home run.
    • Aaron Sanchez: I expect a ton of love going into a two-start week, but with his fastball down 3 mph, I’m a little leery.
    • Nick Neidert: I’m not sure who he is but he’s struggled in the majors the last two seasons with a strikeout and walk rate at 5.0.
    • Danny Duffy: I can barely recommend a pitcher with a 4.68 ERA from 2018 to 2020.
    • Anthony DeSclafani: He’s just walking too many batters compared to his strikeouts.
    • Logan Gilbert, Matt Manning, Josiah Gray: Prospect who will likely to be called up this season.
    • Chase Anderson: Maybe I will recommend streaming him at some point. Just not now.
    • Tanner Roark: He had a good season back in 2016.
    • John Gant: Two start week versus Strasburg and Nola. Pass.
    • Michael Lorenzen: On IL, shoulder.
    • Julio Teheran: On IL, shoulder.
    • Luke Weaver: 2019 looks to be his career-best season. A career 4.72 ERA says it all.
    • Daniel Lynch, Grayson Rodriguez, Alek Manoah, and Jared Shuster: A prospect with a slim chance to be called up this season.
    • Mike Clevinger and Justin Verlander: Hurt and out for the 2021 season.
CBS Starter Ownership Changes
Name Previous Own% Current Own% Jump
Matt Shoemaker SP  MIN 36% 55% 19%
J.A. Happ SP  MIN 31% 36% 5%
David Peterson SP  NYM 31% 35% 4%
Dane Dunning SP  TEX 23% 34% 11%
Adbert Alzolay SP  CHC 23% 29% 6%
Jon Gray SP  COL 15% 29% 14%
Trevor Williams SP  CHC 16% 27% 11%
Wade Miley SP  CIN 6% 27% 21%
Logan Gilbert RP  SEA 24% 26% 2%
Johnny Cueto SP  SF 18% 26% 8%
Matt Manning SP  DET 23% 24% 1%
Taylor Widener SP  ARI 6% 24% 18%
Mike Clevinger SP  SD 21% 22% 1%
Danny Duffy SP  KC 7% 19% 12%
Justin Verlander SP  HOU 16% 17% 1%
Adrian Morejon SP  SD 13% 17% 4%
Adrian Morejon SP  SD 13% 17% 4%
Chris Flexen RP  SEA 4% 17% 13%
Anthony DeSclafani SP  SF 12% 15% 3%
Daniel Lynch RP  KC 13% 14% 1%
Grayson Rodriguez RP  BAL 13% 14% 1%
Luke Weaver SP  ARI 13% 14% 1%
Nick Pivetta SP  BOS 9% 13% 4%
Alek Manoah SP  TOR 11% 12% 1%
Josiah Gray RP  LAD 10% 11% 1%
Michael Lorenzen RP  CIN 10% 11% 1%
Julio Teheran SP  DET 7% 11% 4%
Adrian Houser SP  MIL 8% 9% 1%
Aaron Sanchez SP  SF 5% 8% 3%
Daniel Ponce de Leon SP  STL 4% 7% 3%
Alex Cobb SP  LAA 4% 7% 3%
Bruce Zimmermann SP  BAL 3% 7% 4%
Jake Junis RP  KC 1% 7% 6%
Huascar Ynoa SP  ATL 1% 7% 6%
J.T. Brubaker SP  PIT 5% 6% 1%
Jordan Lyles SP  TEX 2% 6% 4%
Jeff Hoffman SP  CIN 1% 6% 5%
Matt Harvey SP  BAL 3% 4% 1%
Chase Anderson SP  PHI 3% 4% 1%
Tanner Roark SP  TOR 3% 4% 1%
Tyler Anderson SP  PIT 2% 3% 1%
Jared Shuster SP  ATL 2% 3% 1%
Nick Neidert SP  MIA 2% 3% 1%
Brandon Bielak RP  HOU 1% 3% 2%

Closers: Ranked of potential for accumulating Saves over the entire season

CBS Starter Ownership Changes
Name Previous Own% Current Own% Jump
Julian Merryweather RP  TOR 8% 67% 59%
Ian Kennedy RP  TEX 33% 44% 11%
Cesar Valdez RP  BAL 7% 43% 36%
Giovanny Gallegos RP  STL 35% 37% 2%
Gregory Soto RP  DET 34% 35% 1%
Jake Diekman RP  OAK 28% 29% 1%
Lucas Sims RP  CIN 25% 27% 2%
Emmanuel Clase RP  CLE 17% 26% 9%
Luis Patino RP  TB 19% 20% 1%
Garrett Crochet RP  CHW 18% 20% 2%
Corey Knebel RP  LAD 3% 20% 17%
Yimi Garcia RP  MIA 16% 18% 2%
Chad Green RP  NYY 16% 17% 1%
Jose Alvarado RP  PHI 12% 14% 2%
Daniel Hudson RP  WAS 12% 14% 2%
Lou Trivino RP  OAK 1% 14% 13%
John Gant SP  STL 6% 12% 6%
Stefan Crichton RP  ARI 9% 11% 2%
Jose De Leon SP  CIN 5% 11% 6%
Wade Davis RP  KC 5% 9% 4%
Bryan Garcia RP  DET 6% 8% 2%
Ryan Weathers RP  SD 5% 7% 2%
Jonathan Loaisiga RP  NYY 4% 7% 3%
Mike Mayers RP  LAA 4% 7% 3%
Keone Kela RP  SD 5% 6% 1%
Scott Barlow RP  KC 4% 6% 2%
Sean Doolittle RP  CIN 4% 6% 2%
Sergio Romo RP  OAK 4% 6% 2%
Chris Devenski RP  ARI 0% 6% 6%
Chris Rodriguez RP  LAA 4% 5% 1%
Tyler Rogers RP  SF 3% 5% 2%
David Bednar RP  PIT 3% 4% 1%
A.J. Minter RP  ATL 3% 4% 1%
Connor Brogdon RP  PHI 2% 4% 2%
Hansel Robles RP  MIN 2% 3% 1%
Jesse Hahn RP  KC 2% 3% 1%
Brandon Bielak RP  HOU 1% 3% 2%
Kendall Graveman RP  SEA 1% 3% 2%
Kevin Ginkel RP  ARI 1% 3% 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.

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vft
3 years ago

You don’t think there’s something more than just replacement level with Longo after looking at his statcast page?

I mean he is who he is, but replacement level feels like it undersells what he could potentially do if he keeps hitting the ball hard

2
cartermember
3 years ago
Reply to  vft

I agree with you to an extent, and that ballpark played up a lot last year, but it still isn’t a good hitters park and most those guys for SF have good savant numbers.

-2