Waiver Wire Targets: Week 6

I had to stop adding players and start setting my own bids, so this list will likely be incomplete as more trades happen. I think Ian Anderson is the only wallet buster of the week but I’m sure other players will go for decent prices. One item to keep in mind this week is every manager’s FAAB, especially those leading a league. In one of my leagues, the four managers ahead in the standings have $26 … total. Three at $1 and the other at $23. Some game theory can be used at this point … or at least until that absentee manager with a 100% of his FAAB left grabs everyone.

As usual, I’m going to at least cover the players in demand using CBS’s (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 by my preference grouped by starters, relievers, and hitters.

Hitters

• Brad Miller (15%): He’s cemented himself in the cleanup spot while hitting .327/.477/.571 with two homers and a steal. He is walking (22%) more than he’s striking out (17%) for the first time ever in his career.
• Jake Cronenworth (68%): His production (3 HR, 1 SB, .348 AVG) came out of nowhere. He should be universally rostered at this point.
• Jon Berti (26%): There is a ton to like here. He’s leading off. Hitting .310/.382/.414 over the last two weeks. Has eight steals on the season along with a homer.
• Sam Haggerty (7%): He’s started 10 straight games batting second with four steals. The Mariners lead the league in steals (37 with the Padres next at 30), so he may be the best and cheapest stolen base option.
• Victor Reyes (16%): He’s now led off for seven straight games with a respectable two homers, five steals, and a .283 AVG on the season.
• Yandy Diaz (44%): So far this season, Diaz’s profile doesn’t have any pizazz (2 HR, 0 SB) besides the .295 AVG. He gets a nice boost from points leagues with a .422 OBP.
• Jonathan Schoop (43%) and Willy Adames (36%): Boring but useful.
• Luis Garcia (24%): The 20-year-old has been holding his own with a .720 OPS. He almost refuses to walk and that is in line with his minor league stats. He’s provided some power, speed, and batting average so far this season (1 HR, 1 SB, .295 AVG).
• Raimel Tapia (16%): While providing no power, he’s leading off, hitting .311, and has four steals on the season. A must-start at home.
• Jose Garcia (8%): The highly-tout Reds prospect has just a handful of games under his belt. The 22-year-old has shown the ability to steal a base (15 last season in High-A) and post a decent AVG (.333 this season in spite of a 40% K%).
• Ryan Mountcastle (29%): While the lack of power is a little disappointing so far (.083 ISO), he’s decided to walk some (14% in 2020 and never over 6% in the minors). He’s been batting 6th or 7th in the Orioles lineup.
• Bobby Dalbec (6%): With Mitch Moreland traded to San Diego, Dalbec has been called up to play first base. I’d not go overboard bidding for him but in some leagues, he might be the only decent available option.
• Brandon Belt (17%): It’s tough to know if the career-highs in HR/FB% (23% in 2020 vs 11% for his career) and BABIP (.412 vs .324) are sustainable. He’s hitting the ball harder (63% vs 37%) but pitchers are feeding him more fastballs (47% vs 40%) in the strike zone (51% Zone% vs 48%).
• Jeimer Candelario (14%): He’s a boring accumulator (.298 AVG, 3 HR) batting fourth in a sub-par lineup.
• Evan Longoria (27%): He’s lowered his strikeout rate to 14% that has pushed his batting average up to .301. to go with his 4 homers. He’s streamable.
• Rowdy Tellez (13%): The beefy boy has hit six homers with a .234 AVG while starting in about half of Buffalo’s games.
• Gregory Polanco (27%): Why in the hell is a hitter with a .510 OPS being added? Pass.
• Pat Valaika (4%): He’s hit a few homers and … nothing.
• Jose Trevino (8%), Jacob Stallings (8%), Yan Gomes (13%), Chance Sisco (21%): Members of this week’s catcher carousel.

Starters

• Ian Anderson (60%): A must-add across the board with starts at Boston (Brewer) and versus Washington (Voth). This week’s wallet buster.
• Triston McKenzie (73%): In two starts, the walking bean pole has an 11.7 K/9, 1.8 HR/9, and 2.70 ERA (.158 BABIP supported). If he’s still out there, get ready to pay up. Ed. Note: nothing wrong with being a walking beanpole! 
• Elieser Hernandez (57%): He should have been added a couple of weeks ago. A 0.97 WHIP, 12.2 K/9, and 3.04 ERA.
• Michael Pineda (18%): Looks like he’s getting a Monday start after severing his suspension. Adding a changeup (12% SwStr%, 15% usage) in the second half last year helped him post a 3.04 ERA, 9.5 K/9, and 1.13 WHIP.
• Danny Duffy (44%): A legit 4.00 ERA profile with a large number of both strikeouts (10.3 K/9) and home runs (1.5 HR/9).
• Tony Gonsolin (35%): He looks like he’s back in the Dodgers rotation but that could end any day. His cost will hinge on how he throws today against Texas.
• Dane Dunning (14%): One great start so far and he’s replacing Gio González (IL) in the White Sox rotation.
• Brett Anderson (32%), Tommy Milone (15%), and Nick Margevicius (6%): I featured all three in a recent article on pitchers with ideal pitch mixes. All should be rostered in 15-team or deeper leagues with Milone likely to see a huge roster rate bump with the trade to Atlanta.
• Deivi Garcia (18%): The unknown production from the Yankee prospect puts him in the middle of this week’s adds.
• Kwang Hyun Kim 김광현 (58%): Two starts (at Reds and Cubs). His true talent is unknown with 3.8 K/9, .198 BABIP, and 1.08 ERA. The ERA could balloon if the strikeouts remain constant and the BABIP normalizes.
• Alex Young (18%): There seems to be a lot to like as seen by his 4.04 SIERA but no pitcher is going to be productive with a 2.7 HR/9.
• Chase Anderson (14%): The results have been OK (3.68 ERA, 1.43 WHIP) but his 6.1 K/9 is holding back his value. Streamer.
• Josh Fleming (7%): Who? His starts have been good enough for a 1.74 ERA with his strikeouts, walks, and home runs all below league average.
• Logan Webb (16%): Pass for this week since he’s throwing at Colorado.
• Chad Kuhl (20%): The 2.52 ERA is an illusion with the 4.0 BB/9 and 1.8 HR/9.
• Trevor Cahill(9%): I can’t get past his ineffective past to buy into an age-32 breakout (2.51 ERA). His stats might be playing up since he’s only seeing a lineup twice (at most) by averaging fewer than 4 IP per start.
• Tyler Anderson (13%): A one-run complete game gets everyone running to add him. Believe in the full-season of 4.75 ERA and 6.0 K/9.
• Tanner Roark (25%): Completely useless this season (4.91 ERA, 1.73 WHIP). Drop.

Relievers

• Taylor Williams (49%): An OK reliever with the closer’s role.
• Matt Barnes (31%): An OK reliever with the closer’s role.
• Richard Rodriguez (10%): A good reliever who may have the closer’s role.
• Daniel Bard (11%): An OK reliever with the closer’s role.
• Ty Buttrey (29%): A good reliever who may have the closer’s role.
• Jeremy Jeffress (24%): An OK reliever who may have the closer’s role.
• Emilio Pagan (38%): A good reliever who may still have the closer’s role, but likely not.
• Diego Castillo (23%): It’s Tampa, who the hell knows.
• Jose Cisnero (4%): An OK reliever who may have the closer’s role.
• James Karinchak (46%): A great reliever who is next in line for Saves.
• Jonathan Hernandez (36%): A great reliever who is next in line for Saves.
• Devin Williams (14%): A great reliever who is next in line for Saves.
• Jordan Romano (37%): On the IL.