Waiver Wire & FAAB Report (Week 12)
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
Ha-Seong Kim 김하성: Productive (5 HR, 11 SB, .246 AVG) bat who is qualified at three positions.
Nolan Jones: I’m ready to be disappointed when the Rockies start messing with Jones’s playing time, but I’m buying in. In just 47 PA, he has 2 HR, 4 SB, and hitting a .349 AVG (.520 BABIP, 34% K%).
Luke Raley: While he’s been great at the plate (.934 OPS, 11 HR, 7 SB), he only starts against most righties. Tampa is only scheduled to face four righties next week.
Joey Wiemer: He’s playing every day while hitting .228/.297/.418 with 8 HR and 10 SB.
Jack Suwinski: While he’s been a nice source of power (12 HR) and some speed (6 SB), he’s only starting against righties (.962 OPS vs RHP .579 OPS vs LHP).
Willi Castro: With several injuries (e.g. Buxton and Polanco) on the Twins, Castro (.709 OPS, 5 HR 11 SB) continues to get full-time at-bats (seven straight starts).
Nick Pratto: He’s been on fire over the last two weeks (.954 OPS, 2 HR), and is now leading off every day.
Ji Hwan Bae: While Bae has been a great source of speed (19 SB), he’s starting to sit more (started in four of the last six). Likely just a roto-only play.
Leody Taveras: Even though he is hitting (.304/.359/.476, 5 HR, 5 SB), he has only started in three of the last five games.
Luis Garcia: Batting second while hitting .275/.312/.390 with 5 HR and 3 SB.
Jesús Sánchez: He (6 HR, 3 SB, .294 AVG) continues to play against and crush righties (career .599 OPS vs LHP, .785 OPS vs RHP). This next week, Miami faces five righties (3/2).
Jeimer Candelario: He’s been fine (7 HR, .250 AVG) with a tough stretch next week (@HOU, vs MIA).
Ryan Noda: Steady contributor (7 HR, 2 HR, .249 AVG) who is readily available. The only issue is a 33% K%.
Emmanuel Rivera: Rivera’s fantasy value has probably jumped the most this past week. He’s now playing every day and to accommodate him, he’s playing some first base (5 games so far). The 27-year-old rarely strikes out (11% K%) and might have a little power in the tank (5 Barrels, 1 HR).
Will Brennan: He has started eight straight games while hitting .270/.309/.408 with 4 HR and 5 SB.
Jake Bauers: He has hit fifth for the Yankees over the last few days with .237/.333/.513 with 5 HR in 90 PA. I’m worried about his playing time if the rest of the Yankees get healthy.
Aaron Hicks: Since signing with the Orioles, he has started in center field while crushing everything in site (.364/.481/.591, 1 HR, 1 SB).
Eddie Rosario: Strong side platoon bat (8 HR, 1 SB, .258 AVG) with the Braves facing six of seven righties next week.
Ezequiel Tovar: He’s unstartable this upcoming week with seven road games (.660 road OPC, .714 home OPS). The interest level increases the next week with three games at Cincinnati and then nine straight home games.
Josh Donaldson: He’s only hitting for power (5 HR) and nothing else (.237 OBP, 34% K%).
Corey Julks: Starts about two-thirds of the time while hitting .262/.282/.402 with 5 HR and 8 SB. He might see more time if he improved on his 47/5 K/BB.
Kody Clemens: He (.269 AVG, 4 HR, 0 SB) is starting most games at first base with Alec Bohm on the IL.
Jonny DeLuca: He was hitting for a combined .292/.378/.574 with 14 HR and 12 SB in the minors but is now on the short side of a major league platoon.
Jo Adell: On the short side of a major league platoon (4 PA so far) after hitting .278/.365/.593 with 18 HR and 4 SB in AAA.
Luken Baker: Baker was crushing AAA pitching (.313/.434/.641, 18 HR) but is on a short side of a platoon in the majors.
Catchers
Mitch Garver: In leagues where Garver has catcher eligibility (5 games), he is a must add. While he’s striking out a lot (36% K%), he’s batting .282/.364/.564 with 3 HR.
Gary Sánchez: He’s been amazing with the Padres (1.145 OPS, 5 HR, 27% K%).
Patrick Bailey: Starting most of the time and continues to hit (.848 OPS, 2 HR).
Miguel Amaya: He’s (.793 OPS) started in five of the last six games (3 at DH)
Yainer Diaz: Starting a bit more (started in four of the last six games) and hitting while hitting a respectable .286/.400/.393.
Hitting Prospects
Colton Cowser: In AAA, he is hitting .336/.482/.570 with 8 HR and 5 SB.
Ronny Mauricio: In AAA, he is hitting .322/.363/.533 with 8 HR and 9 SB.
CBS Hitter Rostership Rates Name Previous Roster% Current Roster% Change Ji-Hwan Bae CF PIT 40% 42% 2% Jack Suwinski CF PIT 39% 41% 2% Ezequiel Tovar SS COL 39% 41% 2% Ha-seong Kim 2B SD 35% 43% 8% Jeimer Candelario 3B WAS 29% 33% 4% Eddie Rosario LF ATL 27% 38% 11% Nick Pratto 1B KC 27% 28% 1% Luke Raley 1B TB 24% 36% 12% Willi Castro LF MIN 24% 34% 10% Nolan Jones RF COL 23% 35% 12% Luis Garcia 2B WAS 23% 27% 4% Leody Taveras CF TEX 23% 24% 1% Colton Cowser CF BAL 22% 27% 5% Mitch Garver DH TEX 21% 27% 6% Ronny Mauricio SS NYM 20% 22% 2% Joey Wiemer CF MIL 13% 30% 17% Josh Donaldson 3B NYY 13% 15% 2% Jesus Sanchez RF MIA 10% 22% 12% Jo Adell RF LAA 10% 16% 6% Patrick Bailey C SF 9% 10% 1% Ryan Noda 1B OAK 7% 13% 6% Gary Sanchez C SD 6% 25% 19% Corey Julks LF HOU 6% 9% 3% Will Brennan RF CLE 4% 8% 4% Kody Clemens 1B PHI 3% 5% 2% Yainer Diaz C HOU 3% 4% 1% Jake Bauers LF NYY 2% 5% 3% Jonny DeLuca CF LAD 2% 5% 3% Miguel Amaya C CHC 2% 3% 1% Luken Baker 1B STL 1% 5% 4% Emmanuel Rivera 3B ARI 1% 3% 2% Aaron Hicks CF BAL 1% 2% 1%
Starting Pitchers
Ben Lively 라이블리: He has been home run prone (2.0 HR/9) but his 19% K%-BB% ranks would rank 22nd among qualified starters.
Clarke Schmidt: He has been hit around this year (.351 BABIP, 1.5 HR/9), but his 9.6 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 are respectable and point to a sub-4.00 ERA.
Kutter Crawford: I’m all in with Crawford where available. He legitimately looks to be a sub-4.00 ERA arm with four legit pitches (needs to dump the curve). While his strikeouts (8.4 K/9) aren’t amazing, the rest of the profile is solid through 36 IP.
Reese Olson: The 23-year-old has been great in his two appearances (0.70 WHIP, 2.70 ERA) with about one point of ERA regression expected. A 3.50 ERA would still be great in today’s run environment. The big key is to keep an eye on his walks (5.4 BB/9 in AAA, 1.8 BB/9 in the majors). His arsenal includes two 95-mph fastballs, slider (19% SwStr%), and change (27% SwStr%).
Tarik Skubal: Skubal has made two rehab (elbow) starts throwing 3 IP (46 pitches) in his last start while averaging 96 mph on his fastball. Last season he averaged 94.4 mph on his fastball.
AJ Smith-Shawver: While Shawver hasn’t allowed a run yet, he’s not missing many bats (5.9 K/9, 6% SwStr%) and walking quite a few guys (3.5 BB/9, 5.42 xFIP). As a starter, he threw his fastball 57% but it was only at 92 mph (95 mph as a reliever). He’s going to be relying on his slider and curve to get swings-and-misses. Pitching Bot hated the performance and projects him as a 7.51 ERA arm. His Stuff+ numbers were just as bad with a 66 Stuff+ on the fastball and a 82 Pitching+. There are many people I respect who are really high on him, especially after his shutout. I’ll find out if I’m wrong but it won’t be on my roster.
Andrew Abbott: He didn’t allow any earned runs in his first two starts but has walked seven batters over 11 innings. He’s been lucky to not allow a home run with just 27% GB%. In his first start, he threw his 92.9 mph fastball 61% of the time. It was just an 8% SwStr%. PitchBot saw his curve as the only above-average pitch and gave him an overall 5.24 ERA grade. The Stuff+ model was no different with a 94 Pitching+ grade.
Jaime Barría: While his 1.85 ERA will regress upward, all of his ERA estimators have him as a sub-4.00 ERA talent. A nice arm who is widely available.
Ranger Suárez: While he’s generating a decent number of groundballs (51%), too many of them are going for hits (.344 BABIP) and his 4.70 ERA is over a run higher than this 3.46 xFIP.
Griffin Canning: A fine 4.25 ERA talent who can be streamed against weaker opponents.
Bryan Woo: I was scared off by his 27.00 ERA and 4.00 WHIP after his first start. Then he comes back in his next start going 4 IP with 7 K, 2 ER, and 1 BB. The biggest issue for him getting hit around is that he throws in fastballs a combined 80% of the time. I don’t care how good someone’s fastball is, he needs to find some kind of balance.
Zack Greinke: Greinke has been fine this season (4.59 ERA, 4.01 xFIP, 1.13 WHIP) and has a nice two-step coming up (vs CIN, vs LAA).
JP Sears: Sears is finishing a two-start week. He’s been serviceable this season (4.20 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 8.4 K/9), but he has yet to get a Win.
J.P. Sears is the only starter in MLB history to throw over 60 IP of sub-4.25 ERA ball and not have a Win. — Jeff Zimmerman (@jeffwzimmerman) June 10, 2023
Mike Mayers: While he’s being hit around (.360 BABIP), there are some positive traits like a 47% GB% and 8.3 K/9. The 3.3 BB/9 is a little too high for his limited strikeouts. While the Royals are complete garbage, he still might be worth a stream against the right matchup.
Hayden Wesneski: He projects to be a 4.50 to 4.75 ERA pitcher. The deal is that last season when he had a 9.0 K/9, he focused on limiting the use of his fastballs (48% vs 52% usage). Additionally, the increase usage is with his four-seamer, not his sinker, and his groundball rate has dropped from 47% to 37%. I believe there is a pitch combination that would work for him but I’m not sure what it is for sure.
Adrian Houser: He continues to keep the ball on the ground (51% GB%) and limit walks (2.8 BB/9) but too many of the balls are getting through (.347 BABIP) and this has inflated his WHIP (1.56) and ERA (4.33).
Jameson Taillon: He is going with the conbustable combination of too many walks (3.2 BB/9) and home runs (1.5 HR/9, 31% GB%). While he probably doesn’t deserve a 7.02 ERA, his ERA estimators are up at 5.00.
Brandon Bielak: I know the 3.35 ERA is enticing, but everything else in his profile points to him being a 4.50 ERA pitcher … at best. His 1.49 WHIP is a category killer. He is getting hit around (.324 BABIP, 1.7 HR/9) by throwing his 92 mph fastballs over 50% of the time. He has a career 4.64 ERA for a reason.
Yonny Chirinos: He’s a wizard with no reasonable explanation for how he continuously beats his ERA estimators (career 3.42 ERA, 4.14 FIP, 4.28 xFIP), especially with just a 3.9 K/9 this season. He doesn’t walk anyone so he stays in games, but I can’t get past the 5.47 SIERA. He is not the pitcher I will take a chance on.
Kyle Hendricks: An 87-mph fastball and ERA estimators nearing 5.00 has me with zero interest in Hendricks. There is no magic left. Note: I wrote the review before the near no-hitter. It was not close to a dominating performance with just 3 K over 8 IP. Before the start, I had him after Tommy Herny but I moved him up a few spots.
Michael Grove: I thought Grove might be a nice sleeper with a 94-mph fastball and his slider (19% SwStr%) and curve (17% SwStr%) coming into the season. The problem is that his fastball never misses bats (3% SwStr%) and his curve has disappeared (2% SwStr%). He’s trying to get by with just his slider (21% SwStr%) but he is just getting hit around (1.4 HR/9, .359 BABIP).
Julio Teheran: Simply a streamer. He is barely walking anyone (1.0 BB/9) and suppressing hits (.235 BABIP) … again (career .268 BABIP).
Tommy Henry: Henry was set up for a two-step at Washington and Detroit. His second game got pushed back to Monday so now he is lined up for a two-step against Philadelphia and Cleveland. I have Henry’s talent around a 5.00 ERA.
Tyler Anderson: There is no reason to be rostering Anderson right now with his fastball down 1 mph, 4.4 BB/9, and 5.99 xFIP (5.62 ERA). Drop for a middle reliever.
Zach Davies: He is coming into a two-start week and I can’t find anything positive to hang my hat on. His 7.9 K/9 isn’t the issue, it’s the 3.6 BB/9 leading to a 1.44 WHIP. Additionally, he throws a 90 mph fastball over 50% of the time. No wonder he has a .324 BABIP.
Randy Vásquez: Demoted by to AAA.
Pitching Prospects
Gavin Williams: In the minors this year, he has a 2.28 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 12.4 K/9 over 55 IP.
Emmet Sheehan: In AA, he has a 14.9 K/9, 1.86 ERA, and 0.88 WHIP over 53 IP.
CBS Starting Pitcher Rostership Rates Name Previous Roster% Current Roster% Change Ranger Suarez SP PHI 36% 37% 1% Ben Lively SP CIN 32% 34% 2% Gavin Williams SP CLE 30% 32% 2% Tyler Anderson SP LAA 28% 29% 1% Brandon Bielak SP HOU 27% 36% 9% Clarke Schmidt SP NYY 26% 33% 7% Jameson Taillon SP CHC 23% 26% 3% Tommy Henry SP ARI 22% 46% 24% Tarik Skubal SP DET 22% 24% 2% A.J. Smith-Shawver P ATL 21% 57% 36% JP Sears SP OAK 21% 28% 7% Hayden Wesneski SP CHC 20% 25% 5% Kyle Hendricks SP CHC 19% 21% 2% Andrew Abbott SP CIN 18% 66% 48% Griffin Canning SP LAA 18% 31% 13% Zack Greinke SP KC 17% 19% 2% Adrian Houser SP MIL 17% 18% 1% Bryan Woo SP SEA 11% 13% 2% Emmet Sheehan SP LAD 10% 13% 3% Jaime Barria RP LAA 8% 11% 3% Julio Teheran SP MIL 7% 25% 18% Michael Grove SP LAD 7% 8% 1% Reese Olson SP DET 4% 12% 8% Yonny Chirinos RP TB 4% 8% 4% Kutter Crawford RP BOS 3% 5% 2% Zach Davies SP ARI 3% 4% 1% Randy Vasquez SP NYY 3% 4% 1% Mike Mayers RP KC 2% 3% 1%
Relievers: Saves-bases ranks
Justin Lawrence: OK reliever who seems to be the closer.
Trevor May: Decent reliever who is now the closer.
Hunter Harvey: Good reliever who is sharing the closer’s role (or might actually be the closer).
Adbert Alzolay: Good reliever (strikeouts down this year) who is in the mix for Saves.
Kendall Graveman: Decent reliever who is no longer the closer but might still get a decent number of Save chances.
Erik Swanson: Great reliever who is the backup closer.
Jason Foley: OK reliever who is the backup closer (DET).
Grant Anderson: Great reliever who is a couple of steps away from closing.
Tanner Scott: Decent reliever who is a couple of steps away from closing.
Bowden Francis: He threw 2.2 IP in a bullpen day for the Jays. I’m not sure why the demand besides being called up.
Source: fangraphs.com
