What’s funny about the waiver wire is how it builds based on individual MLB teams. There always seems to be a handful of teams that have a lot of useful players on the waiver wire. Variables are easy to understand because they are often unpopular groups with negative charges. We actually have a lot of those guys in this article, but that will always be the case in fantasy baseball. With that in mind, let’s dive into this week’s waiver wire.
The stats and rankings below were updated on 6/18. All rostership percentages are at Yahoo.
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Also, check out my Streamers article coming out tomorrow.
THE CATCHERS
10/12 Team additions
Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 30% Rostership) – Kirk has always been a tricky legacy on the waiver wire. What makes him so interesting is that he is one of the few fishermen who help support your AVG. The guy had a .282 AVG and .769 OPS in the breakout campaign last season. A lengthy IL stay prevented him from doing so this year, but he’s back in his usual spot cleaning up this tough Toronto program. If you’re desperate to catch, Kirk is a great addition to the waiver wire.
Recommended FAAB %: 1-3%
QUICK HITS: Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 44% Rostership), Carter Jensen (KC, 36% Rostership), Yainer Diaz (HOU, 42% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Kyle Teel (CWS, 8% Rostership) – Teel is one of the best deep-league waiver wire additions to this article. He was an integral part in the Garrett Crochet trade and remains a foundational piece in this ChiSox rebuild. He showed that in his rookie season when he had a .375 OBP and .786 OPS over 78 games last year. What power we have seen at the minor league level, Teel is posting a .403 OBP and .864 OPS. The catcher has also compiled a .375 OBP and .966 OPS in six games at Triple-A this year, so he could be hot once he joins the White Sox sometime within the next week.
Recommended FAAB %: 1-3%
QUICK HITS: Endy Rodriguez (PIT, 2% Rostership), Dalton Rushing (LAD, 28% Rostership), JT Realmuto (PHI, 17% Rostership)
THE INFIELDERS
10/12 Team additions
Bryce Eldridge (1B, SF, 44% Rostership) – Is Eldridge still under 50 percent of Yahoo? This guy needs to be added to every waiver wire. He has a .405 OBP and .963 OPS this season while posting a .500 OBP and 1.258 OPS in his last 18 outings. That ridiculous three-week stretch makes him someone to add to every waiver wire because we’re talking about a 6’7″ prospect who had a .445 OBP and .963 OPS in Triple-A before being called up.
Recommended FAAB %: 10-20%
QUICK HITS: Willi Castro (1B/2B/SS/3B, COL, 43% Rostership), Zack Gelof (2B/3B, ATH, 53% Rostership), Spencer Steer (1B/2B, CIN, 36% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Curtis Mead (1B/2B/3B, WAS, 21% Rostership) – What if I told you that the three-hole hitter for the highest scoring team in baseball sits on the most waiver wire? What if I added that you are eligible for almost every position within Yahoo? That’s what we have with Mead, who maintains a .346 OBP and .818 OPS this year. He’s been even better recently, registering a .365 OBP and .872 OPS since April 19. It’s hard to believe that a guy like that is available on multiple waiver wires, but that’s what happens with unpopular teams like the Nationals.
Recommended FAAB %: 3%
QUICK HITS: Paul Goldschmidt (DET, 1B, 24% Rostership), Tommy Edman (LAD, 2B/SS, 8% Rostership), TJ Rumfield (COL, 1B, 18% Rostership)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team additions
Jung-Hoo Lee (SF, 48% Rostership) – Here we are with another San Fran slugger. Okay, Lee is not lazy, but he is the new Steven Kwan. Lee is one of the league leaders with a .325 AVG, providing a .468 AVG and 1.072 OPS over his last 20 outings. Seeing a guy flirt with a .500 AVG in three weeks is really ridiculous, but it looks a lot better now that Lee has been promoted in the five hole. I was going to just ride Luis Arraez and Lee where I go and drive the opposition crazy for the second time, but this attack from Eldridge and Lee makes this Giants team look like a dangerous offense for the first time in years.
Recommended FAAB %: 5-10%
QUICK HITS: Lawrence Butler (ATH, 36% Rostership), Noelvi Marte (CIN, 43% Rostership), Carson Benge (NYM, 45% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Cole Carrigg (COL, 17% Rostership) – One thing about the Rockies is that they will always have interesting waiver wire options because of their ballpark. It is the highest scoring park in the league, and Carrigg has taken advantage of this in his first season. Carrigg has compiled an .861 OPS since being called up. We saw similar things in the minor leagues, where Carrigg compiled a .287 AVG and .844 OPS during his minor league career. You have to keep an eye on these Rockies bats whenever they get hot because you never know when you’ll land on the next Nolan Arenado, Corey Dickerson, David Dahl or Trevor Story. Remember Brenton Doyle?
Recommended FAAB %: 1-3%
QUICK HITS: Samad Taylor (SD, 9% Rostership), Troy Johnston (COL, 14% Rostership), Dominic Canzone (SEA, 19% Rostership)
STARTING BEAMS
10/12 Team additions
Bubba Chandler (PIT, 62% Rostership) – Do you know that talking about royalty starts with you? That’s what it sounds like Pittsburgh needs from Chandler because he has the makings of the best three-man bullpen in baseball. Paul Skenes and Braxton Ashcraft are already there, while Chandler is showing signs. The righty has allowed four runs or fewer in 12 of his 13 starts this season while posting a 4.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 11.1 K/9 average over his last five starts. That’s the form we expected to see because Chandler has compiled a 34 percent K rate during his minor league career. We like his matchup this week, too, hosting a Seattle team that sits 17th in runs scored and 20th in K rate.
Recommended FAAB %: 3-5%
Dustin May (STL, 57% Rostership) – This is the last time May will be on the waiver wire, but we need to throw him in here one last time. The guy has been one of the best hitters in the NL since the opening weeks, posting a 2.54 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over his last 12 starts. He also threw 15 scoreless innings in his last two innings while recording at least six innings in his first seven starts. That makes him a worthy addition for anyone, but a home game against a Miami team that ranks 28th in xwOBA is magical.
Recommended FAAB %: 10-15%
QUICK HITS: Taj Bradley (MIN, 51% Rostership), Logan Henderson (MIL, 39% Rostership), Walbert Urena (LAA, 40% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Mick Abel (MIN, 17% Rostership) – Abel is nearing the end of his conditioning assignment, and may even return to the swing this weekend. That’s a welcome sight for Minnesota because he struck out 16 batters in 13 scoreless innings in his last two games before coming to the IL. We saw the same things throughout his rehab assignment, accumulating a 1.13 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 11.3 K/9 average across two starts. There’s a reason this guy was once the Phillies’ best player, and now is the time to add him off the waiver wire before he’s out for good.
Recommended FAAB %: 1-3%
Aaron Civale (ATH, 8% Rostership) – It’s hard to get excited about Civale the way he’s looked lately, but this schedule and previous form make him an attractive addition on waivers. Let’s start with the lineup because he has the way he started against the Giants and Angels. San Fran ranks 211th in runs scored while owning one of the best ballparks, while the Angels look awful without Mike Trout. Getting Civale out of Sacramento is a big part of this, though, because he has a 2.08 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over his first five starts.
Recommended FAAB %: 1%
QUICK HITS: JR Ritchie (ATL, 13% Rostership), Gage Jump (ATH, 27% Rostership), Noah Schultz (CWS, 8% Rostership)
THE LIBERATORS
10/12 Team additions
JT Ginn (ATH, 49% Rostership) – It feels like these A-arms are being overlooked. We actually have Gage Jump in our headliner tomorrow, but Ginn is just as good. The righty has a 2.91 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in the breakout campaign, while allowing two or fewer runs in 10 of 13 starts. He also has a 2.06 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over his last eight games and shouldn’t fade here as he has a matchup against a short Angels team.
Recommended FAAB %: 3-5%
QUICK HITS: Emilio Pagan (CIN, 62% Rostership), Jacob Latz (TEX, 52% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Yoendrys Gomez (MIN, 20% Rostership) – It’s been hard to read about this close Twins situation, but Gomez is like a boy now. The righty has three saves in his last four games and now leads the team with seven total saves. More importantly, he’s been their best reliever all season, with Gomez producing a 1.37 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 average since April 22.
Recommended FAAB %: 5%
QUICK HITS: Jacob Webb (CHC, 2% Rostership)
