This waiver wire topic remains one of the most interesting to develop throughout the week. I’m always thinking about who might be the best all week, and it’s always interesting to monitor the trends and see how everything changes. It’s surprising how much familiarity there is during a fantasy baseball season, but that’s the nature of the waiver wire when the player pool is so deep. Most fantasy leagues have 250 players registered at any given time, and it’s scary to think that we know that many players as it is! That number changes throughout the year, and the roster is constantly changing due to the minor league system. All of those variables make fantasy baseball a better game, so let’s get into this week’s drop call!
The stats and rankings below were updated on 5/29. All rostership percentages are at Yahoo.
Feel free to comment here or contact me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!
Also, check out my Streamers article coming out tomorrow.
THE CATCHERS
10/12 Team additions
Yainer Diaz (HOU, 43% Rostership) – Diaz has been a forgotten man with all the flare at catcher, but he could be a tricky pickup on the waiver wire for the second half of the season. He was pulled due to a long stint in IL, but rumors say Diaz should be back in about a week. Now is the time to add him if you need a catch because Diaz has been a top pick in the past. This back has a .293 AVG and .796 OPS between 2023 and 2024 before struggling last season. Any catcher who can flirt with .300 is a god on the waiver wire, especially since he’s hitting the top of the league in baseball.
Recommended FAAB %: 1%
QUICK HITS: Samuel Basallo (BAL, 54% Rostership), Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 35% Rostership), Carter Jensen (KC, 35% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Adrian Del Castillo (ARI, 2% Rostership) – There’s a reason why Castillo has become a coveted fantasy pitcher just two years ago. He had a .313 AVG and .893 OPS in his rookie season in 2024, but regressed with a .682 OPS last year. He’s actually been pretty bad this season, but we expect some improvement with Castillo clearly injured. He has played the last three games and scored in every game, while playing at home two days ago. Castillo also had a .389 OBP and .926 OPS during his minor league career, so better play should be on the horizon.
Recommended FAAB %: 1%
QUICK HITS: Keibert Ruiz (WAS, 19% Rostership), JT Realmuto (PHI, 18% Rostership), Tyler Stephenson (CIN, 8% Rostership)
THE INFIELDERS
10/12 Team additions
Jackson Holliday (2B/SS, BAL, 42% Rostership) – Holliday was a player to be drafted before injuries sent him to multiple retirements. It’s been a slow build for Holiday to be fully healthy, but it looks like we’re finally there. Baby Holliday led off the O’s earlier this week and has a .348 OBP and .763 OPS this past week. He was the best in the draft for a reason, registering a .441 OBP and .928 OPS throughout his minor league career. That will translate at some point, and now is a good time to bet on it since he was demoted to multiple waiver wire positions during his IL tenure.
Recommended FAAB %: 3%
QUICK HITS: Travis Bazzana (2B, CLE, 44% Rostership), Jake Bauers (1B, MIL, 39% Rostership), Brooks Lee (1B/2B/3B, MIN, 32% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Spencer Horwitz (1B, PIT, 9% Rostership) – It’s hard to believe we have Horwitz on this waiver wire title, but we can’t ignore his incredible stretch. The first baseman has actually been dominant for Pittsburgh lately, providing a .435 OBP and 1.014 OPS over the past three weeks. It’s truly amazing to see how good his on-base stuff has been throughout his career, compiling a career OBP of .361 and a .795 OPS. It’s hard to believe that someone with career levels like that has been overlooked, but it’s because of his lack of power and speed from a legendary perspective. We don’t believe that when we look at these numbers, especially if they are going to be the best every day.
Recommended FAAB %: 1%
QUICK HITS: Curtis Mead (CWS, 1B/2B/3B, 7% Rostership), Zac Gelof (ATH, 2B/3B, 24% Rostership), Chase Meidroth (CWS, 2B/3B/SS, 16% Rostership)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team additions
Jac Caglianone (KC, 47% Rostership) – There’s not much to get excited about when it comes to Jac, but this is a good week to get him off the waiver wire. We say that because you have an amazing show this week. The Royals have seven games this week against the Twins and Reds. That has Caglinone in line to face five right-handed offenses, compiling a .750 OPS with a team advantage in his favor. A program like that could change the season for Caglinone because he is one of the most talented bats in the sport. He’s in the top 10 percent in exit velocity, slugging percentage, strikeout rate, and bat speed this season while posting ridiculously low averages in years past (.333 AVG and 1.016 OPS).
Recommended FAAB %: 3%
QUICK HITS: Daulton Varsho (TOR, 37% Rostership), JJ Bleday (CIN, 40% Rostership), Jorge Soler (LAA, 32% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Jesus Sanchez (TOR, 6% Rostership) – Sanchez was Toronto’s biggest signing in the offseason, but they didn’t want to be seen playing him every day until recently. It’s hard to understand why they did that, but Sanchez has a .396 AVG and a 1.080 OPS over his last 18 outings. That’s three weeks into the All-Star game, and Sanchez hits third or fifth whenever they face the right-hander. That will happen more often than not, with Sanchez posting a .305 AVG and .838 OPS with a team advantage in his favor.
Recommended FAAB %: 1-3%
QUICK HITS: Luke Raley (SEA, 22% Rostership), Trevor Larnach (MIN, 2% Rostership), Cameron Smith (HOU, 12% Rostership)
STARTING BEAMS
10/12 Team additions
Andrew Abbott (CIN, 69% Rostership) – I only play one 10 team league, but Abbott was on that quit streak earlier this week. That’s not the only league there is, and it’s hard to believe that people have thrown in the towel so quickly. He had a 2.87 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 29 starts last season. A 6.59 ERA and 1.78 WHIP sent him to multiple waiver wires last month, but Abbott has a 1.59 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in six starts since. He will be ranked in all major leagues after this because he is facing a Rangers team that is ranked 26th in wOBA and 28th in runs batted in.
Recommended FAAB %: 5%
Aaron Nola (PHI, 53% Rostership) – It’s easy to understand why Nola was relegated to so many leagues, but I always look for a glimmer of hope in this former player. We didn’t see many of those when he had a 6.01 ERA last season, but we did see one last week. Nola gave up just three innings and one run in six innings in his last start and threw another six scoreless innings earlier this month. Those kinds of games show that the potential is still there, and this program is where he can continue that success. The righty has two home starts against the Padres and White Sox. Chicago sits 29th in K rate, while the Padres rank 26th in runs scored and 29th in wOBA.
Recommended FAAB %: 3%
QUICK HITS: Taj Bradley (MIN, 70% Rostership), Roki Sasaki (LAD, 38% Rostership), Cade Cavalli (WAS, 33% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Quinn Priester (MIL, 16% Rostership) – It sounds like Priester is about to return to IL. He struggled in his first rehab start but is expected to work after the next one. That makes him an attractive addition to the waiver wire, with Priester putting up a 3.32 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 24 starts last season. He actually had a 2.89 ERA and 1.15 WHIP after the opening month. That kind of power shouldn’t sit on the waiver wire, especially since Milwaukee seems to be turning every pitcher into gold in recent years. There’s also a chance he’ll face San Fran in his first start, with the Giants ranking third in runs scored, OPS, wOBA and xwOBA.
Recommended FAAB %: 1%
Grayson Rodriguez (LAA, 15% Rostership) – Rod was once one of the top prospects in baseball, and it wasn’t that long ago that fantasy managers were investing heavily in him in the early rounds. Injuries have hampered his career since then, but the power is still there. Rodriguez averaged a 2.40 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 12.8 K/9 during his minor league career. He’s clearly not that guy, but seeing him allow just two hits in five one-run innings in his latest start is an encouraging sign. He also got the start at home against Colorado this week, which is surprising since the Rockies’ hitting streak is near the bottom in every road statistic over the past decade.
Recommended FAAB %: 1%
QUICK HITS: Keider Montero (DET, 10% Rostership), Dustin May (BOS, 14% Rostership), Connor Prielipp (MIN, 18% Rostership)
THE LIBERATORS
10/12 Team additions
Jacob Latz (TEX, 33% Rostership) – Texas has been looking for a close season, but Latz looks like their guy right now. The lefty has a ridiculous 2.16 ERA and 0.60 WHIP this season while recording six saves in his last nine games. It’s hard to believe he’s sitting on so many Yahoo waiver wires because it’s clear he’s with the Rangers right now.
Recommended FAAB %: 5%
QUICK HITS: Reid Detmers (LAA, 39% Rostership), Gregory Soto (PIT, 44% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Kirby Yates (LAA, 8% Rostership) – The Angels had one of the worst bullpens in MLB history this season, but Yates was a welcome sight. He gives this princess the presence of a veteran, and it seems like they want him around. He was the team’s freshman last week and led off with four runs in the ninth inning in his most recent outing. That’s the closer’s role, and LA should trust the guy since he had 33 saves for the Rangers just two years ago.
Recommended FAAB %: 1-3%
QUICK HITS: Ryan Lovelady (WAS, 4% Rostership), Caleb Kilian (SF, 9% Rostership)
