Waiver Wire Week 7: Beauty And The Ballesteros

This is my first season writing these waiver wire articles, and I love it. As someone who plays in dozens of leagues, this helps me just as much as it helps you guys. Deep diving the waiver wire a few days before the next week commences really puts me ahead of the field, and it’s actually helped me realize some overlooked players across the way. Adding a guy who becomes a must-roster player is one of the keys to fantasy baseball championships, and we hope to provide as many of those as possible throughout the season. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the waiver wire options for this week!

The stats and roster rates below are updated on 5/1. All rostership percentages are on Yahoo.

Feel free to comment here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!

Also, check out my Streamers article dropping tomorrow. 

CATCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Moises Ballesteros (CHC, 31% Rostership) – Not only does this guy have one of the best names in baseball, but he’s quietly become one of the Cubs’ best bats. One of the most impactful variables for Ballesteros is that he hasn’t even played much catcher, as he’s been their primary DH right now. Finding a catcher who bats second nearly every day is a massive boost for fantasy, and it makes him a must-add off the waiver wire when looking at his statistics. Ballesteros has a .393 OBP and .948 OPS across 47 games since his call-up last season.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

QUICK HITS: Carter Jensen (KC, 41% Rostership), Drew Dingler (DET, 43% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Gary Sanchez (MIL, 5% Rostership) – I said last week that we’d keep Sanchez in this section as long as he continues his slugging or gets picked up in more leagues. That’s why we have to recommend him as a waiver wire pickup because he’s a key piece to this Brewers lineup right now. Sanchez has been hitting between fourth and fifth for the last few weeks, posting a .390 OBP and .931 OPS so far this season. The only concern is that these injured guys are close to returning, while Tyler Black has been getting more work. In any case, those numbers and opportunities are hard to overlook until we see him sit more regularly.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Ryan Jeffers (MIN, 23% Rostership), Samuel Basallo (BAL, 24% Rostership)

INFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Andrew Vaughn (1B, MIL, 34% Rostership) – This is another concern when it comes to Sanchez’s fantasy value because Vaughn will surely take some DH duties when he returns to the lineup. He actually kick-started his rehab assignment on Wednesday and could be ready to return to action sometime next week. This guy was a sleeper pick for many fantasy experts at the beginning of the season, posting the best numbers of his career with the Brewers last year. Vaughn closed last season with a .375 OBP and .869 OPS across his final 64 games. We’re not sure he can duplicate that, but he’d be one of the waiver wire adds of the season if he does.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

QUICK HITS: Isaac Paredes (3B, HOU, 46% Rostership), Matt McLain (2B, CIN, 52% Rostership), Travis Bazzana (2B, CLE, 34% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Caleb Meidroth (2B, CWS, 8% Rostership) – This is not a sexy pick, but how often can you find an everyday leadoff hitter on the waiver wire? That’s just what we have with Meidroth, maintaining a .393 OBP and .771 OPS across his last 14 fixtures. That’s all you can ask for from a player who’s available everywhere, and we’re talking about a player who had a .425 OBP and .839 OPS throughout his minor league career. The plate discipline is perfect for a leadoff hitter, and he could be a sneaky asset for AVG and runs scored in deeper leagues for the remainder of the season.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Jake Bauers (MIL, 1B/OF, 19% Rostership), Casey Schmidt (SF, 2B/3B, 10% Rostership), Brett Baty (NYM, 3B, 6% Rostership)

OUTFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Daniel Schneemann (CLE, 29% Rostership) – Schneemann caused some chaos when he hit a dinger earlier this week because an older man tried to steal a ball from a little girl. That storyline overshadows what’s been a special stretch for Schneemann, sporting a .391 OBP and .955 OPS so far this season. That’s an absurd opening month, but his .492 OBP and 1.192 OPS across his last 16 outings are even more ridiculous. That’s why Cleveland has moved him into the heart of their lineup, and he needs to be picked up until he cools off. Another massive variable is his position eligibility because he’s eligible at 2B, 3B, SS and OF on Yahoo.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3%

QUICK HITS: Mickey Moniak (COL, 51% Rostership), Daulton Varsho (TOR, 34% Rostership), Jorge Soler (LAA, 44% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Carlos Cortes (ATH, 23% Rostership) – The A’s have been shuffling things around this season, but it appears they’ve stumbled into something special with Cortes. This outfielder has been hitting third over the last two weeks, while playing nearly every day. It’s easy to see why because Cortes has collected a .462 OBP and 1.129 OPS in a breakout campaign. He also had a .309 AVG and .866 OPS in limited time last season, after compiling a .414 OBP and 1.017 OPS at Triple-A. The skill set is there for Cortes to be an asset off the waiver wire, and we love that he plays in the AL’s most hitter-friendly park.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3%

QUICK HITS: Brandon Marsh (PHI, 12% Rostership), Jesus Sanchez (TOR, 5% Rostership), TJ Friedl (CIN, 16% Rostership)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Davis Martin (CWS, 52% Rostership) – It feels like fantasy managers always sleep on these pitchers for bad teams. That’s something I’ve been guilty of, but Martin needs to be picked off every waiver wire immediately. This right-hander has a 4-1 record so far this season, thanks to his 1.95 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. He’s also allowed three runs or fewer in all six starts while allowing three total runs across his last three outings. A run like that is scary for the rest of the league, especially since he has at least six strikeouts in all but one start. The best part about this might be his schedule, though, because Martin has two starts this week. They couldn’t be better matchups either, facing the Angels and Mariners in this two-start week.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

Spencer Arrighetti (BAL, 41% Rostership) – Why is Arrighetti still below 50 percent rostership? All fantasy managers knew he was capable of breaking out, and it feels like we’re fully there. He threw seven one-run innings in his most recent start against the Yankees and now has a 2.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 10.5 K/9 rate this year. That’s on par with the stud we saw two years ago, with Arrighetti accruing a 2.90 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 11.4 K/9 rate over his final 12 starts. That was the last time he was fully healthy, and he shouldn’t be sitting on any waiver wires with strikeout stuff like that.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

QUICK HITS: Ryan Weathers (NYY, 52% Rostership), Noah Schultz (CWS, 42% Rostership), Reid Detmers (LAA, 41% Rostership), Joey Cantillo (CLE, 31% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Noah Cameron (KC, 25% Rostership) – I’ve had Cameron in my streamers article multiple times this season, and it’s difficult to understand why he’s still sitting on deeper waiver wires. He’s been reliable since his call-up last season, registering a 3.44 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 30 career starts. He’s struggled across his last four starts, but having two of those in Sacramento and Yankee Stadium is forgiving. The reason we’re willing to pick him up off the waiver wire is that he has a two-start week. They’re also home starts against the Guardians and Tigers, which are two of the weaker lineups in baseball. In three starts against Cleveland, Cameron has allowed three runs across 17.2 innings while striking out 19 batters.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

Griffin Canning (SD, 3% Rostership) – In deeper leagues, it’s always nice to find injured guys on the waiver wire who are on the brink of a return. That’s just what we have with Canning because he’s projected to return to San Diego’s rotation sometime next week. He hasn’t pitched since tearing his Achilles tendon last year, but he’s got the ability to be a solid pitcher. He has a 3.60 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across five starts throughout his minor league rehab assignment and ended last year with a 3.77 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. Those are decent averages from a deep-league add, and he should benefit from pitching in the spacious dimensions in San Diego. A road start against San Fran this week could be just what the doctor ordered because the Giants are 29th or 30th in runs scored, OBP and xwOBA.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Janson Junk (MIA, 3% Rostership), Lucas Giolito (SD, 6% Rostership), Elmer Rodriguez (NYY, 21% Rostership), Bailey Ober (MIN, 2% Rostership)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

Bryan Baker (TB, 46% Rostership) – This guy is the unquestioned closer in Tampa Bay, and he’s been pitching like a closer should. Baker now has eight saves across his last 10 appearances, posting a 3.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 rate this season. Those are the amazing averages you expect to see from a closer, and he actually plays for a team that should give him plenty of opportunities.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5-10%

QUICK HITS: Lucas Erceg (KC, 46% Rostership), Seranthony Dominguez (CWS, 46% Rostership), Louis Varland (TOR, 58% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Tyler Phillips (MIA, 6% Rostership) – It was sad to see Pete Fairbanks get injured again, but that’s been common for the former Tampa closer. Fairbanks stepped into the closer’s role in Miami, but it looks like Phillips’ job is now that he’s on the IL. Phillips slapping himself in the face before taking the mound shows that he’s crazy enough to be a good closer, but he has the game to back up that psycho mentality. Phillips has a 1.47 ERA and 9.3 K/9 rate after picking up Miami’s most recent save. He also had a 2.78 ERA and 1.15 WHIP last season, so he should be here to stay until Fairbanks comes off the IL.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Victor Vodnik (COL, 8% Rostership), Kirby Yates (LAA, 13% Rostership), Jacob Latz (TEX, 6% Rostership)