Waiver Wire Week 14: A Dirty Jung-Hoo Is A Happy Jung-Hoo

What’s funny about the waiver wire is how it forms based on individual MLB teams. There just always seem to be a handful of teams that have numerous useful players on the waiver wire. The variables are simple to understand because they’re typically less popular teams and poor offenses. We actually have numerous of those guys in this article, but that will always be the case in fantasy baseball. With that in mind, let’s dive into the waiver wire for this week.

The stats and roster rates below are updated on 6/18. 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

Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 30% Rostership) – Kirk has always been a sneaky asset off the waiver wire. What makes him so interesting is that he’s one of the few catchers who help sustain your AVG. This guy had a .282 AVG and .769 OPS in a breakout campaign last season. A lengthy IL stint has kept him from dulicating that this year, but he’s returned to his usual cleanup spot for this tough Toronto lineup. If you’re desperate for a catcher, Kirk is a great add off the waiver wire.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%

QUICK HITS: Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 44% Rostership), Carter Jensen (KC, 36% Rostership), Yainer Diaz (HOU, 42% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Kyle Teel (CWS, 8% Rostership) – Teel is one of the best deep-league waiver wire adds in this article. He was a key piece to the Garrett Crochet trade and remains a foundational piece to this ChiSox rebuild. He showcased that in his rookie season when he had a .375 OBP and .786 OPS across 78 games last year. That’s the potential we saw at the minor league level, with Teel tallying a .403 OBP and .864 OPS. This catcher also compiled a .375 OBP and .966 OPS in six games at Triple-A this year, so he could be hot once he rejoins the White Sox sometime over the next week.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%

QUICK HITS: Endy Rodriguez (PIT, 2% Rostership), Dalton Rushing (LAD, 28% Rostership), JT Realmuto (PHI, 17% Rostership)

INFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Bryce Eldridge (1B, SF, 44% Rostership) – How is Eldridge still below 50 percent on Yahoo? This guy needs to be added off of every waiver wire. He has a .405 OBP and .963 OPS this season while posting a .500 OBP and 1.258 OPS across his last 18 outings. That absurd three-week stretch makes him a must-add off every waiver wire because we’re talking about a 6’7″ prospect who had a .445 OBP and .963 OPS at Triple-A before his call-up.

% of 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 Adds

Curtis Mead (1B/2B/3B, WAS, 21% Rostership) – What if I told you that the three-hole hitter for the top-scoring team in baseball is sitting on most waiver wires? What if I added that he’s eligible at nearly every infield position on Yahoo? That’s what we have with Mead, maintaining 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 someone like that is available on so many waiver wires, but that’s what happens with unpopular teams like the Nationals. 

% of 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 Adds

Jung-Hoo Lee (SF, 48% Rostership) – Here we are with another San Fran slugger. Ok, Lee isn’t quite a slugger, but he’s the new Steven Kwan. Lee is one of the league leaders with a .325 AVG, providing a .468 AVG and 1.072 OPS across his last 20 outings. Seeing a guy flirt with a .500 AVG over a three-week span is truly ridiculous, but it looks even better since Lee has been moved up to the five-hole. I would just ride Luis Arraez and Lee at leadoff and second to drive opposing pitchers crazy, but this surge from Eldridge and Lee has this Giants team looking like a dangerous offense for the first time in years.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5-10%

QUICK HITS: Lawrence Butler (ATH, 36% Rostership), Noelvi Marte (CIN, 43% Rostership), Carson Benge (NYM, 45% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Cole Carrigg (COL, 17% Rostership) – One thing about the Rockies is that they will always possess intriguing waiver wire options due to their ballpark. It’s the highest-scoring park in the league, and Carrigg has taken advantage of it in his rookie season. Carrigg has collected an .861 OPS since his call-up. We saw similar things at lower levels, with Carrigg compiling a .287 AVG and .844 OPS throughout his minor league career. You always have to keep an eye on these Rockies bats whenever they get hot because you never know when you’ll stumble into the next Nolan Arenado, Corey Dickerson, David Dahl or Trevor Story. Remember Brenton Doyle?

% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%

QUICK HITS: Samad Taylor (SD, 9% Rostership), Troy Johnston (COL, 14% Rostership), Dominic Canzone (SEA, 19% Rostership)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Bubba Chandler (PIT, 62% Rostership) – You know that saying about the dynasty starts with you? That’s what it feels like Pittsburgh needs from Chandler because he has the stuff to make this one of the best three-man staffs in baseball. Paul Skenes and Braxton Ashcraft are already there, while Chandler is showing signs. This righty has allowed four runs or fewer in 12 of 13 starts this season while posting a 4.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 11.1 K/9 rate across his last five starts. That’s the form we’ve been waiting to see because Chandler compiled a 34 percent K rate throughout his minor league career. We love his matchup this week, too, hosting a Seattle team that sits 17th in runs scored and 20th in K rate.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

Dustin May (STL, 57% Rostership) – This is the final time May will be in a waiver wire article, but we need to throw him in here one last time. This guy has been one of the best pitchers in the NL since the opening weeks, tallying a 2.54 ERA and 0.98 WHIP across his last 12 starts. He’s also thrown 15 scoreless innings over his last two starts while recording at least six strikeouts in six of his last seven starts. That makes him a worthy add against anyone, but a home matchup with a Miami team that ranks 28th in xwOBA is magical.

% of Recommended FAAB: 10-15%

QUICK HITS: Taj Bradley (MIN, 51% Rostership), Logan Henderson (MIL, 39% Rostership), Walbert Urena (LAA, 40% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Mick Abel (MIN, 17% Rostership) – Abel is close to finishing up his rehab assignment, and he might even return to the rotation this weekend. That’s a welcome sight for Minnesota because he struck out 16 batters across 13 scoreless innings in his final two starts before landing on the IL. We saw similar things throughout his rehab assignment, accruing a 1.13 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 11.3 K/9 rate across two starts. There’s a reason this guy was once a top prospect for the Phillies, and now’s the time to add him off the waiver wire before he fully breaks out.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%

Aaron Civale (ATH, 8% Rostership) – It’s hard to get excited about Civale with how he’s looked recently, but this schedule and prior form make him an enticing waiver wire addition. Let’s start with the schedule because he has road starts against the Giants and Angels. San Fran ranks 211st in runs scored while possessing one of the best ballparks, while the Angels look horrid without Mike Trout. Getting Civale out of Sacramento is the biggest part of this, though, because he has a 2.08 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across his first five road starts.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: JR Ritchie (ATL, 13% Rostership), Gage Jump (ATH, 27% Rostership), Noah Schultz (CWS, 8% Rostership)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

J.T. Ginn (ATH, 49% Rostership) – It feels like these A’s arms are being overlooked. We actually have Gage Jump in our streamers article tomorrow, but Ginn is just as good. This righty has a 2.91 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in a breakout campaign, while allowing two runs or fewer in 10 of 13 starts. He’s also got a 2.06 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across his last eight starts and shouldn’t be faded here since he has a road matchup against a shorthanded Angels team.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

QUICK HITS: Emilio Pagan (CIN, 62% Rostership), Jacob Latz (TEX, 52% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Yoendrys Gomez (MIN, 20% Rostership) – It’s been tough to get a read on this Twins closer situation, but Gomez looks like the guy now. This righty has three saves over his last four appearances and now leads the team with seven saves in total. More importantly, he’s been their best reliever all season, with Gomez generating a 1.37 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 rate since April 22.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

QUICK HITS: Jacob Webb (CHC, 2% Rostership)