One of the biggest changes I lament from the COVID-season in 2020 was going from 40-man to 28-man expanded rosters in September (number one with a bullet is the introduction of the zombie runner). It’s partly what caused the Drew Maggi story to unfold the way it did. Sorry, Drew, you wouldn’t have had a heartfelt tale to shop around Hollywood if it weren’t for the new 28-man roster rule. You would have been up and enjoying a clubhouse packed to the gills with 40 dudes in a few days.
Even with only two extra roster spots instead of 15, expect to see some prospects get a shot down here soon. The call-up could either be to give a bolt of energy to a playoff contender slogging through the last 30 games (see Jordan Lawlar, Heston Kjerstad, or Tyler Black). Or a prospect could be debuting to get a taste of the big league life on a terrible team and determine whether he is ready for a spot in 2024 (see Colt Keith, Ronny Mauricio, or Masyn Winn).
This week I’ve peppered in a few dudes who could see a major league field for the first time soon. But generally, if the guy is a Top 100-type prospect, they will be worth spending some FAAB dollars on just to see what happens. Happy waiver wiring this week as we hopefully get to see some of our favorite prospects hit the majors.
The stats and ownership percentages below are updated as of noon central time on 8/26.
As always, if you want advice on specific roster decisions you might have, feel free to leave a comment. You can also find me on twitter (X) (@mcouill7).
CATCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Mitch Garver (TEX, 38% CBS Ownership) – Guess who’s back? Back again. Mitch’s back, tell a friend. Guess who’s back, guess who’s back, guess who’s back, guess who’s back… Anyways, our other friend Yainer Diaz graduated out of this piece with his scorching week (.353/.371/.618 with two bombs and playing first base at times) as the Astros are clawing for a playoff spot and realized they don’t care about how to get his bat in the lineup. Garver had a more muted week of .154/.241/.500 but launched three homers of his own. He’s been the sixth best catcher in our Player Rater over the last month with a .305/.400/.585 line and six taters over 95 plate appearances. There’s nothing stopping him from being a top ten catcher down the stretch at this point. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Danny Jansen (TOR, 32% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Logan O’Hoppe (LAA, 31% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 29% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Gary Sanchez (SDP, 27% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Endy Rodriguez (PIT, 21% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Ryan Jeffers (MIN, 9% CBS Ownership) – Jeffers battled a small back issue last weekend, but appears to be okay because his line for the week was .417/.500/.750 with a game-winning homer over 14 plate appearances. His ownership somehow went down a tick! This dude is the eighth best catcher in our Player Rater over the last month! Who is dropping him and for what? Are there leagues that allow you to pick up former player seasons like a fantasy/Strat-o-matic hybrid? In that case, I guess I can understand dropping 2023 Ryan Jeffers for 1997 Mike Piazza. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Yan Gomes (CHC, 20% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Patrick Bailey (SFG, 18% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Bo Naylor (CLE, 17% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Christian Bethancourt (TBR, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Freddy Fermin (KCR, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Connor Wong (BOS, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), James McCann (BAL, 1% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
INFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Jordan Lawlar (SS, ARI 26% CBS Ownership) – I know this is aggressive, but the D-backs are in a dogfight for a NL Wild Card spot and are mixing and matching Jace Peterson, Geraldo Perdomo, Evan Longoria, Nick Ahmed, and Buddy Kennedy on the left side of their infield. The 20-year-old Lawlar mastered Double-A this year with a 121 wRC+ and has held is own now for 38 plate appearances in Triple-A. His slash line at Reno so far is .290/.395/.484 with two homers and steals apiece. But the most intriguing part of his production is that his K-rate and BB-rate are 18.4% and 15.8%, respectively. As a 20-year-old in Triple-A!! Lawlar looks like a special player and will pair well with Corbin Carroll at the top of the Arizona lineup for years to come. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Edouard Julien (2B, MIN, 45% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Geraldo Perdomo (2B/3B/SS, ARI, 43% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Carlos Santana (1B, MIL, 45% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), J.P. Crawford (SS, SEA, 42% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Maikel Garcia (3B/SS, KCR, 41% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), DJ LeMahieu (1B/2B/3B, NYY, 41% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Masyn Winn (SS, STL, 40% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Harold Ramirez (1B/OF, TBR, 39% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jordan Westburg (2B/3B/SS, BAL, 35% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Noelvi Marte (3B/SS, CIN, 31% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Luis Rengifo (2B/3B/SS/OF, LAA, 31% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Nolan Schanuel (1B, LAA, 29% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Willi Castro (2B/3B/SS/OF, MIN, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ronny Mauricio (3B/SS, NYM, 25% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Yoan Moncada (3B, CHW, 24% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ji-Hwan Bae (2B/OF, PIT, 24% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Chris Taylor (2B/3B/SS/OF, LAD, 20% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Enrique Hernandez (1B/2B/3B/SS/OF, LAD, 15% CBS Ownership) – Hernandez has been picking up playing time at first and third with the Dodgers over the past few weeks and now qualifies at every position on CBS (and likely other outlets). I can’t think of a more valuable bench piece down the stretch as some regular starters from teams out of contention are likely to see fewer at-bats. But maybe the Dodgers knew a little time at the corners was what Hernandez needed to jump-start his season. Because the utility man has slashed .291/.340/.477 (122 wRC+) with two homers and 16 RBI over 94 plate appearances since arriving in Tinsel Town. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Michael Busch (2B, LAD, 20% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Zach Neto (SS, LAA, 19% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Josh Rojas (2B/3B, SEA, 16% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Brice Turang (2B/SS, MIL, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Luis Urias (2B/3B/SS, BOS, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brandon Belt (1B, TOR, 16% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Colt Keith (3B, DET, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brendan Rodgers (2B, COL, 15% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Zach McKinstry (2B/3B/SS/OF, DET, 13% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Michael Massey (2B, KCR, 13% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Garrett Cooper (1B, SDP, 13% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Osleivis Basabe (3B/SS, TBR, 12% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Elvis Andrus (2B/SS, CHW, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ryan Noda (1B/OF, OAK, 11% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Liover Peguero (2B/SS, PIT, 9% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jose Caballero (2B/3B/SS, SEA, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Tyler Black (2B, MIL, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Elehuris Montero (1B/3B, COL, 5% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Carter Kieboom (3B, WSN, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Michael Toglia (1B/OF, COL, 3% CBS Ownership) – ALERT: the Rockies have a week of home games in Coors Field with three apiece against the Braves and Blue Jays. Any and all Rockies with any semblance of playing time, including Toglia, need to be snatched up. (1-3% FAAB)
Joey Loperfido (1B/2B/OF, HOU, 2% CBS Ownership) – Outside of Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker, the only other left-handed (not even any switch guys) on the Astros roster currently is Jon Singleton. While Houston still awaits Michael Brantley’s return, Loperfido was recently moved up to Triple-A after producing a .296/.392/.548 line (142 wRC+) in Double-A. The 24-year-old should be a beneficiary of the slightly larger September rosters to add versality (he’s played first, second, and all outfield spots in the minors this year) for the ‘Stros down the stretch. (3-5% FAAB)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Adam Duvall (BOS, 43% CBS Ownership) – Duvall’s Player of the Week award for the first week of the season feels like ancient history at this point, but he might be re-finding his form once again. I’ll admit that I had totally written Duvall off post-wrist fracture (how could you not?), but he’s slashed .272/.337/.576 with seven jacks over the last month, good for the 30th outfielder on our Player Rater and hovering around stalwarts like Christian Yelich, Adolis Garcia, Randy Arozarena. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Luke Raley (1B/OF, TBR, 43% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Tommy Pham (ARI, 39% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Max Kepler (MIN, 35% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Brent Rooker (OAK, 35% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Andrew McCutchen (PIT, 34% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Mickey Moniak (LAA, 34% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), LaMonte Wade (SFG, 30% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brandon Marsh (PHI, 29% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Jose Siri (TBR, 27% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Will Benson (CIN, 26% CBS Ownership Rate, 1-3% FAAB), Mark Canha (1B/OF, MIL, 20% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC, 21% CBS Ownership) – The upside for PCA is incredible. The 21-year-old has produced 18 homers and 32 stolen bases over 93 combined games at Triple-A and Double-A this year. According to prospect reports I read, he may be the best centerfield defender since Kevin Kiermaier. This is the last weekend to get him cheaply before he likely arrives and lights up Wrigley in September. But I want to take the space to now talk about how his mom, Ashley Crow, participated in the greatest 90’s baseball movie of them all, Little Big League. Screw The Sandlot, A League of Their Own, Rookie of the Year, and Ed. Reasons Little Big League is supreme: 1) They use real players (I was scared shitless of Randy Johnson as a child thanks to this movie). 2) The plot involves the 12-year-old Billy Heywood inheriting the Twins and naming himself owner/manager. Billy didn’t play baseball (lame, Henry Rowengartner, get an original life goal), but he did make all of the personnel and on-field decisions – IS THAT NOT OUR DREAM AS FANTASY PLAYERS?!? 3) The Night Nurses from Jersey. 4) Grade-A soundtrack (that’s not even the whole thing, if someone wants to curate that for me, I would be forever grateful). I rest my case. Thank you, Ashley Crow, for your involvement in creating maybe the most influential movie of my life and also giving us PCA. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Everson Pereira (NYY, 18% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Matt Wallner (MIN, 17% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Seth Brown (1B/OF, OAK, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Alek Thomas (ARI, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Lawrence Butler (OAK, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Oscar Gonzalez (CLE, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Johan Rojas (PHI, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Drew Waters (KCR, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Parker Meadows (DET, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brenton Doyle (COL, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Travis Jankowski (TEX, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Akil Baddoo (DET, 4% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Wade Meckler (SFG, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Rafael Ortega (NYM, 1% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Alex Call (WSN, 1% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Alexander Canario (CHC, 3% CBS Ownership) – Even with PCA also slated for a call-up, Canario should be joining him on the North Side soon. Despite surging into the thick of the Wild Card race, there are two lineup spots the Cubs could improve as Nick Madrigal and Mike Tauchman are regularly starting. I know Tauchman had his moment in the sun, but he’s cooked now as his line has been .139/.244/.139 (15 wRC+) over the past two weeks. If not for a gruesome ankle injury last fall, Canario likely would have already debuted this year, and we never would have seen Tauchman. The upside for the 23-year-old Canario is tremendous as he combined for 37 homers and 23 stolen bases while never posting a walk rate below 10% over three minor league levels last year. Sure, he also comes with a lot of swing-and-miss (currently has a 27.8% K-rate at Triple-A), but the tools are loud and can help in some key roto categories down the stretch. (3% FAAB)
Wilyer Abreu (BOS, 8% CBS Ownership) – Abreu’s ownership level is a little higher than I prefer for suggestion here normally, but it’s likely this is the first weekend you can bid on the 24-year-old. Laura did a great job of profiling Wilyer on Friday (with a killer headline). He should get a fair amount of playing time with Jarren Duran recently visiting the IL for a sprained toe. If Abreu can show any of the talent that created his .274/.391/.538 line (128 wRC+) in Triple-A, he can pick up plenty September at-bats in Bean Town. (3% FAAB)
STARTING PITCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Brandon Williamson (CIN, 36% CBS Ownership) – I was completely out on the Brandon Williamson experience as he had a 5.21 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and grody 9.5% K-BB-rate in his first 46.2 innings through the All-Star break. But he has added two ticks to his fastball since his debut and averaged 93.4-mph in his latest start, up from 91.4-mph in May. If he can sit at 93-94-mph from the left side, that is well above average and equivalent to like 96-97-mph from the right side. That increase in his velocity has resulted in a much more palatable 3.96 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 16.2% K-BB-rate in 46 post-ASB innings. Mix that in with an upcoming two-start week at the Giants and home against the Cubs, and you have a nice pickup, yours for the taking. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Kutter Crawford (BOS, 49% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Patrick Sandoval (LAA, 49% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Cristopher Sanchez (PHI, 39% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Paul Blackburn (OAK, 39% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brandon Pfaadt (ARI, 33% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Jose Quintana (NYM, 32% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Zach Littell (TBR, 26% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Noah Syndergaard (CLE, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Jordan Wicks (CHC, 6% CBS Ownership) – The Cubs called up Wicks on Saturday from Iowa to make his debut against the Pirates, and what a debut it was. He was lights out for 5 innings with nine Ks while allowing one ER, two hits, and one BB. The 23-year-old lefty is a command-and-control changeup artist that was solid in his 33 Triple-A innings with a 3.82 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 8.18 K/9. I think with his command, he could be a WHIP asset as the 1.41 WHIP predicted by Steamer seems too high. Before Wicks’ promotion, the Cubs were rocking a four-man rotation, so he should have a spot as long as he can perform in a tight NL Wild Card race. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Tanner Houck (BOS, 17% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Patrick Corbin (WSN, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ryan Yarbrough (LAD, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Alex Faedo (DET, 11% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Adrian Houser (MIL, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Cole Irvin (BAL, 9% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jake Irvin (WSN, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Zack Thompson (STL, 5% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Bailey Falter (PIT, 4% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Joan Adon (WSN, 2% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Andre Jackson (PIT, 1% CBS Ownership) – Jackson languished in the Dodgers system after being drafted in 2017 but has been performing admirably in his new starter/bulk reliever role in Pittsburgh. The righty has a 3.32 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 19.5% K-BB-rate over 19 innings since arriving in the Steel City. Those stats are no fluke either, as he rates pretty well in Stuff+, with a 107 on his fastball and 105 Pitching+ overall. Oh yeah, and his next start is slated to be against the Royals in KC. Streamable starts don’t get much better than that. (1-3% FAAB)
Cristian Mena (CHW, 2% CBS Ownership) – Despite his rotting on the vine in Double-A (has a 10.74 K/9 in 114 innings this year) and sitting off the 40-man roster, whoever is running the White Sox roster right now (Jerry Reinsdorf? Tony LaRussa? Chris Getz? Dayton Moore? Southpaw?) should realize that Mena is Rule 5 eligible this offseason and needs to be added to the 40-man. Might as well call the 20-year-old up and see what he can do in the majors now before deciding whether to roster him in 2024, right? RIGHT?!? (1% FAAB)
RELIEVERS
10/12 Team Adds
Yennier Cano (BAL, 39% CBS Ownership) – Felix Bautista left Friday night’s outing after retiring the first two batters with an arm injury of some sort. Then on Saturday, news broke that Felix has “some degree of injury” to his UCL (what kind of corporate gobbledygook is that?). Here’s a chance to lock up saves from the AL’s best team as Cano should immediately take over the closer role. I know there is some narrative of him tailing off of late, but the guy hasn’t allowed a run in August all while posting an 11:1 K:BB-ratio with a 0.66 WHIP over 10.2 innings. I think he’s immediately a top five closer. (7-11% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Matt Brash (SEA, 34% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Bryan Abreu (HOU, 27% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brusdar Graterol (LAD, 23% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Joel Payamps (MIL, 22% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Gregory Santos (CHW, 22% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Justin Lawrence (COL, 21% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
JoJo Romero (STL, 9% CBS Ownership) – After all of the chances Giovanny Gallegos has been given and blown this year at the backend of the Cardinals bullpen, it’s no surprise Oli Marmol has decided to look for a new reliever to possibly save his job. Romero has been electric out of the Cards’ pen this year with a 3.55 ERA (2.33 FIP), 0.97 WHP, and 10.09 K/9 over 33 innings. His two-inning save in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night even with a well-rested Gallegos ready to go shows the closer job might be JoJo’s from here on out. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Adam Ottavino (NYM, 19% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Trevor May (OAK, 19% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Hunter Harvey (WSN, 16% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jason Foley (DET, 15% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Brooks Raley (NYM, 14% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Kevin Ginkel (14% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB) Mark Leiter Jr. (CHC, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Carlos Hernandez (KCR, 10% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Tyler Rogers (SFG, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Chris Martin (BOS, 8% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Reynaldo Lopez (LAA, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Griffin Jax (MIN, 4% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Taylor Rogers (SFG, 6% CBS Ownership) – Camilo Doval has totally fallen apart of late with a 13.50 ERA over his last four outings. He has five walks and four strikeouts during his 3.1 innings over that span. The Giants are one game out of a Wild Card spot and can’t afford to let any W’s slip away. Could they turn to Taylor Rogers, owner of 82 career saves, to close over the next few weeks? (1-3% FAAB)
Danny Coulombe (BAL, 4% CBS Ownership) – See the blurb on Yennier Cano above. With Felix Bautista out, everyone in the Baltimore bullpen should move up a spot. Coulombe was the one who finished off that save for Bautista on Friday night and should be the #2 option behind Cano for future saves. (1-3% FAAB)
