FAAB Week 3: Tools Time

Just like completing a house project (or IKEA bookshelf), finding the right information to help analyze waiver wire pickups is about having the right tools. The manual efforts with blunt equipment will always be available. You could employ that screwdriver, twisting every screw in with the torque generated from your forearms weakened by the modern ways of typing and scrolling. Just like you could sort through mountains of data to determine which players to acquire.

But guess what? It’s 2024, baby. There are automatic power tools available to us now.

Just like adding a drill can complete your project in a fraction of the time, so can our Razzball MLB Tools. I leverage them to complete some of the heavier lifting answering questions like “Who has been hot of late?” and “Who projects for the most value this upcoming week?” and, obviously, “Who has the funniest RazzID number?” *

We have all of those answers thanks to our Player Rater (which recaps historical production and values), while our premium Hittertron and Streamonator tools project what the values will be in the future (I have those set to next calendar week, which I leverage mightily for this piece).

All of those future-looking tools run off our projections, but just like when you get a little too aggressive with that drill and strip a screw, there can be some manual work required to properly calibrate everything. That’s where I come in with this article. We look into Baseball Savant pages, breakouts, and straight-up vibes to see where the projections might be amiss.

The answer to your unasked question is yes, I’ll be your manual screwdriver.

* The answer is Adolis Garcia, number 666969.

The stats and ownership percentages below are updated as of noon central time on 4/12.

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) and bluesky (@mcouill7.bsky.social).

CATCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Elias Diaz (COL, 26% CBS Ownership) – Diaz and the Rockies have three upcoming games in Coors against Seattle next week, which is nice. But the real prize here is the Rockies having the most preposterous week of the MLB schedule starting April 22. They get four games in Coors against the Padres before travelling to even higher altitude in Mexico City for a two-game set with the Astros. Diaz owns a career .281/.326/.464 in Coors Field and can be a great two-week band-aid if you are awaiting Sean Murphy’s return. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Travis d’Arnaud (ATL, 39% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 34% CBS Ownership, 1%), Austin Wells (NYY, 29% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Shea Langeliers (OAK, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Reese McGuire (BOS, 11% CBS Ownership) – McGuire is certainly the main catcher in Boston now and warrants 12-team consideration too. He’s honestly the best available pick up after Diaz. Reese is slashing .267/.333/.500 with two taters thus far in a solid Red Sox lineup. (1-3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Ivan Herrera (STL, 14% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Patrick Bailey (SFG, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Carson Kelly (DET, 4% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Amaya (CHC, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Korey Lee (CHW, 1% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

INFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Ty France (1B, SEA, 46% CBS Ownership) – Good lord, look at the red adorning France’s Savant page right now. After visiting Driveline in the offseason, he’s started on a tear with a 14.3% barrel-rate and 60.7% hard-hit-rate. France is yet to hit a homer, but with batted-ball metrics like that, he should be hitting dongs around a mid-20s pace if not more. Pick him up now and just wait for the weather to warm a bit. (3-5% FAAB)

Luis Rengifo (2B/3B/SS/OF, LAA, 35% CBS Ownership) – I have no idea what Rengifo did to Ron Washington to call for his early season playing time troubles. The utility-man was one of the Angels’ best bats in 2023, slashing .264/.339/.444 (114 wRC+). Hell, he has been one of the Angels’ best bats in 2024 too, slashing .333/.357/.407 (121 wRC+) in his first 28 plate appearances. Thankfully, Rengifo has now started four of the last five games as Miguel Sano, Mickey Moniak, Brandon Drury, and Nolan Schanuel have struggled out of the gate. If Rengifo is sitting on your waiver wire, strike to pick him up now because I think he’s hitting leadoff for the Angels within the next few weeks once Ron Washington fully wakes up. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Michael Busch (1B/3B, CHC, 48% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jordan Westburg (2B/3B, BAL, 43% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jose Caballero (2B/SS, TBR, 43% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Jared Triolo (2B/3B, PIT, 38% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Vaughn Grissom (SS, BOS, 37% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Brett Baty (3B, NYM, 35% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Orlando Arcia (SS, ATL, 34% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Masyn Winn (SS, STL, 28% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), J.D. Davis (1B/3B, OAK, 25% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brendan Rodgers (2B, COL, 22% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Wilmer Flores (1B/3B, SFG, 21% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Gio Urshela (1B/3B, DET, 8% CBS Ownership) – Urshela has cemented himself as a regular in the Tigers lineup, garnering most starts at the hot corner. In deep leagues, one of the worst categories to scramble for on the wire is batting average. Gio’s got you covered as he has hit .293 since 2019 over 1,902 plate appearances. This guy simply knows how to make contact and covert it into hits. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Brayan Rocchio (SS, CLE, 19% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Cavan Biggio (1B/2B/OF, TOR, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Trey Lipscomb (3B, WSN, 14% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Curtis Mead (3B, TBR, 14% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Blaze Alexander (SS, ARI, 13% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Rowdy Tellez (1B, PIT, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Amed Rosario (2B/SS/OF, TBR, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Josh Smith (3B/SS/OF, TEX, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Vargas (2B, LAD, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), David Hamilton (SS, BOS, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Elehuris Montero (1B, COL, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B/3B/OF, TOR, 4% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Liover Peguero (2B/SS, PIT, 4% CBS Ownership) – Peguero is off to a scorching start at Triple-A Indianapolis, producing a .400/.404/.511 slash line. The 23-year-old finally seems to be evolving into his final form and fulfilling the promises of his FanGraphs prospect grades that included 50-grades, at minimum, across the board. Peguero currently doesn’t have a path to full playing time on a hot Pirates squad, but he should be the first call-up if an injury occurs as his bat likely plays over Alika Williams. If desperate for middle infield help in the future, Peguero makes an intriguing stash. (1% FAAB)

Addison Barger (3B/OF, TOR, 3% CBS Ownership) – Here’s another stash for future playing time (hey, come on, things are thin on super deep league wires), but the payoff might be coming sooner. Barger was a sleeper darling last season, but an early elbow injury nagged him all year and derailed his 2023 progression. Now fully healthy and equipped with Spencer Strider-like quads, the 24-year-old has been obliterating Triple-A with a .308/.413/.513 slash line and 15.2% BB-rate in his first 46 plate appearances. The Blue Jays lineup after the top four is full of question marks, and Barger, drafted as a shortstop, can play the infield or corner outfield. That makes him an easy call-up to provide some life to a Toronto lineup struggling with a collective 94 wRC+ currently. (1-3% FAAB)

OUTFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Lars Nootbaar (STL, 48% CBS Ownership) – Nootbaar has completed his rehab from a rib injury and should insert immediately into the middle of the Cardinals order. Injuries have held the outfielder and candy mascot back for the past few years, but as long as he’s healthy, his plate discipline (career 14.0% BB-rate) and barrel-rate (career 9.4%) should provide more than enough production in all 12-team leagues. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Jack Suwinski (PIT, 47% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Alex Kirilloff (1B/OF, MIN, 47% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jose Siri (TBR, 45% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jake Fraley (CIN, 43% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), James Wood (WSN, 42% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Brandon Marsh (PHI, 40% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Mitch Haniger (SFG, 39% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Charlie Blackmon (COL, 35% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Nelson Velazquez (KCR, 24% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Bryan De La Cruz (MIA, 24% CBS Ownership Rate, 1% FAAB), Leody Taveras (TEX, 22% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Jurickson Profar (SDP, 19% CBS Ownership) – Profar gets the upgrade from NL-only league consideration to mixed leagues as it’s clear he’s cemented into left field and the middle of the San Diego order, batting fifth or sixth every day. If he has another week like the last one with a .500/.538/.833 slash line, one homer, three runs, and three RBI, he’s going up to 12-team consideration next week. (1-3% FAAB)

Gavin Sheets (1B/OF, CHW, 8% CBS Ownership) – Another upgrade from the AL-only league consideration last week with a rising stock just like Profar. You thought Ty France’s Savant page above was cool? Look at what Gavin Sheets is doing right now. Sheets is going to be playing all summer in a ballpark that benefits lefty bats (I can’t believe it took this much injury-related chaos for the Sox to give him full run… but okay, yeah, I can) while hitting third or fourth. He’s an easy buy right now and is likely going to shoot up to the next tier of this article like Profar once the fantasy community recognizes Gavin’s game. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: J.J. Bleday (OAK, 18% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brenton Doyle (COL, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Harrison Bader (NYM, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Tyler Freeman (3B/MI/OF, CLE, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Hunter Renfroe (KCR, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), LaMonte Wade (1B/OF, SFG, 7% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Will Brennan (CLE, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ramon Laureano (CLE, 4% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jesse Winker (WSN, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Stuart Fairchild (CIN, 2% CBS Ownership) – Fairchild is currently in a short-side platoon and only starts against lefties but also accrues regular pinch running appearances. He’s now provided 14 steals over 281 plate appearances since the start of 2023, making for an intriguing speed option if desperate in a deep league. (1-3% FAAB)

Richie Palacios (TBR, 2% CBS Ownership) – With Brandon Lowe succumbing to an oblique injury this week, Palacios stands to be one of the biggest beneficiaries as he enters a strong-side platoon with Amed Rosario. The Cardinals re-formulated Palacios’ approach at the plate last year, leading to more power than he ever flashed in Cleveland’s system – ZiPS has already partially caught this, projecting a .248/.337/.380 slash line. The added bonus here is that Palacios has played second base throughout his career so could find his way to the Rays infield and pick up an extra eligibility too. (1-3% FAAB)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Paul Blackburn (OAK, 38% CBS Ownership) – Blackburn added a new wrinkle to his pitching arsenal this year, relying more on a changeup that he’s throwing 24.3% of the time. That is keeping hitters off balance in the box, garnering an impressive 25.6% hard-hit-rate with a 51.3% groundball-rate thus far. The strikeouts aren’t going to materialize here (4.9 K/9 in 2024 and 6.8 K/9 for his career), but if you’re desperate for some decent ratio work and volume (and aren’t we all after this past week of starting pitcher injuries?), take advantage of Blackburn making regular starts in pitcher-friendly Oakland. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Javier Assad (CHC, 48% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Andrew Abbott (CIN, 46% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Martin Perez (PIT, 45% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Max Meyer (MIA, 44% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Clarke Schmidt (NYY, 42% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jordan Wicks (CHC, 38% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Andrew Heaney (TEX, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), JP Sears (OAK, 21% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Steven Matz (STL, 18% CBS Ownership) – Matz is a must add for his scheduled start against the A’s in Oakland on Wednesday, but he’s also worth rostering in deeper leagues going forward. The 32-year-old lefty is never going re-kindle a double-digit K/9 rate with his sinker that only has a 77 Stuff+ rating. However, the rest of his breaking and off-speed repertoire hovers around league average and Matz looks healthy right now. That should be able to give you solid starter that posts around a 4.00 ERA and 1.24-ish WHIP. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Alec Marsh (KCR, 19% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Keaton Winn (SFG, 15% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ryan Weathers (MIA, 13% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Ben Brown (CHC, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Wade Miley (MIL, 10% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Matt Waldron (SDP, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ross Stripling (OAK, 7% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Joe Ross (MIL, 5% CBS Ownership) – Give me that sweet, sweet two-start week home against San Diego and at St. Louis (a pitcher-friendly park). There’s also enough under the hood that could make Ross viable for the longer term too. I trust the Brewers pitching development and think they have made the necessary changes to support his 57.1% groundball-rate and 3.02 FIP. Look at Ross’ 2024 pitching heat map compared to 2021 – Milwaukee has him pounding the bottom of the zone to create those precious groundballs. (3-5% FAAB)

Kenny Rosenberg (LAA, 0% CBS Ownership) – Alright, stay with me on this deeper cut. The Angels inserted Jose Soriano into the rotation after Chase Silseth also caught the elbow injury bug this week. In an unsurprising turn, the Angels rotation is now teetering on edge, and the organization isn’t exactly one that has handled injuries well historically. If another starter goes down, I think Rosenberg is the candidate to fill the rotation spot as he is on the 40-man roster, pitched in the majors last year and Jose Suarez has proven himself to be a better piece in long-relief. Rosenberg has looked extremely steady in his first two Triple-A starts posting a 1.38 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 over 13 innings. If things are so desperate in your AL-only league that you simply need to stash the next called-upon starter, Kenny is your guy. (1% FAAB)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

Michael Kopech (CHW, 41% CBS Ownership) – Okay, I was wrong – Kopech is the one to target in the White Sox bullpen as he has converted his last two save chances, including a two-inning save on Tuesday night. Just be ready for some Craig Kimbrel-like blow ups from time-to-time when Kopech’s control alludes him, but the upside is that in short stints, he should maintain a 12+ K/9. (5-7% FAAB)

James McArthur (KCR, 30% CBS Ownership) – Since we met last week, McArthur looks to have supplanted Will Smith as the Royals closer, notching two saves and a win over the past seven days. McArthur isn’t going to be a significant source of strikeouts as his arsenal reminds me of Mark Melancon, fronted by a curveball he throws 40.9% of the time. The upside of McArthur over Kopech is that he should be steadier from a ratio perspective and offer more saves. (5-7% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Griffin Jax (MIN, 44% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Alex Lange (DET, 41% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Aroldis Chapman (PIT, 36% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Daniel Hudson (LAD, 34% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), David Robertson (TEX, 33% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), A.J. Minter (ATL, 31% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Yennier Cano (BAL, 31% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Hunter Harvey (WSN, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Jeff Hoffman (PHI, 14% CBS Ownership) – After blowing his first save opportunity on April 1, it looked like Hoffman might have trouble sniffing saves again. However, he was presented two more save oppos this week, blowing the first and converting the second. Despite the second blown save of the nascent season, Hoffman looks to be Rob Thomson’s go-to for a right-handed closer choice. That should be good for 10-15 saves the rest of the way because Jose Alvarado should still be given the bulk of the opportunities given his pitch arsenal. (3% FAAB)

Chad Green (TOR, 4% CBS Ownership) – Ugh, another bullpen I called incorrectly, I suppose that’s why I’ve never been called up to the SAGNOF big leagues. If I had my way as the manager in Toronto, I would certainly still use Yimi Garcia over Green, but the usage pattern shows that John Schneider is a Chad guy while Jordan Romano is out. Green probably only gets one more week of save opportunities but given that Romano has struggled with back issues before his recent elbow injury, Green is worth rostering as a handcuff and startable middle reliever with good ratios and wins via high-leverage work. (1-3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Shelby Miller (DET, 18% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jason Adam (TBR, 18% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Brock Stewart (MIN, 13% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Justin Lawrence (COL, 13% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Yimi Garcia (TOR, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Chris Martin (BOS, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)