Now that the first month of the season is completed, it’s time to size up leagues and analyze which stat categories are going to be troublesome as the season rolls along. Of course, finding well-rounded players like Ronald Acuna Jr. or Gerrit Cole, the top batter and pitcher in our Player Rater currently, isn’t going to happen via the waiver process right now.
However, roto points are sitting in your available player pool, waiting for the taking. Evaluating player archetypes, power (HRs) vs. speed (SBs) for hitters and talent (ratios) vs. team (wins/QS) for pitchers, can help focus efforts of grinding out roto points.
This week, we will focus on these archetypes, by looking at one of each player type in every league size category. Well, except for the AL/NL Only league suggestions, as there is ultimately one thing that matters on Only waivers – volume.
The stats and ownership percentages below are updated as of noon central time on 5/5.
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 (@mcouill7).
CATCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Shea Langeliers (OAK, 47% CBS Ownership) – I already regret committing to finding a power and speed option at every grouping. Unless Dalton Varsho has been dropped because the previous owner has given up on him, we all know finding speed at catcher in a shallow league is a pipedream. However, Langeliers stole five bases in AAA last year and continues to rank highly in sprint speed, but is below average in home to first time (the real stolen base indicator). However, with his raw speed and volume of playing time, you have to think there are a few stolen bases here for rest of season. (1-3% FAAB)
Christian Bethancourt (TBR, 26% CBS Ownership) – Bethancourt had a cold week after appearing here last Saturday, but he continues to hit the snot out of the ball and provides the best power option at catcher for shallower leagues. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Keibert Ruiz (WSN, 44% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Danny Jansen (TOR, 34% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Christian Vazquez (MIN, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Blake Sabol (SFG, 14% CBS Ownership) – Was the entire theme this week just a lowkey way to talk about my favorite deep league catcher again? Maybe. Catchers that offer any speed usually don’t hang out on waiver wires. Sabol continues to play for the Giants and is on pace for over 350 at-bats, mid-20’s homers, and 10 steals. This isn’t a blip as Sabol continues to find ways into the San Francisco lineup, so he should be able to find a gear of production similar to his current pace. (3-5% FAAB)
Connor Wong (BOS, 10% CBS Ownership) – After starting the season in a platoon with Reese McGuire, Wong has taken the C1 job recently, playing against both lefties and righties regularly. And it’s not hard to see why the Red Sox have made the switch, as Wong has shown that he’s the best cheap power catcher option right now. He hit both a 113.6 MPH rocket double off Yusei Kikuchi and a 111.8 MPH, 427-foot moonshot over the Green Monster this week, proving the recent hot streak has the skills to back it up. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Joey Bart (SFG, 21% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Mike Zunino (CLE, 18% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Eric Haase (DET, 15% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
INFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Matt Mervis (1B, CHC, 54% CBS Ownership) – In case you missed out last week, Mervis has since officially arrived. Some of the home run projections are in the low teens on power because he’s only projected for like 70 games right now, which equates to about 0.17 homers per game. But if you project that home run rate across 120 games (the Cubs have 130 games left), that is 20 homers for the rest of the season. Even that seems low considering Mervis’ ISO in the minors has hovered around .300 since the start of 2022. Mervis is going to be the best chance to grab power on the infield for the near future if he’s available. (9-11% FAAB)
Ji-Hwan Bae (2B/MI/OF, PIT, 50% CBS Ownership) – I’m just going to keep copying and pasting Bae into this piece every week until he gets over 60% ownership on CBS. He’s ultimately the best stolen base option that has some shallow league availability you will find. (5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Josh Rojas (2B/3B, ARI, 56% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), J.D. Davis (3B, SFG, 47% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), C.J. Abrams (SS, WSN, 42% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Ezequiel Tovar (SS, COL, 40% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Carlos Santana (1B, PIT, 37% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Zach Neto (SS, LAA, 35% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jon Berti (2B/3B/SS, MIA, 34% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Enrique Hernandez (2B/SS/OF, BOS, 31% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Spencer Steer (1B/3B, CIN, 29% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Gio Urshela (1B/3B/SS, LAA, 29% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Lamonte Wade (1B/OF, SFG, 20% CBS Ownership) – Wade has been floating around this piece every week in the OF section but is on a 30 homer pace and a more than viable 1B/CI option now. He continues to mash while playing every day and is progressing quickly towards 12-team relevance. (5% FAAB)
Enmanuel Valdez (2B, BOS, 6% CBS Ownership) – Second base has been a pure dumpster fire for the Red Sox this year, and they finally appear ready to end the Christian Arroyo-as-a-starter experiment. The 24-year-old Valdez, acquired last year at the deadline from the Astros, has come from AAA and swiped two bases already this week. It shouldn’t be hard for him to hold down the job in Boston, as all he has to do is swing a league average bat. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Ezequiel Duran (3B/SS, TEX, 28% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Rodolfo Castro (2B/3B/SS, PIT, 27% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Brice Turang (2B, MIL, 27% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Luis Garcia (2B/SS, WSN, 12% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Luke Raley (1B/OF, TRB, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jesus Aguilar (1B, OAK, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Edmundo Sosa (3B/SS, PHI, 7% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Dominic Smith (1B, WSN, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Zach McKinstry (2B/3B/OF, DET, 4% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Yuli Gurriel (1B, MIA, 4% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Xavier Edwards (SS, MIA, 3% CBS Ownership) – Admittedly, the playing time is a bit murky after Edwards’ call-up this week as he joins the group of speedster utility bats in Miami with Jon Berti and Garrett Hampson. However, the Marlins were only playing him at CF in AAA and Jazz Chisholm constantly looks like he’s about to seriously injure himself on every can-of-corn hit to him. With 80 grade speed, Edwards could take over some CF playing time and swing the stolen bases category in an Only league. (3% FAAB)
Nick Pratto (1B, KCR, 7% CBS Ownership) – When Freddy Fermin was sent to AAA last week, Pratto came up and has played every day since. He has started hot out of the gate thanks to a .625 BABIP, but if he plays towards his ZiPS line of .233 AVG / .321 OBP / .416 SLG with 14 homers and 4 steals for rest of season, he’s going to be a useful corner infielder in AL-Only. (3-5% FAAB)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Jarren Duran (BOS, 59% CBS Ownership) – Duran has clearly made swing changes from 2022 to 2023 and nearly doubled his barrel rate (7.7% to 14.3%) and lifted his swing path (flyball rate has increased from 33.8% to 45.2%) all while shaving his swinging strike rate (12.1% to 8.6%). That’s all of the ingredients for a breakout and could push 20 homers as Fenway (and all of the parks) heat up this summer. A must add if you have an OF or bench spot to see if how much his stock rises. (7-9% FAAB)
Harrison Bader (NYY, 55% CBS Ownership) – We haven’t been able to see what Bader can do with the new rules to increase stolen bases as he immediately came back from his IL stint for an oblique strain and bonked his head while playing the field. However, the cranial injury prognosis looks good, and he should be injury free. The Athletics and their historically awful pitching staff come to New York next week to offer a Home Run Debry preview, which should allow Bader to find some traction at the plate and on the bases. (5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Esteury Ruiz (OAK, 56% CBS Ownership, 5% FAAB), Joey Meneses (1B/OF, WSN, 55% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Jorge Soler (MIA, 47% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ramon Laureano (OAK, 45% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Myles Straw (CLE, 41% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Lourdes Gurriel (ARI, 37% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Trey Mancini (1B/OF, CHC, 33% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jurickson Profar (COL, 26% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Jake Fraley (CIN, 22% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Manuel Margot (TBR, 11% CBS Ownership) – Although Margot hits at the bottom of the Rays order, the new MLB rules have raised his speed ceiling. In a rewind to his time with the Padres, Margot is on pace for a stolen base total in the 20’s while providing enough power production to be useful. (3% FAAB)
Jesus Sanchez (MIA, 5% CBS Ownership) – Although Mr. Slapdick Prospect (Xavier Edwards) was called up to replace Avisail Garcia during his latest IL stint, Sanchez is the biggest beneficiary for playing time. Even though the prospect fatigue oozes from his being, Sanchez is only 25 years old and has the chance to claim a Marlins corner outfield spot for himself while Garcia is shelved. He hits the ball hard, and here is to rolling the dice on that all clicking for him finally while he stares his MLB career square in the eye right now. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: TJ Friedl (CIN, 22% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Alek Thomas (ARI, 18% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Victor Robles (WSN, 18% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Max Kepler (MIN, 17% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Randal Grichuk (COL, 17% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Jose Siri (TBR, 15% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Edward Olivares (KCR, 12% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Nelson Cruz (SDP, 11% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Matt Carpenter (SDP, 10% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), JJ Bleday (OAK, 8% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Robbie Grossman (TEX, 8% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), A.J. Pollock (SEA, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Matt Vierling (DET, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jake Meyers (HOU, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Jason Heyward (LAD, 3% CBS Ownership) – Obviously, the Dodgers were going to fix Heyward, and he now sports one of the gaudiest Statcast pages. He just doesn’t play enough yet to be rosterable in anything but the deepest of leagues but should provide above-average production and be more useful than some everyday players. (3-5% FAAB)
Jake Bauers (NYY, 4% CBS Ownership) – Like a raccoon perking up when seeing the new bag of trash coming out to the alley, maybe your AL-Only brain revved up when reading earlier that the Athletics visit the Yankees next week. It looks like New York tweaked Bauers’ plate approach as he crushed AAA to the tune of a 202 wRC+ before his call-up. Those right-field bleacher bums in the Bronx better be ready for a hailstorm of homers this week. (1-3% FAAB)
STARTING PITCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Bryce Miller (SEA, 57% CBS Ownership) – Another week of a sexy minor league pitching prospect debuting. Although Miller was much lower on everyone’s radars, he dazzled in his debut much like Mason Miller, Tanner Bibee, and Logan Allen before him. The Stuff+ looked great in his first start, clocking in at a 132, although obviously in a small sample size. But if you need any more validation, just search for Miller on Twitter and be presented with facts like this and this and this and this supporting how good he was. He almost broke camp with the Mariners and looked meh in AA before getting called up, but can see why he almost was with Seattle on Opening Day. Miller should have a rotation spot for the rest of the year with Robbie Ray’s injury, and that presents the chance to get a Spencer Strider-like return here. (11-15% FAAB)
Bailey Ober (MIN, 36% CBS Ownership) – With both Tyler Mahle and Kenta Maeda looking to occupy the Twins’ IL for the foreseeable future, a rotation spot has opened for Ober. He’s now logged a 2.92 FIP in 67.1 innings in 13 Major League starts for the Twins – it’s a little strange he didn’t break camp with the team out of spring. With Minnesota sitting atop the AL Central currently, there’s nothing to stop Ober from adding to that win total. (5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Seth Lugo (SDP, 59% CBS Ownership, 5% FAAB), Josiah Gray (WSN, 54% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Tyler Wells (BAL, 54% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Hayden Wesneski (CHC, 52% CBS Ownership, 5% FAAB), Jameson Taillon (CHC, 46% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Ranger Suarez (PHI, 36% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Kyle Bradish (BAL, 29% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Michael Lorenzen (DET, 16% CBS Ownership) – I’m sure that Lorenzen will find himself on the Bar Mat in the Two-Start Dive Bar tomorrow, but away against Cleveland and home versus Seattle isn’t the hardest two-start out there. The Tigers have been playing marginally better, and you could run into two precious wins here. Lorenzen has also looked rusty as he gets in tune from an injury, and there’s a chance he rounds back to his projections with an ERA in the low 4’s and 7.5 K/9. Given how sparse pitching is becoming, that will be usable, especially against the weak AL Central offenses. (1-3% FAAB)
Louie Varland (MIN, 13% CBS Ownership) – Much like Bailey Ober above, Varland appears to have himself an extended run at a rotation spot due to Twins starting pitcher injuries. Varland isn’t quite as polished as Ober, but the ceiling might be higher because he throws harder and has slightly better prospect pedigree. But that extra stuff gives Varland a chance at a good K/9 rate and average ERA and WHIP. Varland is also scheduled for a two-start week with home starts versus the Padres and Cubs, making him viable in 12-team leagues too for this upcoming week. (5-7% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Alex Wood (SFG, 24% Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Clarke Schmidt (NYY, 22% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Braxton Garrett (MIA, 20% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Rich Hill (PIT, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), JP Sears (OAK, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
As you may be able to tell with the starting pitcher suggestions above, things are getting thin even in 10, 12, and 15-team leagues as injuries are ravaging Major League staffs. Since about every starter and decent prospect is likely owned in Only Leagues, we will look at a few deeper-cut prospects in AAA that are just an injury or doubleheader away from a chance.
Joan Adon (WSN, 0% CBS Ownership) – Adon debuted in 2021 and has worked 70 innings in the majors over 15 starts with a 6.81 ERA since, mostly dogged by a 5.4 BB/9. This year in AAA, he’s certainly worked on that flawed control and been able to push his BB/9 rate down to 3.2 over 31 innings, a marked improvement over his 5.1 BB/9 in AAA last year. Jake Irvin looked really shaky in his start this past week, and Adon might have his grip on the Nationals #5 spot soon and be able to provide some league average-ish innings. (1-3% FAAB)
Drew Rom (BAL, 0% CBS Ownership) – The Orioles starting rotation outside of Tyler Wells has had struggles throughout the season so far. If Baltimore really wants to push more chips in for a playoff run, Rom is sitting ready and waiting in AAA, pitching well, and already on the 40-man roster. (1-3% FAAB)
RELIEVERS
10/12 Team Adds
Will Smith (TEX, 54% CBS Ownership) – As a long-time Jose Leclerc supporter, it’s sad to see the walks finally do him in. Bochy knows and trusts Smith, who should get to ride this closer job for an extended time. (9-11% FAAB)
Michael King (NYY, 42% CBS Ownership) – Clay Holmes has looked exceptionally shaky this week against the Guardians, and it’s not wrong to worry whether he’s turning back into a pumpkin. King has picked up two saves in the meantime while a closer change might be what the doctor ordered to get the Yankees in gear. (7-9% FAAB)
Jason Adam (TBR, 30% CBS Ownership) – Peter Fairbanks’ injury this week took a weird, dark Jeffrey Springs-like turn this week as it went from a Raynaud’s Syndrome flare up no biggie to a 15-day IL stint with a forearm strain. I don’t like that trajectory for that at all. Adam becomes the man to own in the Rays ‘pen. (7% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Aroldis Chapman (KCR, 41% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Brusdar Graterol (LAD, 37% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Jorge Lopez (MIN, 34% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Adam Ottavino (NYM, 33% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Bryan Abreu (HOU, 32% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Dylan Floro (MIA, 32% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brad Boxberger (CHC, 29% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Zach Jackson (OAK, 5% CBS Ownership) – With Jeurys Familia and Domingo Acevedo being cut and Trevor May and Dany Jimenez pulling up lame, Jackson has won the worst looking closer battle I’ve seen in my lifetime. Look, the Athletics might only offer 10-15 more saves the rest of the season, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Desperate measures include placing your fantasy baseball hopes in a dude with a 15.6% career BB rate sometimes. Hold onto your butts. (7% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Nick Martinez (SDP, 25% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), John Schreiber (BOS, 13% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Rafael Montero (HOU, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Peter Strzelecki (MIL, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Matt Moore (LAA, 7% CBS ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Hunter Harvey (WSN, 4% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Carl Edwards Jr. (WSN, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Castro (ARI, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jason Foley (DET, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Garrett Cleavinger (TBR, 2% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Kenyan Middleton (CHW, 2% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Shelby Miller (LAD, 1% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Justin Lawrence (COL, 2% CBS Ownership) – Lawrence is built in the mold of Sergio Romo with a sinker and dirty, dirty sweeper. That sweeper gets a 35.3% whiff rate and has allowed only a .097 average against it this year. With Daniel Bard continuing to pitch in low-leverage, Lawrence is the man behind Pierce Johnson for saves. (1% FAAB)
Shintaro Fujinami (OAK, 6% CBS Ownership) – With how awful Fujinami was to start the season, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was angrily cut in some AL-Only leagues as he likely tanked the owner’s ERA for most of the season. But if Fujinami has leaked to your waiver wire, you only have to look above at Zach Jackson to see the Cheeto-strength arm in front of him for the 10 remaining Athletics saves. (3-5% FAAB)
