FAAB Week 8: Fools Rushing In

Howdy out there, Razzballers! It’s been a surprisingly tumultuous week after we had settled in a few ruts around here. It makes sense as injuries mount again, minor leaguers also force the hands of their big-league clubs for a callup, and closers melt down. Outside of the last place clubs in MLB (it’s odd how each division has a dopey laggard to bring up the rear), those playoff races are starting to shape up, and they look to be tight. We’re likely in for a few weeks of fluctuation as the projected Super Two cutoff is rapidly approaching, which should open the floodgates for the likes of Bubba Chandler and others (maybe a Bryce Eldridge promotion from Double-A?).

So whether you are chasing the new hotness that has been promoted or looking for a stopgap to fill in for that injured stalwart, here’s what the waiver wire holds this weekend!

The stats and roster rates below are updated as of noon central time on 5/16.

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 BlueSky (@mcouill7.bsky.social).

CATCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Dalton Rushing (LAD, 39% CBS Rostership) & Moises Ballesteros (CHC, 26% CBS Rostership) – You, reading this piece again on Saturday afternoon, obviously immediately upon drop: “Alright, Mike has suggested Jonah Heim for several straight weeks at this point, let’s see what he has to say again about the Texas catcher as another repeat…” Ha – fooled, sucker! No Jonah Heim this week as we have some fresh blood with Rushing and Ballesteros reaching the big leagues. Check out the Cards & Categories pod this week to get further in-depth analysis on both rookie backstops from Jeremy Brewer and I. TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): I like both of these catchers and think both are roughly equal in value because I’m optimistic on Rushing’s chances to crack the LA lineup. Michael Conforto ain’t it, and the Dodgers showed faith in Rushing by demoting Austin Barnes to run with only two backstops in the big leagues. Ballesteros can easily slot into 1B/DH in Chicago along with catcher but might be at greater risk for a trip back to Iowa when Ian Happ returns from the IL. However, I think Ballesteros will hit enough to make sure he sticks. What that adds up to is each of these guys getting roughly 4-5 starts a week for the next few weeks with it being a coinflip on who to prefer. I lean a little more towards Rushing right now. (3-5% FAAB apiece, double that bid for 15-team leagues)

QUICK HITS: Jonah Heim (TEX, 28% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Ryan Jeffers (MIN, 44% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 39% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Joey Bart (PIT, 33% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 22% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Edgar Quero (CHW, 15% CBS Rostership) – Quero’s roster rate dipped a tick, likely because of the introduction of Rushing and Ballesteros to player pools in deeper leagues. Quero would be on the tier of those two if he flashed more power, but until then making do with his .296 batting average through 22 games isn’t so bad. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Dillon Dingler (DET, 19% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Connor Wong (BOS, 14% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Danny Jansen (TBR, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

10/12 Team Adds

Michael Toglia (1B, CLE, 39% CBS Rostership) – WEE WOO WEE WOO WEE WOO WEE WOO. Oh, don’t mind that flashing purple light, it’s just my alarm that the Rockies have a full week of games at home in Coors Field. WAIT… IT’S A SEVEN GAME WEEK?!? WE’VE REACHED DEFCON 1, FOLKS!! Everyone get into place – on the double! (5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Gabriel Arias (2B/3B/SS, CLE, 43% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Colt Keith (1B/2B, DET, 40% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Connor Norby (3B, MIA, 35% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Nolan Schanuel (1B, LAA, 33% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Willi Castro (2B/3B/SS/OF, MIN, 31% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Matt Shaw (3B, CHC, 45% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Luisangel Acuna (2B/SS, NYM, 36% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jose Caballero (2B/3B/SS/OF, TBR, 32% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Ryan Mountcastle (1B, BAL, 32% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Ty France (1B, MIN, 29% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Daniel Schneemann (2B/SS/OF, CLE, 27% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Brooks Lee (2B/3B/SS, MIN, 23% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B, PIT, 21% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B/3B/SS, PIT, 20% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Addison Barger (3B/OF, TOR, 9% CBS Rostership) – After praising Barger numerous times in this column last summer, he’s finally putting the pieces together with one of the prettiest pre-solids Savant pages one can have. The 25-year-old has always swung the bat hard but appears to have nipped the chase rate enough to possibly turn into a regular in Toronto. Andres Gimenez’s recent injury has created the opportunity for one of Barger or Clement to establish themselves as the de facto third baseman in Toronto. Given Barger’s youth, new-ish plate approach, and upside, I’ll roll with him. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Trey Sweeney (SS, DET, 19% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Lenyn Sosa (1B/2B/3B, CHW, 4% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Zach Dezenzo (1B/OF, HOU, 15% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Chase Meidroth (2B/SS, CHW, 12% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Luis Urias (2B/3B, ATH, 10% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Ernie Clement (2B/3B/SS, TOR, 7% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Santiago Espinal (2B/3B/OF, CIN, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Otto Kemp (3B, PHI, 5% CBS Rostership) – Please, universe, let Otto Kemp get called up for the Phillies’ four-game set at Coors Field. We all deserve it. Kemp keeps chugging along at Triple-A, slashing .327/.433/.628 with 10 slams and seven legs through 40 games. (3-5% FAAB)

Jorbit Vivas (2B, NYY, 1% CBS Rostership) – Oswaldo Cabrera’s gruesome ankle injury paved the path to concrete playing time in the Bronx for Vivas, who was promoted when Jazz Chisholm Jr. went down. Vivas currently is in a strong-side platoon with DJ LeMahieu, who himself also struggles to stay on the field. Vivas is learning big-league pitching on the fly, but he has a respectable eye at the plate (running a 14.3% BB-rate in 28 PAs after consistently posting double-dight walk rates in the minors) and would be good for 20-25 steals over a full season. He’s worth adding in AL-Only leagues as a bench piece in the hopes he can bring his batting average above the Mendoza Line and thrive a solid Yankees offense. Vivas also has great security here, as there isn’t much brewing behind him in Triple-A, so you do wonder if the Bronx Bombers fast track George Lombard Jr., who was recently promoted to Double-A, to debut later this season, and likely, making him a candidate for suggested pickup here soon. (1-3% FAAB)

OUTFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Ryan O’Hearn (1B/OF, BAL, 49% CBS Rostership) – The Hittertron loves the upcoming week for O’Hearn (and the Orioles, in general, as you’ll see a few of their available bats peppered throughout the Quick Hits) with a seven-game slate at Milwaukee and Boston. The O’s look to avoid a rotation turn from Garrett Crochet, which lines all of those seven games up against righties, O’Hearn’s specialty. The 31-year-old is slashing .301/.387/.548 (169 wRC+) against right-handers this season. (3-5% FAAB)

Jordan Beck (COL, 44% CBS Rostership) – WEE WOO WEE WOO WEE WOO WEE WOO. Wow, I really should have thought twice about installing this Rockies’ alarm in my home office. Gonna be a long week. WEE WOO WEE WOO WEE WOO. (5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Trevor Larnach (MIN, 33% CBS Rostership, 3-5% FAAB), Evan Carter (TEX, 47% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Pavin Smith (1B/OF, ARI, 40% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Gavin Sheets (1B/OF, 32% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Max Kepler (PHI, 25% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), JJ Bleday (ATH, 44% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Jorge Soler (LAA, 42% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Daulton Varsho (TOR, 28% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jake Meyers (HOU, 25% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Brandon Marsh (PHI, 12% CBS Rostership) – WOOOooooOOOO, WOOOooooOOOO, WOOOooooOOOO. What the hell? Another alarm?!? I didn’t ask for the installation of that along with my Rockies siren. Oh, the Fantasy Action Alarm Beacon (F.A.A.B.) system has a separate default setting for all great matchups? Convenient. The Phillies have a seven-game slate next week that could lift the lowest of fantasy teams out there, with the magical one-two road trip at Colorado and at Sacramento. Make sure to act just as hastily to roster all Philadelphia bats this week along with those Rox. (3-5% FAAB)

Mickey Moniak (COL, 4% CBS Rostership) – WEE WOO WEE WOO WEE WOO WEE WOO. It’s true sicko time, baby. In the Rockies’ last all Coors week, Moniak slashed .318/.333/.409 across 24 plate appearances. Because it’s Coors Field, that was only a 90 wRC+. WEE WOO WEE WOO WEE WOO. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Kameron Misner (TBR, 16% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Andujar (3B/OF, ATH, 12% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jesus Sanchez (MIA, 12% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Alek Thomas (ARI, 8% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Andrew McCutchen (PIT, 6% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Drew Waters (KCR, 4% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Alexander Canario (PIT, 2% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Derek Hill (MIA, 1% CBS Rostership) – That Dane Myers run was fun while it lasted until he blew out his oblique. Hill was activated in Miami this week and walks right into the full-time role vacated by Myers. Hill can provide some speed and a little pop with a likely rough batting average. He’s pretty much what Trent Grisham used to be before Grisham was inhabited by the spirit of Roger Maris. (3-5% FAAB)

Leody Taveras (SEA, 5% CBS Rostership) – The Hittertron has Taveras as a positive value for next week, mostly thanks to the Mariners getting three games at the White Sox. In a deep league, this is a decent one week flyer. (3-5% FAAB)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Ben Brown (CHC, 45% CBS Rostership) – Ooo, a two-start week at Miami (team 90 wRC+) and Cincy (team 92 wRC+), yes please. In addition, Brown has been much sharper over his last four starts, despite a 4.95 ERA, pitching to a 1.95 FIP and 24.4% K-BB rate because he trimmed the walks to just 1.4 per nine. We might be seeing the star turn we all wanted for the 25-year-old. (5% FAAB)

Zebby Matthews (MIN, 37% CBS Rostership) – BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. I’m losing my mind… another g-d alarm?!? I thought I had them set to all hitter alerts only. Oh, wait this is a special one… ZEBBY IS GETTING CALLED UP?!? This is a real scramble emergency, everyone get to those wires immediately!!! (7% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Ryan Weathers (MIA, 44% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Nick Martinez (CIN, 40% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Logan Henderson (MIL, 37% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Andrew Heaney (PIT, 46% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Gunnar Hoglund (ATH, 42% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Michael Lorenzen (KCR, 39% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Luis Ortiz (CLE, 38% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Landen Roupp (SFG, 32% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Ryan Gusto (HOU, 26% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jacob Misorowski (MIL, 26% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Chris Paddack (MIN, 14% CBS Rostership) – Have you seen what Paddack looks like lately? He’s totally copped Joe Ryan’s style with the ‘stache (plus a little scruff) and hat mullet to the point where there have been multiple times I’ve tuned into a Twins game and wondered why Ryan was on the mound when he wasn’t the scheduled starter only to find out it was Paddack. And by some transcendental transitive property, Paddack appears to have acquired Ryan’s control along with his fashion sense, producing a 1.5 BB/9 rate over his last four starts in which he’s pitched to a 1.85 ERA. Yes, Paddack had to cut the strikeouts a bit to ensure his pitches stay in the zone, but being a good pitcher on a suddenly hot team yields good results in the win column. Paddack has a decent next matchup at home against the Guardians to try and keep the magic humming. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Sean Burke (CHW, 18% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Aaron Civale (MIL, 17% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Chad Patrick (MIL, 15% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Quinn Priester (MIL, 11% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Bailey Falter (PIT, 7% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Carson Whisenhunt (SFG, 7% CBS Rostership) – The Eastern Carolina product is finally putting the pieces together at Triple-A, pitching to a 3.48 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 49.2% groundball rate while whittling his walk rate to 1.2 per nine. This is the prophecy that was foretold by the prospect gurus given Whisenhunt’s nasty changeup. Landen Roupp and Jordan Hicks have both been toiling lately and Whisenhunt is stretched out enough to step right into one of their rotation spots if needed. (3% FAAB)

Parker Messick (CLE, 3% CBS Rostership) – The Guardians are using Kolby Allard to fill in for the recently injured Ben Lively, but that doesn’t seem tenable in a tight AL Central race. Plus, the squad can’t ignore what Messick has been doing down in Columbus much longer. The 24-year-old southpaw has punched out 48 in just 32.2 innings while working to a 2.76 ERA and 3.42 FIP. I think all of the projections are low on Messick’s strikeout ability as he’s produced double-digit K/9 rates at every minor league stop so far. Add him now because he’ll be a hot commodity given the track record of Cleveland pitching development when he likely debuts in the next few weeks. (3% FAAB)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

Jordan Romano (PHI, 37% CBS Rostership) – I don’t want to jinx it, but it looks like the recent mechanical tweaks Romano made have been working as he’s strung together six straight scoreless outings over which he’s secured three saves and a hold. Look out, Jose Alvarado, as you might be permanently headed back to a high-leverage lefty role to allow Romano to become the clear-cut closer in Philly. (5-7% FAAB)

Porter Hodge (CHC, 30% CBS Rostership) – Despite that Sunday meltdown in Queens, Hodge still appears to be the frontrunner for saves in Wrigleyville. Do keep an eye on Drew Pomeranz, who bagged his first save since 2020 this week, but Hodge is the one to roster for now. (5% FAAB)

Dennis Santana (PIT, 27% CBS Rostership) – David Bednar continues to work in the eighth inning ahead of Santana. The carousel for the 15 saves the Pirates will offer rest-of-season continues spinning. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Will Vest (DET, 45% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Shelby Miller (ARI, 29% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Kirby Yates (LAD, 41% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jason Adam (SDP, 39% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Tommy Kahnle (DET, 38% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Lucas Erceg (KCR, 34% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Bryan Abreu (HOU, 21% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Yimi Garcia (TOR, 12% CBS Rostership) – Hmm… maybe Jeff Hoffman’s shoulder is jacked up like the Orioles said so? He’s allowed 11 earned runs over his last five appearances, driven in part by three long balls. Even though Hoffman’s velo has been fine, if his command is alluding him and causing more dingers, he’s not long for the closer’s seat. Garcia, who has struggled a bit lately himself but in a normal up-and-downs of a reliever way, sports a 2.80 FIP and 12.7 K/9 through 17 innings and would be the obvious replacement for Hoffman. (3-5% FAAB)

Pierce Johnson (ATL, 5% CBS Rostership) – It’s time we start talking about the possibility of Raisel Iglesias not being the Atlanta closer. This seemed unfathomable coming off a 2024 performance in which the veteran posted a 1.95 ERA over 69.1 innings, but 2025 has been a far different story with a 5.71 ERA in 17.1 innings while serving up six taters already (compared to averaging 5.3 per year over his last three seasons). Johnson would immediately be the first candidate for saves if the Braves decide Iglesias needs a respite, with the former Rockie firing a 2.16 ERA and 1.84 FIP across 16.2 innings this season while relying heavily on an above-average 95-mph cutter. (1-3% FAAB)

Shawn Armstrong (TEX, 3% CBS Rostership) – The Rangers are being very facetious about the injury status for both Luke Jackson (hit on his pitching arm this week by a comebacker) and Chris Martin (left his most recent appearance after one pitch with elbow tightness, MRI came back clean), which means they are lost for the season, obviously. On the off chance there is a vacuum created by a pair of IL stints for Jackson and Martin, Armstrong, who tallied two saves this week, will fill the void. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Griffin Jax (MIN, 16% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Justin Slaten (BOS, 14% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Calvin Faucher (MIA, 11% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB0, Reed Garrett (NYM, 9% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Jesus Tinoco (MIA, 9% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Phil Maton (STL, 3% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Jordan Leasure (CHW, 2% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)