FAAB Week 9: Caballero Up

Hello once again, Razzballers! And happy holiday weekend to all out there celebrating. Enjoy those BBQs, beverages, and agonizing roster decisions this long weekend.

I know it’s an arbitrary cutoff, but Memorial Day weekend (end of May) does feel like a momentous turning point in the fantasy baseball calendar. First, it is really the time that we start flipping from the preseason projections to rest-of-season projections given the larger outputs players have. Rudy is obviously all over that, with his sweeping update of the rest-of-season Player Rater (peep numbers 18, 20, 34, and 46 for good measure). We are well in the thick of moving from hot/cold starts to players re-establishing their baselines.

Second, trade season is likely to kick into action across fantasy leagues. I generally don’t engage in major trades until post-Memorial Day because I want the general value to accrue for a few months. Now is the time along with a few outdoor adult beverages to start concocting those trade offers to improve along the margins. Need assistance in this endeavor too? Well, well, well, lucky for you, Razzball also has you covered with a fancy, schmancy Trade Analyzer tool.

Alright, enjoy the rest of your weekend fiddling with those nerded out webpages I offered up. On to the FAAB suggestions!

The stats and roster rates below are updated as of noon central time on 5/23.

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

Jonah Heim (TEX, 25% CBS Rostership) – Look who’s back! Heim continues to swing a steady bat (he’s slipped to an 80 wRC+ in May but still owns a .260/.305/.420 slash line on the season) and clocks in as the 13th most valuable catcher on our year-to-date Player Rater. That accounts for why he keeps re-appearing here — he’s just on the edge of warranting 12-team ownership and given that catchers have been surprisingly good, also possibly isn’t needed on your team. However, there are still more highly rostered backstops that can be cut at this point in favor of Heim (or one of the Quick Hits below), including Yainer Diaz (89% CBS Rostership), Keibert Ruiz (59%), Sean Murphy (46%), Tyler Stephenson (45%), Francisco Alvarez (45%), and… maybe Adley Rutschman (98%)? Check out Jeremy and I’s Cards & Categories pod this week in which we talk about Adley’s struggles and whether he’s droppable. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Dalton Rushing (LAD, 44% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Ryan Jeffers (MIN, 43% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 39% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 22% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Edgar Quero (CHW, 13% CBS Rostership) –   (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Dillon Dingler (DET, 19% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Amaya (CHC, 12% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Carlos Narvaez (BOS, 7% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Danny Jansen (TBR, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

INFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Jose Caballero (2B/3B/SS/OF, TBR, 37% CBS Rostership) – I’m not sure why MLB always skimps out on making Memorial Day one of the main holiday weeks for games but only two teams have a seven-game slate upcoming, Tampa and Toronto. Caballero has been floating around the Quick Hits all season but has kicked into a higher gear lately. He’s starting to move up in the Rays’ batting order and regularly hitting in the top five spots. Since batting cleanup on May 4, the 28-year-old has slashed .286/.340/.381 while going 7-for-8 on steal attempts over 14 games. Caballero, with his positional eligibilities, is a great piece to plug into rosters when needed and provide plenty of speed while giving Tampa no reason to not play him every day. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Connor Norby (3B, MIA, 36% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Nolan Schanuel (1B, LAA, 36% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Chase Meidroth (2B/SS, CHW, 21% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Gavin Lux (2B/OF, CIN, 46% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Colt Keith (1B/2B, DET, 39% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Gabriel Arias (2B/3B/SS, CLE, 38% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Vargas (1B/3B/OF, CHW, 36% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Luis Rengifo (2B/3B, LAA, 32% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Ryan Mountcastle (1B, BAL, 30% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Willi Castro (2B/3B/SS/OF, MIN, 29% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Ty France (1B, MIN, 25% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Daniel Schneemann (2B/SS/OF, CLE, 24% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B/3B/SS, PIT, 20% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Addison Barger (3B/OF, TOR, 12% CBS Rostership) – Between his recent hot run (.305/.379/.508 slash line, good for a 151 wRC+, in May) and helium from Rates & Barrels/Eno Sarris, it’s incredible that Barger’s roster rates have remained low. As noted in the Caballero blurb, the Jays have a seven-game schedule next week and while Barger is technically in a strong-side platoon role, he’s breaking out enough that Toronto might just anoint him as the full-time third baseman soon. Certainly, his above-average glove work at the hot corner so far (+1 OAA, 3.3 Defensive Runs on FanGraphs) isn’t going to hurt his chances. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Carlos Santana (1B, CLE, 17% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Thairo Estrada (2B/SS, COL, 13% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Spencer Horwitz (1B/2B, PIT, 11% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Luis Urias (2B/3B, ATH, 11% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Santiago Espinal (2B/3B/OF, CIN, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Lenyn Sosa (1B/2B/3B, CHW, 4% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Tim Tawa (2B/OF, ARI, 5% CBS Rostership) – Poor Alek Thomas and my Alek Thomas takes. Just when the spot in center opens up for Thomas to make his own, he’s slumped at the wrong time while Tawa heats up and is slowly taking his job. Arizona is in a dogfight for a playoff spot, so they have no time to waste not riding the hot hand. Tawa has put up a solid .333/.361/.455 slash through 36 plate appearances in May, which is allowing him to peel more and more playing time away from Thomas. (3-5% FAAB)

Ernie Clement (2B/3B/SS, TOR, 7% CBS Rostership) – Up a creek and desperate for a steal or two for your deep roto league? Despite a brutal .130 batting average over his last seven games, causing him to lose the sliver of playing time he had to Addison Barger, Clement clocks in as a $10 player on the Hittertron next week. Why? The Blue Jays get a four-game series against the Athletics, who feature Shea Langeliers behind the plate. Langeliers has allowed an MLB-worst 42 steals (six more than second worst Yanier Diaz) while gunning down just six runners. Yeah, now that Hittertron value makes more sense. (3-5% FAAB)

OUTFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Ryan O’Hearn (1B/OF, BAL, 49% CBS Rostership) – I know the Orioles suck right now. Hell, I just suggested dropping Adley Rutschman above. But don’t let the team’s general suckitude taint your view of O’Hearn, who’s hitting .306 and on pace for 24 bombs. The Hittertron loves him again this upcoming week, predicting him to be a $15 player thanks to a six-game week against all right-handers that includes a three-game home series against the White Sox. (3-5% FAAB)

Will Benson (CIN, 36% CBS Rostership) – Look, I have no idea what to make of Benson. His recent blistering run is par for his career, as I fell in love with his hot start last year. Whenever you are running a K-rate that hovers around 30% like Benson, it’s impossible to stay consistent. We’ve all certainly missed his best work after he popped five homers across four consecutive games in which he went yard, but that stretch garnered him a longer look in Cincy. The 26-year-old is a threat to go 15/15 for the rest of the season and equally a threat to be back at Triple-A in two weeks. This is left-handed Jo Adell, so enjoy the run while you can but don’t get overly invested or excited. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Trevor Larnach (MIN, 39% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Daulton Varsho (TOR, 36% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Pavin Smith (1B/OF, ARI, 37% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Gavin Sheets (1B/OF, 33% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jake Meyers (HOU, 28% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Max Kepler (PHI, 24% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Jesus Sanchez (MIA, 12% CBS Rostership) – The Hittertron has turned into a real Jesus Freak lately, with the Miami outfielder’s value consistently being in the mid-teens. The robot behind the Razzball curtain hasn’t been wrong either, as the 27-year-old has hit .268 with a homer and four steals so far in May. Sanchez is hitting leadoff and has overcome a platoon situation (mostly because the Marlins don’t have any better options), which is giving him plenty of volume while becoming a sneaky candidate to go 20/20 this season. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Brandon Marsh (PHI, 12% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Denzel Clarke (ATH, 4% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Andrew Benintendi (CHW, 15% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Andujar (3B/OF, ATH, 15% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Robert Hassell (WSN, 10% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Alex Verdugo (ATL, 9% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Andrew McCutchen (PIT, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Drew Waters (KCR, 3% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Derek Hill (MIA, 1% CBS Rostership) – Hill continues to be the best option in super deep NL-Only leagues despite his fourth outfielder/short-side platoon role. He’s a threat to swipe a base every day he gets on base with his 98th percentile sprint speed and should get roughly another month of run while Dane Myers is shelved with an oblique injury. (1-3% FAAB)

Jonatan Clase (TOR, 2% CBS Rostership) – The Blue Jays have been limping along with left field options since Alan Roden fell flat on his face, with Clase serving as the short-side in a platoon with Nathan Lukes. But wait, you might think, why not pick up Lukes then? Hey, fair, Lukes has popped four homers while slashing .265/.374/.434 and warrants ownership in every AL-Only league. But Lukes is also a 30-year-old Quad-A type player while the 23-year-old Clase offers a much more intriguing skillset that could be a stolen bases boon. The ZiPS projection for rest-of-season shows what Clase could do with a .222 average, seven homers and 20 steals over 320 plate appearances with upside for more production. Toronto has already tweaked Clase’s plate approach by reeling in his out-of-zone swing rate from around 30% with Seattle to 22% across Triple-A and MLB in 2025. Much like Hill above, Clase also wants to prove himself and is liable to run wild when on base. (1-3% FAAB)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Michael Lorenzen (KCR, 43% CBS Rostership) – Zoinks, starting pitching options have really thinned out for shallower leagues, to the point where you can feel free to dip in the 15-team suggestions a bit below (see the Cameron blurb, Mikolas has been hot and lines up for a good matchup at Baltimore, Gusto and Harrison have good arsenals with chances to secure rotation spots, Vasquez has a two-start week against Miami and Pittsburgh). Despite the 33-year-old Lorenzen’s ho-hum but steady season with a 7.9 K/9 and 4.32 FIP, he lines up for a solid two-start week with home outings against the Reds and Tigers. If you have the option to stream just the start against Cincinnati (team 92 wRC+) and skip the Detroit one (team 113 wRC+), even better. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Andrew Heaney (PIT, 45% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Luis Ortiz (CLE, 37% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Gunnar Hoglund (ATH, 36% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Landen Roupp (SFG, 31% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Jacob Misorowski (MIL, 26% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Noah Cameron (KCR, 18% CBS Rostership) – Cameron also draws a start against the lowly Reds (see the Lorenzen blurb above) next week as injuries have opened a rotation spot. However, I think the rookie southpaw sticks in this Kansas City rotation for rest-of-season. Hear me out. Despite Cameron appearing to get another temporary rotation turn due to Seth Lugo (sprained middle right finger) and Cole Ragans (strained left groin) being on the IL, Ragans might miss 3-4 weeks to rest the groin that has been nagging him all season. In addition Kris Bubic and Michael Wacha are going to need rest sooner or later. Bubic is coming off a 2024 return from TJ while tossing only 30.1 innings and is already up to 61.1 in 2025. Wacha has a creaky soon-to-be 34-year-old body and hasn’t thrown 170-plus frames since 2015. That opens the door for Cameron, with his solid five-pitch mix that’s produced a 3.31 ERA and 10.5 K/9 in 32.2 Triple-A innings, to enter the Royals plans for a good stretch of time. I think he can post an ERA in the high threes with an 8 K/9 while pitching in a decent home park for a solid team with plenty of AL Central opponents lined up over the summer. (5-7% FAAB, 3-5% FAAB in 12-teamers)

QUICK HITS: Aaron Civale (MIL, 18% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Miles Mikolas (STL, 17% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Randy Vasquez (SDP, 16% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Chad Patrick (MIL, 15% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Hunter Dobbins (BOS, 15% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Ryan Gusto (HOU, 13% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Logan Evans (SEA, 13% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Kyle Harrison (SFG, 10% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Davis Martin (CHW, 7% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Colton Gordon (HOU, 4% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Ryne Nelson (ARI, 5% CBS Rostership) – Welcome back to the land of figuring out whether Nelson is good or not. The Arizona right-hander takes over the rotation spot freed up thanks to Eduardo Rodriguez’s latest IL stint. Through 31.1 innings, Nelson is once again posting a performance that is poor on the surface level (4.60 ERA) but much better under the hood (3.56 FIP, 1.15 WHIP, 109 Stuff+ rating on his whole arsenal). This week offers a great chance to see if he can sink or swim with a two-step at home against Pittsburgh and Washington. (5-7% FAAB, 1-3% FAAB in 15-teamers)

Adrian Houser (CHW, 1% CBS Rostership) – Lamenting the loss of Martin Perez? Well, here’s another veteran that is set for a rotation spot on the Southside while chasing the carrot of getting to pitch his way out of town. Houser worked a solid five-pitch mix in his first outing this week to six shutout innings with two Ks against Seattle. With a career 51.8% groundball rate, Houser should be less prone to total disasters even while the weather heats up slowly in Chicago. The upside could be a starter that hovers around a 4.00 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP and enough volume to produce some strikeouts (7.1 career K/9) and go deep enough into games to make Houser win eligible if the Sox lineup can score enough (ha!). (5% FAAB)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

Justin Martinez (ARI, 61% CBS Rostership) – The roster rate here is much higher than I typically analyze (50% is usually the cutoff), but in the off chance Martinez is on your wire after his shoulder injury, pick him up now. The right-hander is tearing through a rehab assignment and should walk right back into the Arizona closer seat given Shelby Miller’s shaky performance. (5-7% FAAB)

Dennis Santana (PIT, 31% CBS Rostership) – (PS – I wrote this following blurb Friday afternoon, and, well, we know how Friday night went for the Pirates.) I’m barely ever on Twitter anymore, but I have been privy to debate around the Pittsburgh closer situation happening there in fantasy baseball circles. Yes, I know that Bednar has a 1.68 FIP and 13.1 K/9 compared to 2.24 and 5.8 marks for Santana. However, Shit The Bednar loves to blow up in spectacular fashion, plus the Pirates keep preferring Santana in save situations. This a franchise that just called up Mike Burrows recently over two of the best Triple-A pitchers in Braxton Ashcraft (who is on the 40-man!) and Bubba Chandler. They don’t know what they are doing; Santana all the way. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Jason Adam (SDP, 41% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Tommy Kahnle (DET, 35% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Lucas Erceg (KCR, 34% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Bryan Abreu (HOU, 21% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Daniel Palencia (CHC, 9% CBS Rostership) – Palencia becomes the temporary closer by default for the Cubs thanks to Porter Hodge’s IL stint combined with Ryan Pressly’s continued poor work isn’t going to cut it in a suddenly tight NL Central race. Good work, Cubs, you had the chance to bury this division with a few extra bullpen additions and now find yourselves in a likely back-and-forth race with a Cardinals team that looks to be conjuring the devil magic again. Palencia is a classic two-pitch righty reliever with a 99-mph fastball and wicked 129 Stuff+ slider. He has closer skills, now let’s see if he’s got the fortitude to handle the job. (5-7% FAAB)

Matt Strahm (PHI, 14% CBS Rostership) – Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson has stated that Strahm could see save opportunities as the Phils continue to mix-and-match with their bullpen arms. Also given that Jordan Romano is still diminished despite his recent solid run of work (both his fastball and slider are hovering around a 100 Stuff+, which is no bueno for a closer), Strahm could be in line for more work in the future. The veteran southpaw has been great all season, pitching to a 2.75 ERA, 1.96 FIP and 24.7% K-BB. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Jordan Leasure (CHW, 2% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Abner Uribe (MIL, 18% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Griffin Jax (MIN, 18% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Justin Slaten (BOS, 14% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Jesus Tinoco (MIA, 10% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Pierce Johnson (ATL, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Phil Maton (STL, 3% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)