Waiver Wire Week 15: Mickey Mouse Show

When I started this article a few months ago, I was hesitant to recommend the same players in back-to-back weeks. I’ve come to learn that it’s mandatory for a waiver wire piece, though, because people need to be reminded when a player is sitting on too many waiver wires. With that said, I do not recommend a player three times in a row simply because that guy is always picked up in most leagues by then, despite what the rosetership numbers say. We have a few carryovers from last week, and it’s a beautiful time to find some gems off the waiver wire. With that in mind, let’s get started with the waiver wire catchers!

The stats and roster rates below are updated on 6/25. All rostership percentages are on Yahoo.

Feel free to comment here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!

Also, check out my Streamers article dropping tomorrow. 

CATCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Samuel Basallo (BAL, 50% Rostership) – Basallo was already playing every day when Adley Rutschman was healthy, but he’s taken his game to another level since Rutschman landed on the IL. This catcher had his first two-homer game on Wednesday and now has a .290 AVG and .856 OPS since April 24. Not many catchers have averages like those, and we love that he has matchups with the White Sox and Reds this week.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

QUICK HITS: Carter Jensen (KC, 64% Rostership), Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 51% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Kyle Teel (CWS, 17% Rostership) – We had Teel in this section last week, and he might be the first guy to be in three straight weeks if he continues to be under-rostered. This catcher was a key piece of the Garrett Crochet trade for a reason, hitting cleanup in his return to Chicago’s lineup. It’s no surprise he has that prominent lineup spot because Teel has tallied a .374 OBP and .778 OPS across 80 games at this level. He also had a .405 OBP and .871 OPS throughout his minor league career, so this guy could develop into one of the best catchers in baseball.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

QUICK HITS: Francisco Alvarez (NYM, 18% Rostership), Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 27% Rostership)

INFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Bryce Eldridge (1B, SF, 44% Rostership) – Why is Eldridge still sitting on so many waiver wires? This is truly one of the most baffling roster percentages I’ve ever seen. Fantasy managers should’ve already been excited when a 6’7″ guy who had a .445 OBP and .963 OPS at Triple-A was called up, but not enough cared then. What makes it even stranger is that he has a .378 OBP and an .859 OPS in 39 games at this level. That includes a .337 AVG and 1.030 OPS across his last 24 games, so there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be rostered in every single league out there. This week’s schedule couldn’t be much better either, with San Fran playing Arizona and Colorado on the road.

% of Recommended FAAB: 10%

QUICK HITS: Willi Castro (1B/2B/SS/3B, COL, 52% Rostership), Sam Anonacci (2B/3B, CWS, 43% Rostership), Paul Goldschmidt (1B, NYY, 36% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Kody Clemens (1B/2B, MIN, 25% Rostership) – It’s hard to believe Roger Clemens produced anything positive outside of his pitching, but here we are! Clemens has quietly become one of the Twins’ best bats this season, hitting third nearly every day over the last month. Clemens earned that promotion by providing a .273 AVG and .841 OPS across his last 39 fixtures. That includes a 1-for-18 stretch over the last few games, but he was unstoppable before that. We expect him to recapture his prior form when examining this schedule, with Minnesota matching up against Houston and New York this week. The Stros are 25th in wOBA and 26th in ERA.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%

QUICK HITS: Curtis Mead (WAS, 1B/2B/3B, 18% Rostership), Nasim Nunez (WAS, 2B/SS, 29% Rostership), Nick Gonzalez (PIT, 2B/3B/SS, 23% Rostership)

OUTFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Mickey Moniak (COL, 44% Rostership) – Moniak was a must-roster player before an ankle issue sidelined him for a month. Most fantasy managers shifted him to the waiver wire after that, but it feels like they’re slow to pick him back up. That’s difficult to understand because Moniak has a .282 AVG and .935 OPS this season. He also broke out with a .270 AVG and .824 OPS with the Rockies last year while flirting with a 1.000 OPS at home in that two-year span. His numbers against righties are also right on par with those, which is incredible since Colorado has all seven games at home this week, while six of them are against right-handers!

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

QUICK HITS: Jung-Hoo Lee (SF, 49% Rostership), Carson Benge (NYM, 48% Rostership), Kerry Carpenter (DET, 39% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Daniel Canzone (SEA, 20% Rostership) – I can’t see this name without thinking of one of my favorite foods. That’s obviously a calzone, but Canzone has been quite delicious himself. This slugger has been hitting between fourth and sixth over recent weeks. He’s earned that prominent lineup spot behind his .275 AVG and .895 OPS. We actually saw similar averages last season, and we can’t overlook his .417 OBP and 1.171 OPS over the last month. He also has a .400 OBP and 1.015 OPS at home, which is awesome since he has all six games in Seattle this week!

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Samad Taylor (SD, 19% Rostership), Jake McCarthy (COL, 16% Rostership), Jasson Dominguez (NYY, 15% Rostership)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Kris Bubic (KC, 46% Rostership) – Bubic struggled in his final two starts before landing on the IL, but he was quietly breaking out before that. This lefty had a 3.32 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 9.3 K/9 rate through his first seven starts this season after posting a 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 rate last year. Most fantasy managers sent him to the waiver wire after an elbow injury, but he kick-started his rehab assignment last week. It might take him a few starts to build up a full pitch count, but Bubic needs to be rostered in every league simply because of the potential he’s showcased over the last two years.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

Logan Henderson (MIL, 38% Rostership) – Let’s pick up another injured pitcher off the waiver wire! Everyone dropped Henderson because of a lengthy absence, but it appears this righty is fully over his back issue. He’s projected to kickstart his rehab assignment sometime this weekend and was looking like a stud before that injury. That’s what Milwaukee has been doing with all their pitchers over recent years, with Henderson totaling a 2.74 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 11.7 K/9 rate through his first five starts. He also allowed two runs or fewer in all of those and needs to be picked up off waiver wires after posting a 3.08 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 34 percent K rate throughout his minor league career.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

QUICK HITS: Jack Flaherty (DET, 42% Rostership), Peter Lambert (HOU, 36% Rostership), Aaron Nola (PHI, 51% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Kumar Rocker (TEX, 8% Rostership) – There’s a reason why Rocker was once one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Rocker has showcased some of that anasty stuff recently, allowing two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. That doesn’t even include two scoreless starts at the end of last month, with Rocker registering a 3.46 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 8.2 K/9 rate in that span. Those are nothing special, but it’s a worthy add off the waiver wire given how large this guy’s pedigree was early in his career. A home matchup against Detroit is another opportunity to add to those averages, with the Tigers ranked 20th in wOBA, 22nd in K rate and 25th in runs scored.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

Reynaldo Lopez (ATL, 8% Rostership) – Atlanta demoted Lopez to the bullpen after a slow start this season, but he’s re-entering the starting rotation this week! Seeing him sitting on waiver wires in deeper leagues is a bit surprising with this opportunity because Lopez had a 2.11 ERA and 1.14 WHIP as a starter over the last two years. He’s also thrown 7.1 scoreless innings over his last four appearances, so a return to that 2024 form is definitely in the realm of possibility. There’s also a chance he has a home start against the Mets this week, which is amazing since New York ranks 29th in wOBA.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Anthony Kay (CWS, 14% Rostership), Joey Cantillo (CLE, 27% Rostership), AJ Smith-Shawver (ATL, 1% Rostership)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

Emilio Pagan (CIN, 63% Rostership) – Pagan’s season appeared to be over when he was carted off the field with a hamstring strain two months ago, but it sounds like he’s close to a return. The Cincy closer is expected to kickstart a rehab assignment in about a week and should regain this closer’s gig immediately upon reinstatement. He’s one of the league leaders with 38 saves since the start of last year!

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

QUICK HITS: Carlos Estevez (KC, 42% Rostership), Griffin Jax (TB, 44% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Alex Lange (KC, 23% Rostership) – There’s a chance Estevez returns in a couple weeks and recaptures this closer’s gig, but Lange is the guy now. He has six saves over his last 10 appearances and had 26 saves for the Tigers a few years ago. He’s also got a 1.93 ERA and 1.11 WHIP since April 29, so they can’t remove him from this role until some blow-ups happen.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%

QUICK HITS: Javier Assad (CHC, 19% Rostership), Caleb Kilian (SF, 9% Rostership)