Waiver Wire Week 23: Painting Houses

We’ll reach September next week, somehow. That’s a horrifying development from a life standpoint and even more disappointing for fantasy purposes. That means we have less than a month remaining, with many of you already approaching the finish line. It also means that a handful of teams have likely given up on the waiver wire in your league, so now’s the time to scrounge it for some gems. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the hot waiver wire adds for this week!

The stats and roster rates below are updated on 8/27. 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

Will Smith (LAD, 68% Rostership) – It’s hard to believe, but I’ve seen Smith still sitting on some waiver wires. That’s the nature of fantasy baseball this deep into the season, but he needs to be rostered upon his return from the IL. This former All-Star has been out with a neck issue since the middle of June but is expected to return to the lineup after beginning his rehab assignment earlier this week. Smith also homered in his first rehab game, and we’re still talking about a guy who had a .296 AVG, .404 OBP and .901 OPS last season.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

QUICK HITS: Yanier Diaz (HOU, 41% Rostership), Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 47% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Mickey Gasper (BOS, 11% Rostership) – As a movie aficionado, I can’t help but think of Gaspar Noe and Mickey Mouse when seeing this name. That’s a truly horrifying combination, but Gaspar has turned into a nice catcher for the Red Sox. Despite acquiring Adley Rutschman, Gasper has been starting nearly every day for two weeks. He’s also been one of the best bats in baseball during that span, generating a .576 OBP and 1.742 OPS across his last nine outings. That’s obviously not going to continue, but you can’t overlook this sort of production off the waiver wire.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Jonah Heim (ATH, 4% Rostership), J.T. Realmuto (PHI, 18% Rostership)

INFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Sam Antonacci (2B/3B, CWS, 30% Rostership) – Antonacci has been in my waiver wire articles numerous times this season, and I don’t understand why people are still sleeping on this guy. He came into the league as an on-base stud, and that’s exactly who he’s been at this level. Antonacci has been the everyday leadoff hitter for a sneaky Chicago lineup, sporting a .271 AVG, .363 OBP and .763 OPS. He’s also a nice source of steals, swiping 16 bags across 113 games this year. We didn’t even mention that he has a 15-40 profile based on his minor league statistics, while being eligible at numerous positions!

% of Recommended FAAB: 3%

QUICK HITS: Brooks Lee (1B/2B/3B, MIN, 49% Rostership), Jackson Holliday (2B/SS, BAL, 29% Rostership), Zack Gelof (2B/3B, ATH, 45% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Nick Sogard (2B/3B/SS, BOS, 24% Rostership) – I can’t believe we have Sogard as a waiver wire option. This veteran has been floating around baseball for a handful of years, but he’s currently amid one of the best stretches of his career. This journeyman has a .388 OBP and .788 OPS over the last month. Sogard also has a 1.081 OPS across his last nine outings, while hitting in the heart of Boston’s lineup. One underrated variable is that Sogard is a utility man. Being eligible at so many positions is a sneaky asset in fantasy leagues.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%

QUICK HITS: Tim Tawa (ARI, 1B/2B/SS, 17% Rostership), Tommy Edman (LAD, 2B/3B, 19% Rostership), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (BAL, 1B/3B, 7% Rostership)

OUTFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Spencer Jones (NYY, 31% Rostership) – I wasn’t so sure there was room for Jones on this Yankees roster, but he’s made a home in the heart of this lineup. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo’s Stanton’s injuries have led to this breakout, with Jones hitting fifth or sixth for the Bronx Bombers. That’s an optimal lineup spot, especially with the way Jones is raking right now. He’s already up to seven homers and eight steals across 60 games while posting a .276 AVG and .844 OPS over the last three weeks. Jones also had a .369 OBP and .936 OPS in the minors over the last two years, so the stuff is there for him to be a must-roster player in every league.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

QUICK HITS: Luis Robert (NYM, 47% Rostership), Lawrence Butler (ATH, 54% Rostership), Mickey Moniak (COL, 33% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Brett Bateman (TOR, 2% Rostership) – There’s word that Brett is related to Patrick Bateman, but that’s just speculation. This guy has been slaying just like Patrick, earning the everyday leadoff spot in the Blue Jays lineup. That’s a promotion many fantasy managers haven’t realized, with Bateman providing a .324 AVG and .753 OPS. An empty batting average isn’t the most exciting thing, but it should be paired with some runs atop this lineup. There’s also potential for more power and speed, with Bateman totaling a .430 OBP and .851 OPS while stealing 20 bases at Triple-A before his call-up.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%

QUICK HITS: Dominic Canzone (SEA, 20% Rostership), Griffin Conine (MIA, 18% Rostership), Henry Bolte (ATH, 12% Rostership)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Clay Holmes (CHC, 48% Rostership) – Why is Holmes still below 50 percent? This has been a serviceable pitcher throughout his career, and he’s been sensational since joining Chicago. This righty threw seven scoreless innings in his most recent start and now has a 2.26 ERA and 1.06 WHIP this season. Those statistics are hard to believe, but it’s less surprising since he has a 3.08 ERA and 1.20 WHIP since 2020. He’s also allowed just one run across 19 innings over his last three starts, so there’s no reason why this guy should be sitting on any waiver wires.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

Griffin Jax (TB, 47% Rostership) – Jax was jettisoned to numerous waiver wires after an IL placement, but this Rays righty will return quicker than many anticipated. He actually already made his first rehab start, throwing 42 pitches across three innings. That means he should be ready to return in about a week or two, and he was a waiver wire gem before that elbow issue. Jax allowed just one run in four of his final five starts before the injury, accruing a 2.97 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10.6 K/9 rate since June 1. There’s a chance Jax is limited in this final month, but he should still provide five good innings every time out.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

QUICK HITS: Landen Roupp (SF, 31% Rostership), Jared Jones (PIT, 30% Rostership), Joey Cantillo (CLE, 55% Rostership), Tyler Mahle (ATL, 43% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Andrew Painter (PHI, 18% Rostership) – It’s hard to believe we’re recommending a pitcher with an ERA above 6.00, but that’s just how the cookie crumbles. This former top prospect struggled mightily early in the season, but we’re seeing glimpses of why he was so highly touted. Painter has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts while posting a 3.62 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 8.6 K/9 rate in that span. That stretch even includes one stinker, but we love that he shut down offenses like the Nats and Cardinals in that surge. This guy has a 1.48 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in his first two years throughout the minors, so the potential to be an ace is still there.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3%

Spencer Arrighetti (TOR, 14% Rostership) – It’s been a wild season for this right-hander. He’s had stretches where he looks like an ace and others where he looks like he should be in Double-A. That’s why the Astros traded him to the Blue Jays, but this could be a great rebuilding spot for Arrighetti. This pitcher had a 1.34 ERA and 1.13 WHIP through the first two months of the season. A few shellings have killed his averages, but he’s still allowed four runs or fewer in 16 of 19 starts this year. This week is a great time to pick him up too because he has two starts against the Guardians and Royals next week. Those two teams rank bottom 10 in nearly every offensive statistic.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Randy Dobnak (KC, 14% Rostership), Jacob Lopez (ATH, 28% Rostership), Gage Jump (ATH, 13% Rostership), Zac Thornton (NYM, 20% Rostership)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

Mason Montgomery (PIT, 30% Rostership) – This is sneakily one of the best relievers in baseball right now. People expected Luke Weaver to take this Pirates closer’s gig, but Montgomery had other ideas. He’s picked up four saves and one win across his last nine appearances while totaling a 1.44 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 18.0 K/9 rate since June 20. That K rate is truly absurd, and if Montgomery is going to be the closer, he could be a top-10 reliever over the final month.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5-10%

QUICK HITS: Yoendrys Gomez (MIN, 38% Rostership), Grant Taylor (CWS, 33% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Ben Joyce (LAA, 23% Rostership) – We just talked about a nasty strikeout pitcher, and Joyce is right there with him. This righty is actually the hardest-throwing pitcher in baseball, regularly reaching 105 MPH on the radar gun. That’s hard to fathom, but the batters aren’t seeing it either. Joyce hasn’t allowed an earned run through his first eight appearances while recording three saves and a 14.1 K/9 rate in that span.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5-10%

QUICK HITS: Jordan Romano (COL, 13% Rostership), Kodai Senga (NYM, 24% Rostership)