2024 NFBC 15-Team Waiver Wire (4/14 – Week 4)

For someone new to my waiver wire report, here is a link to my waiver wire overview and my plan for 2024.

Starting Pitching

Yariel Rodriguez, TOR

The Blue Jays signed Rodriguez to a four-year contract for $32 million in early February. Over eight seasons in Cuba and Japan, he was 46-37 with a 3.07 ERA, 1.310 WHIP, and 604 strikeouts over 695.2 innings. He hasn’t pitched more than 100 innings since 2018, and his last season in pro ball before this year came in 2022 (6-2 with a 1.15 ERA and 60 strikeouts over 54.2 innings). Rodriguez missed some time in March with a back issue. Toronto gave him two appearances at AAA, where he didn’t allow a run with one hit, three walks, and 10 strikeouts over 6.1 innings. In his major league debut, Rodriguez gave up one run over 3.2 innings with six baserunners and six strikeouts. His four-seamer came at about 95 MPH while working offing a slider as his second-best pitch. He mixed in a low-volume split, sinker, and curveball.

Rodriguez earns the new kid on the block in the NFBC main event. His path is clear for the fifth starting job for the Blue Jays while needing to build up his pitch count. Walks (4.3 per nine) have been a problem in his career, inviting WHIP risk, something that improved in his final two seasons in Japan over 83.2 innings. I expect some fight due to his early value in strikeouts.

Rating: D-Class somewhere in the must-have ($125) to market value ($65) bids.

Darius Vines, ATL

I mentioned Vines last week, but the Braves didn’t give him the first call to replace Spencer Strider. After Allan Winans struggled, Vines was called up on Friday. As of Saturday night, he still isn’t in the free-agent pool in the NFBC. His first start should be on Tuesday in Houston while he lines up for double starts (MIA, CLE) next week.

From 2021 to 2023 in the minors, Vines went 17-10 with a 3.17 ERA, 1.117 WHIP, and 341 strikeouts over 307.0 innings. Last year, he missed some development time with a right shoulder issue. His best pitch is a changeup while relying on a low-90s fastball, cutter, and slider. Vines has eight games of experience at AAA (2.72 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 46.1 innings). His 2024 season started with five runs and 10 baserunners allowed over 12 innings. Last year, Vines pitched in five games with the Braves (3.98 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 20.1 innings).

Rating: Vines is unproven, but anyone pitching for the Braves with talent has a chance at wins. I’ll go with token E-class bids if he is in the free-agent pool tomorrow.

Joe Ross, MIL

Heading into this week, Ross (4% rostered) appears to be the top double starter (SD, @STL) in the free-agent pool in the NFBC main event. He battled his command (five walks) in his first appearance of the year, but Ross didn’t allow a run over 3.2 innings with three strikeouts. The Brewers bumped him to the starting rotation on 4/9, leading to his best game (two runs over 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts) in years. He did pitch in 2022 or 2023 due to TJ surgery. So far this year, his slider graded well while showing some risk with his sinker. I don’t see depth in his arsenal, and his resume of success is relatively short.

I view him as only a flier dart.

Last week’s follows: Matt Manning and Ben Brown

Trending bullpen arms with a chance to start down the road with continued success:

Landon Roupp, SF

Over three seasons in the minors, Roupp went 10-3 with a 2.40 ERA and 208 strikeouts over 146.1 innings. He had 24 starts between 2022 and 2023 but averaged well below five innings per appearance. The Giants pitched him in relief in his first seven games (2.08 ERA and six strikeouts over 8.2 innings). San Francisco must stretch him out before being a viable starting option in any fantasy format.

Roansy Contreras, PIT

This spring, Contreras was one of the pitchers on the mound. He allowed nine runs, 15 hits, and 14 walks over 14.1 innings with 13 strikeouts. Somehow, he righted the ship and made the Pirates' opening roster. Over his first 5.1 innings, he allowed one run, six baserunners, and five strikeouts, showcasing his minor league potential (20-14 with a 3.28 ERA and 367 strikeouts over 376.1 innings).

Catcher

Korey Lee, CWS

The recent injuries for the White Sox have opened up more at-bats for Lee over the past few days. He’s started four of the past five games, leading to four hits over 13 at-bats with two runs and one RBI. Lee flashed upside in power in 2022 at AAA (.238 with 74 runs, 25 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 12 steals). The Astros drafted him in the first round in 2019.

Other Options: Connor Wong, Gary Sanchez, Joey Bart

First Base

Gavin Sheets, CWS

I mentioned Sheets last week, and he responded with a productive week (5-for-20 with three runs, one home run, five RBIs, and one steal). He is still a free agent in 37% of NFBC main events. Sheets had a high bid of $33 last week, with no runner-up bid higher than $4.

Rating: E-Class between market value and token bids.

Nick Loftin, KC

Loftin comes into this week with only a first base eligibility. He needs three more games to qualify at second base. The Royals had him in the starting lineup in their last three games (5-for-9 with four runs and eight RBIs). Loftin hit .267 over 865 at-bats in 2022 and 2023, with 165 runs, 33 home runs, 132 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases. Michael Massey made four starts at AAA, leading to eight hits in 18 at-bats with five runs and seven RBIs. His status and callup are critical to Loftin's opportunity next week.

Other Options: Michael Toglia, DJ LeMahieu, Joey Gallo

Second Base

Lenyn Sosa, CWS

The injury to Yoan Moncada created a better opportunity for Sosa. He started the last four games for the White Sox, but he only has two hits over 16 at-bats with two runs and one RBI. Over his last 795 at-bats in the minors, Sosa hit .299 with 123 runs, 41 home runs, 126 RBIs, and three steals.

His lack of success puts him only in the flier category as a bridge cover for an injury.

Other Options: Joey Ortiz, Michael Massey, Liover Peguero

Third Base

Anthony Rendon, LAA

Most of the fantasy world believes Rendon is fantasy roadkill and his career is almost over. Heading into this week’s waiver period, Rendon is a free agent in 47% of NFBC main events. Over his last seven games, he is 10-for-30 with five runs and one RBI. Last week, Rendon was picked up in seven leagues with a range of $33 to $3. His highest runner-up bid was $2. When playing in deep formats, finding top-of-the-order at-bats should be the goal throughout the draft process and via the waiver wire. Rendon still has empty production, with his last home run coming on July 1st in 2023.

Rating: E-Class market value ($45) bids

Abraham Toro, OAK

After losing Brent Rooker to a rib injury, the A’s have turned to Abraham Toro as their leadoff hitter over the last six games. He responded with nine hits over 25 at-bats, three runs, and two RBIs. Despite his uptick in play, Toro failed to make an impact over his first 842 at-bats in the majors (.211/111/28/208/10). Toro works only as a short-term cover until Oakland shifts to a higher-upside bat.

Other Options: Trey Lipscomb, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Matt Vierling

Shortstop

David Hamilton, BOS

Over 851 at-bats between AA and AAA in 2022 and 2023, he hit .250 with 155 runs, 29 home runs, 96 RBIs, and 128 stolen bases. Hamilton walked 12.8% of the time with a below-par strikeout rate (22.7%). The Red Sox had him in their starting lineup four times over their last six games, leading to four hits over 17 at-bats with three runs, one home run, one RBI, and two steals. His combination of power and speed should be helpful to a fantasy team, but his playing time will be limited vs. lefties while seeing his playing time at the bottom of the Red Sox lineup.

Rating: D-Class market value ($65) for a team looking for a middle infield speed out.

Other Options: Nick Ahmed

Outfield

Seth Brown, OAK

Over his last seven games, Brown went 7-for-21 with one run, one home run, and three RBIs. Despite limited playing time, he only has four plate appearances against left-handed pitching (two hits over four at-bats with an RBI). Brown had 59 home runs over 1,124 at-bats coming into this year, but he only hit .223 at-bats. He should get four starts this week, making him only a low-value pick-up in deep formats.

Dominic Canzone, SEA

Seattle continues to only have Canzone in their starting lineup against right-handed pitching. Over the past week, he went 5-for-13 with three runs, two home runs, and three RBIs while starting in three games. Canzone hit well over two seasons at AAA (.315 with 122 runs, 32 home runs, 139 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases over 588 at-bats) while holding his own against left-handed pitching (.288 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs over 208 at-bats). The Mariners have 10 games vs. righties over the next two weeks, giving Canzone a chance to strut his stuff. There’s more upside here if Seattle commits to him every day.

Johan Rojas, PHI

After a slow start to the season, Rojas landed in the free-agent pool in 39% of the NFBC main events. He’s had five hits over his last 12 at-bats with only one RBI. The Phillies didn’t have him in the starting lineup in four of their previous seven starts. His draw is his speed (44 in 53 tries in 2023 between AA and the majors). Over his 469 at-bats last year, Rojas hit .303 with 89 runs, 11 home runs, and 68 RBIs. He fits the base stealer in waiting category. I expect more teams to drop him than pick him up this week.

Jurickson Profar, SD

Heading into action on Saturday night, Profar has strung together back-to-back productive weeks (5-for-19 with two runs, one home run, and five RBIs and 6-for-13 with three runs, one home run, and three RBIs). He has a hit in 10 of his last 12 starts. Profar is a free agent in 53% of NFBC main events. Last week, he was picked up in 27 leagues with a high bid of $50. His top four runner-up bids were $17, $16, $15, and $12.

Rating: A second week of success should push his bidding closer to the D-Class market value ($65) range.

Jesse Winker, CIN

Something is brewing in Winker’s bat over his last five games. He went 8-for-18 with six runs, one home run, one RBI, and one stolen base while moving to a favorable part of the Nationals’ lineup. Winker is a free agent in 65% of NFBC main events, making him one of the more attractive outfielders to add this week. His bat has been quiet against lefties (two hits over 15 at-bats with one RBI), suggesting a platoon role if this trend continues. Washington has three challenging matchups against the Dodgers on the road (Glasnow, Miller, and Yamamoto) while coming home to face Houston for three matchups. LA comes to town the following week as well. He is trending higher, but seven of his next nine games aren’t ideal for the upside. Winker had a high bid of $28 last week.

Rating: E-Class – somewhere between market value ($45) and token bids ($20).

Other Options: Randal Grichuk, Edward Olivares, Robbie Grossman, Jacob Young, Dominic Fletcher