2024 NFBC 15-Team Waiver Wire (4/28 – Week 6)
For someone new to my waiver wire report, here is a link to my waiver wire overview and my plan for 2024.
Starting Pitching
Simeon Woods Richardson, MIN
The Louie Varland experiment didn’t go well for the Twins. In his four starts, he failed to make it past the fifth inning, leading to 17 runs, 36 baserunners, six home runs, and 18 strikeouts over 16.2 innings. Between AAA and the majors over five starts, Richardson pitched well in four games (five runs, 23 baserunners, and 19 strikeouts over 21.0 innings). His one disaster showing (seven runs and nine baserunners over 3.1 innings with four strikeouts) came at AAA. He has not allowed a home run this year. Richardson faces the White Sox on the road this week, followed by double starts (SEA, @TOR). In the 15-team high-stakes market, he is rostered on 5% of the main event teams. His minor league career has been up and down, with success and failure at AAA in 2022 (2.21 ERA over 36.2 innings with 38 strikeouts) and 2023 (4.91 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, and 96 strikeouts over 113.2 innings).
Rating: Richardson’s success with the Twins (2.45 ERA and 1.000 WHIP over 11.0 innings with 11 strikeouts) will push his bids higher than market value ($45) in the E-Class range.
Hayden Wesneski, CHC
In his two appearances with the Cubs, Wesneski tossed 6.1 shutout innings with one hit, no walks, and three strikeouts. He opened the season with success in his three appearances at AAA (2.53 ERA over 10.2 innings with 10 strikeouts). Chicago gave him 34 games of experience last year, but he posted a poor ERA (4.63) over 89.1 innings due to allowing 20 home runs. His WHIP (1.276) represented better success on the mound if he controlled the damage with the long ball. Wesneski has a career 3.48 ERA in the minors over 299.2 innings with 325 strikeouts. With Justin Steele ready to pitch in the minors, Wesneski falls into the second position to start for the Cubs while also needing to be stretched out. There’s upside here, and I view him as a buy-and-hold in deep formats.
Max Meyer, MIA
Meyer was dropped in 26% of NFBC main events over the last couple of weeks. Surprisingly, the Marlins shipped him to AAA after success over three starts (four runs, 13 baserunners, and 14 strikeouts over 17.0 innings). The goal for him was to pitch three innings a week to limit his innings over the long season. This thought process lined up in his first appearance at AAA (two runs over three innings with five strikeouts), but Miami pushed him to four innings (55 pitches) on 4/27 (four runs, six baserunners, and two strikeouts). His slight increase in workload could indicate that Meyer will be back to the majors next week due to the injuries to Jesus Luzardo and A.J. Puk. His price point in FAAB bidding depends on any news about him released on Sunday. If your team has room, I would roster him, especially if I started the season with poor pitching stats.
Bailey Falter, PIT
I had Falter at the back end of my pickup string last week, but I failed to fight for him or pick him up. He is a free agent in 77% of main events with a favorable double start week (@OAK, COL). After a disastrous first start (six runs, eight baserunners, and two home runs over four innings), Falter posted a 1.57 ERA and 0.696 WHIP over 23.0 innings with 16 strikeouts while picking up two wins. He was picked up in 10 leagues last week with a high bid of $19 and a low of $5. There were only two runner-up bids ($7 and $2). Trunk Money (3) and Doug’s Dawgs (2) were on to him last week.
Rating: His success and matchups should push his bids somewhere between market value ($45) and token bids ($20) in the E-class range.
Bryce Elder, ATL
After Darius Vines struggled in two starts (five runs, 14 baserunners, and two home runs over 9.2 innings), the Braves sent him back to AAA and called up Elder. He threw the ball well in his three minor league outings (six runs, 19 baserunners, and 18 strikeouts over 16.1 innings) while having 31 starts of experience in 2023 (12-4 with 3.31 ERA and 128 strikeouts over 174.2 innings). Elder offers a low-90 fastball that doesn’t excite many fantasy managers. Pitching for the Braves invites wins, and his secondary pitches grade well. He was picked up in one league last week for $21 unopposed.
Rating: Elder pitches on Sunday against the Guardians. His pitching line will fluctuate with his success or failure. I could see a high of D-class market value ($65) or only flier bids if he struggles.
Christian Scott, NYM
Four games into his career at AAA, Scott has been electric (eight runs, 15 baserunners, and 34 strikeouts over 20.2 innings), but he did serve up six home runs (at least one in each start). In 2023, Scott only pitched 87.2 innings between High A and AA (2.57 ERA and 107 strikeouts), suggesting only 120.0 to 130.0 innings this season. With Adrian Houser fading over his last four games (21 runs and 39 baserunners over 18.2 innings), the Mets may be forced to call up their young star. I don’t see him pitching much more than five innings a game. As of now, Scott may only have the bullets to make 22 starts. He is 42% own in the main event but probably not a free agent in any league.
Potential Doubles:
Cooper Criswell, BOS (SF/@MIN)
Over three appearances for the Red Sox, he allowed three runs over 11.1 innings with seven strikeouts. He also pitched well in two games at AAA (one run and 11 baserunners over 10.1 innings with nine strikeouts). Criswell is a free agent in 98% of NFBC main events.
Ben Lively, CLE (LAA/@CWS)
There has been a lot to like about Lively's first two starts with the Guardians. He gave up three runs over 11.1 innings with one walk and 14 strikeouts. His window in Cleveland's starting rotation should be longer, with Gavin Williams having a setback with his right elbow. Lively is a free agent in 81% of main events.
Favorable Singles
Quinn Priester, PIT (@OAK)
After getting beat up in his first start with Pittsburgh (four runs, eight baserunners, and three home runs over 4.1 innings), Priester kept the Giants off the scoreboard over six innings with four baserunners and six strikeouts. He’s rostered on only 9% of leagues.
Minor League Follows:
Jake Leiter, TEX
After getting drilled by the Detroit Tigers (seven runs and 11 baserunners over 3.2 innings with three strikeouts), Leiter pitched six shutout innings at AAA while allowing one hit, three walks, and eight strikeouts.
Minor League Follows:
· Drew Thorpe – two runs allowed over 24.0 innings at AA with four walks and 21 strikeouts.
· Cade Povich – Only 10 hits allowed over 26.1 innings at AAA with 40 strikeouts, leading to a 1.03 ERA.
· Jhonathan Diaz – 3-0 with two walks and 31 strikeouts over 28.0 innings at AAA with a 1.29 ERA.
· Mason Black – 1.19 ERA over 22.2 innings with 25 strikeouts at AAA.
Catcher
Joey Bart, PIT
Henry Davis's slow start to the season (.175/7/0/4 over 63 at-bats with 25 strikeouts) has given Bart a bump in playing time over the past eight days. He’s made five starts while going 3-for-16 with two runs, one home run, and three RBIs. In his limited playing time, Bart is 7-for-23 with four runs, three home runs, and eight RBIs. His lack of contact (178 strikeouts over 503 plate appearances) led to the Giants moving on from him this year. Yasmani Grandal has six games under his belt at AAA, where he went 5-for-21 with two runs, one home run, and six RBIs. Bart’s cloudy window and checkered past in the majors point to a small bid.
Gary Sanchez, MIL
Sanchez has a four-game hitting streak (4-for-13 with four runs, two home runs, and four RBIs) thanks to an increased opportunity at DH. Last year, he smashed 19 home runs and drove in 47 baserunners over only 240 at-bats. Sanchez is a viable C2 option in deep formats while offering plenty of power. He is a free agent in 74% of main events.
Other Options: Korey Lee, Ben Rortvedt
First Base
Carlos Santana, MIN
Santana was a reasonable backend flier for some teams that were cheating the corner position or even at first base. Last year, he had 78 runs, 23 home runs, 86 RBIs, and six stolen bases over 550 at-bats. Unfortunately, his bat stumbled out of the gate (7-for-57 with two runs and two RBIs), leading to a launch party into the free-agent pool. Over his last seven games, Santana went 8-for-26 with six runs, three home runs, and eight RBIs. He is a free agent in 81% of NFBC main events.
Rating: I only see token ($20) E-class bids, with not many teams lowering the standards to add him to their roster.
Matt Mervis, CHC
Over 18 games at AAA, Mervis hit .288 with eight runs, five home runs, and 13 RBIs while taking 12 walks. Last season, he was overmatched in his time in the majors (.167/8/3/11 over 99 at-bats) due to a high number of strikeouts (32). His 175 games of experience at AAA (.287 with 126 runs, 42 home runs, and 130 RBIs over 637 at-bats). Chicago will hit lower in the batting order, and the Cubs might sit him against some lefties. The bet here is on his talent, but his price point should be just about free.
Garrett Cooper, BOS
The injury to Triston Casas led to Boston looking for a low-value replacement over the last week. They landed Cooper, who lost playing time after the Cubs called up Matt Mervis. He went 10-for-37 over his first 37 at-bats with one home run and six RBIs. In 2023, Cooper set a career-high in home runs (17) over 422 at-bats. His opportunity is only good as his bat, making him only a week-to-week flier at first base.
Other Options: Jose Abreu, Kyle Manzardo, Elehuris Montero
Second Base
Josh Rojas, SEA
The injury to J.P. Crawford and a hot bat by Rojas (9-for-34 with seven runs, two home runs, two RBIs, and one steal) led to Seattle moving him to the lead-off spot over the past couple of days. He offered 20+ steals with double-digit power in the past, making him a serviceable middle infielder when getting starting at-bats.
Rating: E-class token ($20) bids.
Joey Ortiz, MIL
Over the past two days, Ortiz showed a spark with his bat, leading to four hits over eight at-bats with one run, one home run, and five RBIs. Before this success, he went 1-for-15 with no production. Tyler Black has been hot at AAA (17-for-47 with nine runs, three home runs, 12 RBIs, and three stolen bases), putting a phone call away from getting in the way of playing time for Ortiz. At best, he is a one-week dart to cover an injury in deep formats.
Other Options: Ji-Hawn Bae, Michael Massey, Gavin Lux
Third Base
Tyler Nevin, OAK
Since picking Nevin up off waivers from Baltimore in late March, the A’s have gone out of their way to give him playing time. Over his last 47 at-bats, he has 15 hits, five runs, one home run, four RBIs, and one steal. His bat played well in 2022 and 2023 at AAA, leading to a .315 batting average with 93 runs, 22 home runs, 95 RBIs, and eight steals over 502 at-bats. Oakland has been hitting second in the batting order of late, helping his at-bats total. Nevin may surprise going forward, but no one will be looking for him this week unless he has a monster game on Sunday.
Other Options: Jose Miranda, Eguy Rosario
Shortstop
Javier Baez, DET
I will run back Baez due to a lack of options in the free agent pool at shortstop and his ownership dropping to 56% in the NFBC main events. Over the past two weeks, he hit .256 over 43 at-bats with five runs, one home run, six RBIs, and three steals. Baez even took his first four walks with seven strikeouts. Despite hitting .191 for the season, his bat and approach look improved. At the very least, Baez is on pace to steal more than 35 bases.
Other Options: Jorge Mateo, Brayan Rocchio
Outfield
Jake McCarthy, ARI
Two years ago, McCarthy was a winning option off the waiver wire, but it was the second time he was added that helped fantasy teams. Last year, his bat was empty in the majors, with a losing smell. Over the past week, the Diamondbacks have given him a bump in playing time, leading to a lead-off slot in the batting order and a six-game hitting streak (8-for-15 with four runs and two RBIs). His edge should be steals, but McCarthy only has two stolen bases over his first 54 at-bats. Over the two previous seasons (597 at-bats) with Arizona, he stole 49 bags while being caught only seven times. McCarthy is a free agent in 65% of main events.
Rating: His price point will vary depending on your need for speed and his chances vs. lefties (7-for-13). His lack of home runs and stolen bases on his stat line should lead to E-class token bids ($20). Arizona only faces two lefties (James Paxton and John Means) over the next two weeks.
Alec Burleson, STL
Jordan Walker owners are disappointed by his demotion to AAA, but Burleson may be a bridge player until he returns. His bat has been relatively quiet over his first 56 at-bats (14 hits with three runs, one home run, and five RBIs), but he does have a modest four-game hitting streak (4-for-9) with his first home run. His bat shined at AAA in 2022 (.332/68/20/87/4 over 431 at-bats), showcasing his potential. St. Louis hasn’t given many chances vs. lefties, making him only a flier in deep formats. A dollar and a dream should be the theme when taking Burleson for a short-term ride. The Cardinals should face all righties this week.
Addison Barger, TOR
Over the first three weeks in April at AAA, Barger went 20-for-57 (.351) with 16 runs, three home runs, and 19 RBIs. He has more walks (13) than strikeouts (11), highlighting his improved approach. After success in the minors in 2022 (.306/79/25/88/9 over 471 at-bats), Barger lost his way the following season at AAA (.250 with 53 runs, nine home runs, 46 RBIs, and five steals over 340 at-bats) while missing time with an elbow injury. The Blue Jays should platoon him out of the gate until he proves his worth vs. left-handed pitching. He is 0-for-11 to start his major league career.
Hunter Goodman, COL
Goodman heated up over his nine games at AAA (15-for-42 with 11 runs, seven home runs, and 18 RBIs), leading to the Rockies calling him up this week. He has one hit over his first nine at-bats in the majors, resulting in a three-run homer. Colorado gave him 70 at-bats of experience last year, leading to a .200 batting average with six runs, one home run, and 17 RBIs. Goodman played seven games at catcher, three at first base, and four in the outfield in the minors. The Rockies have an opening at first base until Kris Bryant returns, and their right-field job is there for the taking. If he qualified as a catcher, Goodman would be an edge with starting at-bats, but Colorado doesn’t appear to have an opening for that position at this point in the season. His success on Sunday in the high-flying Mexico game will influence his bids.
Other Options: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Andrew Benintendi, Mike Tauchman, Luke Railey, Mike Yastrzemski, Heston Kjerstad