2025 NFBC 15-Team Waiver Wire Hitters (5/11)

Every Sunday, the free-agent pool has a moving range of value based on each player's success and any injury news. For late updates, I will post them in the notes area on my Substack site.

Note: If I’m in a league with someone, I will be aware of what I've written and pay closer attention to your bids if I believe you may be looking for a similar player in a particular week. At the same time, our free agent spending during the year will have different paths. If I’m aggressive early and a competitor is not, they will have the advantage of buying power as the season progresses, and vice versa. I’ll do my best to list all players of interest, but there will be times when waiver thread lines are backfilled with low-dollar players to ensure an unwanted or injured player is released and replaced.

I’ll send out the starting pitchers on Sunday afternoon.

Catchers

Danny Jansen, TB (40.0%)

This week, finding an upgrade at C2 in the NFBC 15-team leagues is extremely challenging. Jansen has been a massive disappointment over his first 79 at-bats (.152 with five runs, one home run, and six RBIs). His walk rate (17.7) has been elite, which suggests better days are coming. He’ll be a cheap catcher pickup this week.

Freddy Fermin, KC (32.0%)

For the fantasy teams looking for at-bats, Fermin is the top option in the free agent pool in 68% of NFBC main events. Over his last eight games, he has 11 hits over 32 at-bats with three runs and two RBIs. With no minimal power (one home run and five RBIs), there won’t be a fight for him on the waiver wire.

First Basemen

Rowdy Tellez, SEA (26.0%)

Over his last eight games, Tellez has eight hits over 25 at-bats with five runs, two home runs, and seven RBIs, but he did strike out seven times with no walks. Last week, Tellez was added in nine leagues with a high of $25 and a low of $1. There was only one runner-up bid ($1).

Jac Caglianone, KC (32.0%)

Over his last 18 games at AA, Caglianone hit .409 over 66 at-bats with 14 runs, six home runs, 21 RBIs, and one steal. He took nine walks with 17 strikeouts, suggesting a promotion to AAA. Caglianone was dropped in one main last week.

Second Basemen

Brett Baty, NYM (2.0%)

After placing Jesse Winker on the injured list, the Mets called up Baty. His season opened with struggles in New York (11-for-54 with four runs, one home run, four RBIs, and one stolen base) due to many strikeouts (19). A trip back to AAA (3-for-10 with two runs and three RBIs) hinted at more success in the majors.

He has four hits over 13 at-bats since returning to the Mets with three runs, three home runs, and five RBIs. New York has had him in their starting lineup for three consecutive days.

His best value will come at second base. Baty wasn’t pitched up in any league last week (three drops). I expect his bids to fall in the E-class token ratings ($20) this waiver period.

Hyeseong Kim, LAD (49.0%)

The Dodgers have had Kim in their starting lineup in four of their past five matchups, leading to six hits over 19 at-bats with four runs, two RBIs, and one stolen base. Over 28 games at AAA, he hit .252 with 22 runs, five home runs, 19 RBIs, and 13 steals over 115 at-bats.

Kim was added to 27 main events last week with a high of $71 and a low of $2. He had seven runner-up bids between $13 and $27. Tommy Edman has a setback with his ankle injury, creating more playing time for Kim. His speed should lead to bids in the $30s in many leagues.

Third Basemen

Yoan Moncada, LAA (0.0%)

The fantasy market is so over Moncada based on him not being rostered in any main events this week. Over his five games back in the Angels’ lineup after an IL stint, he has five hits over 17 at-bats with four runs, two home runs, and five RBIs. With a flier teen price tag, Moncada will be added to most main events this week.

Addison Barger, TOR (7.0%)

Barger’s bat picked up over his last four starts (6-for-14 with two runs and five RBIs), helped by the injury to Andres Gimenez. He needs three more games to qualify at second base. The Blue Jays have given 633 at-bats of experience at AAA (.251/110/22/98/9).

His lack of resume puts Barger in the flier bid category in the NFBC main events.

Shortstops

Trey Sweeney, DET (46.0%)

Despite going 0-7 in his last two starts, Sweeney has looked much better over his last 10 games (15-for-39 with nine runs, two home runs, and seven RBIs). His bat was more productive in 2024 between AAA and the majors (.257 over 541 at-bats with 85 runs, 19 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases).

Sweeney was picked up in 20 mains last week with a peak bid of $33 and a low of $1. Only one runner-up bid ($7) was higher than $5. I’ll put him in the E-class category ($20).

Outfielders

Angel Martinez, CLE (47.0%)

Martinez showed a spark over his last six games (7-for-22 with five runs, one home run, five RBIs, and one stolen base), inviting more playing time. He’s hitting .314 over his first 86 at-bats, but his counting stats (10 runs, one home run, 11 RBIs, and three steals) are trailing. I sense a winning run in playing time and power.

In the main event, only two teams ($9 and $1) invested in Martinez last week, while 32 team managers kicked him back into the free agent pool. After playing better last week, Martinez will only draw teen bids in most leagues this week.

Evan Carter, TEX (51.0%)

Last week, I was ahead of the free agent curve for Carter. The Rangers decided to release Leody Taveras last Sunday, about an hour before the free agency period ran. The Rangers called him up on Tuesday after success over 14 games (15-for-52 with nine runs, three home runs, eight RBIs, and four stolen bases). With Texas, Carter went 4-for-18 with two runs, one home run, and one RBI over his first five games. The Rangers will give him every opportunity to succeed.

Carter was added in 26 mains last week, with a high of $57 and a low of $1. Between all bids, 22 teams had a floor of $10. His top runner-up bid was $44. Depending on his play on Sunday, my starting point is D-class market value ($65).

James Outman, LAD (0.0%)

The Dodgers called up Outman this week after losing Teoscar Hernández for a couple of weeks. Over his last 64 at-bats at AAA, he hit .359 with 14 runs, five home runs, 17 RBIs, and five stolen bases. On the downside, his strikeout rate (32.3) was a liability over this span while showing more weakness on the year (36.3). Outman has streaky power with some speed, but he could also hit his way back to AAA.

The Dodgers gave him 12 at-bats over five games, but he played well in one game (two runs, one home run, and three RBIs). Outman struck out eight times over this span. I only see flier bids as a demotion to AAA, isn’t that far off.

Leody Taveras, SEA (21.0%)

Last week, I was pining for Taveras to lose his starting job so Evan Carter could get a major league job. The Mariners placed Luke Raley on the injured list, leading to the signing of Taveras. Over his first two games with Seattle, he went 2-for-8 with one run, two RBIs, and one stolen base. For a fantasy team looking for some speed, Taveras should see plenty of playing time, and he does have double-digit power upside.

The addition of Evan Carter last week and Texas releasing him led to Taveras being added in one league ($3). A new home should lead to more interest on Sunday.