X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Week 4 Waiver Wire: Catchers

Michael Griffin recommends catchers (C) who can be valuable waiver wire targets or adds to help fantasy owners for Week 4 of the 2017 fantasy baseball season.

Although the temperatures and the rain haven't been indicative, the calendar is, indeed, flipping to May. The grace period for players and teams off to a slow start is beginning to wind down. "It's early" will soon not be a valid excuse anymore. It's still tough out there in catcher-land. Trying to sift through these backstops to determine which ones to recommend has us like:

It's like staring into a void. Gary Sanchez can't come back fast enough, though it's anyone's guess as to whether he'll regain the form that made the Yankees ship Brian McCann away during the offseason.  The line between who people want on their fantasy team and who they don't want is growing wider by the day. No one is hovering around the 50% mark. After the last person who's not on the list at 58% ownership, there's a 20% drop to the first person here, who you've seen on this list multiple times. April is almost May and it's time for some of these players to start heating up with the temperatures. I hope. There are a lot of fantasy owners hoping that happens. Don't worry, though. We're going to help you, promise.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

10-12 Team League Catcher Pickups

Here are some catcher waiver wire pickups for Week 4, to consider adding to your teams. We'll show you three players to snag in 10-12 player leagues and also three to look out for in two-catcher leagues. All of these players are just at or below 50% ownership in Yahoo! fantasy leagues.

 

Stephen Vogt (OAK) - 38% owned 

OK, Stephen Vogt is still struggling, having had an 8% drop in ownership over the course of a week. He didn't do well in either Texas or Seattle, garnering only one hit in each series. One of those hits did drive in a run so it wasn't a complete loss, but it was close. We're still waiting for him to round into form, but it's starting to get late early. He's just lucky that the position is a trash fire as it is.

Jason Castro (MIN) - 12% owned

This is how stagnant the catching position has been. Even with Hedges' incredible week to grab the lead at homers and RBI, Jason Castro, with nine RBI, is STILL in a five-way tie for third among all backstops. Glaciers move faster than this. In fact, a glacier just told these guys to hurry up, since it might run them over.

Travis d'Arnaud (NYM) - 19% owned

Travis d'Arnaud saw his ownership numbers drop by half - part of it may have been from concerns that he might have gotten badly hurt AGAIN, but he was back in the lineup on Wednesday. He's still up there in RBI as part of that five-way tie for third in that category. Right now catcher is a toss-up and d'Arnaud does offer power potential that someone like Francisco Cervelli does not. As mentioned before, there's no clear crystal ball for this position once you get to a certain point.

 

Two-Catcher League Pickups

Austin Hedges (SDP) - 33% owned

There's been a bit of a stampede to get Austin Hedges on people's teams. Hitting six homers in such a short span of time is bound to get some owners' attention. So why is he in the two-catcher slot and not in the one-catcher league? He still hasn't proven himself in the long run  - anyone can have a hot week and a half. If he keeps it up for another couple of weeks, then he might merit some consideration for the other list. Until then, watch VERY carefully.

Jett Bandy  (MIL) - 12% owned

Here's a new name that we haven't seen yet: Jett Bandy. He's not on here because of his cool first name. He's shown some pop this year, with four homers and he's shown that he tends to hit when he does play. He's only had one start where he didn't get a hit. He appears to have grabbed the starting catching job, so he could be a great stealth pickup if he continues to keep hitting as he does.

James McCann (DET) - 8% owned 

Things that we like about what James McCann is doing so far: five homers and 11 RBI. Not far off the pace of other catchers. Things we don't like about what James McCann is doing: Hitting well below his weight. If he keeps this up, he could have a Rob Deer-like season, hitting about 20 homers or so and having a horrendous batting average. He doesn't even have a cool mustache like Deer did, but he's worth a chance in these desperate times.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds


Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

De'Aaron Fox

Questionable Against the Cavaliers
Bam Adebayo

Expected Back on Monday Night
Kon Knueppel

Won't Suit Up Against Milwaukee
Ryan Kalkbrenner

Still Out on Monday
Parker Washington

Leads Jaguars in Targets, Receptions, and Receiving Yards
Wan'Dale Robinson

Posts Season-High 11 Receptions in Week 17
Josh Allen

Seen Limping From X-Ray Room, Says Foot Injury Didn't Affect Him
Geno Smith

Diagnosed With High-Ankle Sprain
John Collins

Won't Face the Pistons on Sunday Night
Trey McBride

Sets All-Time Tight End Receptions Record
Geno Smith

Exits Early With Ankle Injury
DJ Moore

Suiting Up Against 49ers on Sunday Night
Ricky Pearsall

Officially Active for Week 17 Against Bears
George Kittle

Officially Inactive for Week 17
Ja'Marr Chase

Snags Two Touchdowns in Week 17
Geno Smith

Questionable to Return With Ankle Injury
Chris Godwin Jr.

Goes Over 100 Yards in Loss to Miami
Matthew Tkachuk

Returns to Practice
Chris Olave

Extends Touchdown Streak in Win Over Titans
Linus Ullmark

Takes Leave of Absence
Travis Sanheim

Good to Go Against Kraken
Kyshawn George

Ruled Out on Sunday
Zach Charbonnet

Scores Twice in Lead-Back Role on Sunday
Nick Foligno

Set to Return Sunday
Chase Brown

Finds End Zone Twice in High-Volume Role on Sunday
Jock Landale

Out Again on Sunday
Rhamondre Stevenson

Scores Twice, Plays Major Pass-Catching Role
William Nylander

Out Against Red Wings
Stefon Diggs

Enjoys Another 100-Yard Performance in Week 17
Jared McCann

Available Sunday
Vince Dunn

on Track to Return Sunday
Breece Hall

Not Concerned About Knee Injury
Blake Lizotte

Activated From Injured Reserve
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers Not Expected to Fire Todd Bowles?
DK Metcalf

Steelers Won't Void the Guarantees in DK Metcalf's Contract
Drake Maye

Throws for Career-High Five Touchdowns in New York
Tyler Herro

Showing Progress but Still Without Timetable
CFB

Jay Hill Expected to be Next Michigan Defensive Coordinator
Zach Collins

Exits Late With Lower-Body Injury
Chris Boucher

Ruled Out Sunday for Personal Reasons
Gabe Vincent

Out Again Sunday With Back Issue
Jrue Holiday

Remains Out Sunday Against Celtics
Collin Murray-Boyles

Unlikely to Play Sunday Due to Illness
Andrei Svechnikov

Extends Scoring Run With Three-Point Effort
Auston Matthews

Bags Three Points Saturday Night
Alex Laferriere

Records First Career Hat Trick
William Nylander

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Saturday
Zach Werenski

Unlikely to Play Sunday
Jake Evans

to Miss 4-6 Weeks
J.J. Moser

Inks Eight-Year Extension
Ajay Mitchell

Cleared to Return Sunday
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic Ruled Out for Sunday
Kyshawn George

Iffy for Sunday
De'Anthony Melton

Sits Out First Leg of Back-to-Back
Jaxson Hayes

Unlikely to Play Sunday
Derrick Jones Jr.

to Return From Knee Injury Sunday
Jock Landale

in Danger of Missing Another Game Sunday
Vince Williams Jr.

Won't Play Sunday
Ryan McDonagh

Misses Saturday's Action
Jordan Kyrou

Jimmy Snuggerud Back for Blues Saturday
Tanner Jeannot

Misses First Game of the Season
Rasmus Dahlin

Won't Play on Saturday
Elias Pettersson

Ready to Return Saturday
Leo Carlsson

Available Against Kings
CFB

Michigan Targeting Kyle Whittingham as Next Head Coach
CFB

Texas Leading Rusher Quintrevion Wisner Set to Transfer
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP