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Baseball season is officially in full swing. If you have an interest or a need in tweaking with your team, then you have come to the right place. This FAAB fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups series will be looking at Week 10 -- May 27 through June 3 -- and will point out free agents to target and how much FAAB you should allocate for them.
Baseball is a long season, and your FAAB budget has to last you an awfully long time. For the next 15 weeks, we must carefully place bids and target players who will fill holes in our team. Pay close attention to this in category leagues and spend big on a player if you need a specific category filled urgently.
Below are a few players with ownership percentages under 50% in Yahoo leagues that could benefit your roster and provide you with an added boost in several categories. I will also include what percentage of your FAAB budget you should look to spend on each player. Let’s get started!
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Jose Miranda, 3B, Minnesota Twins
5% rostered
FAAB Bid: <2%
After falling short of the high expectations that came with his major league debut, the Twins' third baseman might finally be settling in. Miranda posted a .211/.263/.303 line last season while spending the majority of the season with Triple-A St. Paul, and was hitting the waiver wire in dynasty leagues with frequency.
Don’t look now, but Miranda has posted a .269/.307/.444 slash line this season with four long balls and a 4:17 BB:K ratio. Over his five games, the 25-year-old has hit two home runs and, even more impressively, has only gone hitless in two of his past ten games.
JOSE MIRANDA 2 RUN BOMB #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/35Gltmkk5v
— Jack (@PrimeLewis23) May 22, 2024
In addition, Miranda has been batting in the cleanup spot against southpaws in the past five opportunities, which is an excellent sign that he may have earned his place in this starting lineup.
Although the first person you think of when you hear the word ‘Miranda’ is probably his famous cousin Lin-Manuel Miranda, do not count out Jose. The third baseman is beginning to settle in at the major leagues and is not throwing away what could be his final shot in Minnesota.
Michael Massey, 2B, Kansas City Royals
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <5%
The points-league hero of this week’s column, Massey currently holds an impressive 14.0% K rate and a 15.7% whiff rate, both in the top 91st percentile among all hitters.
In his past nine games, the second baseman holds a .364/.389/.636 line with two home runs. Overall, he has a .283/.295/.495 line with five total home runs and 20 RBI.
Former #illini Michael Massey having a strong start to the year for the Royals...slashing .294/.308/.529 + 3 HRs in 51 ABs 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OncBcW4haK
— 🆃ⓐ🅹🅷 ♕ (@Recru1t1ng_Guru) May 7, 2024
While the 25-year-old has been flashing elite power lately, that may not be sustainable. He currently has 32.6% hard-hit and 6.7% barrel rates, both well below average.
However, Massey should remain a strong batting average contributor and chip in a stable amount of counting stats by consistently being slotted in the five-hole in the Kansas City lineup every day.
Jake Bauers, 1B/OF, Milwaukee Brewers
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <5%
Since May 9, Jake Bauers has posted a .300/.417/.733 slash line with three long balls, nine RBI, and three swiped bags. Is this power legit? Well, it actually could be.
The 28-year-old currently sits at the top of nearly every hitting metric related to power.
Playing time is a concern for Bauers as he has yet to make a start against a left-handed pitcher and is clearly stuck in a platoon, albeit on the strong side. This could hurt him every week, but overall, it will put him in the best chance to succeed, which might just work.
With almost a near-perfect score in every power metric, Bauers is worth adding as a corner infielder or fifth outfielder. However, beware of the playing time and high K rate. If you need power, do not be afraid to spend.
Danny Jansen, C, Toronto Blue Jays
20% rostered
FAAB Bid: >15% if needing a catcher. <5% for others
Hopefully, this will be the last time I need to write about Danny Jansen because I cannot believe he is still sitting at only 20% rostered.
In his past six games, the backstop has posted a .450/.455/.850 line, and overall, he has a stellar .319/.390/.653 through 23 games. His metrics remain very strong, with a 14.5% barrel rate and .580 xSLG, showing that this incredible start to the season is no fluke.
Jansen is no longer a target for two-catcher leagues. He should be started in all one-catcher formats going forward.
Ivan Herrera, C, St. Louis Cardinals
8% rostered
FAAB Bid: >5% if needing a second catcher, <2% for others
While he is not posting Danny Jansen numbers, Herrera has been very productive this month and has stepped up for the Cardinals without Willson Contreras (forearm).
good morning to everyone but ESPECIALLY Iván Herrera🤝😤 pic.twitter.com/bZG2ZAzhlC
— Cardinals Talk (@theredbird_way) May 19, 2024
Since May 6, the 23-year-old has been riding a .395/.489/.421 slash line with a 6:8 BB:K ratio and 15 total hits. While he has not hit a home run since April 10, Herrera is a solid number-two catcher in all leagues and should continue to provide a strong batting average while Contreras is sidelined through July.
Jesse Winker, OF, Washington Nationals
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <10% if needing an outfielder, <7% for others
A familiar name to readers of this column has finally been flashing the power we have waited all season for. After not hitting a long ball since May 5, Winker has hit two this past week and is now sitting with a strong .400 SLG.
While his underlying metrics are not eye-catching, he currently sits just above the 50th percentile in barrel rate, xBA, and xSLG, which is something to note.
jesse winker! pic.twitter.com/IvyAOxicxk
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 5, 2024
Winker may not return to his 2021 form, when he had 24 home runs, but do not be surprised if he finishes at the 20 mark this summer. Get in on what might be a potential power surge in the coming weeks as the weather begins to warm.
Alec Marsh, SP, Kansas City Royals
30% rostered
FAAB Bid: <2%
The Kansas City right-hander has posted a 2.76 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in his past three starts (16 ⅓ innings) with 19 total punchouts. He has allowed only one run in two of these starts.
On the season, Marsh is riding a stellar 1.07 WHIP and solid 2.72 ERA but has only 36 strikeouts in 43 innings.
While that number might not be anything to catch your eye, Marsh could continue to be a solid fantasy contributor in deeper formats in the right matchups.
Jalen Beeks, RP, Colorado Rockies
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <8% if needing saves, <1% for others
Let’s switch to the bullpen! The 30-year-old southpaw has tallied four saves in his last six appearances with a strong 1.50 ERA and 1.33 WHIP.
While his save opportunities may be sparse pitching on this Rockies team, he looks to be in the clear lead for save chances. If you missed out on Michael Kopech last week (as he now sits at 40% rostered) and are still looking to bolster your saves, Beeks might be your best bet.
Stash If You Can
James Wood, OF, Washington Nationals
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <8%
Wood just launched his eighth home run of the season and is currently riding a career-best .348/.456/.571 slash line across his first 43 games at Triple-A. His promotion should happen by June.
Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
45% rostered
FAAB Bid: <12%
Will this be the last week I include Caminero? Probably not, knowing how the Rays operate and prefer to have another year of control on their prospects, but if he happens to be on your waiver wire, add him. Caminero recently made a start at second base, perhaps to get ready for some versatility if he gets the call, and has hit seven home runs in just 29 games with Triple-A Durham. What are you waiting for, Tampa?
Jasson Dominguez, OF, New York Yankees
29% rostered
FAAB Bid: <10%
Currently, on the 60-day injured list, Dominguez (elbow) was recently moved up to Double-A and is nearing completion of his rehab assignment. While the Yankees did suggest he will be sent to Triple-A after, he should make a push to join the major league roster fairly quickly.
Dominguez looked very comfortable in the majors last season with four home runs, one stolen base, and a solid .258 AVG in eight games last season. If you have room, grab him this weekend.
Remember when Jasson Dominguez hit a home run with a partially torn UCL? We are so backpic.twitter.com/fbFIs9zR6Z https://t.co/hLccveQi2p
— Mike Dro (@MikeDro_) May 11, 2024
However, the Yankees have a crowded outfield, which can limit opportunities early on, but all it takes is one injury, and Dominguez could have a full-time role.
Matt McLain, 2B/SS, Cincinnati Reds
45% rostered
FAAB Bid: <10%
McLain (shoulder) has been on the 60-day injured list since March 28 but recently began throwing and could start swinging a bat in three to four weeks. If you have an IL spot open and McLain is on your waiver wire, feel free to stash him. He should not be available in over 50% of leagues, let alone available much longer in yours.
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