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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 7 -- May 6 through May 12 -- 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 20 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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Michael Kopech, RP, Chicago White Sox
30% rostered
FAAB Bid: < 12% if needing saves, <5% if not
First, we will look at some options for saves. Michael Kopech is the best option out of the Chicago White Sox bullpen. Unfortunately, he is on one of the worst teams the sport may have ever seen. From a fantasy perspective, Kopech is still very valuable because he will be given opportunities to finish the season with at least double-digit saves. For that reason alone, Kopech needs to be rostered. His ratios are nothing spectacular as he is riding a 4.41 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 16 ⅓ innings. However, he has recorded 24 punchouts in that time.
Nobody was watching the game at this point but Michael Kopech doing this to Bryce Harper yesterday was impressive as hell.pic.twitter.com/4cGmBYqOIm
— Mike (@ChiSoxFanMike) April 22, 2024
Under the hood, the 28-year-old has a 34.8% K rate and a superb .177 xBA, which places him in the 95th and 94th percentile among qualified pitchers, respectively. In addition, he sports an above-average 3.36 xERA, which is quite encouraging and supports the idea that Kopech may be due for some positive regression.
With his elite strikeout upside, he should provide your team with strong ratios and, more importantly, a shot at double-digit saves.
Hector Neris/Mark Leiter Jr., RP, Chicago Cubs
50%/12% rostered
FAAB Bid: >10% on Neris if needing saves, <1% on Leiter Jr. for others
Your other option for saves this week will be in the Chicago Cubs bullpen. Adbert Alzolay began the season as the ninth-inning option but quickly lost the trust of manager Craig Counsell.
34-year-old Hector Neris has been slotted into that role, and Mark Leiter Jr. is currently serving in the set-up role. While Neris has gone four for four in save opportunities from April 20 to April 29, his underlying metrics are quite alarming. Neris has a 6.55 xERA and .266 xBA, both well below average among qualified pitchers. On the surface, Neris may be viewed as the “must-add” option, but I tend to disagree.
Mark Leiter Jr. is the more talented reliever, and may eventually grow into the closer role. The 33-year-old does very well in limiting hard contact (35.1% hard-hit rate and 86.4 mph average exit velocity), which shows in his above-average .307 xERA and .221 xBA.
Yes, Neris will help you today, and if you are desperate for saves, go for Neris. However, if you are sitting comfortably in the saves category, it may be savvy of you to grab the more talented reliever to improve your pitching ratios now.
If you believe in the metrics and that Neris is due for some regression, play the long game and go for Leiter.
Dean Kremer, SP, Baltimore Orioles
20% rostered
FAAB Bid: <2%
The Baltimore starter has posted two strong back-to-back performances after starting slow and is worth considering in deeper formats. For the season to date, Kremer has a 4.19 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 34 ⅓ innings. However, when looking at his last two starts, he is riding a 2.92 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. In these two starts against the Angles and Yankees, Kremer tallied 14 punchouts in 12 ⅓ innings.
Dean Kremer, 94mph Paint. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/1OttV4CcHH
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 1, 2024
His Statcast page is not great, as he sits just below league average in almost every stat. However, Kremer can bring great results to your team if he is deployed at the right times. The 28-year-old is fortunate to call pitcher-friendly Camden Yards home and could be used in the right matchups to provide stable ratios and deliver a victory.
Kremer could be an interesting option if you are looking for an innings-eater in deeper leagues, but should only be trusted in good matchups at this point.
Erick Fedde, SP, Chicago White Sox
40% rostered
FAAB Bid: > 12% if you need a starter, <8% for others
Was I late to the party? I was very hesitant to include Erick Fedde in this column the past few weeks as I did not buy the hype surrounding him in the offseason. Since returning from Korea, where he spent all of 2023, Fedde has looked like a completely different pitcher in 2024. After posting a 5.47 and 5.81 ERA in 2021 and 2022, Fedde now sports a strong 2.60 ERA.
Two pitches have been the driving force of his drastic improvement. First, he developed a new sweeper, which has helped Fedde increase his strikeout numbers. Secondly, he fine-tuned his sinker, which now has generated a .217 xBA and 30.1% whiff rate compared to 2022, where it posted a .302 xBA and 14.4% whiff rate.
Fedde has now delivered three strong stars in a row, including an eight-inning gem against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 28.
Keep a very close eye on Erick Fedde
Through his first 5 starts of ‘24 (26.1 IP), he’s sporting a 3.34 SIERA & 19.1% K-BB — both are career-best marks
What’s changed?
🔸 New pitch mix
🔸 New pitch usages
🔸 Improved commandThe KBO might’ve fixed him #FantasyBaseball pic.twitter.com/snxdh9ubEq
— Fantasy Central (@FantasyCentral1) April 25, 2024
While he may not be in line to receive wins, he should be viewed as a must-roster pitcher for the time being, as he could provide elite ratios and an average of over a punchout per inning. Double-check your waiver wire this weekend, especially if you are looking for an upside starting pitcher, and do not be afraid to pay up for him.
Nick Senzel, 3B/OF, Washington Nationals
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <3% if needing power, <1% for others
Do you need some power? Nick Senzel has been crushing the ball lately. The 28-year-old has launched five long balls in his past eight starts (April 21 - April 30). His Statcast page suggests this power explosion was not by chance. Senzel currently has a 16.7% barrel rate, .575 xSLG, and has hit fastballs to the tune of a .722 xSLG, which is in line with the best power hitters in the sport.
Unfortunately, while Senzel's power potential is legit, he will sink your average. Currently, he has a .209 AVG and a 25.5% K rate. If you need some home runs, go for Senzel, but prepare for a potential dip in your batting average.
Tyler Nevin, 1B/OF, Oakland Athletics
20% rostered
FAAB Bid: < 4%
Tyler Nevin has been swinging a hot bat in his past seven games (April 25 - May 1), batting .393/.400/.821 with four home runs and seven RBI. Overall, the 26-year-old has a .325/.375/.500 during the season stat line. Nevin sits in the middle of the pack in most Statcast rankings, suggesting he may be due for some regression throughout the season.
However, he has shown he can hit fastballs quite well with a .400 BA but has struggled when hitting breaking balls and off-speed, with a .190 and .200 BA, respectively. If you need power but also a more stable batting average than what Senzel can provide you, turn your sights on Nevin. The lineup may not be conducive to counting stats, but he should provide you with a solid batting average with a respectable power total, especially during this hot stretch.
Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels
40% rostered
FAAB Bid: <10%
Has the 25-year-old finally begun to figure things out? After years of being a popular breakout pick in the industry, Adell has fallen short of all expectations. However, this year looks a little bit different. Adell currently has a .290/.338/.565 stat line, four home runs, and five stolen bases.
One key factor that might have been the reason for Adell’s sudden success is how hard he hits the ball. This season, the former tenth overall selection has an incredible 53.5% hard-hit rate and 15.6% barrel rate. He has not had a hard-hit rate of over 39% and a barrel rate of over 9.9% since 2020.
I've been digging Savant's new EV50 metric in the preseason & 2024. #Angels Jo Adell continues to crush FB/LD at 99 mph (No. 5) in 2024 compared to 101.8 mph (No. 1) in 2023 w/ a min. of 25 BBE.
EV50:
-2024: 105.4 mph👀
-2023: 100.9 mph
-2022: 99.6 mph
-2021: 98.8 mph pic.twitter.com/OMcvM8CEbj— Corbin (@corbin_young21) May 2, 2024
This is something to monitor as the long-awaited breakout may finally be happening. If Adell is available in your league, he is worth scooping up. If everything continues to go right for him he can produce a 20/20 season.
Danny Jansen, C, Toronto Blue Jays
21% rostered
FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Since returning from the injured list (wrist) on April 15, Jansen has posted a solid .267/.371/.667 stat line with three long balls. While he is not qualified under Statcast metrics due to not having enough plate appearances, he currently sits with an impressive .632 xSLG and 25.0% barrel rate. In addition, he has shown a great eye at the plate, with a stellar 14.3% walk rate and an above-average 17.1% K rate.
Another Toronto backstop, Alejandro Kirk, has had a disappointing start to the season with a .194/.282/.254 line. Even though they are currently in a timeshare, Jansen could very quickly become the primary backstop if he continues to play at this level.
Christian Scott, SP, New York Mets
The New York Mets are promoting their top pitching prospect, Christian Scott, to make his first major league start over the weekend. Scott was king of the headlines with Triple-A Syracuse over the past month, with an eye-catching 34 punchouts in 20 innings. However, Scott struggled to keep the ball in the yard and inflated his ERA throughout April.
Now, Scott will have a chance to make his major league debut and encourage management to keep him in the majors for good. The 24-year-old does have some competition for that final spot in the rotation as Adrian Houser made another start on Thursday and David Peterson and Tylor Megill are currently in rehab stints.
Scott will have to outperform them, and if his first two starts go poorly, he may not get another chance until later in the summer. Be cautiously optimistic with your bid if you can.
Tyler Black, 2B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers
35% rostered
FAAB Bid: <5%
After posting a .303/.393/.525 stat line with five home runs in his first 25 games at Triple-A this season, the number four prospect in the Milwaukee system was promoted to the major leagues on Tuesday. Black has settled in, tallying three hits, one of them an extra-base hit, in his first two games in the big leagues.
Throughout the minors, Black always maintained an on-base percentage of at least .400. The 23-year-old should be expected to see time primarily at first and third base, shifting Rhys Hoskins to designated hitter. He could also slot in at second base. Black should be a priority addition in most leagues, especially if you are looking for someone who can post a great average and get on base at an elite rate.
Jordan Beck, OF, Colorado Rockies
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: < 5%
Another prospect getting the call this week was Jordan Beck of the Colorado Rockies, who has an excellent power and speed combination. Last season, Beck went 20/20 with a .271/.364/.503 line. In just 25 games with Triple-A Albuquerque this year, Beck launched five home runs and swiped just as many bags.
So far, the 23-year-old has been in the lineup since his promotion and has started primarily in left field, with Nolan Jones (back) being placed on the 10-day injured list. Due to his high upside speed and power combination, Beck should be a must-add in all formats.
If I had to pick one of Beck and Black, I would lean toward Beck with his power/speed combination, and he should have more opportunities to be in the lineup every day.
Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
45% rostered
FAAB Bid: >10%
I wrote about Caminero last week. When he is promoted, which could be any day now, Get him as soon as you can before his price skyrockets.
Both of Junior Caminero's home runs last night were hit on pitches outside of the zone and they could not have been in more opposite locations. The swing on the cutter up and out is comical. The dude is a freak. pic.twitter.com/Vj91fj81rw
— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) May 2, 2024
With his incredible .333/.390/.759 stat line and six home runs in 14 games at Triple-A, Caminero could easily finish as a top-10 third baseman for the rest of the season. He should be near 75% rostered.
Going Deeper On The Waiver Wire
Wenceel Perez, OF, Detroit Tigers
5% rostered
FAAB Bid: <1%
To close things out today, we are looking at a deep-league, AL-only player in Tigers outfielder Wenceel Perez. Parker Meadows was named the starting center fielder at the beginning of the season but has shown no reason why he should continue in that position. He is sporting a .100/.222/.229 stat line with two home runs and three stolen bases. Recently, the Tigers have begun giving their 20th-ranked prospect, Wenceel Perez, opportunities, and he has held his own.
Wenceel Pérez has homered from both sides of the plate! pic.twitter.com/IQJ0mIgy39
— MLB (@MLB) May 1, 2024
Perez has made five consecutive starts from April 27 to May 1 and posted a strong .350/.409/.800 line with three home runs. Perez is worth looking into in deeper and AL-only leagues as he has the opportunity to take over the center field role in Detroit.
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