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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 9 -- May 20 through May 26 -- 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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Bryan Abreu, RP, Houston Astros
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: >5% in holds leagues, <2% in others
Since allowing six runs in his first 5 ⅔ innings of the season, the dominant relief pitcher has begun to find his groove and should be rostered in most formats.
Since April 13, Abreu has tossed 15 ⅓ innings with a 1.17 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, 24 punchouts, and eight holds. After posting a 1.94 ERA and 1.18 WHIP last season, the 27-year-old looks like he is back to his best and providing fantasy managers with elite ratios.
If you are in a holds league and a frustrated manager has cut ties with him earlier this season, add him immediately. Even if the Astros are not as good as they were last season, Abreu will be given ample opportunities to tally holds and should finish toward the top of the pack once again.
Bryan Abreu. A great sight to see him figure it out
Last 7 games:
2.35 ERA in 7.2 IP
2 ER, 15 K
0.91 WHIP#Astros pic.twitter.com/u11EtmFbxa— Maanav Gupta (@MGSportsTalk) May 11, 2024
Abreu is still worth adding in leagues that just score saves, as he can offset any struggling starting pitching you have by improving your other pitching categories. If he can provide you with four clean innings each week, you have an opportunity to add to your strikeout total while lowering your team's ERA and WHIP.
Michael Kopech, RP, Chicago White Sox
30% rostered
FAAB Bid: <10% if needing saves, <7% for others
A familiar name to readers of this column is still severely underrostered. Kopech is the closer for the White Sox but, unfortunately, only has five total saves to his name through just under the first quarter of the season.
This is not ideal, but if you have relief pitchers like Craig Kimbrel, who have either lost their closing duties, or Evan Phillips (hamstring), who is on the 15-day injured list, Kopech might be a smart addition.
Even if he only finishes the season with around 20 saves, he will provide you with strong strikeout numbers and solid ratios that will not hurt you. Currently, the 28-year-old has a 31.5% K% and .176 xBA, which place him in the top 91st and 95th percentile among all pitchers.
Grab him if you need saves, and if you are looking for a ratio stabilizer, do not be afraid to spend on Kopech.
Sean Manaea, SP, New York Mets
25% rostered
FAAB Bid: <3%
The 32-year-old has looked quite solid through his first eight starts in Queens. Through 41 ⅓ innings, he holds a 3.05 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. However, he has struggled with his control, offering 20 free passes, but has managed to record 37 punchouts as well.
However, in his most recent two outings, he has only allowed one free pass in each of those starts after allowing at least three in his previous four starts.
If he continues to lower his walk rate, he could become a much more stable pitcher, as his high walk rate has hindered his WHIP output.
Also, Manaea currently sits toward the middle of the pack in most underlying metrics but is slightly above average when looking at hard-hit and barrel rates, which are positive signs that his ERA should not fluctuate much throughout the summer.
If you are looking for a safe starting pitcher to deliver you six solid innings every week, add Manaea. You could get ahead of your league mates, especially if he continues to lower his walk rate.
Robert Gasser, SP, Milwaukee Brewers
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <5%
The Milwaukee Brewers recently promoted their No. 5 prospect, Robert Gasser, to the major leagues. Gasser has made two starts and has performed very well with a 0.82 ERA and 0.82 WHIP.
However, he has only tallied six punchouts through 11 innings. This is quite a stark difference from his minor league success when he tallied over a strikeout per inning every season.
A starting pitcher with low strikeout numbers is typically not a recipe for success, but Gasser has found other paths to success in a small sample size.
Robert Gasser, Wicked 82mph Sweeper...and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/B5FVjNP3QE
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 11, 2024
The 24-year-old southpaw has an average exit velocity of 83.3 mph and a 20.6% hard-hit rate, which would place him among the top pitchers if he qualified. In addition, he has only given up one free pass.
In deeper formats, it is worth taking a flier on Gasser, but I would avoid him in standard leagues until he is producing higher strikeout totals. However, Gasser has shown that he can produce high-strikeout totals in the minors, so this may be the final opportunity to get him at a discount, especially if he begins to generate more whiffs next week.
Michael Wacha, SP, Kansas City Royals
30% rostered
FAAB Bid: <1%
After allowing at least four earned runs in back-to-back outings, Michael Wacha just won his past two starts and looks to be getting back on track. The 32-year-old has a 2.25 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 7:13 BB:K ratio in his previous two starts.
Michael Wacha, Nasty 80mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/UEgzINVLgR
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 15, 2024
Overall, he has a mediocre 4.71 ERA and 1.37 WHIP on the season. However, his underlying metrics suggest that his recent turnaround could be worth watching closely.
Currently, Wacha holds an 86.8 mph average exit velocity and 33.8% hard-hit rate, which are both well above average. This is reflected in his 3.64 xERA, which is more than a full point lower than his current ERA.
Do not count on Wacha to post a sub-3.00 ERA season, but the veteran is due for some significant positive regression and is worth adding, with the disclaimer that perhaps he is only valuable deploying in favorable matchups.
Danny Jansen, C, Toronto Blue Jays
20% rostered
FAAB Bid: >10% for teams needing a catcher, <5% for others
Since April 26, Danny Jansen has posted a .325/.404/.725 line with four home runs and a stellar 6:4 BB:K ratio. Somehow, he is still available in over 75% of leagues.
If there was any doubt last week that Alejandro Kirk could still be in a timeshare with Jansen, that has quickly been put to rest. Jansen has only missed one game since the start of May. His underlying metrics suggest that Jansen is hitting the ball extremely hard, and this hot surge is no fluke.
The 29-year-old currently has a 13.7% barrel rate, .581 xSLG, and .300 xBA, which are all significantly above average. In addition, he holds a 10.6% K rate and 12.1% walk rate, which is important to note for points league managers.
If you still need a catcher and Jansen is available, place your bid this weekend.
Carlos Santana, 1B, Minnesota Twins
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <2%
After going without a home run from March 28 to April 24 with a poor .141/.237/.169 line, the 38-year-old has begun to turn back the clock and prove that he is still worth rostering in fantasy leagues. From April 25 to May 15, Santana has a .275/.324/.623 line with seven long balls.
Under the hood, the switch-hitting first baseman is still hitting the ball quite hard, with an above-average 91.0 mph average exit velocity and 43.2% hard-hit rate.
In addition, the Twins value his bat, as he has only been out of the lineup three times this season. Also, by receiving consistent playing time in a strong lineup, Santana will receive a significant boost to his counting stats.
Carlos Santana has now homered in THREE straight games! 🔥 #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/rJI3lINoVb
— Katie Emmer Storm (@KatieStorm) April 28, 2024
Santana is worth considering if you are looking for a replacement corner infielder. While his recent performance has been impressive, it's important to consider his overall season performance and the potential risks associated with rostering him, as he does hold a low 7.1% walk rate.
Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Seattle Mariners
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <3%
Luke Raley has quietly been off to a strong start with his new club with a .276/.315/.425 line but has recently begun to catch fire. This recent surge in performance suggests that he is a valuable addition to your team.
Over the past week, the 29-year-old has a .435/.480/.739 line with two home runs and two swiped bags. He has had three home runs and three stolen bases during the season. Last season in Tampa Bay, Raley came close to a 20/20 season, finishing with 19 long balls and 14 swiped bags.
Raley has been on the strong side of a platoon in Seattle as a left-handed bat, which does hinder his fantasy value slightly. With his solid combination of power and speed, Raley is worth adding as a depth outfielder in deeper leagues.
Tommy Pham, OF, Chicago White Sox
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <1%
Over the past two weeks, the new leadoff man on the Southside has been almost carrying the entire White Sox offense. Since joining the White Sox on April 26, the 36-year-old has a .319/.365/.464 line with two home runs and one swiped bag. However, since moving up to the leadoff spot, Pham has a slightly better .367/.424/.433 line.
Tommy Pham delivers! pic.twitter.com/mecvyj8SN0
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 15, 2024
If you need counting stats, I would stay away from Pham. But if you need a solid contributor to batting, average Pham could be your perfect fit, especially with his strong .316 xBA.
Kevin Newman, 1B/2B/3B/SS, Arizona Diamondbacks
3% rostered
FAAB Bid: <1%
Kevin Newman has taken complete control over the starting shortstop role in the desert and is worth adding in deeper leagues. Since May 4, the 30-year-old has a .424/.457/.636 line and has struck out only three times.
Even though Newman bats consistently in the back half of the Arizona lineup, he will provide you with minuscule strikeout numbers, which will give him a boost in points leagues and should also produce a strong batting average. Currently, he has an overall .262 AVG, which is right in line with his .269 xBA.
Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
45% rostered
FAAB Bid: >15%
Just when you thought I could go one week without banging the Caminero drum, he slides in as the final player in this week’s column.
The 20-year-old is slashing a .320/.393/.520 line through May with three long balls and a 6:10 BB:K ratio. In addition, he has recently started at second base, which is a sign that Brandon Lowe (oblique) is still recovering from an oblique injury. The Rays are trying to find ways to get their budding superstar on the major league roster, and it could happen any day now.
Junior Caminero had three hits last night including this home run while drawing the start at second base.
We're starting to see that path to MLB playing time.#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/DZVEgspcRa
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) May 15, 2024
He is still available in half of Yahoo leagues. Roster him now before he is promoted and burns your FAAB budget.
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