This weekly waiver-wire watch column is designed to help you monitor and pick up players in the coming weeks. These are the players you’ll want to add now before becoming the hot waiver commodity in a week or two. Using underlying and advanced metrics, this “watchlist” will help you get ahead of the competition in your league and reap the rewards from your pickups later.
The players could be anyone from a prospect in an ideal situation close to the Majors, a reliever in a saves+holds league, or even a starter doing well with misleading surface-level stats like ERA. They might even be hitters with quality underlying stats. Or they could be none of those types of players and entirely different. The point is that they’ll help you find success in your fantasy league while staying ahead of the curve against your league mates.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Players to Watch
Brad Boxberger (RP – CHC)
Michael Fulmer has been excellent so far for the Cubs. As of the beginning of play Monday, he sat in the 97th percentile in chase rate and the 98th percentile in strikeout rate. Admittedly, he’s only thrown 3.1 innings over three appearances so far, but the veteran also has Chicago’s only save so far this season.
And while Fulmer’s save chances could continue with regularity, it’s a situation worth monitoring for fantasy managers, especially where Boxberger is concerned.
It’s obviously early, but if this develops into a situation where Fulmer is utilized as Chicago’s top high-leverage reliever – in addition to the team’s primary ninth-inning option – it’s entirely possible that more saves will come Boxberger’s way.
It’s worth noting that in Fulmer’s lone save this year, he entered in the eighth inning with a two-run lead against the Texas Rangers on April 7 and faced the American League West club’s best hitters in Josh H. Smith, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, and Nathaniel Lowe. Fulmer faced four hitters as he worked around a two-out double to Seager. Cubs manager David Ross opted to keep Fulmer in for the ninth inning as well, though it is worth noting that Boxberger was reportedly warming up in the bullpen per a tweet from The Associated Press’ Mark Gonzales on April 7.
Boxberger also pitched in the eighth inning ahead of Fulmer, throwing in the ninth in a 4-0 Cubs win on Opening Day.
If anything, the 35-year-old, who has 82 career saves and two seasons with at least 31 saves under his belt, looks like the next option in line should Fulmer need to pitch earlier in the game. If that’s the case, Boxberger should see a decent number of ancillary save chances as the season goes on, which is to say nothing of potentially taking over in the ninth if Fulmer struggles at any point or is traded.
Nick Anderson (RP – ATL)
Sticking with relievers who could be in line for consistent ancillary saves -or at least as consistently as ancillary save chances are available – Nick Anderson may now be a prime candidate to fill that role for Atlanta.
At the moment, the National League East club’s bullpen isn’t exactly running at full strength. Raisel Iglesias has been on the injured list since prior to Opening Day with right shoulder inflammation, while McHugh was placed on the 15-day injured list by the team on April 6, also due to right shoulder inflammation.
A.J. Minter looks like the favorite for saves until Iglesias returns. True to form, he has one of Atlanta’s two saves this season. And while Jesse Chavez has the other Atlanta save that doesn’t belong to Minter this season, it was a one-out save after McHugh was summoned to protect a four-run lead in the ninth inning against St. Louis. McHugh then proceeded to give up three hits and an earned run.
Moving forward, Anderson is certainly a name to watch.
One of baseball’s best relievers in 2019 and 2020 before being slowed down by injuries, the 32-year-old looks like his old self this season. Entering play Monday, Anderson had struck out half of the 12 batters he faced. The only hit he’s allowed so far this season has been a solo home run.
Most crucially, Anderson’s curveball, which was so vital in his success in past seasons, has been excellent so far. The veteran right-hander has thrown it 30 times this season, with the pitch sporting a 66.7% whiff rate as of the beginning of play on Monday.
Dynasty Addition/Trade Target Of The Week
Bo Naylor (C – CLE)
Cleveland isn’t in dire need of catching help at the moment. Everything is in a small sample size, but Mike Zunino has been reasonably productive so far, hitting .227 with a .346 on-base percentage and a home run in 26 plate appearances as of the beginning of play Monday. The Guardians have also opted to carry three catchers on the active roster so far this season, with Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria on hand on the active roster.
All of which is to say, now is the perfect time to stash Bo Naylor, both in dynasty and re-draft formats.
One of Cleveland’s best prospects, the 23-year-old made his Major League debut last season, logging eight plate appearances for the American League Central club. That was following a 2022 season in which he showed a number of reasons why he could be an impact fantasy catcher, most notably a quality walk rate and the ability to provide above-average production in terms of home runs and stolen bases.
Naylor hit .263 with a .392 on-base percentage, 21 home runs, and 20 stolen bases in 510 plate appearances split between Double-A and Tripe-A last season.
He’s continued to be productive so far in 2023, batting .276 with a .488 on-base percentage in 29 plate appearances. All five of his hits have gone for extra bases (two home runs and three doubles), and he’s walked (11 times) more than he’s struck out (eight times).
We’re fast approaching the point – if we’re not there already – where Naylor has nothing left to prove in the minors. Should Zunino struggle or land on the injured list, Naylor would be a priority waiver wire addition in all formats if Cleveland called him up.
Furthermore, with Zunino a free agent after the season, per Spotrac, it’s possible that if Naylor takes the job at some point in 2023, he holds onto it moving forward.
Beyond our fantasy baseball content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Baseball Tools as you navigate your season. From our Trade Analyzer – which allows you to instantly find out if a trade offer benefits you or your opponent – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy baseball season.
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