Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Sleepers: Frankie Montas, Will Benson, James Paxton

‘Why Time Begins on Opening Day’ is that seminal book by Thomas Boswell where he waxed nostalgic on the great game of baseball and its stars. I’ve always felt like MLB’s Opening Day is that second New Year’s Day. Spring is starting to peek its head out from behind the chill of winter, even though several openers were rained out on March 28. There’s something about the return of baseball that’s a renewal for all of us, a sign of things to come in the warmer months ahead. It’s much different than the NFL’s kickoff that’s more celebration in the late stages of summer about to turn to fall.

This is also a time to be aggressive when looking on the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues. Snap up starting pitchers to see if a post-hype youngster might have had the game slow down or found a new pitch to solve hitters. It’s also the time to take chances on hitters who could be getting their legs under them in the batter’s box and make a difference for fantasy teams in the still-developing season.

This deep sleepers column sets the cutoff at players rostered on 20% or less of leagues. This week’s feature has some players who have been largely ignored in drafts but deserve plenty of consideration. Let’s get ready to dive into the deep end!

Fantasy Baseball Deep Sleepers & Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 2

Frankie Montas (SP, RP – CIN): 13%

Frankie Montas was fantastic as the Opening Day starter for the Reds, breezing through six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and striking out four. That’s a far cry from pitching just once for the Yankees in 2023, lasting only 1.1 innings. Montas is 31 now and his top-prospect status faded long ago. But while he’s on a team filled with exciting young offensive players — even after injuries hit the lineup hard — Montas could get some wins and strikeouts while he’s healthy. That RP status could make him a good fit in certain fantasy lineups.

Will Benson (OF – CIN): 12%

Will Benson batted second and played center field in the first game. He should be a full-time player for the Reds with the injured TJ Friedl set to miss six-to-eight weeks of the regular season. That opens the door for Benson, who hit .275 with 11 homers and 19 steals in part-time duty for Cincinnati last year. Keep an eye on if Benson plays against lefties. If he’s out there, he could be a valuable pickup.

James Paxton (SP – LAD): 12%

James Paxton made the Dodgers’ rotation after a 2023 season when he made 19 starts for the Red Sox, his most in a season since 2019. More importantly, he struck out 101 batters in 96 innings for a healthy K% of 24.57. Paxton is set to start his first game of the season on April 1 — not an April Fool’s joke — and could be a valuable pitcher on a Dodgers team that has revived many pitchers’ careers. If he stays healthy, the upside is huge. If he flops or gets hurt, he’s an easy drop.