Welcome back to the Weekly Mailbag! This is an opportunity to ask a FantasyPros analyst anything about the ongoing season so managers can make the best and most informed decisions possible. Readers will find previous questions from fantasy managers below.

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Fantasy Baseball Mailbag

Who would you add off waivers? Tyler O’Neill, Mitch Haniger, J.D. Davis, Michael Taylor, Alex Kirilloff, Blaze Alexander or Jose Caballero?

I love Tyler O’Neill. He had an OPS+ of 148 in 2021, hitting 34 homers and batting .286. Remember that he has a career OPS+ of 116, so 2021 is somewhat an outlier. O’Neill played 138 games that year, the only time he played over 100 games in his six-year career.

If the outfielder can stay healthy, I feel great about his odds for 2024. All managers should immediately pick him up if he is still on waivers. Worst case scenario, he can be dropped if he cools down or gets hurt. 

Is Chris Bassitt good enough to use a first waiver claim on?

Waiver priority claims are a tough call. Chris Bassitt is a very boring pitcher — in a good way. He stays healthy. Fantasy managers can feel confident starting him against the strongest teams. Even if Bassitt never racks up eye-popping stats, he helps any rotation.

Using the No. 1 claim on Bassitt before a better player is dropped a few days later would be frustrating. In an eight-team or below league, I would let Bassitt pass. Deeper league managers should target Bassitt to solidify a rotation. A better player on waivers is never a certainty.

Sell Brice Turang or ride him out?

Brice Turang kicked off his sophomore season batting .379 with a homer, seven steals and seven RBIs in 29 at-bats.

If you can get a decent offer you should sell Turang, but I doubt many managers are willing to pay much for such an unproven player. I say ride the hot streak unless you receive a great trade proposal.

Use my No. 1 waiver priority to pick up Brandon Nimmo?

Absolutely. And I am not just saying that because Brandon Nimmo hit two home runs against the Braves on April 8. He is one of the most underrated hitters in baseball and a top outfielder in some points formats.

The Mets leadoff hitter has not bat below .274 since 2019 and has proven to be one of the most reliable players in baseball. Nimmo is not the flashiest player but he will move the needle for a fantasy team.

Trade away Austin Riley for Bo Bichette and Cedric Mullins in a keeper league?

I wouldn’t. Bo Bichette is a good player but I do not see him as an equal/enticing haul for Austin Riley. Bichette has incredible contact skills. Riley has less contact but towering power.

In fantasy, Riley is better than Bichette and hits in a Braves lineup that will be great for years. Cedric Mullins is pretty good but it appears his best days are behind him. Mullins doesn’t quite make up for the gap between Riley and Bichette.

Drop Michael King for Zack Littell?

No. Michael King looked inefficient when he walked seven Giants on March 31. But he only walked one in seven scoreless innings when he rematched the Giants on April 6.

King was a dominant reliever for the Yankees. Dominant is not a word to describe any point of Zack Littell’s career. It doesn’t hurt to roster Littell but I prefer King’s potential to translate his excellent relief pitching into a starting role.

Admittedly, this question is easier to answer after King had a promising second start against the Giants.

Is Trevor Story done for the year?

The Red Sox announced Trevor Story’s shoulder injury caused a season-ending surgery. Even in a deep dynasty league, I think it is time to drop the shortstop. He will be 32 next year and hasn’t looked very good since his final 2021 season in Coors.

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