Another week, another edition of the weekly waiver wire. We’ve had our ups and downs with this but I’m pretty proud of the fact the ups have been the most predominant. We’ve been a tad early on a few guys (Alec Marsh, I’m looking at you) and we’ve messed up a few others. At the end of the day, there have been some pretty good choices early on.
This coming week, there are a ton of guys I like. We’re still at the point of the season where you can find viable choices in even deep leagues. Admittedly, catcher has been a bit thin on the waiver wire as of late. Outside of that, you shouldn’t have much of an issue finding at least serviceable performance on the wire. With that in mind, let’s cut this intro short and get right into it.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets (Week 5)
Catcher
CBS: 12%, Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 2%
Has catcher been thin? Yes. Has Connor Wong had himself a good enough stretch of games to prove he can be serviceable? Also, yes. Multiple hits in four of his last five games including a pair of home runs and four RBI will do that. He’s not making the highest quality of contact, but he’s got an 86% zone contact rate and is hitting more line drives. It would be nice if he could maybe take a walk at some point. For now, he’s doing everything necessary to find success and he makes for a great second catcher.
CBS: 4%, Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%
Miguel Amaya has a few things going for him. First is the fact he’s younger than his platoon-mate Yan Gomes. Although he may not have the big league experience, he’s showing that doesn’t matter. The second is he’s just been flat-out better than Gomes. Amaya has already driven in eight runs in just 13 games, is batting .282 and has a career-best 48.3% hard-hit rate. He’s swinging at 80% of pitches in the zone and making contact almost 90% of the time. All of these are things you look for in a potential “I was a platoon but now I’m too good for a platoon to be necessary” type of player. Gomes is struggling to even make it back to the Mendoza line. Amaya will take the job over full time sooner than later, so get in now while you can as he’s heating up.
Corner Infield
Ryan O’Hearn (1B, DH, OF – BAL)
CBS: 35%, Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 18%
Do you wanna see something crazy?
That is the Baseball Savant page for Ryan O’Hearn. He must have gotten the memo before the season the Orioles are chock-full of young talent they need to make room for. He’s doing his damndest to ensure his job stays safe. In turn, he’s making sure he’s relevant for your fantasy roster. It’s hard to overlook this high-level production. The Orioles are in line for a fairly easy schedule coming up. With that in mind, O’Hearn should continue to feast.
CBS: 12%, Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 0%
Patrick Wisdom has some of the biggest power in baseball. The issue is that as good as he is at hitting the ball really far, he’s equally as bad at making contact. That’s why Wisdom always seems to find himself on your waiver wire. That and the fact he’s likely a platoon this season. He’s fresh off the injured list (IL) and drove in two on Saturday against Miami. As long as he’s getting a healthy amount of at-bats, Wisdom holds enough value to be worth a shot. Especially in category leagues rewarding power.
Middle Infield
Amed Rosario (2B, SS, OF – TB)
CBS: 31%, Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 12%
You’d be hard-pressed to find anything Amed Rosario isn’t doing at a well-above-average level this season. He used the time he spent at Driveline this offseason to make real, tangible changes, and it’s paying off. He started rather slow, but in his last eight games, he has multiple hits six times. He’s also hit a couple of dingers, driven in seven and swiped two bags. He’s not going to be a guy that hits 20 home runs but he’s got a 10.5% barrel rate and 49.1% hard-hit rate that hint at newfound power that can lead to him surpassing his previous career-high of 11 dingers. Tampa Bay always seems to find a way to get elite production from their guys. Rosario is no different.
Blaze Alexander (2B, SS, DH – ARI)
CBS: 21%, Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 2%
The kid who blessed us with his presence in the first edition of this article is back to remind you why. After another double, RBI and run scored on Saturday, Blaze Alexander has cemented himself amongst the hottest players in baseball. In his last four games, he has a home run, four doubles, nine RBI and three runs scored. He’s shown enough power and speed in the minors to make things interesting, and that’s exactly what he’s done in the majors. He’s still part of a platoon, so I’m unsure of the season-long impact he can have, but what I do know is he’s so hot right now you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage not having him on your roster.
Outfield
CBS: 37%, Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 12%
Speaking of the hottest hitters in baseball, another person adding their hat to that ring is Bryan De La Cruz. While the other De La Cruz (Elly) has been lighting the world on fire in historic ways, Bryan has found ways to be just as exciting. He’s traditionally known as a guy who hits for a good average with a little pop in his bat. De La Cruz is now a guy who hits for average with great pop in his bat. He’s hit four home runs and driven in 13 in his last eight games. And it’s been against respectable teams.
His barrel rate, hard-hit rate and xwOBA are all at career highs right now, and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down. This power shouldn’t come to be expected from him, but he has a real shot at 25 home runs this year with 80 RBI. That’ll play in plenty of leagues.
CBS: 19%, Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 3%
The Mariners’ top prospect has quickly shown that his minor-league numbers weren’t a fluke. Last season he was the first player in minor league history to have a 20/70 season. The power may not fully translate, but Jonatan Clase is already showing the speed. He’s stolen one base, hit a double, driven in four and came about two steps shy of hitting a little league home run on Saturday night. He’s electric and has proven he can and will contribute in just about every category. The almost 30% strikeout rate does worry me a bit in points leagues, but he’s flirting with “Must Add” territory with all other 12+ team leagues.
Jonatan Clase checks off two firsts with one swing for the @Mariners:
Hit ✅
RBI ✅ pic.twitter.com/ww4xoQ151A— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 16, 2024
Starting Pitchers
CBS: 22%, Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 8%
Jameson Taillon has been a fantasy asset in the past, someone who typically was drafted previously, but injuries changed that this season. He started the season on the IL due to a strained back, something I know all too well. The good news for Taillon and those who roster him is he returned to the rotation on Friday. Not only that, he looked great. He generated 12 whiffs on just 73 pitches. All of his pitch repertoire looked like it was capable of striking someone out. And he gave up just one run and three hits in five innings against a middling Marlins team. Next up is a struggling Astros team. If Taillon can get back to his 2022 self we’re in for a treat this season.
CBS: 75%, Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 14%
Much like Taillon, Luis Severino is a guy who was traditionally drafted in years past. Many thought a move away from Yankee Stadium and into the more pitcher-friendly Citi Field would benefit him. And it has. In his last two starts, he’s allowed six hits, one run and struck out eight in 11 innings. He’s added a sweeper as an out pitch against right-handers, which has certainly helped. Severino also made his cutter his go-to secondary pitch while throwing it almost three miles per hour harder. He’s made real changes this season and the success shouldn’t come as a surprise. He’s moved into the tier of guys who aren’t just a streaming option. Severino is proving he makes for a great addition to your starting rotation in slightly deeper leagues.
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