Last week’s list of waiver wire players went well. David Fry was my favorite player for the week and he ended up having one to remember. Especially for a catcher-eligible player, not many of them seemed to be very productive. He drove in eight, hit a pair of home runs and even stole a base. Not bad at all for a guy many were unsure would get consistent playing time this season.
This week we’re going to be trying to find the next David Fry. By that I mean we’re going to find guys with the best possible matchups. Thankfully, this week is chock-full of good matchups and good players. Don’t worry that we’re already done with 1o weeks and many waiver wires have been picked dry. I like to dive as deep as possible to bring you the guys I think can be helpful while also being widely available.
If you’re new here, I break down my favorite waiver wire options by position grouping. Rather than tell you 50 different players and make each sound like a great option, I write about only the ones I think hold the most value. The players I think will help you legitimately this week and beyond. I’d rather provide quality over quantity analysis and recommendations. With that in mind, let’s get into it.
Last week’s list of waiver wire players went well. David Fry was my favorite player for the week and he ended up having one to remember. Especially for a catcher-eligible player, not many of them seemed to be very productive. He drove in eight, hit a pair of home runs and even stole a base. Not bad at all for a guy many were unsure would get consistent playing time this season.
This week we’re going to be trying to find the next David Fry. By that I mean we’re going to find guys with the best possible matchups. Thankfully, this week is chock-full of good matchups and good players. Don’t worry that we’re already done with 1o weeks and many waiver wires have been picked dry. I like to dive as deep as possible to bring you the guys I think can be helpful while also being widely available.
If you’re new here, I break down my favorite waiver wire options by position grouping. Rather than tell you 50 different players and make each sound like a great option, I write about only the ones I think hold the most value. The players I think will help you legitimately this week and beyond. I’d rather provide quality over quantity analysis and recommendations. With that in mind, let’s get into it.
To be blunt, Patrick Bailey may have already been on this list last week but he’s the only catcher I like on waivers this week. A case could maybe be made for Danny Jansen but even then, meh. Bailey is your guy. He has made improvements to both his quality and quantity of contact, and it’s paying dividends. At the moment, the batting average seems very sustainable. While he won’t hit a ton of home runs, he can get on base and score runs with regularity. I like him in all formats where you need a catcher.
The mustache isn’t the only thing to like about the Blue Jays’ blossoming middle infielder. Davis Schneider has also found a way to inject a level of offense into the lineup that not even Bo Bichette or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have been able to. In his last 14 games, he’s had eight XBH, driven in 14, scored nine and hit for a pretty rough average. Beware in average leagues. Outside of that, he’s offering elite counting stats production at a position that can be void of that. He’s played his way into an everyday role with the Blue Jays and should have an everyday role in your fantasy lineup as well.
There will be question marks around how much playing time the veteran utility man will get, but Donovan Solano proved in 2023 that he can be valuable when he gets a chance. Lately, he’s been getting that chance for the Padres and is taking advantage of it. Three multi-hit games, a home run, three runs scored and three RBI in his last five games. He may not be in your lineup for a long time, but he can certainly be here for a good time. As long as the Padres give him at-bats, he’s worthy of an add in deeper leagues. Especially in points leagues.
Matt Vierling is starting to do that thing again where he gets really hot and puts up numbers. I’m not always a fan of chasing players on a hot streak because they’re bound to cool off at some point, but Vierling’s looks like it’s got enough legs to continue at least for a bit longer. Nine XBH in his last 11 games with 13 RBI and a zone contact rate of 90%. He’s making great swing decisions and they’re paying off. That Tigers offense is primed for run-scoring, so as long as Vierling keeps hitting, the production will continue to follow. I like him in most leagues but he falls into the “he’s safe to drop once he cools off” category.
That pesky Brett Baty is officially out of the picture. Mark Vientos is now free to stake his claim as the starting third baseman for the New York Mets. He’s been doing a pretty damn good of it, too. As someone who was never short on power in the minor leagues, Vientos has done a great job at showing power can translate. He’s got four home runs and eight total XBH in his first 16 games this season. He’s cut his strikeout rate, improved his barrel rate and started pulling flyballs at a much higher rate — the key to success for guys who want to be big power hitters. The Mets seem set on letting Vientos ride this till the wheels fall off, so he’s worth an add in most deep leagues. Especially ones where you need some power.
If there’s one thing Nelson Velazquez brings to the table, it’s power. Lots of power. And he’s starting to flash that once again this season. Six home runs in the last 18 games will do that. Now keep in mind his barrel rate is below 5%, which is less than ideal, but he still makes enough hard contact to make it interesting. He currently has a 105.5 90th percentile EV, which is well above average. His 14.2% pulled flyball rate is also 5% higher than the league average. Pulled flyballs rule the world when you’re looking for mashers of the baseball. Velazquez did it in the second half of 2023 and he’s doing it again in the beginning of 2024. Add him now before he goes nuts.
Much like Abraham Toro, Miguel Andujar has turned himself into someone who’s gone from someone else’s trash to Oakland’s treasure. The numbers he’s been putting out are eye-popping. In seven games, he’s hit two dingers, driven in 12 and has struck out only twice. He has previously hit 27 home runs in a season before, so this power surge isn’t completely out of character. His lack of barrels points to what should be some tempered expectations, but he currently has a 100% zone contact rate. Oakland has nobody to take reps from him. As long as he continues to get reps, Andujar becomes a sneaky option for 12-team and deeper leagues. Especially in points leagues.
