It’s never too early to discuss waiver wire pickups. With the start of the season just five days away, now is the perfect time. The greatest day of the year is coming up with Opening Day nearly upon us. Most of you by now have drafted your squad and whether it’s a roto league or head-to-head, there is likely still a handful of league winners sitting on the waiver wire.
Left behind for one reason or another, this article is meant to point out those players who can make an immediate and, hopefully, long-term impact on your squad. I’ll be returning every week with somewhere in the neighborhood of 8-12 players who are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo Leagues who can help improve your standing. I rarely repeat a player, so it’s always a good idea to check previous articles to see if any of those players are still available.
It’s my sixth year doing this, so hopefully you have come to recognize me and that my picks have paid off for you.
Let’s get to it. Here are your top waiver wire additions for the opening week of the 2025 MLB baseball season. It feels good to be back.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 1)
Victor Robles (OF – SEA): 49%
Victor Robles is going to lead off for the M’s again this year and it looks as though he’s ready to pick up where he left off. The speedy center fielder now has three homers, eight RBI and two stolen bags this spring. Last season, Robles was a godsend for Seattle, registering a .328 average to go along with 30 stolen bases and 41 runs scored spread across 229 at-bats. He also clubbed 20 doubles leading to a robust .467 slugging rate.
A full season of batting in front of Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh could easily lead to 100 runs scored. Robles can hit .300, steal over 50 bags and score nearly 100 runs. He by no means should be left on the waiver wire and should be one of your first additions this season if he is.
Byron Buxton (OF – MIN): 36%
I understand Byron Buxton doesn’t play every day and he’s very likely to end up on the injured list IL (IL) sooner than later, but as long as he’s active, he belongs on fantasy rosters. Buxton is one of those “if only” players, as in, if only he could stay healthy, he could be one of the best.
Buxton swings hard and runs fast. So much so he’s constantly injuring himself. But while playing, few light up a Statcast sheet with red numbers quite like Buxton does. The slugging center fielder’s barrel rate, sweet-spot percentage, xwOBA and xSLG all rank in the top 10% of the league. His sprint speed at 29.7 feet per second is also in the top 2% of the league.
Now on the wrong side of 30, I wouldn’t plan on Buxton lasting more than half a season. But instead of looking at his overall numbers, focus on the ratios of the numbers he does give you. Over 100 at-bats, the Georgia native averages 18 runs, 17 RBI, five home runs, eight doubles and a couple of stolen bases. Add that to a .280 batting average and you’ve got yourself a player off the waiver wire giving you a third-round type of production.
I’m not saying he’s going to produce those numbers consistently all year. I’m just saying while he’s active, this is the type of top-tier output you can expect. He’s even better in leagues that allow for daily transactions so you can sit him when he’s resting. Buxton’s had a great spring and deserves a spot on your roster.
Tyler Fitzgerald (SS – SF): 32%
While so much focus is on the big shortstops who are capable of a 20/20 season, Tyler Fitzgerald is a forgotten commodity. The Giants’ shortstop was on pace for that and much more after taking over the job last year. The 27-year-old crushed 15 long balls to go along with 17 steals over just 314 at-bats. The former fourth-round pick also scored 55 runs and produced a slugging rate of nearly .500.
Now fully entrenched in the role, Fitzgerald could end up with a solid 25/25 season. He was a five-tool machine down on the farm as well and is one of my top sleepers for the year. Even if he just comes close, he’s well worth the investment off the waiver wire.
Tyler Fitzgerald goes deep AGAIN for the 14th time this season ???? pic.twitter.com/rRHGMWIUoT
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 15, 2024
TJ Friedl (OF – CIN): 36%
TJ Friedl is coming off a down year caused by two broken bones (from hit-by-pitches) and a pulled hamstring. With that all happily behind him now, Friedl can do what he does best, which is fill up a stat sheet.
Once again operating at 100%, Friedl could easily surpass 25 stolen bases like he did in 2023. The electric outfielder also has the skills to launch 20 home runs. The Reds’ lineup should be improved this season, especially with their young guys gaining another year of experience. Friedl was a giant for fantasy manners two years ago and he could very well be back up to his old tricks before long. He’s an excellent depth piece, if not a fourth outfielder right away.
Ivan Herrera (C – STL): 24%
Ivan Herrera doesn’t hit for much power, but the young man does hit. The Cardinals’ latest backstop hit over .300 last year (259 plate appearances) with a .372 on-base percentage (OBP). He’s been a machine at getting on base again this spring, wrapping up the exhibition games with an eye-catching .355 average, .463 OBP and .677 slugging rate. He’s also scattered seven extra-base hits over 41 plate appearances.
Herrera spent nearly eight years in the Minors perfecting his craft. While he was considered a rookie last year, he was far from inexperienced. The 24-year-old Panamanian is penciled in to bat somewhere near the middle of the order, likely around the sixth spot. He should have an ample amount of RBI chances, as well as plenty of run-scoring opportunities because of his high OBP.
It’s not often you can snag a catcher who hits over .300 off the waiver wire but it won’t last long. I love Herrera as a deep sleeper this year, so put in that waiver bid if you missed out on the top 10 at the position.
Shane Baz (SP – TB): 48%
Shane Baz is a conflicting player. On one hand, he has the stuff to succeed, keeps the ball in the yard (1.02 HR/9) and limits line drives (17.8%). On the other hand, he doesn’t strike out a ton of hitters, rarely induces soft contact and is now moving to a smaller home ballpark. The Rays’ home stadium this year mimics Yankee Stadium’s dimensions. In that warm outdoor climate, the ball could fly.
Baz also hasn’t been great this spring, but word on the street is he’s been tinkering with a few new offerings. The good news is that the righty from Texas has been fully healthy throughout camp and is ready to take on a full workload. His strikeout numbers in the Minors also paint a pretty picture, which leads me to believe he’ll be able to rack up the whiffs a little more often this season.
While Baz is best left on waivers for now in shallow leagues, he still possesses value in standard leagues. The Rays always find a way to get the maximum out of their pitchers. If Baz can come close to the 3.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP he produced over 14 games last year, he will be a steal off the waiver wire.
Jeffrey Springs (SP – ATH): 17%
Jeffrey Springs has been consistently awesome throughout his short career. Injuries have often derailed what could have been an elite season, but when Springs is active, he produces.
Springs was excellent for Tampa Bay, even dating back to when he joined the club in 2021. As a relief pitcher in his early days, Springs put up strong numbers while striking out an impressive 35.2% of batters. Since then, he’s primarily worked as a starter, where the 6-foot-3 hurler has maintained an ERA under 3.00 with a strikeout rate approaching 30%.
Over the last two seasons, the crafty lefty was able to start just 10 games, but even coming off of long absences, he still pitched well. Now fully healthy for the Athletics, a solid bounce-back year for the 32-year-old could be in store. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him produce at a high level again.
Springs may not win a ton of games pitching for the transitioning club, but the A’s are improved, making 10 or 11 wins a reasonable get. The ex-Ray should be considered for all league types.
Gavin Williams (SP – CLE): 49%
Gavin Williams was not good last year. He surrendered far too many walks and struggled to pitch deep into games. He also dealt with an elbow injury. That said, the 6-foot-6 Williams seems to be primed for a comeback season.
Highly touted as a prospect, Williams earned high praise after reaching the Major Leagues in 2023. The former first-round draft pick struck out a batter per inning while holding the opposition to a .219 average. He also rarely gave up the long ball, registering a fine 0.88 HR/9. This spring, he looks like the same pitcher that garnered all the hype. Williams has been nothing short of fantastic, striking out 21 batters over just 12.1 innings. He’s also allowed just eight hits.
While I like both Springs and Baz, Williams would be my top choice if you need a picther.
Gavin Williams was unreal today:
2.1 IP 3 H 1 R 1 BB 6 K
15 whiffs ????????I’m expecting a breakout year from him in 2025!
pic.twitter.com/6NS66ambAF— Andrew DeCeglie (@Andrew_FBB) March 4, 2025
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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.
