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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds for Week 9

By Todd Hedberg
Luis Matos Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire

The overarching narrative entering this fantasy baseball season was centered around the lack of depth in the outfield position. This is a rarity as in most seasons the outfield has been a position of great depth. For fantasy managers playing in five outfielder leagues, the waiver wire has felt much like a lottery. The high competition to win key outfield target players and uncertainty on returns has been a point of stress. This week, however, brings many exciting outfield waiver wire options, in addition to relief pitchers, for fantasy managers to plug key lineup holes with better than normal free agent additions. The key will be to act decisively to not miss out and capture a potential season-long contributor.

Check out our full fantasy baseball lineup: Dynasty Stock Watch | Rookie Report | MLB Injury Report | Weekly SP Rankings | Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report | Rest of Season Rankings | Lineup Analysis | Two-Start Pitchers | Pitching Streamers | Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire | Dynasty Buys and Sells | Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers | Prospect Rankings and Reports

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds for Week 9

1. Luis Matos, OF, Giants

Considered a consensus top 100 prospect just last year, Luis Matos, debuted for the Giants late last season unspectacularly, causing his fantasy stock to plummet. Ironically, it was the lack of a standout debut to meet the high expectations that dropped his perceived value for dynasty managers. Now, Matos is back up with the Giants and surging at the plate. In just his first 24 at-bats, he already has 11 hits and an astonishing 17 RBI. For those managers that have held on in keeper leagues, they are now being rewarded multiple times over their investment.  Should Matos still be available in your league, even 10-teamers, he should be the top waiver priority this week.

2. Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Mariners

It seems every week a new player emerges with little fanfare who leaves fantasy managers wondering if the production is a mirage or an oasis. This week Luke Raley is that player as he has batted a red-hot .396 over his last 15 games. In the dried-up landscape of the OF free-agent player pool, Raley just might be an oasis for those thirsting for five-category production. Though, have caution as his current breakout may not be fully indicative of his previous season performances. Last season his batting average was .249, slightly below league average. This leads us to wonder if his current production is more of a mirage. Though, his 19 home runs and 14 steals last season truly show his high-end fantasy contribution potential moving forward, even if his batting average regresses considerably.

3. Reed Garrett, RP, Mets

Even before Edwin Diaz’s struggles in the closer role last weekend, Reed Garrett was on the fantasy radar given his startling pitching ratios. In his 25 innings pitched so far this season Garrett has a 0.72 ERA with five wins and two saves. Now, with Diaz being temporarily relieved from his closing duties, there’s a good chance Garrett can start to amass more saves. If so, this would boost his fantasy value into the top tiers of closers, even if for a short while. For those fantasy managers desperate for saves and looking for stability in their pitching ratios, Reed Garrett is truly a rare find on the waiver wire.

4. Jeffrey Springs, SP, Rays

Last April no pitcher had more helium in their fantasy value than Jeffrey Springs. Coming off his breakout 2022 season, where he pitched to a 2.46 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP, Springs was even more impressive in his first three starts of 2023. Unfortunately, the success was short-lived as his season ended due to the need for elbow surgery. Now Springs is nearing the end of his recovery timeline and has already started his rehab assignment with a strong outing. It may be a few weeks before he’s back in the big leagues but continued volatility in the Rays pitching staff could lead to him being immediately inserted into a starting role. If roster space permits, it’s a great time to pick him up off the waiver wire for minimal cost.

5. Kevin Pillar, OF, Angels

A common name in the occasional waiver wire target articles over the last decade, Kevin Pillar has shown his positive and negative attributes many times over. While he’s always been viewed as a reliable source of batting average and runs, the extra base power has been lacking. More importantly, he’s often fallen into platoon roles which had made him a fringe player at best. Yet, recent injuries on the Angels have allowed Pillar to hold a regular role and he’s making the most of the opportunity. In his last seven games, he’s produced astronomical numbers with a .462 batting average, two home runs, and three steals. While it’s likely that his fantasy value will ultimately fall off, it’s clear that Pillar can add immediate value to fantasy teams in need of a boost in key categories.

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