Most teams have now finished two series and have five or six games under their belts. It’s just a fraction of what will be the full 2025 season, but it feels like an eternity. We have another waiver wire period in front of us, and it feels like the ability to improve our teams is endless. However, it’s important to keep things in perspective while remembering there’s a lot of baseball left to be played. But that doesn’t mean we can’t look for areas in which to improve our teams for both the short and long term.
In doing our weekly diligence, the criteria for inclusion will generally be any player rostered in less than 50% of Fantrax leagues (as of 4/02 ), with some exceptions. The popularity of Dynasty leagues on Fantrax does sway some of these percentages compared to other platforms, but these are players who should be on your radar.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Recommendations
Ben Rice, 1B, New York Yankees
In case you haven’t heard, there’s such a thing as torpedo bats. It might be an overblown storyline in the first week of the season, but the results are there. But how much is attributable to the bat and how much of it is the player? We can’t argue with the results, and I think everyone knows that finding success at the plate comes from more than just a bat. If that’s the case, then I should be heading to the Bronx this week. Regardless, though, every little bit helps.
Entering the season, Ben Rice was an interesting option as the expected DH for the Yankees. Last year, Rice had success in Double-A and Triple-A, hitting .273 with 24 home runs and 59 RBI. He was promoted to the big leagues, but Rice had limited success, finishing with seven home runs and 23 RBI in 50 games. The power and run production ability were there, but he only hit .171. Between his .237 xBA and 15.6% barrel rate, Rice set the stage with upside for this season.
Through 14 plate appearances, Rice is continuing to hit the ball with authority this season. He has two home runs and should continue to be a solid source of power and run production.
Jorge Polanco, 2B, Seattle Mariners
For starters, Jorge Polanco is on his way towards gaining third base eligibility which makes him that much more versatile and valuable. It was a down year for Polanco in 2024 as he hit just .213 in 118 games. He did hit 16 home runs, but finished with only 45 RBI and 43 runs scored while striking out a career high 29.2% of the time.
Through his first four games, Polanco has four hits, including a home run, and four RBI. Once he gets back from paternity leave this weekend, Polanco likely won’t be a true difference maker or league winner. However, he has produced when healthy and in the lineup, and he should receive regular playing time in 2025. Being able to use him as both a corner and middle infielder helps to manage your bench.
Jake Mangum, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Leave it to the Tampa Bay Rays. Prior to the season, how many people, especially those who didn’t partake in the 50-round draft and holds, truly had Jake Mangum on their radars?
Never truly considered a top prospect, Mangum did show the ability to hit for a high average throughout his minor league career. It did come with limited power, but Mangum was a solid threat on the base paths. The 29-year-old didn’t make his major league debut until a week ago, and Tampa Bay wasted no time putting him right in the middle of their order.
Something that we have to continue to monitor this season will be the impact of hitting in Tampa Bay’s new home park. That’s where Mangum and the Rays began this season. The outfielder has hits in eight of his first 16 plate appearances while stealing three bases and picking up four RBI. We know this pace is unsustainable, but Mangum deserves some attention.
Andrew Benintendi, OF, Chicago White Sox
Now, let’s get boring, but necessary. The Chicago White Sox aren’t very good and Andrew Benintendi offers little in the way of upside. But, sometimes, there is a need for that on your roster as we deal with injuries and poor performances.
After a health scare with a broken hand early in Spring Training, Benintendi quickly healed and was able to make it back. He only hit .229 last year, but the outfielder still had a solid year. Benintendi finished with 20 home runs and 64 RBI in 135 games, and he’s still just 30 years old.
To begin 2025, Benintendi is off to a hot start with seven hits in 23 plate appearances while driving in six runs. There are certainly worse ways to fill out the back end of your roster.
Hayden Wesneski, SP, Houston Astros
You can never have enough innings, and that’s especially true in favorable situations. Hayden Wesneski is slated to take the mound twice in the upcoming week, and with favorable matchups at that. The right-hander begins his week in Seattle before returning home to face the Angels.
Wesneski did allow three runs, including a homer, in five innings of work for his Astros’ debut. With two hits and three walks, Wesneski managed to keep the bases relatively clear while striking out six batters. Overall, it was a solid first start for Wesneski. It will be interesting to keep an eye on his pitch mix moving forward as the right-hander increasingly relied on his fastball and cutter instead of his slider.
Matthew Liberatore, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
It feels like we have been hearing about Matthew Liberatore as a top prospect for a while now. The problem, is that the results and consistency at the big league level have yet to match.
In 60 games last year, six starts, the left-hander did have a 4.40 ERA while striking out 7.95 batters per nine innings. St. Louis is going to give Liberatore every chance in the rotation to begin the season, and he’s still just 25 years old. In the coming week, Liberatore has a good matchup against Pittsburgh that we can look to target.
The left-hander is coming off a quality start in his season debut in which he allowed three runs over six innings. Not walking a batter is a good start to the season for Liberatore, and it’s something that we should look for him to continue.
Anthony Bender, RP, Miami Marlins
When closing situations are up in the air heading into the season, that puts more initial stress on them. We are forced to watch everything with the utmost of attention, and that brings us to Miami.
Calvin Faucher ended 2024 with six saves for the Marlins, but he pitched the eighth inning on Wednesday with a lead. The lead ended up being fleeting as he gave up a three run homer to Pete Alonso to blow the save. That only served to cement, at least temporarily, the fact that Anthony Bender has the initial hold on the closer’s job. Granted, it’s tenuous in nature, but Bender did pick up the save on Tuesday. Through 2.2 innings, Bender has yet to allow a run this season, and for now, he’s worth targeting.
Dennis Santana, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates
That was quick for David Bednar. He already blew two saves, and tried to blow a third, so it’s no surprise that Bednar lost his job as Pittsburgh’s closer. To make matters clearer, the Pirates sent Bednar to Triple-A. Now, we just have to figure out who the closer will be for the Pirates.
In a save situation on Wednesday, Colin Holderman entered the game in the eighth inning. He promptly struggled and had to be bailed out by Ryan Borucki. That left the ninth inning for Dennis Santana, and it appears that it will be his role to lose. While we want to be somewhat cautious in our investment for Santana, or really any closer, the right-hander does have some potential.
