Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire and FAAB Recommendations for MLB Week 24

We would all love to win our league on Draft Day, but that’s simply not possible. The fantasy baseball waiver wire is a necessary tool for fortifying your roster. How much FAAB should you be willing to spend on some of the hot adds? Here’s a look at some of the players, generally owned in 50% or less of leagues, who may be worth considering.

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Fantasy Baseball FAAB Recommendations

Must Target Options (Hitters):

• Evan Carter – Texas Rangers (FAAB – 15-20%) – He is getting his chance, thanks to the injury to Adolis Garcia.  He is the type of player who may never relinquish it, however.  He had 16 doubles, 6 triples, and 12 HR between Double and Triple-A.  He also showed off his wheels (25 SB).  Those numbers are nice, but it was his ability to make consistent contact that stands out most.  Both at Double-A (10.0% SwStr% in 462 PA) and Triple-A (7.8% in 39 PA) he showed the ability to make consistent contact while also drawing walks (16.0% and 10.3% walk rates, respectively).  Power, speed, and approach?  Carter is a potential difference-maker, so don’t be shy in your FAAB bids.
• Jordan Lawlar – Arizona Diamondbacks (FAAB – 15-20%) – We’ve already talked about Carter’s impressive resume.  Lawlar is extremely similar, though he’s already shown a bit more.  Between Double & Triple-A he had 23 doubles, 4 triples, and 20 HR.  He also stole 36 bases while only being caught 5 times.  Strikeouts could become a little more of an issue, given his 11.4% SwStr% at Double-A.  That’s of little concern, however.  Like Carter he could be a true difference-maker, so don’t be afraid to go all in.  Who else could you be saving your FAAB for?

Must Target Options (Pitchers):

• Edward Cabrera – Miami Marlins (FAAB – 7.5-10%) – He’s got strikeouts and groundballs, the question has always been whether or not he can consistently throw strikes.  It’s no guarantee that he does, as it’s not like he appears to have turned a corner completely.  That said, his 3.86 BB/9 over 14.0 IP in the second half would be more than enough to make him a ca n’t-miss option.  Consider him a high-risk, high-reward waiver wire play.  That said, he’s one well worth taking.
• Michael King – New York Yankees (FAAB – 5-7.5%) – After thriving out of the bullpen, King has moved to the rotation and hasn’t missed a beat.  In his past two outings, King has gone 9.0 IP allowing 1 ER on 8 H and 0 BB, striking out 9.  Given the injuries in the rotation, as well as the struggles of Luis Severino, King should be locked in the rest of the way.  It’s possible home runs do become an issue (44.7% groundball rate).  That’s not a given, with only a handful of starts left.  If you need a boost in pitching, now’s the time to buy in off the waiver wire.

Names Off the IL to Consider:

• Michael Brantley – Houston Astros (FAAB – 0%) – Brantley has some name appeal.  He also has been hot since returning (2 HR in 6 games).  While he may be a source of a strong average, at this point it’s impossible to expect much more.  He had 18 HR over the previous three seasons and he hasn’t been a source of SB for some time (plus he’s now 36 years old).  Throw in that he doesn’t play every day and he’s hitting towards the bottom of the lineup, and the negatives far outweigh the positives.
• John Means – Baltimore Orioles (FAAB – 0%) – The southpaw has had some productive years, though the underlying metrics always brought some concerns.  He’s not a high-strikeout pitcher.  He doesn’t generate many groundballs.  His control was always his strongest skill, but with the lengthy time off there’s a chance he is shakier than normal.  Throw in that there’s no guarantee he sticks in the rotation and he’s another waiver wire pass for now.

Young Players Who May Struggle:

• Taj Bradley – Tampa Bay Rays (FAAB – 1-2%) – Bradley has already made 18 starts and he’s pitched to a 5.44 ERA.  It’s safe to say that he has already struggled.  The big issue has been home runs, with a 34.6% groundball rate leading to a 1.78 HR/9.  Considering his SwStr% (11.5%) doesn’t quite back up his strikeout rate (11.62 K/9) and that he could start to tire as he nears a career-high in innings, and there are concerns.  Long-term he’s well worth owning, but for ’23 he’s not a good gamble.

Sources – Fangraphs, MLB.com, CBS Sports, Brooks Baseball, Baseball Savant