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Week 7 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets

By Taylor Tarter
Casey Schmitt Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire

Here are some waiver wire targets ahead of matchup number seven that you should consider adding. The following recommendations are organized here as deep and shallow league targets. The players you choose to add and drop from your team should largely depend on your league size and roster construction.

More great fantasy baseball advice and analysis: Waiver Wire & FAAB Recommendations | Daily MLB Injury Report | MLB DFS Picks | Line-up Analysis | Dynasty Rankings and Strategy | MLB Bullpen Updates | MLB Player Props | Prospect Rankings & Analysis | Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers

Deep League Waiver Targets

C Matt Thaiss – LAA

Matt Thaiss has taken over the starting catcher role with Logan O’Hoppe, Max Stassi, and Chad Wallach on the shelf. In his last seven days, as of writing, he has three runs and three RBI with a .471/.474/.471 slash line.

Thaiss has a .304 batting average on the season, and an inflated BABIP, but a 29% LD rate brings some legitimacy to the high BABIP and AVG. He has added eight degrees on his launch angle, and increased his barrel rate to 8.8% and HardHit rate to 44.1%. Those changes also support a higher AVG and BABIP and suggest his 7.7% HR/FB rate could get closer to his 16% career rate.

Thaiss only has one homer on the season so far in 46 at-bats, but has increased his flyball rate by 8% from last season and has cut down on groundballs by more than 20%. With the added hard contact, the home runs should start coming. And with improvements to his K%, it would not be surprising to see him maintain a higher average than his .221 career AVG.

Make Thaiss a waiver wire priority if you have struggled to find some consistency at catcher. He should be able to help across all roto categories, at least until some of his teammates return from the IL.

3B Casey Schmitt – SF

Since getting the call from the Giants, Casey Schmitt has gone 8-for-12 (.667) with two home runs, five runs, and four RBI.

He is a natural shortstop, which could be an issue when Brandon Crawford returns from injury, but he has also seen time at third base and could play some there.

Schmitt’s calling card in the minors has been his discipline. He had a 19% K rate in AAA before being called up. His discipline took him from high A ball to AAA in 2022. During his minor league career, he had five minor league stints, finishing with a .300 AVG or better in three of them.

His defensive versatility should allow him to retain playing time, and the Giants will want to keep his bat in the lineup, especially if he continues to stay hot. They clearly love him:

You should be like the Giants and select Schmitt from waivers.

SS Christopher Morel – ChC

In 2022, Christopher Morel hit 16 home runs and swiped 10 bags while posting a .235 AVG in 425 PAs. Unlike Schmitt, Morel’s biggest issue is his discipline – everything else is very fantasy friendly.

He had a 32.2.% K rate last year in his rookie MLB season. His chase rate was 33.2%, and his contact rate was a very low 63.4%. In a very small sample size so far, his chase rate is nearly identical, as is his swing%, so he does not look to have changed much in his approach.

What Morel does well is hit the ball hard. He had a 13.4% barrel rate and an above-league-average 39.7% HardHit rate last season. He also keeps the ball off the ground pretty well. He had a 50% GB rate last season in the majors, but his highest in the minors was 44.9%. Here’s some recent proof of his ability to hit homers:

Morel can play all over the diamond and in the outfield, and although it is yet to be determined where he will play, he should find his way into the lineup and could be a double digit home run and steal producer.

If you can stomach a low average, Morel is a great option on the waiver wire.

OF JJ Bleday – OAK

Is this the JJ Bleday breakout season we have been waiting for? Perhaps! From 2019-2022, the highly touted Bleday struggled through the minors and then in a 65-game debut with the Marlins.

Something must have changed along with his switch to the Athletics this season. Before getting the call, he had a higher walk rate than strikeout rate in AAA and a .316 AVG, with seven homers, 25 runs, and 17 RBI.

In nine major league games this season, Bleday has three homers, six runs, and three RBI, while batting .344. Here’s his most recent homer:

Bleday has a higher chase rate this year than last year but is making more contact on those pitches outside of the zone, which has led to more contact overall than last season.

Bleday is pulling the ball well at 56% and driving the ball at a 20% rate, which both lend themselves to high BABIPs and AVGs.

While the pace of homers should slow over time, Bleday looks like he can do enough to be fantasy relevant this season. Add him from the waiver wire now.

SP Eury Perez – MIA

Perez will get his first crack at major league lineups today (Friday May 12), after dominating at AA. Here’s how he found out he was going to the bigs:

He was the youngest pitcher (20 years old) at AA before being called up, but that didn’t matter. He finished at AA with a 42:9 K:BB ratio, a 12 K/9 rate, and a 2.32 ERA across 31 IP.

Perez is most known for his command, which is extra impressive when you realize he was a teenager last month. His fastball command, in particular, is special according to his pitching coach in AA. But he also features a changeup, curveball, and slider mix that can induce a ton of swings and misses.

Fantasy managers should expect an extended stay for Perez with Trevor Rogers and Johnny Cueto on the shelf and no other real challengers for a rotation spot.

Perez has a pitch mix and skill set that are perfect for fantasy baseball, so fantasy managers should make him a priority in al league sizes and types.

Shallow League Waiver Targets

C Eric Haase – DET

While Eric Haase has yet to get the power stroke going, he is hitting for a .293 AVG, and it looks to be somewhat sustainable.

The catcher has just two homers in 100 PAs, partially due to a higher than usual groundball rate and lower than usual flyball rate, which has led to a 9.5% HR/FB rate which is much lower than his career average.

While Haase has struggled for power, he has done well hitting for average. He has a 23% LD rate and a 47.7% pull rate, which could help sustain a high BABIP.

If Haase can get a little more lift on the ball and continue pulling and driving the ball well, the hits should continue and the home runs should come.

If you need some help at catcher, Eric Haase is a great choice off waivers.

1B Nick Pratto – KC

Nick Pratto has seen consistent playing time since being called up at the end of April but has really turned it on since the start of May. In May alone, Pratto is 10-for-30 (.333) with two homers, 11 runs, and 10 RBI. Here is his second homer of the season:

He has an impressive 9.4% barrel rate and a 46.9% HarHit rate, so hopefully the home runs start flying for the Royals first baseman. One reason he may have yet to get going with homers could be due to losing 13 degrees of launch from last season. Pratto has a higher groundball rate and lower flyball rate than last season.

One positive for Pratto is that he has shaved 10% off his chase rate from last season, knocking it down to 20.3%. His contact rate is up to 74.7%. So while his .500 BABIP and .347 AVG may drop off, Pratto has made adjustments to his discipline that should support a higher average than the .215-.226 AVGs that projections predict for the rest of the season.

Pratto is a solid option to add from the waiver wire to get some depth at the corner infield position.

SS Javier Baez – DET

I am as surprised as anyone else to be recommending Javier Baez to be added from waivers, but he has made clear adjustments to improve from the last few seasons.

First, he has his strikeout rate under 20%. This is the third year in a row that he has improved his K%. Baez has also improved his walk rate to its highest point since 2017.

Part of his success may be an approach change. Baez has swung less overall this season than in the past two years and has lowered his chase rate, which was among the worst in baseball the last two seasons (it still is). But, more importantly, Baez has improved his overall contact rate to 72.2%, his highest contact rate since 2016.

Perhaps this has something to do with his improvements as well:

Baez has three homers and three steals in 34 games so far this season, along with a .256 AVG. With all of his improvements, Baez could keep his AVG in the .250-.260 range while also reaching 20 homers and 15 steals.

If he is available, Baez should be rostered in your league, so claim him off waivers as soon as possible.

OF Harrison Bader – NYY

Harrison Bader has had his Yankees career curtailed by injury but has looked excellent since his May 2 debut this season.

He has three homers in 32 PAs, which is a small sample size, but early returns look good. He has a strikeout rate in the single digits, he is barreling the ball at a 10.7% rate and is launching fly balls at a 57% rate.

Bader has flashed a power and speed combo that makes him an enticing fantasy asset. He has three seasons of double-digit homers and three seasons of double-digit steals, although they have only lined up twice. He has also managed a .250 AVG or better in three of his six seasons prior to this year.

If he can stay healthy the rest of the way, this could be a season where he puts it all together. Yankee Stadium is among the best in baseball for righty hitters in both AVG and power, which should also help Bader.

If you need some outfield depth, Bader is a player to target from the waiver wire.

SP Louie Varland – MIN

So far this season, Louie Varland has three starts under his belt for the Twins. During that time, he has a 10.8 K/9 rate, with an 86% LOB rate, and a 41.3% GB rate. He has a 4.32 ERA across 16.2 IP.

Do not let the ERA fool you, though. Varland’s BABIP is inflated somewhat at .333, and his HR/FB rate is 28.6%, more than double the league average measuring stick for HR/FB rate. Expect some positive regression to his ERA as suggested by a 3.14 xFIP and 3.48 SIERA.

Varland features a fastball, changeup, cutter, slider pitch mix. All four pitches have a 25% whiff rate or better, including his changeup’s 43.5% whiff rate (top-20 in baseball on the changeup). His changeup also has a 54.5% putaway rate (best in baseball on the changeup), while his cutter has a 35.7% putaway rate (top-10 in baseball on the cutter). Here he is showing off some of his electric stuff:

Varland has incredible stuff and should be all but guaranteed for an extended stay in the Twins’ rotation with Tyler Mahle hitting the IL for Tommy John surgery. If Varland is available on waivers in your league, he is a must-add.

RP Yennier Cano – BAL

Yennier Cano has been so good this season that he has earned three saves for a team that also features Felix Bautista, who has been lights out. This makes Cano worth adding not only in leagues that feature holds – he has six – but in non-holds leagues as well.

Cano’s sinker, changeup, and slider pitch mix is absolutely filthy. He has tossed 220 pitches this season, but has allowed just three hits. This could be a major reason why:

His changeup is arguably his best pitch, featuring a .000 batting average against, a .075 xBAA, a 44.2% whiff rate, and a 42.9% putaway rate. This is one of the best changeups in baseball – the whiff rate is top 20 for changeups, and the putaway rate is fourth best in the league.

Cano has basically been unhittable, and is worth an add in all league formats and sizes if he is still available on your waiver wire.

Other Players to Add

Here are a few other players available in a range of league sizes that you should consider adding if they are on your waiver wire.

  • C: Elias Diaz, Connor Wong, Shea Langeliers
  • CI: LaMonte Wade Jr. (OF), Josh Jung, Ezequiel Duran (SS), Carlos Santana, Brandon Drury (1B/3B/2B), Joey Meneses (OF)
  • MI: Taylor Walls (3B), Miguel Vargas (1B), Isaac Paredes (3B/1B), Hanser Alberto (3B), Luis Garcia, Geraldo Perdomo
  • OF: Lourdes Gurriel, Nick Senzel (3B), Luke Raley (1B)
  • SP: Bailey Ober, Domingo German, Josiah Gray, Drew Smyly, Hayden Wesneski, Cal Quantrill, Ranger Suarez, Adrian Houser, James Paxton, Rich Hill, MacKenzie Gore, Dane Dunning, Drew Smyly
  • RP: Alex Lange, Jason Adam, Michael King, Liam Hendriks, Will Smith, Evan Phillips

Prospect Watch

A number of prospects are worthy of consideration for waiver wire claims due to being called up or potentially being called up. Here are a few to consider adding.

NYM 3B Brett Baty – mostly facing right handed pitching, but getting some time against lefties

ChC 1B Matt Mervis – sat vs LHP, could become part of platoon

OAK 1B Ryan Noda – in platoon, playing mostly against RHP

ARI 3B Emmanuel Rivera – basically taken over 3B role, but very off the radar

BOS 2B Emmanuel Valdez – taken over 2B role at least until Arroyo returns from hamstring injury

SEA SP Bryce Miller – 2 Quality Starts, 15:1 K:BB, looks to have the role locked down in the rotation

CLE SP Logan Allen – 19:5 K:BB, but could be demoted when McKenzie and Civale return

CLE SP Tanner Bibee – gave up 4 ER vs DET; in the same boat as Allen and may be first demotion

ARI SP Brandon Pfaadt – 13 ER in first 9.2 IP, but will get at least one more turn through rotation

OAK SP Mason Miller – elbow discomfort, but scans came back clean; limited upside for wins

PIT SP Luis Ortiz – risk of temporary call up due to injuries at major league level for PIT

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1 Comment
  1. Babbo B says

    Not sure I would call Schmitt a “natural shortstop” – in college he played 126 games at 3B to six at SS, and 140 at 3B to 6o at SS in the minors. He also got three starts at 2B in AAA this season and probably is viable there as well.

    And speaking of 3B, Emmanuel Rivera has only played four of his 11 games there since the Dbacks called him up, he’s basically the platoon DH vs LHP with Rojas and Longoria platooning at 3B.

    Reply
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