Fantasy baseball waiver wire week 1: Top pickups and stash targets
We’re nearly there. Spring Training is finished, the World Baseball Classic is absolutely within the rear view mirror, and rosters are beginning to take form.
That’s not excellent news for everyone, clearly. Top prospect Konnor Griffin will not be making his debut as a youngster, not less than not on Opening Day, because the Pirates introduced he’ll start the season at Triple-A. Which is not an enormous shock — no teenage hitter has made the majors since Juan Soto — nevertheless it’s nonetheless disappointing. But Griffin ought to be capable of power his strategy to the majors if he hits the bottom operating at Triple-A, and I’d nonetheless say he has a better-than-coinflip’s probability of being up earlier than May. Don’t drop him!
If you took the flyer on Colt Emerson, you’ll be able to in all probability drop him, although. He did not beat out Cole Young for the second base job with the Mariners, and even J.P. Crawford‘s shoulder damage late in spring wasn’t sufficient to power him onto the roster.
You will need to stash Seiya Suzuki, in fact — he will not be prepared for Opening Day whereas recovering from a sprained PCL in his knee, however he should not be out quite a lot of weeks. He is likely to be on an analogous timetable as Kyle Stowers, who re-aggravated a hamstring damage and will miss 3-4 weeks to open the season. And Trey Yesavage is becoming a member of them on the IL with a shoulder impingement, although he is additionally set to throw in a minor-league recreation this week and could possibly be on an analogous timetable. I believe we’ll see all three of these guys earlier than the tip of May.
One man who is likely to be robust to justify stashing? Dylan Crews, who was surprisingly optioned to Triple-A over the weekend. And as stunning as that was, it is laborious to argue with — he struck out 32% of the time whereas hitting .103 this spring, and it is not like he has any type of observe file of success on the major-league degree to fall again on. It’s too early to surrender on the 24-year-old former prime prospect, however he is not such a certain factor that you need to hold on to him when he is within the minors. At least in three-outfielder leagues, I’d be fairly snug dropping Crews.
That’s only a pattern of the massive information from the weekend round baseball. As the roster footage across the league proceed to return into focus, we’ll cowl the information you’ll want to find out about within the days main as much as Opening Day.
For now, it is time to hit the waiver wire for the primary time. If you’ve got already drafted, in fact. If not, properly, this text can nonetheless make it easier to out — simply consider the next names as precedence late-round targets in your drafts. Here’s who I’m trying so as to add for the primary week of the season now that we’re lastly right here.
Week 1 Waiver Targets
Catcher
Francisco Alvarez, Mets (59%)
Alvarez handled a hamate bone damage and began final season in a deep droop that finally ended with him being despatched again to Triple-A. He tweaked his swing there, bought scorching, and got here again to hit .276/.360/.561 within the second half of the season. He hit properly once more this spring and seems to be poised for a breakout in what is going to nonetheless be simply his age-24 season. It would not shock me in any respect if he is a top-12 possibility even on the newly deep catcher place.
Deep league possibility: Victor Caratini, Twins (4%) — Caratini has hit .263/.329/.406 over the previous two seasons with 20 homers in 660 plate appearances. He’s set to be one of many Twins’ main DH choices and ought to get loads of time. It’s boring, however he must be a really strong No. 2 catcher.
First Base
Andrew Vaughn, Brewers (51%)
Nobody is basically shopping for Andrew Vaughn’s obvious breakout after becoming a member of the Brewers. I’m skeptical, too, however I’m additionally keen to provide him one other look if all it prices is considered one of my final picks or a couple of dollars in FAB. He’s not going to be a scorching commodity regardless of placing up an .869 OPS with the Brewers. He additionally had a really strong spring, hitting .372 with simply eight strikeouts in 49 plate appearances, and may simply be an underrated a part of an underrated lineup.
Deep league possibility: Rhys Hoskins, Guardians (8%) — It’s been some time since Hoskins was an thrilling Fantasy possibility, however he did hit 26 homers in 2024 and then had 12 in simply 328 plate appearances in 2025. He made the Guardians roster and could possibly be a 25-homer bat in the midst of the lineup.
Second Base
Cole Young, Mariners (15%)
Young fended off prime prospect Colt Emerson and received the second base job with a .302/.373/.717 line this spring. He seemed greater than a bit overmatched in his first style of the majors in 2025, however he is nonetheless simply 22 and was a consensus top-75 prospect this time final 12 months, so possibly he is made the changes he wanted to outlive. Even amid the struggles as a rookie, Young confirmed a reasonably good method on the plate, and there’s higher pop right here than you may suppose — he had a 114.1 mph max exit velocity final season and might shock together with his pull-side energy, particularly. Emerson will get his probability in some unspecified time in the future, however I’m fairly excited to see what Young’s second act seems to be like, too.
Deep league possibility: Edouard Julien, Rockies (1%) — Julien combines persistence with legit pop, however he is by no means found out easy methods to optimize both ability — he is usually overly passive and hits too a lot of his hard-hit balls to the facility alleys, the place they discover gloves greater than seats. But he’ll play half his video games in Coors Field, so let’s have a look at if that may overcome the constraints in his recreation.
Third Base
Jordan Lawlar, Diamondbacks (49%)
Lawlar’s wonderful spring (.293/.420/.610) seems to be much more spectacular when you think about he was enjoying within the outfield for mainly the primary time ever — he logged just a few reps within the winter however in any other case is totally inexperienced. Whether Lawlar performs in middle or a nook, it seems to be like he’ll get his first actual probability to play every single day within the majors, and whereas his struggles with breaking balls have many questioning whether or not he’ll ever hit sufficient within the majors, I stay enamored together with his ability set. He has 18 homers and 24 steals in simply 91 profession video games at Triple-A, keep in mind.
Deep league possibility: Kyle Karros, Rockies (8%) — Our second Rockie sleeper, and not our final. That’s what occurs if you end up a rebuilding workforce in the perfect offensive ballpark in baseball, I assume. Karros seemed overwhelmed as a rookie, however he is a profession .304/.393/.459 hitter within the minors with a bit little bit of velocity and pop, so let’s have a look at if he can flip that into one thing helpful with the assistance of Coors Field.
Shortstop
Ezequiel Tovar, Rockies (53%)
I instructed you there’d be one other Rockies participant right here. And this one is not the final both! Tovar is way more of a identified entity than the remainder of them, in fact, and his huge performances for Venezuela within the World Baseball Classic may need helped remind some people of what Tovar is able to when wholesome. He missed time with hip and indirect accidents final season and simply by no means seemed fairly proper, however he is wholesome now, and let’s not neglect what he did in 2024: .269 with 26 homers, six steals, and league-best 45 doubles. Even together with his poor plate self-discipline, Tovar has top-12 upside at shortstop. At the very least, he is a superb MI possibility when the Rockies are residence.
Deep league possibility: Nasim Nunez, Nationals (5%) — I believe even in a best-case situation for Nunez, you are in all probability a Jose Caballero-esque ceiling. But hey, we at all times want steals, proper? Nunez stole 45 bases in simply 102 video games between the majors and minors final season and must be an on a regular basis participant on the Nationals for his protection if nothing else. He could possibly be a standout in steals.
Outfield
Daylen Lile, Nationals (65%)
Lile is simply underrated, I assume. His ability set ought to work properly in both Roto or H2H factors, and I’m a believer within the bat — his breakout in each Triple-A and the majors was backed up by a powerful method on the plate and sufficient bat velocity and pop that he will not simply get the bat knocked out of his arms. I believe we might see a 20-20 ceiling from Lile, and he may hit .300 whereas doing it.
Justin Crawford, Phillies (69%)
What we noticed from Crawford this spring is just about what I’m anticipating from him as a rookie — he hit .277/.320/.383 en path to locking up a beginning job for the Phillies. That’s not terribly thrilling, and it will not include a lot energy — Crawford really hits the ball fairly laborious, however his slap-hitter method limits his over-the-fence talents. But he ought to hit for a powerful batting common and might steal 30 bases, and that is greater than sufficient to be value rostering in all classes leagues, not less than.
Carson Benge, Mets (58%)
I’m certain the Mets would have preferred to see extra pop from Benge after he went homeless in 43 plate appearances this spring. But he seemed wonderful in any other case, displaying his unusually mature method on the plate whereas successful the precise subject job. He’s very unproven above Double-A, however Benge confirmed wonderful underlying abilities at Triple-A regardless of some ugly surface-level numbers, and there is a Brandon Nimmo-esque ability set right here if he hits the bottom operating. I’m a believer within the ability set.
One of final 12 months’s huge spring risers, Smith appears to have turn into a forgotten man in Fantasy circles. He did not do a lot to earn Fantasy gamers’ belief as a rookie, in fact, however I’m on board with Eno Sarris’ bold prediction that Smith will break out in 2026. Smith was uncooked, however we noticed some really high-end abilities final season, as he ranked within the eightieth percentile or higher in bat velocity, swing velocity, and max exit velocity whereas enjoying surprisingly strong outfield protection. He was predictably uncooked after mainly skipping the minors, however the instruments to be an influence participant are clearly nonetheless there. It is sensible to wager on that working in the long term.
Deep league possibility: Jake McCarthy, Rockies (9%) — Okay, that is the final Rockie. I promise. And look, we have all been bitten by the “marginal player gets hyped because of Coors Field” factor earlier than, I’m certain — I certain have! But it really works out usually sufficient — Hello, Hunter Goodman! How’s it going, Brenton Doyle (for one season not less than) — that I’m not giving up on the speculation. McCarthy makes loads of contact and is a terrific athlete, two abilities that ought to serve him properly within the BABIP-inflating paradise a mile above sea degree. Does one thing like a .285 common and 25 steals sound outlandish to you? It should not; it is simply what McCarthy did in 2024!
Starting Pitcher
Andrew Painter, Phillies (69%)
I’ve my doubts about Painter, whose fastball would not appear to have gotten again to his pre-injury kind. Of course, that pre-injury kind had Painter set to debut as a 19-year-old after rising as arguably the perfect pitching prospect in baseball, so he would not must get all the best way again there to be Fantasy related. Okay, so possibly Painter would not have as straightforward a path to ace upside as he as soon as did. He’s nonetheless younger and gifted, with a deep arsenal and backed by an excellent supporting solid. This is a profile value betting on if the stakes are low sufficient.
Parker Messick, Guardians (45%)
Messick would not have overwhelming stuff, however he is only a good pitcher. He’s bought about common velocity for a lefty, however he will get probably the most out of it by preserving the ball up within the zone and pairing it with a change-up he meticulously instructions to the underside of the zone. He held his personal as a rookie after dominating Triple-A, and I believe he might have an analogous influence because the one Matthew Boyd had final season.
Mick Abel, Twins (42%)
Now Abel’s bought the stuff. It’s only a query of if he has the command and consistency to reap the benefits of it. At his finest, Abel can look completely unhittable, and he was at his finest most of the time this spring, putting out 23, strolling three, and giving up simply 4 runs in 18 innings of labor. His observe file offers you good cause to be skeptical, nevertheless it’s doable every part is simply beginning to click on for the previous first-rounder. If he is out there in any of my leagues, I need to hold him round simply in case.
Jacob Lopez, Athletics (51%)
The phrase I’ve at all times defaulted to for Lopez is “weird.” And it is not an insult. He’s a lefty who throws 90 mph, however he does so with distinctive motion profiles on each pitch in his deep arsenal, which is how he managed a 28.3% strikeout price within the majors final season. His flyball-heavy method will result in some homers, particularly in the summertime months in Sacramento, nevertheless it might additionally result in an unusually low BABIP. Combine that with the strikeout upside we have seen, and he might finest final season’s 4.08 ERA.
Deep league possibility: Didier Fuentes, Braves (18%) — Fuentes is heading for the bullpen, and the plan is seemingly to ship him again to Triple-A after just a few weeks to stretch him again out. But we all know what they are saying about plans, do not we? He simply put up 17 strikeouts to zero walks in 9 spring innings, and the Braves have a rotation filled with query marks (injury-related and in any other case). Don’t be stunned if that plan pivots to “yeah, Fuentes is in the rotation now” if he dominates in a long-relief function for just a few weeks.
Another Deep league possibility: Randy Vasquez, Padres (5%) — Vasquez is not almost as thrilling as Fuentes is likely to be, however he is not wholly with out benefit. Maybe. He was fairly fortunate to finish up with a sub-4.00 ERA final season, however he did have a multi-tick bump in velocity this spring which may push him into extra fascinating territory. The schedule may line up for begins in opposition to the Giants, Pirates, Rockies (away from Coors Field), and Angels to open the season, which might make Vasquez a viable streamer if nothing else.
Relief Pitcher
Ryan Walker, Giants (71%)
I used to be a skeptic when Walker was being drafted as a top-12 nearer this time a 12 months in the past, however I’ve been in on him this spring. There’s little or no competitors for the nearer function in San Francisco, and I believe there was not less than a bit little bit of unhealthy luck concerned in his 4.11 ERA in 2025. We’re speaking a couple of man with a profession 2.98 mark (311 profession xERA, too) on a aggressive workforce with out a lot job safety concern. He may really find yourself being a top-12 nearer this season, given how iffy the place will get after the primary half-done or so choices.
Deep league possibility: Matt Strahm, Royals (8%) — Okay, so if everybody thinks it is inevitable that Carlos Estévez loses his job, we must be betting on the opposite guys within the bullpen. Most default to Lucas Erceg as the choice to focus on, however I believe Strahm is simply the higher pitcher, so I’ll take a flier on him in my deeper leagues on the prospect Estevez’s spring struggles weren’t only a blip.
