We’re into September and the pockets are starting to get a little thin. The old adage “Smoke ’em if you got ’em” applies as managers who have money left will be spending it to acquire new talent. Several prospects have made the leap to the MLB, including Cubs outfielder Kevin Alcántara and yet another Mets pitcher, Brandon Sproat. Of course, they’re featured in the column but there’s also a handful of veteran names that could go on the cheap while your league mates suffer from Shiny Object Syndrome.
As a reminder, this column is designed to help guide those in Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) leagues in making the best choices regarding who to target on the waiver wire. Specifically, we’re focusing on players who are between 20-25% rostered in most 12-team leagues and/or 25-50% rostered in 15-teamers. Every league is different, so we won’t be labeling player bids with any sort of recommended dollar amount but instead will use a four-tier investment rating system, ranging from a minimal spend to a potential difference-maker (or LEAGUE-WINNER, if you will).
Let’s dig in!
Investment Rating System
The Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds are both on the road all week, removing Coors Field and Great American Ballpark from the hitters’ equation, however the Athletics will host Boston and the Reds in Sacramento.
SEVEN GAMES: CLE, COL, KCR, LAA, MIA, NYM, PHI, SDP, SEA, WSH
Batters
Outfielders
Jeremiah Jackson ($$$): Though I don’t believe he’s the most talented prospect on this list, he’s certainly the one who has earned the most opportunity so far. Jackson is an everyday starter for the Orioles and has made the most of his chances with a 33.6% hard-contact rate and an 8.9% barrel rate. The outstanding contact metrics have translated into a .321 batting average with four home runs and 17 RBI. The Orioles seem content to let him get as much MLB time as possible and have shown no signs of sitting him ,even against right-handed starting pitching.
George Valera ($$): Are we really sitting Valera behind Nolan Jones? That’s what is currently happening in Cleveland, though I think as time moves on, Valera will have an opportunity sooner than later. The talented outfield prospect hit 17 home runs across 90 minor league games this season before getting the call. Though his shine has dimmed of late, Valera could get a shot this September to prove himself and earn a place among the starters entering the offseason.
Kevin Alcántara ($): The bid recommendation here doesn’t reflect the talent or how much I like Alcántara as a prospect – I think he’s promising – it’s just that I have a hard time seeing where he will get at-bats in a crowded Cubs outfield. With Happ, PCA, Tucker, and Seiya all there, it’s tough to imagine a place for Alcantara in the lineup on a consistent basis.
Andrew Benintendi ($): Ho hum, a boring veteran. Except this boring veteran has batted .348 since August 15. Scheduled to face right-handed starters in five out of six games this week, Benintendi could be a streaming add that ends up sticking to your roster for the final month if he can remain on his torrid pace.
Infielders
Carson Williams ($$$): Williams hasn’t gotten the hype that some of the other elite prospects have so far this season, but he’s a very good player and should be rostered in most places. The strikeouts – as they are with any rookie – are a concern, but he’s managed a .333 BABIP with just a 4.3% barrel rate. If he can start squaring up the baseball, the hits will come in bunches. I believe in the kid and will be bidding on him in places where I need well-rounded stats help.
Jared Triolo ($$$): Triolo continues to lead off in front of a Pirates lineup that has been better recently – a little late, guys. He seems to have the green light on the base paths and has demonstrated excellent plate discipline with an 11.7% walk rate. He may be more valuable in OBP leagues, but for managers looking for speed and runs scored, Triolo should be a priority add.
Ha-Seong Kim ($$): A change of scenery can sometimes do wonders for a player. Kim was released by the Rays and scooped by Atlanta, and quickly endeared himself to Atlanta fans with a go-ahead home run in the late innings against the Cubs. He’s a good hitter, even at his age, and should get playing time in Atlanta as they figure out what to do with their shortstop position to try and generate some sort of offense.
Catchers/UT
Carlos Narváez ($$): It’s kind of wild to me that Narváez isn’t universally rostered in 15-team, two-catcher leagues, but he’s available in nearly 15% of them. With the lion’s share of at-bats behind the plate for the Red Sox, Narváez has proven his worth with the bat and is a fine second catcher.
Liam Hicks ($): Hicks has gotten more plate appearances since Nick Fortes was traded away at the deadline. He hasn’t done a ton with them, but the Marlins are a plucky offense that can score runs in bunches sometimes. He’s worth a one-dollar bid.
Kyle Higashioka ($): Higgy has seemingly passed Heim as the primary catcher in Texas, though the two have split time pretty evenly up to this point. He’ll get to catch every other day and has served as DH against left-handed pitching as well, so his volume might justify a streaming add.
Pitchers
Starting Pitchers
Jonah Tong ($$$$): Somehow, Tong is not 100% rostered in all 15-team leagues. He’s an auto-add, plain and simple.
Brandon Sproat ($$$): Sight unseen, Sproat is appealing because of how hyped he’s been in a Mets organization that has already spit out ridiculously good pitching prospects earlier this season. Unfortunately, in the MLB, “Good by Association” doesn’t get far, especially in fantasy formats. He’ll need to perform (he makes his debut Sunday) to justify the FAAB that he’ll garner in bids this weekend.
Luis Morales ($$$): I’ve seen enough to start believing in this young Athletics arm. With a 97 mph fastball, a good changeup, and solid breaking stuff, Morales has cruised through 23.2 innings pitched across his last four starts, allowing just four earned runs while ringing up 26 strikeouts. The only concern that I’ve seen is that the fastball has yet to generate enough swing-and-miss, but his secondaries have done that enough that it makes him okay with me…as long as he’s not pitching in Sacramento.
Luis García Jr. [HOU] ($$): Garcia returned from TJS in 2023 to make his debut last week and pushed through six innings on just 79 pitches to get a quality start and a win. The velocity was down at just 91 mph, and the off-speed pitches weren’t great, but he got results, including five whiffs on the cutter that generated a 38.9% CSW. He takes on Texas next and could be an interesting streamer in that matchup.
Tyler Wells ($): Welcome back, Wells. The Baltimore starter threw 85 (!!) pitches in his first start back from UCL surgery and looked good against a tough Padres lineup. Now he gets the Pirates, White Sox, and Rays, and if he continues to throw his changeup as well as he did in his debut (locating down and away to lefties), he ought to be effective in those spots.
Relief Pitchers
Ryan Walker ($$$): Well, I guess it’s that time of year again. Walker has taken over as the Giants’ closer after an abysmal first half of the season that saw him relegated to middle relief. Since July, he’s held a 1.77 ERA (2.36 xFIP), 1.03 WHIP, and 29.1% strikeout rate and has earned each of the Giants’ last four save opportunities. He’s as good as it gets on the wire this time of year.
Shawn Armstrong ($): There’s been like six different guys in this Rangers bullpen that I’ve said this about so far this season, but Armstrong might be the closer for the Rangers the rest of the way. He’s earned each of the team’s past two saves and has been excellent since June. Might as well take a shot on another Texas reliever, right?
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire | Designed by Aaron Asbury (@aarongifs on Instagram)
