Welcome to the Waiver Wire Picks, our daily fantasy baseball article that looks at the best players you should be adding to your rosters. We’ll look at the players that are likely to be available in most leagues, as well as some deep league waiver wire options. We’ll also look at the most-added players in fantasy baseball across the major sites and tell you which players to add and which to leave on the wire.
Top Priority Players to Add
Cam Smith (HOU) – OF (Yahoo – 31%)
This time last season, we were pretty excited about Cam Smith’s breakout potential. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be, as he slashed .236/ .312/ .358 with a 90 wRC+ over 493 PAs. However, the 23-year-old’s PLV metrics were just about average across the board, with his clearest weakness being whiffs (94 Contact Ability). Flashforward to 2026, and he has slashed his K rate from 27.8% to 25%; that might not seem huge on paper, but it suggests he might be taking a step in the right direction. More importantly, he has started well, hitting .273 with two homers and three steals through Sunday. It’s always difficult to gauge results this early, but bat speed tends to stabilize quickly, and in Smith’s case, it has increased from 74.5 to 77.2 (98th percentile), perhaps furthering his breakout odds in year two. Lo and behold, last night’s 462-foot jack at Coors Field, his third home run of the season, should hasten the rush to the wire.
Michael Vargas (CWS) – 1B/3B (Yahoo – 36%)
How about another former top prospect? Vargas had a forgettable season last year, slashing .234/.316/ .401 with 16 home runs and a 101 wRC+. Considering the unthinkable shift in team context from the Dodgers to the White Sox, his stats might not have been all that bad. Just, you know, really forgettable. Yes, most of Vargas’ damage thus far came in a blowout against the Fish last Monday. However, I’m intrigued by his bump in bat speed from 70.6 to 72.3. He has also demonstrated impeccable plate discipline, with a 99th-percentile chase rate. Given his penchant for pulled flyballs, Vargas could perhaps imitate what Isaac Paredes did with the Rays three years ago. OK, he’s not that extreme of a pull hitter, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see him approach 25 home runs, and that’s certainly worth going after, considering the lack of options at third base. Oh, and he is already halfway to matching last season’s six stolen bases.
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
Max Muncy, the younger, has played every day for the A’s and has been productive, notching multiple hits in each of his last three games. Based on last year’s 79 wRC+, it’s likely a mirage. But who knows? Maybe at 23, he’s figured something out. In the meantime, he’s a decent stopgap MI for deep leagues. All nine of his starts have been at 3B.
Andre Pallante had some moments last year where he proved himself to be an alright at best streamer, particularly as a SPARP in points leagues. Otherwise, there’s not much to see.
Jameson Taillon gave the Cubs a chance to upset the Rays at their home opener last night with a QS. He doesn’t have much K upside, but he is a pretty decent back-end of the rotation arm. He could provide some help this Sunday with a favorable draw against the Pirates.
Casey Mize’s splitter shone in his first start against the D’Backs. Splitters can, of course, come and go at the drop of a hat, which is to say, Mize will probably remain volatile. Still, I’d pretty much start any SP against the Twins right now. Did you see what Nick Martinez did to them on Sunday? Mize’s third turn could be another good one, too, at home against the Marlins this weekend.
Andrew Painter carries post-hype appeal and had a good time on the mound against the Nats in his debut. He struggled last night in San Francisco, but I think it’s best to remain patient with him.
Bryce Elder owns a career 4.44 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 447.2 IP. But he has not allowed one earned run yet through his first two turns, and a new cutter could be part of the solution.
Michael Wacha might be a little boring, but he has posted a rock-solid 3.73 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over his previous five seasons combined (725.2 IP). He always gives you a chance at a Win or QS.
Streaming Pitchers
Be sure to check Nick’s daily SP streamers article.
Taj Bradley (MIN) – SP (Yahoo – 32%) vs DET
Full disclosure, Bradley is not for the faint of heart. Volatility has been his issue since he debuted with the Rays three years ago. But I am a sucker for strikeout upside, and that’s what he brings to the table, especially with his fastball velocity up one tick to 97.3. There is a small chance that Bradley figures it out, in which case, he offers breakout upside that is difficult to find on the wire. Or he might, you know, blow up your ratios. The matchup against Detroit isn’t ideal, but it’s also going to be pretty darn cold in Minny tonight, and that tends to favor pitching.
Cade Cavalli (WSN) – SP (Yahoo – 14%) vs STL
Cavalli started the season with a forgettable outing against the Cubs, but twirled a QS his last time out at Philly. Last year’s 4.25 ERA and 1.48 WHIP don’t inspire much confidence. However, you almost have to throw it out the window, given that it was his first taste of the bigs after missing two years due to Tommy John surgery. Similar to Bradley, Cavalli offers post-hype potential as a once well-regarded prospect. Today’s matchup at home against the Cards gives him a soft landing spot.
Speculative Adds
Luis Gil (NYY) – SP (Yahoo – 13%)
Gil will return to the Yankee rotation this Friday in Tampa. A stint on the 60-day IL with a strained lat had Gil fighting an uphill battle from the jump this spring. He returned in early August and was more or less a mixed bag, posting a 3.32 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP across 10 starts. His winning the AL Rookie of the Year has felt more and more like a fever dream. Still, there are certainly worse things to chase than an arm on a winning team. He has also added a sinker to his repertoire. That might be something.
Bryan Baker (TB) – RP (Yahoo – 4%)
Baker came into Tampa’s home opener having not allowed a run through his previous three appearances before allowing a two-out tater to Matt Shaw. However, Baker rebounded beautifully by fanning PCA with a changeup on the outside corner for the final out of the 6-4 win. You know how it goes in Tampa; Kevin Cash is going to mix and match aplenty. Still, Baker looks to be an important part of the committee, making him a worthwhile scoop for those chasing saves.
Deep League Players to Watch
Oswald Peraza (LA) – 1B, 2B, 3B, SS (Yahoo – 2%)
You might remember Peraza; he was Anthony Volpe’s competition to be the Yankees starting shortstop in the spring of 2023. So much for that! Peraza hasn’t done much since, but now has an opportunity with the Angels, having started nine of their 11 games. Based on what he did in the minors, he could approach 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases across a full season. At the very least, his eligibility on Yahoo makes him worth noting. He has played mostly 2B thus far, but logged his first start at 3B last night.
