Many fantasy managers are still in week 1 of their season. However, with a rash of injuries hitting teams over the first weekend of games, fantasy managers are likely already looking for help on the waiver wire to boost their rosters. Unexpected injuries to players like Royce Lewis and Sean Murphy should have managers scrambling to the waiver wire to see how they can fill their spots.
In weekly FAAB leagues, your waiver wire claims have likely already been processed. Our FAAB Insights articles are excellent sources for finding targets ahead of weekly waiver deadlines. This weekly article targets leagues that utilize daily waivers.
Here are some enticing players available in 60% or fewer Yahoo leagues that managers should consider acquiring this week.
Catcher
Elias Díaz (C – COL) 15% Rostered
Díaz was an All-Star in 2023, hitting 14 home runs and collecting 72 RBI with the Rockies in 141 games and 526 plate appearances. Unfortunately, the now 33-year-old catcher experienced significant swings in production throughout the year, which is demonstrated in his decision value PLV chart from a season ago.
Based on the wild swings in decision value, it was challenging for managers in fantasy drafts to be confident in Díaz, especially in one-catcher formats. While catcher can always be a shallow position in fantasy, Díaz’s high chase rate (11th percentile last year) and questionable power metrics (28th percentile barrel rate last year) put him down the list in catcher fantasy rankings in the preseason.
Díaz has had a solid start to the year. His barrel rate is up to 10%, and his xSLG is .546, which shows that he could get off to another strong start like last season. Even if Diaz fades (and his 28.6% hard-hit rate hints that he may), he seems to be settled in as the Rockies’ primary catcher, which means that he’ll get enough plate appearances to make it worthwhile for fantasy managers to pick him up off waivers.
Honorable Mention: David Fry (8%), Austin Wells (7%), Travis d’Arnaud (11%), Ben Rortvedt (0%), Connor Wong (2%)
Middle Infield
Tyler Wade (SS – SD) 4% Rostered
With Manny Machado getting older, Wade, who has SS eligibility, has been getting a lot of work at third base in San Diego. In 13 plate appearances, he is hitting .400 with a .938 OPS, scoring three runs and stealing a base. He has also done this against formidable division foes such as the Dodgers and Giants, so it’s apparent manager Mike Shildt trusts Wade at the hot corner for now.
Wade doesn’t offer much power (career 21.5% hard-hit rate), but he stole 17 bases in a season as recently as 2021 with the Yankees, so there’s some 15+ SB upside there. Furthermore, he makes contact frequently and shows an ability to make contact with more plate appearances, which was the case last year in his brief stint in Oakland.
The data on Wade recently is limited (only 93 games played in the past two years). However, he’s gotten off to a strong start at the plate. That may be enough for the Padres to give him more plate appearances, especially with their aspirations to compete in a challenging NL West division.
On a fantasy end, Wade’s ability to have SS (and soon-to-be 3B) eligibility makes him an excellent play for managers lacking in the middle infield spot.
Honorable Mention: Cavan Biggio (11% rostered), Braden Shewmake (0% rostered), Jose Cabellero (3% rostered), Orlando Arcia (12% rostered), Geraldo Perdomo (9% rostered)
Corner Infield
Connor Joe (1B – PIT) 2% Rostered
The Pirates are 4-0, and Joe’s bat is a big reason why. The 1B/OF is hitting .316 with a .883 OPS in 22 plate appearances. He has also scored five runs and collected three RBI during the Pirates’ first four games.
Joe is pretty much doing in 2024 what he did last year on a batted-ball end. His 7.7% barrel rate is only 0.5% lower than a year ago, and his 89.1 MPH average exit velocity is 0.2 MPH higher than in 2023. Joe also got off to a solid start in terms of power, as seen in his power PLV chart.
The main issue with Joe’s power profile was that the beginning of the year was his high point, and things deteriorated quickly. By the end of the year, his expected extra bases added per BBE ranked around the 25th percentile.
The Pirates have much more depth in the outfield this year, as Michael A. Taylor and Edward Olivares have also gotten off to good starts at the plate. Thus, Joe should only be released as a temporary waiver when he starts cooling down (like in 2023).
For now, though, it’s worth taking another flier on Joe, especially considering his 1B and OF eligibility.
Honorable Mention: Mark Canha (5% rostered), Jared Walsh (1% rostered), Josh Rojas (1% rostered), Wilmer Flores (6% rostered), Eguy Romero (1% rostered)
Outfield
Nick Martini (OF – CIN) 11% rostered
The Reds have been hurt by injury to start the year, as Matt McLain and TJ Friedl will miss some extended time to begin the season. For a club with playoff aspirations, that’s a discouraging development.
However, Martini is helping soften the blow of the Friedl injury.
In nine appearances, Martini is hitting .500 with a 1.931 OPS. That includes two home runs and seven RBI. In a 79-plate appearance stint with the Reds last year, the 33-year-old former Kansas State product also demonstrated some flashes of power with the Reds. He hit six home runs and put up a barrel rate of 10.5% and a hard-hit rate of 45.6%.
Though the power tool has been there for Martini recently, his decision-making at the plate has gotten better recently. Last year, he posted a K% of 19%, the first time it’s been under 20% in his career. Also, his decision value chart hovered around the league average for the year, which may be good enough for a hitter with his longball potential.
The Reds like big boppers, especially with their HR-friendly home ballpark. Martini should fit the bill for now until Friedl returns, and he may be less of a drain on batting average compared to other hitters on waivers who have similar power tools.
Honorable Mention: Michael Conforto (17% rostered), Edward Olivares (1% rostered), Michael A. Taylor (1% rostered), Eddie Rosario (2% rostered), Alek Thomas (6% rostered)
Starting Pitcher
Zack Littell (SP – TB) 16% rostered
The Rays have had a history of finding under-the-radar pitchers off of waivers and maximizing their value.
It’s possible that Littell could be another one that adds to that list. In his first start of the year against Toronto, Littell went six innings and allowed no runs on four hits and two walks. He also struck out six batters and only gave up a hard-hit rate of 12.5% in his 2024 debut.
The Red Sox released him last year, and the Rays picked him up as a “hybrid” pitcher who could fill in as both a reliever and starter, depending on the situation. Tampa Bay needs him in the rotation this year, especially with Shane McClanahan, Taj Bradley, and Shane Baz currently on the IL.
Based on his PLV from 2023, Littell could be an answer in the rotation and one of their best pitchers this season.
Littell is rostered in 16% of leagues but that percentage is sharply going up after his strong start to the 2024 campaign. Littell should fit the bill nicely and perhaps for a long time for fantasy managers needing pitching, especially starting pitching.
Honorable Mention: Seth Lugo (17% rostered), Cody Bradford (2% rostered), Jose Quintana (17% rostered), Lance Lynn (29% rostered), Jared Jones (33% rostered)
Relief Pitcher
Ian Hamilton (RP – NYY) 5% rostered
Hamilton was a beast in his Yankees debut in 2023. In 39 games, he posted a 2.64 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, a K% of 28.9%, and a hard-hit rate of 36.9%. Those are all stellar marks for a reliever, especially one that is not a closer.
That said, Hamilton could be pushing for the closer’s job sooner rather than later, especially if his start to the 2024 season is any indicator. In two outings and three innings pitched this year, he has struck out three batters and allowed only one hit and no walks.
While Clay Holmes is solidified as the closer in the Bronx, Hamilton appears to be the next man up if anything should happen to him. On the flip side, though, his PLV from a season ago wasn’t great, as his 4.60 overall PLV was below average.
It will be interesting to see the PLV metrics once Hamilton pitches more outings in 2024.
If the pitch quality shows progress, he may be a legitimate high-leverage relief option for the Yankees, who will be solid for holds and could sneak some saves on nights when Holmes is unavailable.
Honorable Mention: Shelby Miller (3% rostered), Daniel Hudson (6% rostered), Nick Sandlin (1% rostered), Gabe Speier (2% rostered), Nick Mears (0% rostered)