Howdy there, Razzballers! Any of you dreading the All-Star break just a bit like me because it’s going to be a few days without Big Inning streaming all the baseball action into my eyes commercial-free (not to give MLB any ideas, but the lack of commercials on Big Inning is the ultimate gamechanger)?
In the absence of those four boxes awkwardly bouncing around my television, my eyes and thinking cap are going to be glued into my fantasy leagues instead, finally finding the time to tease apart every scenario and path to a higher place in the standings. It’s a time of stupid trade offers and wild waiver wire speculation, the fantasy of fantasy baseball.
And fret not, despite us getting to the sweet 16th week of action around these parts, there’s still talent on those waiver wires, no matter the league size. There are guys that can flip your second half around quickly, just check out the year-to-date Player Rater and scope all those players that filtered through this piece before a Top 50 placing. Jurickson Profar, Brenton Doyle, Brice Turang, Garrett Crochet, and Ronel Blanco all hung out here before entering the land of universal ownership.
So let’s get to it, here’s the collection of players that can help round out those rosters for a push through summer’s dog days…
The stats and ownership percentages below are updated as of noon central time on 7/12.
As always, if you want advice on specific roster decisions you might have, feel free to leave a comment. You can also find me on twitter (X) (@mcouill7) and bluesky (@mcouill7.bsky.social).
CATCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Tyler Stephenson (CIN, 46% CBS Ownership) – I sometimes get so enthusiastic about the Rockies being in Coors Field tracking (no joke, I have a pdf of their schedule saved to my desktop) that I overlooked the Reds drawing Colorado and Miami at home this past week… whoops, my bad. With four homers in his last three games as of writing this, Stephenson has feasted upon those opponents, making use of his 10.3% barrel-rate and 45.4% HardHit-rate. The Reds’ schedule after the All-Star break is also pretty cushy with trips to Washington and Atlanta. Given Stephenson’s heroics this week, he’s going to cost a pretty penny and be a hot add for those looking for midseason catcher help. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 44% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Elias Diaz (COL, 40% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Patrick Bailey (SFG, 39% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Bo Naylor (CLE, 27% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Kyle Higashioka (SDP, 10% CBS Ownership) – Many apologies are due to Higashioka, because I wasn’t familiar with his game and haven’t included him for consideration here. The former Yankee has fully supplanted Luis Campusano as the No. 1 catcher in San Diego thanks to a .552 slug and 11 homers driven by a 14.1% barrel-rate, making Campusano droppable in all leagues. This run for Higashioka doesn’t look like a fluke as he sports a career 11.6% barrel-rate. All this time wanting Gary Sanchez to find his form in Milwaukee caused me to overlook that Kyle has been the true Kraken all along. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Korey Lee (CHW, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Freddy Fermin (KCR, 7% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Ben Rortvedt (TBR, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Adrian Del Castillo (ARI, 2% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
INFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Spencer Horwitz (1B/2B, TOR, 28% CBS Ownership) – Horwitz is slashing .333/.385/.556 with a 10% barrel-rate in July so far while hitting second when he plays. He’s technically the strong-side platoon bat with Davis Schneider right now but draws pinch-hit appearances nearly every time he doesn’t start. Horwitz remains the best buy available in most leagues right now, and once his season stat totals start catching up to others, he’s going to be disappearing fast. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Joey Ortiz (2B/3B, MIL, 47% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Jake Burger (1B/3B, MIA, 47% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Coby Mayo (3B, BAL, 46% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Ty France (1B, SEA, 31% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Paul DeJong (SS, CHW, 27% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brendan Rodgers (2B, COL, 25% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Amed Rosario (2B/3B/SS/OF, TBR, 24% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Jacob Wilson (SS, OAK, 15% CBS Ownership) – At this point, it’s not a matter of if Wilson will debut this year, but instead when. Between the looming trade deadline and Brett Harris starting every day at third while slashing .162/.292/.324, the A’s are going to move Wilson into shortstop within a few weeks. The 22-year-old son of former big-leaguer Jack Wilson obviously flashes a superb glove like his father, but the contact skills he possesses are otherworldly. Wilson has managed to strike out only 4.1% of the time in Triple-A while sporting a 98.9% zone-contact rate; it’s like he’s out there playing a video game on Rookie. The batting average might end up being kinda empty as Wilson doesn’t have much power or speed, but a .280-plus batting average seems more than doable, which is a boon at MI in deeper leagues. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Rowdy Tellez (1B, PIT, 19% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Michael Massey (2B, KCR, 15% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Jorge Mateo (2B/SS, BAL, 15% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Wenceel Perez (2B/OF, DET, 15% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Lenyn Sosa (2B/3B, CHW, 11% CBS Ownership, 1-3% CBS Ownership), Brett Wisely (2B/SS, SFG, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Angel Martinez (2B/OF, CLE, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Gio Urshela (1B/3B, DET, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Xavier Edwards (2B/SS, MIA, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Troy Johnston (1B, MIA, 0% CBS Ownership) – Josh Bell’s days in Miami have to be limited as the switch-bat he swings fits on any contender, giving Peter Bendix the ability to cash him in for a prospect lottery ticket. Johnston should be able to walk right into the roster spot that Bell would free up, plus needs to get some action as he’s Rule 5 eligible this offseason. Johnston is 27 years old and swinging an average-ish bat in Triple-A with a .286/.346/.410. However, the most intriguing part of his game is a possible double-digit steals total, as he’s swiped 34 bags over the past two years. That’s a sneaky option to gain ground in the steals category for NL-Only leagues akin to prime J.T. Realmuto because first basemen just don’t offer any speed typically. (1% FAAB)
Ernie Clement (3B/SS, TOR, 3% CBS Ownership) – In a slightly sports-radio take, it’s possible that Bo Bichette loses his job to the former catcher Clement when IKF returns from his injury. Clement has been pretty much what we wanted out of Bichette this season, batting .263 with what would pace to roughly 20 homers and 12 steals over 600 plate appearances. Given his current production level, the Blue Jays’ impending deadline sell-off, and the versatile glove, Clement looks likely to stick in the Toronto lineup rest-of-season. (7-9% FAAB)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Brandon Marsh (PHI, 48% CBS Ownership) – Marsh has slowly rounded into exactly the power/speed combo we’ve all wanted over the years, hitting .292 with two homers and steals apiece in 27 July plate appearances. He’s entrenched in the Phillies’ LF spot and looks bound for his first 20/20 season. Snatch him up now if he’s lingering on your wire. (5% FAAB)
Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC, 22% CBS Ownership) – With Cody Bellinger hitting the IL due to a fractured finger, PCA looks to get a few weeks of run at CF in Wrigleyville. The speed upside here is significant, as he’s running at about a 50-steal clip and is yet to be caught. For now, the 22-year-old is going to struggle with the Billy Hamilton problem as his HardHit rate is only 28.3%, but if desperate to make up some steals points in those roto standings, you’ll have to hold your nose on the lack of batting average and power. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Masataka Yoshida (BOS, 49% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Michael Conforto (SFG, 45% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Lars Nootbaar (STL, 39% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jacob Young (WSN, 37% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Matt Vierling (3B/OF, DET, 36% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jhonkensy Noel (CLE, 34% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Harrison Bader (NYM, 32% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jake Fraley (CIN, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Charlie Blackmon (COL, 24% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Tommy Pham (CHW, 18% CBS Ownership) – Good lord, this video is 22 years old now? I’ve absorbed so much media from my teenage into adult years that it’s all jumbled around like that weird library scene in Interstellar. Anyways, guess who’s back, back again? Sure, the results have been less-than-stellar as Pham has sunk to simply breaking even in our 12-team Player Rater over the last 30 days. He continues to be exactly what is needed to weather the roto storm all summer, playing every day while hitting leadoff – dependable in weekly leagues and the ultimate weapon in a daily moves one. Better yet, the White Sox get a trip to Kansas City post-ASB, where the warm, muggy weather will make that hitters park play up even more, giving Pham an extra boost this week. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Luke Raley (1B/OF, SEA, 19% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Leody Taveras (TEX, 19% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), LaMonte Wade (1B/OF, SFG, 16% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Andrew McCutchen (PIT, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jack Suwinski (PIT, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Luis Matos (SFG, 10% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Adam Duvall (ATL, 10% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jesus Sanchez (MIA, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Alek Thomas (ARI, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Matt Wallner (MIN, 9% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Josh Palacios (PIT, 2% CBS Ownership) – After swinging a 67 wRC+ stick with .169 batting average in June, Connor Joe’s run of full playing time in Pittsburgh has finally dried up. Enter Palacios, who was shredding Triple-A with a .311 batting average and 10.8% BB-rate in 21 games. All the projection systems have him pegged for a league-average wRC+ along with a handful of homers and steals. Palacios has been hitting fifth or sixth in the lineup but could easily move up if he can maintain anything near his .370 OBP mark over his first 27 plate appearances. (5% FAAB)
Travis Jankowski (TEX, 0% CBS Ownership) – Now 33 years old, Jankowski can’t ever be eliminated from playing time in Texas. He’s been drawing more starts at DH lately, hitting .250 in July over 17 plate appearances. The vet is still a speed threat, going 6-for-7 in steal attempts so far this season, warranting his main reason for ownership while he continues to draw at-bats. (1-3% FAAB)
STARTING PITCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Aaron Civale (MIL, 48% CBS Ownership) – Ugh, no two-start pitchers to lean on this week for the analysis or set rotations to target weaker offenses. Not like any arms that are atop rotations are really available for pick up out there, anyways, well, except maybe one… I was thoroughly impressed by what Civale showed in his start against Pittsburgh this week (although, I admittedly was mostly tuned in to see what Paul Skenes would do). Milwaukee looked like they unleashed the fully idealized version of Civale as he mostly scrapped his fastball, mixing four pitches equally that had the Pittsburgh lineup flummoxed all afternoon. If Civale can continue dealing, he’s going to be a second-half steal as a source of strikeouts, already posting 14 punchouts across his first 11.1 innings with the Brew Crew. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Miles Mikolas (STL, 49% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jose Quintana (NYM, 48% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Robbie Ray (SFG, 46% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Drew Thorpe (CHW, 42% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN, 41% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Andrew Heaney (TEX, 36% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Chris Paddack (MIN, 35% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Alec Marsh (KCR, 34% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), David Peterson (NYM, 32% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Albert Suarez (BAL, 29% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Yariel Rodriguez (TOR, 22% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Yilber Diaz (ARI, 15% CBS Ownership) – Whew, at least there’s a relatively flashy debut this week to consider for deeper leagues. After firing 76 innings with a 4.03 ERA and 12.4 K/9 across Double and Triple-A this season, Diaz held his own against Atlanta for six one-run innings this week. Don’t be scared by the minor-league ERA being over four, as Diaz had to pitch in Reno at Triple-A, a notorious hitter’s environment. The Stuff+ figures on Diaz are not sightly, which gives me a little pause after Cade Povich has dealt with the same issue and looked poor. But the prospect reports for Diaz this season have been glowing, and the strikeout potential is too tantalizing to pass up in deeper leagues. Just know this bid suggestion factors in that Diaz could fall apart if he’s unable to show an improved arsenal as he settles in. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Andre Pallante (STL, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jonathan Cannon (CHW, 14% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Luis Ortiz (PIT, 14% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Hayden Wesneski (CHC, 13% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Hayden Birdsong (SFG, 12% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Ryne Nelson (ARI, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Justin Wrobleski (LAD, 10% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Randy Vasquez (SDP, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Lyon Richardson (CIN, 1% CBS Ownership) – While Carson Spiers has been able to hold the fifth starter’s job in Cincy, he’s starting to unravel slightly with a 4.76 ERA and only 38.2% groundball-rate over his last four starts against some weak opponents (Pittsburgh twice, Detroit, and St. Louis). The 24-year-old Richardson is on the 40-man roster after debuting last year and should be the next man up for the Reds. After struggling with walks to start the season (44 free passes over 57.1 innings), Richardson has turned a corner over his last five starts, walking just 2.8 per nine. This is a former second round pick with solid grades on his pitch arsenal that can generate punchouts and with a slightly worse-than-average ERA down the stretch. (1-3% FAAB)
Jake Bloss (HOU, 4% CBS Ownership) – Bloss returned from his shoulder injury this week to throw four innings against the Marlins. The overall start was mediocre as he allowed two runs to a weak offense, but the return should slot Bloss into the Houston rotation for the foreseeable future. Justin Verlander is struggling mightily with his 41-year-old body, and Bloss might provide the correct piece with his nasty 146 Stuff+ slider for Houston to take home another AL West title. He’s worthy of an aggressive bid where available in AL-Only leagues and can be considered for addition in 15-teamers too. (7-9% FAAB)
RELIEVERS
10/12 Team Adds
Jeff Hoffman (PHI, 46% CBS Ownership) – Ah, here we go, after ticking down in ownership last week, Hoffman is being snatched up quickly as he looks to have supplanted Jose Alvarado as the slightly preferred saves option in Philly. This is likely your last opportunity to add him for free if he’s available because anyone looking for saves during the ASB doldrums will immediately notice Hoffman’s stand-out stats. (5-7% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Hector Neris (CHC, 48% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Griffin Jax (MIN, 34% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Yimi Garcia (TOR, 31% CBS Ownership, 5% FAAB), Daniel Hudson (LAD, 29% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Chad Green (TOR, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ryne Stanek (SEA, 20% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Kevin Ginkel (ARI, 13% CBS Ownership) – Paul Sewald righted the ship with back-to-back saves against Atlanta on Tuesday and Wednesday but was lit up for seven runs across his previous three outings. Sewald looks like a shell of his former self, allowing an 11.1% barrel-rate while the Stuff+ on his fastball has slipped to 115, down from 134 last year. Any further slip ups from him will cause the D-backs to flip over to the Gink and his 2.48 ERA (2.49 FIP) over 40 innings this season in a heartbeat. (1-3% FAAB)
John Brebbia (CHW, 5% CBS Ownership) – Michael Kopech’s immaculate inning this week was just the juice Chris Getz needed to move him, even if he doesn’t listen to feedback on his pitch selection. Brebbia continues to roll, now at a 0.98 ERA with a 13.3 K/9 over 18.1 inning since June 1. He’s become a dependable plug-for-the-ratios-help reliever while on this hot streak and could soon be in a closer’s seat. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Jason Adam (TBR, 19% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), JoJo Romero (STL, 17% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Luke Weaver (NYY, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jeremiah Estrada (SDP, 15% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), A.J. Puk (MIA, 13% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ben Joyce (LAA, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Shelby Miller (DET, 3% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Porter Hodge (CHC, 2% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
