In this week’s Avoiding The Blurbstomp, C.A. introduced me to the band Boredoms for the first time. And holy cow, what a journey it has been discovering their catalog of chaotic music. Guitars, drumming, and screams everywhere all the time (but read his piece, he’s much more masterful with the written word to describe the experience).
While listening to the little bit of Boredoms available on Spotify (yes, I’m a consumer bound to the hellish late-stage capitalism corporation, apologies), I couldn’t help but connect the cacophony of sound to baseball’s current state in the pre-All-Star, June malaise. There’s a lot going on, a lot to untangle. And in the fantasy baseball world, have you seen what the league’s output has done to the state of those waiver wires?
Things are getting extremely rough out there. Either the options are blending together, as nearly half of MLB rosters sport a middle infield option with a stat line I could easily convince you belongs to Josh Rojas. Or it’s just pure madness with platoons and back-end starters not even being worth rostering. And Tommy Pham has once again become a main character.
Admittedly, a lot of the suggestions below are rather “mid” as the youth say. Maybe they don’t warrant rostering for you, but it could help spur you into some trade action because I’m not sure there are any saviors coming to the player pools soon.
But even with that, let’s have some fun peruse what could be available, Razzballers!
The stats and ownership percentages below are updated as of noon central time on 6/14.
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
Patrick Bailey (SFG, 30% CBS Ownership) – Our two heroes, Tyler Stephenson and Connor Wong, of the backstop position graduated out of consideration this week thanks to J.T. Realmuto’s knee injury. Both Stephenson and Wong cleared the 50 percent ownership threshold, but if either are available in a league you need to replace Realmuto, certainly pick them up. If you need to dig a little deeper, Bailey is my favorite available-ish bat out there. Since returning from a concussion May 21, the San Francisco catcher has slashed .276/.368/.379 while hitting in the top of the Giants’ order. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 49% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Danny Jansen (TOR, 42% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Mitch Garver (SEA, 35% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Keibert Ruiz (WSN, 28% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Korey Lee (CHW, 9% CBS Ownership) – Slowly but surely, Martin Maldonado is being phased out of the White Sox lineup (and the All-Star ballot too!) and will eventually be sent out to pasture. Lee has been a surprisingly solid catcher option year-to-date with five homers and steals apiece despite only recently receiving the lion’s share of starts. The 25-year-old’s steals and .333 BABIP are no fluke, as he’s one of the speedier catchers out there, ranking in the 64th percentile of Sprint Speed per Statcast. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Ivan Herrera (STL, 19% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Tyler Soderstrom (C/1B, OAK, 13% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Gary Sanchez (MIL, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Amaya (CHC, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
INFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
David Hamilton (2B/SS, BOS, 32% CBS Ownership) – I’ve taken some serious umbrage with Boston’s approach to the shortstop position of late. However, Hamilton may be providing a solution the Red Sox have needed all along. Thanks to his five stolen bags this week, the pesky shortstop has ranked as the third-best player in our Last 7 Days rater, behind only Teoscar Herandez and Aaron Judge, who have slugged .955 and 1.000, respectively. There’s nothing stopping Hamilton from being the Boston shortstop rest-of-season, as Vaughn Grissom has struggled mightily at the plate and in the trainer’s room. If you simply project Hamilton’s current career steals pace over 600 PAs, you would have a 54 stolen base pace with non-zero pop (four homers and a .169 ISO this year). Even if you don’t need a new MI, it might warrant snapping Hamilton off the waiver wire just to block him from your leaguemates. (7% FAAB)
Coby Mayo (3B, BAL, 33% CBS Ownership) – Mayo is starting his rehab assignment to return from a rib injury sustained May 16. If he’s available and you have the free roster spot to stash him, please do so now before he costs a double-digit bid when he’s called up later this summer. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Tyler Freeman (3B/MI/OF, CLE, 49% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Luis Garcia (2B, WSN, 41% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Mark Vientos (3B, NYM, 47% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Andrew Vaughn (1B, CHW, 36% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Colt Keith (2B/3B, DET, 33% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Zach Neto (SS, LAA, 33% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jorge Mateo (2B/SS, BAL, 20% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jose Miranda (3B, MIN, 20% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Joey Meneses (1B, WSN, 9% CBS Ownership) – There’s a blob that formed in the 15-team infield arena thanks to some slumping performances leaving guys with full-time roles on the wire (Rojas, Perez) plus an influx of new entrants either being promoted or picking up playing time (Locklear, Perdomo, Horwitz, Dubon). When presented with a plethora of options, it’s important to focus on upcoming matchups and schedules to maximize value. This week, the Nationals have one of the best slates for bats, facing the back end of the Arizona rotation before getting a weekend series in Colorado. Meneses has entered the Washington lineup full time with Joey Gallo hitting the IL, perfect for a solid one-week stream. It’s possible he can stick on a fantasy roster for a longer term too as Gallo has played poorly while Meneses has been a batting average asset, producing a .297/.354/.419 (121 wRC+) slashline over the last month. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Josh Rojas (2B/3B/OF, SEA, 19% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Wenceel Perez (2B/OF, DET, 18% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B/3B/OF, TOR, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Carlos Santana (1B, MIN, 15% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Tyler Locklear (1B, SEA, 14% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Whit Merrifield (2B/3B/OF, PHI, 14% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Geraldo Perdomo (2B/SS, ARI, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Mauricio Dubon (1B/2B/OF, HOU, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Spencer Horwitz (2B, TOR, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ezequiel Duran (1B/3B/SS/OF, TEX, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Gio Urshela (1B/3B, DET, 7% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Brett Wisely (2B/SS, SFG, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Cavan Biggio (1B/2B/3B/OF, LAD, 7% CBS Ownership) – In an NL-only league, new entrants that cross the AL/NL divide don’t get much better than this. Biggio should qualify at every position but shortstop and has moseyed into a strong-side platoon role with the freakin’ Los Angeles Dodgers. That makes him fit on every roster in an NL-only league. Plus the fact that Andrew Friedman traded for Biggio, as opposed to a simple waiver claim, shows how highly he sought Craig’s son. Even if Biggio can’t raise the batting average beyond the .220 mark, his double-digit walk rate at the bottom of the Dodgers order is going to put him into position for a bevy of runs in front of the Betts/Ohtani/Freeman trio hitting that follows. And if the Dodgers tweak the swing and teach Biggio how to hit on the fly this summer… (9-11% FAAB)
Zach McKinstry (2B/3B/SS/OF, DET, 1% CBS Ownership) – Another Dodgers-adjacent utilityman to cover this week. McKinstry walks into a strong-side platoon role at shortstop in Detroit with Javy Baez being shelved due to a back injury. Detroit might also keep Baez on that injured list for an extended time just to give him a break from all the hacks. McKinstry is a solid contributor with exceptional positional flexibility that should be a speed asset and batting average drain. A must-own for AL-only leagues just to plug and play as needed while he’s getting at-bats. (3-5% FAAB)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Charlie Blackmon (COL, 25% CBS Ownership) – Wee woo wee woo wee woo, sound the alarm! This is your alert that the Colorado Rockies have a full slate of home games this upcoming week with four against the Dodgers and three against the Nationals. The week after is quite juicy as well, despite only five games, as the Rockies get road series against the Astros and White Sox, two teams with below-average pitching staffs by ERA. (3% FAAB)
Tommy Pham (CHW, 20% CBS Ownership) – **extreme John Oliver PSL voice** WE WILL NOT DETERMINE WHEN WE ARE DONE WITH TOMMY PHAM, TOMMY PHAM WILL DETERMINE WHEN HE IS DONE WITH US!!! (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Jo Adell (LAA, 48% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Mark Canha (1B/OF, DET, 45% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), J.J. Bleday (OAK, 44% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jacob Young (WSN, 38% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Joc Pederson (ARI, 34% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jake Meyers (HOU, 32% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Miguel Andujar (OAK, 29% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Gavin Sheets (1B/OF, CHW, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Luke Raley (1B/OF, SEA, 22% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Blake Perkins (MIL, 20% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Harrison Bader (NYM, 16% CBS Ownership) – Bader is the PB&J of fantasy baseball outfields. He’s just there when all the other food runs out or the addiction to the American diet has riddled one’s brain into a constant lethargy that makes chopping up those vegetables in the crisper look more monumental than climbing Everest. It’s not glamorous, but Bader continues to play and produce, slashing .241/.265/.517 with two homers and a steal this month. (1-3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Joey Loperfido (HOU, 20% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Adam Duvall (ATL, 18% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Nelson Velazquez (KCR, 15% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Johan Rojas (PHI, 13% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jake McCarthy (ARI, 13% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Richie Palacios (2B/OF, TBR, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Andrew McCutchen (PIT, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jake Bauers (1B/OF, MIL, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Tyrone Taylor (NYM, 1% CBS Ownership) – Truly a “Harrison Bader at home” option, sporting a .250/.276/.367 line with six steals this so far. He’s playing just enough and running just enough to be useful while you wait out a Bader trade over the next month. After the golden-locked Harrison departs, Taylor will slot right into centerfield, statistically, we’ll no one will ever be able to discern it. (1-3% FAAB)
Addison Barger (TOR, 3% CBS Ownership) – Hours before Toronto cut ties with Dan Vogelbach to promote Barger, I wrote the following: “The Blue Jays continue unraveling and have fallen 14.5 games back of the AL East lead, having to wonder if getting a Wild Card spot is even worth it. Barger should return to the big leagues if Toronto decides to clean house at the trade deadline or before and offers a power-forward profile (eight homers, .211 ISO in Buffalo) that makes an intriguing stash if desperate.” So yeah, maybe the Jays are starting to clean house? Watch how the roster shuffles over the coming week, but feel free to buy into Barger despite his poor performance in the majors earlier this year. He’s a solid bat that can pick up multi-eligibility to be a key AL-only cog. (5% FAAB)
STARTING PITCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Drew Thorpe (CHW, 42% CBS Ownership) – Thorpe debuted this past against Seattle and held his own in the no-decision. The 23-year-old rookie has all the makings to be a solid starting pitcher a bit in the mold of a Kyle Gibson with non-zero strikeouts (8.4 K/9 in Triple-A before debuting, most projection systems have him in the mid-seven range), a groundball rate that hovers around 45%, and durability. The problem is he pitches for the Chicago White Sox, so more than three-to-five wins rest-of-season is asking for a miracle. A safe floor pitcher with limited ceiling. (3-5% FAAB)
Spencer Schwellenbach (ATL, 23% CBS Ownership) – While Thorpe is the safe floor pitcher, Schwellenbach is the high upside guy to chase if you need wins and strikeouts. After producing a putrid 8.38 ERA in 9.2 innings over his first two starts, Schwellenbach bounced back with a solid two-run, six-inning performance in Baltimore this week. Although he only has a 17.6% K-rate now, his two most often used pitches (fastball and slider) are both above average per Stuff+ (113 and 114, respectively), so there could be more punchouts coming as he develops fully. For crying out loud, this dude was pitching in High-A just five weeks ago. Schwellenbach’s upcoming start this week is against a Tigers lineup that sports a collective 92 wRC+, so if that’s he has a big performance, his price will shoot through the roof. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Michael Lorenzen (TEX, 40% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Alec Marsh (KCR, 38% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN, 38% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Jose Soriano (LAA, 37% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Miles Mikolas (STL, 37% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jeffrey Springs (TBR, 32% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Spencer Schwellenbach (ATL, 23% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Colin Rea (MIL, 24% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Mitch Spence (OAK, 9% CBS Ownership) – It was only a matter of time before someone emerged from the primordial ooze that is the Oakland rotation. Given that it’s a brilliant pitcher’s park with a team that has a penchant for creating arms out of thin air, I’ve continually been poking around the team in this piece trying to find someone useful. Spence is likely that guy as sports a 3.68 ERA, 3.17 FIP, and 1.15 WHIP in 51.1 innings to-date. Even more excitingly, Spence rates a tick above average in Stuff+ with a 101 and 103 Pitching+ overall, boosted by a 121 Stuff+ slider that he throws 40% of the time. He draws a nice start at home against Kansas City this upcoming week and warrants 12-team consideration as well. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Cooper Criswell (BOS, 13% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Yariel Rodriguez (TOR, 13% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Randy Vasquez (SDP, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Steven Matz (STL, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Hogan Harris (OAK, 4% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Spencer Howard (SFG, 2% CBS Ownership) – Devil Magic is alive and well in the league, it’s that it moved westward to find itself in the Bay Area. Spencer Howard keeps getting away with it, as he’s now fired a 2.02 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over 13.1 innings with the Giants. The strikeouts (17.0% K-rate) aren’t likely to materialize as he has below-average stuff, but the former top prospect is locating well, limiting walks (5.7% K-rate) and using Oracle Park to cover for any mistakes. He should be a solid starter in NL-only leagues and streamable at home while he maintains a rotation spot. (3% FAAB)
Jonathan Cannon (CHW, 3% CBS Ownership) – Do I need to state anything here more than the line from Cannon’s brilliant start against Seattle on Wednesday, firing seven one-run innings with seven Ks while allowing four hits and one walk? It’s going to be near impossible for the White Sox to pull the 23-year-old from the rotation as this is a great chance to see what his long-term potential can be. There’s also no need to worry about an innings cap as Cannon fired 121 frames total between two minor league stops in 2023. (5-7% FAAB)
RELIEVERS
10/12 Team Adds
Yimi Garcia (TOR, 45% CBS Ownership) – Garcia continues rolling, now up to five saves with a 1.98 ERA and 0.66 WHIP over 27.1 innings. He warrants universal ownership at this point, even playable if/when Jordan Romano returns. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Reed Garrett (NYM, 37% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jeff Hoffman (PHI, 35% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Griffin Jax (MIN, 31% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jeremiah Estrada (SDP, 27% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jason Adam (TBR, 21% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Bryan Hudson (MIL, 20% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Ryne Stanek (SEA, 11% CBS Ownership) – Keep an eye on Andres Munoz, who continues battling a back injury and flashed a fastball velo that was down 1.2 mph Thursday against the Pale Hose. Stanek is next up for saves in Seattle, which means either spelling Munoz to prevent consecutive outings or filling in during an IL stint. (1-3% FAAB)
Tyler Kinley (COL, 7% CBS Ownership) – Ughhh… I guess? You are putting your ratios at great risk with this move, but Kinley appears to have risen to the top of the Rockies bullpen, like the least dense turd at the water treatment plant, for the occasional save. (1% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Luke Weaver (NYY, 17% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Blake Treinen (LAD, 13% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Cade Smith (CLE, 12% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), John Brebbia (CHW, 2% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
