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We made it.
For a while it looked like this day might not happen, or at least might not happen this soon. But here we are, on Opening Day, and boy, is it exciting.
Even more important (okay, not really) is that Waiver Wired is back! I’m Ryan Boyer and I’ve been handed the Waiver Wired baton by D.J. Short this year. I’ll do my best to be a good caretaker each Thursday as we try to find free agent pickups to help you win your league.
Enough chit chat. Let’s get into it.
MIXED LEAGUES
(Players rostered in under 50 percent of Yahoo leagues)
Note: Percentages are from the morning of Thursday, April 7
Gavin Lux 2B/SS/OF, Dodgers (Yahoo: 48 percent rostered)
With a .682 OPS in his first 532 big league plate appearances, Lux hasn’t exactly set the world on fire during his time with the Dodgers. He did finish with a flourish last season, though, with a .967 OPS and more walks than strikeouts in September. Manager Dave Roberts wanted Lux’s bat in the lineup so badly down the stretch of the regular season and playoffs that he stuck him in the outfield. Now, with A.J. Pollock dealt to the White Sox, Lux should see regular starts at second base and some in left field on days Chris Taylor isn’t out there. Remember, the 24-year-old Lux hit .347/.421/.607 in his last full season in the minors.
Josh Lowe OF, Rays (Yahoo: 48 percent rostered)
While not at the level Lux was a couple years ago, Lowe is a fine prospect in his own right. Also like Lux, Lowe now has a path to regular at-bats following a trade, with this case being when Austin Meadows was shipped to the Tigers. Lowe got a cup of coffee with the Rays last season following a monster year with Triple-A Durham which saw him post a .291/.381/.535 batting line with 22 home runs and 26 stolen bases (without being caught). The left-handed hitter did strike out at a 26.2 percent clip at Durham, including a rate of 31 percent against lefties. It’s not a slam dunk that Lowe will succeed right away, but his power and speed potential make him rosterable virtually everywhere.
Tommy Pham OF, Reds (Yahoo: 42 percent rostered)
Speaking of power and speed potential, Pham has shown plenty of that in the past with a couple 20-20 seasons under his belt. Even last season when his OPS fell off to a less-than-stellar .724, Pham still clubbed 15 homers, stole 14 bags and got on base at a .340 clip. He’s now poised to play in a hitter-friendly park for the first time in his career, and it’s one in Great American Ball Park which has rated as the best in the majors over the last three years for home runs. That should help prop up Pham’s power numbers even as he hits the ball on the ground more than you’d like. It looks like he could also bat third in the Reds’ lineup. On the day Pham’s deal with the Reds was officially announced, he told reporters was “playing to get my numbers.” We’re here for it, Tommy!
Hunter Greene SP, Reds (Yahoo: 41 percent rostered)
Pham’s teammate Greene comes with plenty of hype. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 Draft, Greene didn’t pitch at all from 2019-2020 due to Tommy John surgery and the pandemic wiping out a year of minor league ball. He bounced back in a major way in 2021, though, jumping from A-ball to Double- and Triple-A where he put up a 3.30 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 139/39 K/BB ratio over 106 1/3 innings. Greene then went out this spring and won a spot in the Reds’ Opening Day rotation. He did serve up four homers in Cactus League play, which isn’t ideal when you call GABP home. However, Greene will get to often face a generally underwhelming collection of lineups in the NL Central, and he shouldn’t have a problem missing bats with his triple-digits heater.
Anthony Bender RP, Marlins (Yahoo: 41 percent rostered)
The Marlins struck gold when they added Bender on a minor league contract last winter, as he went on to post a 2.79 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 71/20 K/BB ratio across 61 1/3 innings of work while collecting three saves. Manager Don Mattingly did seem to prefer to keep Bender in a setup/fireman role last year as he used Dylan Floro to close games down the stretch. Floro, though, will begin the season on the injured list after dealing with soreness in his pitching arm this spring. It’s not expected to sideline him long, but might very well run away with the job by the time Floro is ready. Anthony Bass and new acquisitions Cole Sulser and Tanner Scott could also be in the mix here.
Jesus Luzardo SP, Marlins (Yahoo: 31 percent rostered)
There’s no getting around the 2021 season being a disaster for Luzardo. He made starts with the Athletics, the Marlins and at Triple-A Las Vegas when still in the A’s organization, and he held an ERA over 6.00 at all three stops. However, we must not forget the pedigree here, as Luzardo is a former top-10 overall prospect who is still just 24. He was also throwing harder this spring, hitting the upper-90s with his fastball regularly while throwing his devastating curveball more than ever. The Marlins have developed a well-earned reputation for being a good spot for young pitchers, and Luzardo could be their next hurler to break out.
CJ Abrams SS, Padres (Yahoo: 29 percent rostered)
Abrams has been added to the Padres’ Opening Day roster in a move which had been anticipated for a little while now. Abrams posted a .324/.359/.514 batting line with two homers and three stolen bases over 17 games this spring while also showing he’s capable of playing the outfield in addition to shortstop. The 21-year-old missed half of the 2021 season after suffering a broken leg and sprained MCL while playing at Double-A San Antonio, but before he got hurt he hit .296/.363/.420 with a couple homers and 13 steals in 42 games. Abrams has just 76 pro games under his belt, and there are questions about how much power might show up at this point. However, he’s an elite prospect with top-rate speed and surprisingly good contact skills. The Padres should play him regularly versus righties at shortstop while Fernando Tatis Jr. (wrist) is out and also figure to play him some in the outfield, which is where his long-term home might be once Tatis Jr. is back.
Tylor Megill SP, Mets (Yahoo: 18 percent rostered)
Injuries to Jacob deGrom (shoulder) and Taijuan Walker (knee) is not the way Megill wanted to make the Mets’ rotation, but he’s made it nonetheless and will actually start their opener on Thursday versus the Nationals. The 26-year-old made 18 starts for the Mets last season and more than held his own, putting up a 4.52 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 99/27 K/BB ratio over 89 2/3 innings. Home runs were an issue for Megill in 2021, as he served up 19 of them. He did a little better job of keeping the ball on the ground and suppressing the long ball in the minors, though, so there should be room for improvement in that regard. What we know for sure is that Megill can miss bats, and he’s got pretty good control, too.
Jorge Alcala RP, Twins (Yahoo: 4 percent rostered)
Tyler Duffey RP, Twins (Yahoo: 4 percent rostered)
Emilio Pagan RP, Twins (Yahoo: 3 percent rostered)
Jhoan Duran RP, Twins (Yahoo: 2 percent rostered)
Leave it up to Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller to make a trade the morning of Opening Day to throw a wrench into things. The Padres picked up Taylor Rogers and Brent Rooker from the Twins for Chris Paddack, Emilio Pagan and a player to be named later. Rogers should see most of the save chances for the Padres, but the Twins’ situation is less clear. Pagan could immediately be thrown into the mix, and Duffey notched three saves for them last season and pitched very well this spring. Then there’s youngsters Alcala and Duran. Alcala was excellent last season but had diminished velocity this spring while battling a fingernail issue. Duran won a bullpen spot with an electric spring, but he’s also pitched just 16 innings over the last two seasons and will be making his major league debut. It would probably be a fluid situation for most any manager and especially so for Rocco Baldelli, who has consistently shied away from the closer label.
Deeper Dandies:
(Players rostered in under 10 percent of Yahoo leagues)
Merrill Kelly SP, Diamondbacks (Yahoo: 9 percent rostered)
Kelly has had a solid, albeit unspectacular run with the D-backs since returning to the States following a successful stint in Korea, putting up a 4.27 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 317/103 K/BB ratio over 372 2/3 innings covering 64 starts. There are some whispers of a potential breakthrough in 2022, though. One reason is that Kelly had a ludicrous Cactus League showing, giving up just one hit and one unearned run while not walking anyone and striking out 13 over seven frames. He put up those numbers while showing a little bump in velocity. Another reason is new pitching coach Brent Strom, who garnered a great reputation during his time with the Astros and is now working with Kelly on a new pitch mix. Kelly has always had superb control and now we’ll see if he can add more strikeouts.
Connor Joe 1B/OF, Rockies (Yahoo: 8 percent rostered)
Joe was looking like a probable bust as a former first-round pick but has found a new lease on life at 29 with the Rockies, which is his fifth organization. After posting a robust 1.114 OPS with nine home runs and a 13.6 percent walk rate in 28 games at Triple-A Albuquerque last season, Joe then put up a .848 OPS with eight dingers and a 12.3 percent walk rate (and 19.4 percent strikeout rate) with the Rockies across 63 contests. Playing time isn’t set in stone for Joe, but between the designated hitter slot, the corner outfield spots and first base, he should find his way into the lineup often. The plate discipline is excellent, and Joe’s power numbers will get a Coors Field boost.
Seth Beer UTIL, Diamondbacks (Yahoo: 6 percent rostered)
Beer became something of a cult hero during his college days at Clemson because of his prodigious power and also, well, just look at his last name. His first full season in the Diamondbacks’ organization last year resulted in a .909 OPS and 16 long balls in 100 games at Triple-A Reno ahead of a five-game cup of coffee in the majors where he went 4-for-9 with another bomb. Unfortunately, Beer suffered a season-ending shoulder dislocation which required surgery, but he showed up to spring training healthy and posted a 1.057 OPS with a home run. Beer appears locked into the DH spot against righties but should pick up first base eligibility.
Weekend Warriors:
Mitch Keller SP, Pirates (Yahoo: 5 percent rostered)
Keller has been a major disappointment so far in the big leagues with a bloated 6.02 ERA over 39 starts. The former top prospect even spent some time back in the minors last season. However, video surfaced over the offseason of Keller hitting triple digits as he worked out at a pitching laboratory to improve his arm strength. The velocity bump carried over into Grapefruit League play, where Keller, held a 2.92 ERA and 12/3 K/BB ratio across 12 1/3 innings. On Saturday, Keller lines up to face a Cardinals lineup which looks like it might be vulnerable to right-handed pitching.
Kyle Wright SP, Braves (Yahoo: 2 percent rostered)
Wright had a phenomenal showing this spring to lock up a spot in the Braves’ rotation, allowing just one unearned run on five hits and no walks while fanning eight batters across 7 1/3 innings of work. He’s mostly disappointed in the majors to this point, although Wright did pitch well in the World Series last year. He’s also still just 26 and is a former No. 5 overall draft pick. Wright’s first start of the 2022 season will come on Saturday against a Reds lineup which was gutted over the winter.
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AL ONLY
Jorge Mateo 2B/SS/OF, Orioles (Yahoo: 3 percent rostered)
Mateo dealt with a stomach issue and also had to leave a game following a hit by pitch this spring, but it looks like he’ll be all systems go for the Orioles on Opening Day. The 26-year-old appears poised for everyday shortstop duties this year in Baltimore, and he offers the ability to play second base and the outfield, as well. Mateo strikes out a bunch and rarely walks, so the average and on-base percentage figure to be lackluster. However, he’s got some pop and also boasts top-shelf speed. As a speedster with multi-position eligibility, he’s plenty intriguing in deeper formats.
Brad Miller 1B/2B/OF, Rangers (Yahoo: 2 percent rostered)
Like Mateo, Miller is another multi-position eligible guy who appears in line for regular playing time. Unlike Mateo, Miller’s calling card is not his speed but his power. He had a 30-homer season with the Rays back in 2016 and last season smacked 20 long balls with the Phillies in just 377 plate appearances. This spring, Miller clubbed three dingers while boasting a 1.065 OPS. It looks like he might hit leadoff for the Rangers against right-handers, setting the 32-year-old up for some sneaky fantasy value.
NL ONLY
Nick Martinez SP, Padres (Yahoo: 3 percent rostered)
Martinez was thoroughly underwhelming during his time with the Rangers, putting up a 4.77 ERA while managing a lowly 5.1 K/9 rate. However, he went to Japan and found another gear, holding a microscopic 1.62 ERA and 146/39 K/BB ratio over 149 2/3 innings of work. That earned him a $20 million deal from the Padres, and he’s won a rotation spot by posting a 3.00 ERA and 14/3 K/BB ratio across 12 Cactus League frames. Martinez has better velocity and an all-round better repertoire now, making him an under-the-radar candidate for a breakthrough.
Rowdy Tellez 1B, Brewers (Yahoo: 4 percent rostered)
Tellez was a favorite corner infield target of mine in drafts last spring, but I had no choice but to send him to the waiver wire after he put up just a .610 OPS with only four home runs in 50 games for the Blue Jays. He then resurfaced with the Brewers and produced a .814 OPS with seven dingers across 56 contests down the stretch, even adding another couple homers during the team’s Division Series loss to the Braves. Tellez enters 2022 as Milwaukee’s regular first baseman at least against righties and looks poised to hit fifth for the Brew Crew.
