Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers and Values

Corbin Carroll: Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 20

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 13% of leagues ANALYSIS: Corbin Carroll was a first-round pick for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2019 MLB Draft, a consensus top-50 prospect, and was rostered to the 2022 NL Futures Game team. The D-Backs outfield may be stocked with formidable talent, but Carroll is ambitiously... Read More

JP Sears: Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 20

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: 26-year-old Oakland A's starting pitcher JP Sears has been absolute money, essentially from his sophomore season at the Citadel and on. After going in the eleventh round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Sears moved through the minor leagues at a solid pace... Read More

Brian Serven: Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 19

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 0% of leagues ANALYSIS: After going in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB Draft, it took several years of up and down play in the minors for catcher Brian Serven to make his way up to the Colorado Rockies. Now that the 27-year-old former ASU... Read More

Kyle Isbel: Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 19

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 1% of leagues ANALYSIS: 25-year-old Kyle Isbel got a little bit of burn last season with the Kansas City Royals to the tune of solid results, and while things have started a bit slower for the former third-round pick from UNLV in 2022, his power/speed skillset... Read More

Ryan Pepiot: Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 19

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: While the Dodgers may not need a ton of help this season, Ryan Pepiot has been a welcome recent addition to the LA rotation. A third-round draft pick in 2019, Pepiot earned his way into the top-100 prospect conversation before the start... Read More

George Kirby (SP, SEA) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 18)

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 38% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Seattle Mariners hold an impressive slew of former college arms among their top prospect ranks, one of whom being former Elon University ace George Kirby. The 6'4, 215-lb. blue chip made an impressive run through the minors after going 20th overall... Read More

Vinnie Pasquantino (1B, KC) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 18)

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 14% of leagues ANALYSIS: 24-year-old first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino came into the Kansas City Royals organization via the 11th round of the 2019 MLB Draft from Old Dominion University--far from the definition of "fanfare." However, after just three seasons and 898 AB in the minor leagues... Read More

A.J. Puk (RP, OAK) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 18)

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: A.J. Puk was a project pick for the Oakland A's at 6th overall in the 2016 MLB Draft out of the University of Florida, and at age 27, the 6'7, 248-lb. lefty has definitely turned a corner. In 44.2 IP this season... Read More

Colin Poche (RP, TB): Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 3% of leagues ANALYSIS: If you follow my takes, you know I love college lefties from schools like Dallas Baptist, niche relievers, and late-round draft picks. 28-year-old Tampa Bay RP Colin Poche satisfies all of the above criteria. The Columbus, Ohio native was a 14th-round selection... Read More

Cal Mitchell (OF, PIT): Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 2% of leagues ANALYSIS: According to MLB.com, 23-year-old Cal Mitchell is the #25 prospect in a Pirates farm system chock-full of top talent, and he just got the call-up to the big leagues for the 19-26 squad, already racking up five hits (two doubles), two RBI,... Read More

Grayson Rodriguez (SP, BAL): Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 29% of leagues ANALYSIS: Consensus top-ten prospect Grayson Rodriguez is suspected to soon be making his MLB debut for the Baltimore Orioles, and the full body of his minor league resume screams at his potential to have an immediate impact. The 22-year-old Texan has pitched 266.2... Read More

Matthew Liberatore (SP, STL): Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 33% of leagues ANALYSIS: This is an amazing year to follow the top prospects and baseball and their potential big league arrivals, let alone the top pitchers of tomorrow like Grayson Rodriguez, Max Meyer, George Kirby, and most recently; Cardinals southpaw Matthew Liberatore. The 6'4, 200-lb.... Read More

Spencer Strider (RP, ATL): Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 13% of leagues ANALYSIS: 23-year-old Spencer Strider has a killer mustache and is off to an excellent 2022 start out of the Atlanta Braves bullpen, producing a 2.49 ERA; 1.06 WHIP; two holds; and a 1.39 FIP off a 37.7% strikeout rate and zero allowed home... Read More

William Contreras (C, ATL): Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 4% of leagues ANALYSIS: William Contreras, 24-year-old brother to Cubs star Willson Contreras, is off to an excellent start for the Braves in 2022, and has yet to have a bad sample of play at the major league level. He hit eight dingers with a .701... Read More

Riley Greene (OF, DET): Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 16% of leagues ANALYSIS: Consensus top-ten outfield prospect Riley Greene is on his path to recovery from a right foot fracture and is starting to get back into action. The Tigers are eager to get the 2019 #5 overall pick back into batting orders, and per... Read More

Oneil Cruz (SS, PIT): Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 27% of leagues ANALYSIS: Oneil Cruz was a consensus top-25 prospect entering 2022, though that hype might have cooled a bit based on his lackluster .591 OPS for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians this year. Even still, his pedigree warrants strong consideration from those, at least, in... Read More

1B/3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball Week 3

Welcome back to another edition of first base and third base fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups. It’s crazy to think we’re already on Week Three of the season! For those who are not familiar, each week at RotoBaller we publish a waiver wire article for each position. This article will look at corner infield options,... Read More

Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 24% of leagues (Yahoo)/6% of leagues (ESPN) ANALYSIS: Cincinnati Reds fans have pinned their hopes on a somewhat-distant future, because they pretty much have to. While Hunter Greene quickly stole the spotlight with his extraterrestrial velocity and the combo of Jonathan India and Tyler Stephenson make... Read More

Brandon Crawford (SS, SF) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 105 CURRENT ADP: ~121 overall ANALYSIS: Brandon Crawford has always been a wizard with the glove up the middle, but last season he really stepped things up with the bat for the NL West champion Giants. During the 2021 season, the veteran middle infielder was named to his third career... Read More

Huascar Ynoa (SP, ATL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 245 CURRENT ADP: ~317 overall ANALYSIS: Huascar Ynoa pitched last year to a 4.05 ERA with a 4.30 xERA and a 3.40 xFIP, with a 27 percent strikeout rate, seven percent walk rate and a 1.11 WHIP. Ynoa has absolutely filthy stuff but his season was cut short when he... Read More

Joe Ryan (SP, MIN) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 180 CURRENT ADP: ~212 overall ANALYSIS: Ryan was part of the trade that saw Nelson Cruz head to the Rays and Ryan had yet to make his MLB debut prior to the trade. He only made five starts for the Twins (26.2 IP), but impressed with a 4.05 ERA, 0.79... Read More

Seth Beer (DH, ARI) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 425 CURRENT ADP: ~518 overall ANALYSIS: The universal DH will likely give Beer a route to regular playing time and he's certainly making a case for himself in Spring. Through 11 games, Beer has a .474/.565/.842 line with one homer and four doubles. In his first year as a pro,... Read More

Keston Hiura (1B, MIL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 375 CURRENT ADP: ~435 overall ANALYSIS: The massive struggles of Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Keston Hiura have been well documented. After bursting onto the scene in 2019 with 19 home runs, 49 RBI, and a .303/.368/.570 slash in just 348 plate appearances, Hiura has been absolutely putrid. In 2019, Hiura... Read More

Andrew Benintendi (OF, KCR) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~165 pick CURRENT ADP: ~184 overall ANALYSIS: Kansas City Royals outfielder Andrew Benintendi didn't amaze anyone with his numbers last season but contributed a little bit in each category, hitting .276 with 17 HRs, 8 SBs, 63 runs, and 73 RBI over 134 games. His 8.9% barrel rate (55th percentile) and 34.5% flyball... Read More

Avisail Garcia (OF, MIA) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~140 pick CURRENT ADP: ~166 overall ANALYSIS: Avisail Garcia was rewarded with a four-year, $53 million contract with the Miami Marlins after posting the best year of his career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021. Overall, he slashed .262/.330/.490 with 29 homers, eight steals, 86 RBI, and 68 runs scored over 135... Read More

Jonathan India (2B, CIN) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~75 pick CURRENT ADP: ~87 overall ANALYSIS: NL Rookie of the Year showed why he was the fifth overall pick back in 2018. India hit .269 with an exceptional .376 OBP to go with 21 HR and 12 SB last season. While those numbers are great for a rookie, India has... Read More

Bobby Dalbec (1B, BOS) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~200 pick CURRENT ADP: ~221 overall ANALYSIS: Bobby Dalbec will get every opportunity to be the Boston Red Sox starting first baseman in 2022 after his strong finish last season. Dalbec might be just holding the spot warm for elite prospect Triston Casas, who hit .284 with 13 homers in 77 Double-A... Read More

Dinelson Lamet (P, SDP) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~320 pick CURRENT ADP: ~350 overall ANALYSIS: Dinelson Lamet is a wildcard for the San Diego Padres and fantasy managers. He was one of the best pitchers in the league in 2020 when he dominated batters to the tune of 2.09 ERA with a 2.48 FIP. Lamet produced a 12.13 K/9... Read More

Nick Madrigal (2B, CHC) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~285 pick CURRENT ADP: ~309 overall ANALYSIS: The Chicago Cubs are in the process of rebuilding, and they acquired a big part of their plans with the acquisition of rookie second baseman Nick Madrigal from the Chicago White Sox last summer. Preceding that trade, Madrigal injured his hamstring and required surgery... Read More

Joe Ryan (SP, MIN) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~190 pick CURRENT ADP: ~217 overall ANALYSIS: Starting pitcher Joe Ryan made his Major League debut in September for the Twins after coming up as a pre-2020 top-100 prospect for the Rays according to Baseball America. His first four starts were solid but he ended on a sour note, allowing six runs to... Read More

Cal Quantrill (SP, CLE) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~240 pick CURRENT ADP: ~264 overall ANALYSIS: Quantrill is a former first-round pick of the Padres back in 2016 at age 21. He moved quickly through low-A ball but stalled out in Triple-A and didn't have the type of minor league success that you'd expect from a top prospect. In 2019,... Read More

Adolis Garcia (OF, TEX) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~165 pick CURRENT ADP: ~185 overall ANALYSIS: Another Cardinals prospect that flew once he left St. Louis, García crushed 31 home runs and swiped 16 bags in 149 games for Texas last season (622 PAs). This came after he posted similar numbers at Triple-A for St. Louis in 2019 (32 HR,... Read More

Giancarlo Stanton (OF, NYY) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~85 pick CURRENT ADP: ~109 overall ANALYSIS: Big G is being written off in a major way but that nonsense is our gain. I know health memes fly around but Stanton just bashed 35 home runs with 97 RBI in just 139 games (579 PAs) last season. You not only exceed... Read More

Alex Wood (SP, SFG) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~195 pick CURRENT ADP: ~219 overall ANALYSIS: After failing to exceed 50 innings pitched in 2019 and 2020 combined thanks to a litany of back problems, the 2021 version of San Francisco Giants left-hander Alex Wood reminded us all of the pitcher who posted a sub-3.90 ERA in 6 straight seasons from 2013... Read More

John Means (SP, BAL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~200 pick CURRENT ADP: ~220 overall ANALYSIS: Few pitchers started the 2021 season as hot as John Means did. Through his first 71 innings, Means posted a 2.28 ERA with a 0.85 WHIP, and he did that while striking out nearly a batter per inning (69 strikeouts in those innings). After that, an... Read More

Yoan Moncada (3B, CWS) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~130 pick CURRENT ADP: ~149 overall ANALYSIS: The Chicago White Sox have it all on paper: multiple aces in their starting rotation, an elite bullpen headlined by multiple closer-caliber arms, and a lineup filled with premier hitters. After a breakout in 2019, Moncada was supposed to be one of those premier... Read More

Josh Bell (1B, WAS) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 105 CURRENT ADP: ~121 overall ANALYSIS: As many as 31 players are projected by Steamer to reach more HRs than Bell next year (32+). I said players, not first basemen. First basemen: six of them, all with ridiculous strikeout projections that come out at an average of 151+ per man, a... Read More

Patrick Sandoval (SP, LAA) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 190 CURRENT ADP: ~211 overall ANALYSIS: In 2021, Sandoval made some major adjustments to his pitch mix. He had thrown just 76 innings in the big leagues prior to last season, about half of those innings coming in 2019 with the other half coming in 2020. During those two stints,... Read More

Tony Gonsolin (SP, LAD) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 290 CURRENT ADP: ~309 overall ANALYSIS: Heading into last season many thought Gonsolin could be a breakout candidate. However, he ended up battling a shoulder injury and when he was on the mound, was mainly used as an opener. He ended up making just 13 starts and only pitched 55... Read More

Tyrone Taylor (OF, MIL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 400 CURRENT ADP: ~435 overall ANALYSIS: Taylor figures to be one of the biggest beneficiaries from the NL adding the designated hitter this season. He should be able to find his way into the starting lineup on a pretty much everyday basis. While Taylor plays a passable outfield, he is blocked by... Read More

Garrett Cooper (OF, MIA) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 400 CURRENT ADP: ~464 overall ANALYSIS: Cooper's 2021 season was cut short due to a sprained left elbow which required surgery. Before the injury, Cooper had hit nine home runs while hitting .284 over 71 games (250 plate appearances). Cooper also improved his walk rate to 12%, which is the... Read More

Jarren Duran (OF, BOS) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 350 CURRENT ADP: ~386 overall ANALYSIS: Duran torched Triple-A last year and wound up getting the call to make his MLB debut in mid-July. He went on to disappoint over 33 games in the majors, slashing .215/.241/.336 with two home runs. However, fantasy managers shouldn’t be discouraged by that small... Read More

Nathaniel Lowe (1B, TEX) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 190 CURRENT ADP: ~237 overall ANALYSIS: I promise this isn’t because Lowe went a perfect 8-for-8 on stolen-base attempts in 2021. It’s neat, but please don’t pencil those again! Anyhow, Lowe should be a beneficiary of Corey Seager and Marcus Semien hitting up top, with a chance at 100 RBI near the heart of... Read More

Willie Calhoun (OF, TEX) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 350 CURRENT ADP: ~383 overall ANALYSIS: Those of us who believe in Calhoun feel like we’re stuck in a Samuel Beckett play, but instead of waiting for Godot, we’re waiting for Willie to finally put everything together. In defense of the Calhoun believers, the raw hit skills are just so... Read More

Lucas Sims (RP, CIN) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 190 CURRENT ADP: ~244 overall ANALYSIS: Cincinnati doesn’t owe Sims the job, I know, but his stretch run last year should give him the upper hand. Despite logging zero saves following his August return from an elbow injury, Sims would post a 32/3 K/BB with seven earned runs in just... Read More

Ian Happ (OF, CHC) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 170 CURRENT ADP: ~190 overall ANALYSIS: Ian Happ finally got his opportunity once the Chicago Cubs traded most of their starting lineup prior to the trade deadline. He did not disappoint down the stretch. In the month of September, Happ produced a 167 wRC+ across 121 plate appearances with eight... Read More

Dylan Bundy (SP, MIN) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 375 CURRENT ADP: ~412 overall ANALYSIS: After Bundy was traded to the Angels, he flourished during the 2020 season. In 65.2 innings, he posted a 3.29 ERA and 2.95 FIP, posting career-bests in strikeout rate, walk rate, and home-run rate. Heading into 2021, the expectation was that he had finally... Read More

Frank Schwindel (1B, CHC) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 190 CURRENT ADP: ~226 overall ANALYSIS: During the month of September, Schwindel produced a 160 wRC+ and a 1.2 fWAR across 134 plate appearances. The plate appearances are just as noteworthy as the production. Schwindel, 29, had seen a total of 15 career plate appearances prior to 2021. However, he... Read More

Jesus Aguilar (1B, MIA) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 260 CURRENT ADP: ~285 overall ANALYSIS: Aguilar built off his success in the shortened season and enjoyed another strong campaign in his first full year with the Marlins. The slugger hit 23 doubles and 22 homers while posting a .788 OPS. He also recorded a .329 OBP and struck out... Read More

Jesus Sanchez (OF, MIA) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 205 CURRENT ADP: ~225 overall ANALYSIS: The Marlins' young slugger was absolutely tearing up Triple-A pitching when he received his second call-up to the big league level. Sanchez continued his success putting together a strong performance in the second half of the season. Over 40 games following the break, he hit... Read More