Waiver Wire Cheat Code: Buy Kwan, Hold Carrigg, Add House
Fantasy Baseball Weekly: Buy, Sell, Hold & Free Agent Adds for the Stretch Run
TL;DR: We’re in the final quarter of the season — still plenty of time to climb the standings! Trade deadlines have passed in many leagues, so this week focuses heavily on free agent pickups (players not owned in most leagues). Below are the top players to buy (add/trade for), sell (trade away), hold (keep), plus category-specific free agents for hitting and pitching.
Why This Week Matters
- Almost 25% of the season remains — a hot streak can still change your playoff picture.
- Trade deadlines are near or past — most roster moves will come from the waiver wire (free agency).
- Category needs vary — we break down adds by batting average, home runs, steals, runs/RBI, strikeouts, wins, ERA, and WHIP.
Buy: Target These Players Now
"Buy" means: Add them from free agency or trade for them — they’re undervalued and trending up.
Steven Kwan, OF, Guardians (CLE)
- The "Contact King" is back. He hits the ball a lot and rarely strikes out.
- Key stats since July 1:
- Average exit velocity: 85+ mph (hitting the ball harder)
- Fewer fly balls (good — he’s not a power hitter)
- BABIP .414 (Batting Average on Balls In Play — measures luck on balls hit in play; very high, so some regression likely)
- xBA .325 (Expected Batting Average — Statcast’s estimate based on quality of contact; still elite)
- Actual average: .377
- Why buy? Elite batting average source, walks a ton, runs scored. Zero power, but if you need average/OBP, he’s a stud.
Zac Veen, OF, Rockies (COL)
- The "Lottery Ticket" — high risk, high reward.
- Triple-A this year: 24 HR, 18 SB in 100 games (power + speed combo).
- Playing in Coors Field (hitter-friendly park) boosts his value.
- Concern: High swing-and-miss rate. If he keeps his Triple-A whiff rate (~12%), he’ll produce. If not, he’ll struggle.
- Best for: Teams needing a short-term hot streak in HR/SB. Not a long-term hold yet.
Brady House, 3B, Nationals (WAS)
- Young (23), toolsy, hitting in a good lineup.
- Since late July call-up:
- 14.3% Barrel Rate (percent of batted balls hit with ideal exit velocity/launch angle — elite)
- 57.1% Hard-Hit Rate (balls hit 95+ mph)
- Slash: .270/.324/.413
- xBA .298, xSLG .507 (expected stats suggest he’s been unlucky and should be better)
- Strikeouts are high, but contact quality is loud.
- Dynasty/keeper leagues: Dream on the upside. Redraft: Ride the hot streak.
Sell: Move On While You Can
"Sell" means: Trade them now before value drops further. Don’t drop — get something back.
Bryan Reynolds, OF, Pirates (PIT)
- Post-All-Star Break slump:
- Chasing more pitches out of zone
- Swinging less in zone
- SwStr% 14% (was 11.5% pre-break) — swinging strike rate up = more whiffs
- Recent games look better — give one more week. If slump continues, sell high on name value.
Teoscar Hernández, OF, Dodgers (LAD)
- Wearing down in 2nd half:
- Barrel rate last 30 days: 4.5% (was 10.3% before) — huge drop in quality contact
- Hitting lower in lineup → fewer RBI/run chances
- Bat speed, exit velo, launch angle look normal — could bounce back
- Verdict: Only hold in deep leagues (14+ teams). Otherwise, sell for a steadier producer.
Framber Valdez, SP, Tigers (DET)
- Since July 1: High-4.00s ERA
- K% 17.1%, BB% 9.4% — both "fifth starter" territory (below average)
- Not missing bats; stuff hasn’t "vanished" but not sharp
- No clear fix in sight — this is likely his rest-of-season level. Sell to a believer.
Hold: Keep for Now, Don’t Panic
"Hold" means: Don’t drop, don’t trade yet. They have track record or underlying skills suggesting rebound.
William Contreras, C, Brewers (MIL)
- Awful month (.172 AVG, .323 SLG), but…
- 11% Barrel Rate since break — still hitting ball hard
- BABIP low — unlucky on balls in play
- Bat speed & sprint speed normal
- Playing every day at catcher — rare positional value
- Fatigue possible (like Cal Raleigh last year), but at C, you hold. Replacement options are worse.
Cole Carrigg, OF, Rockies (COL)
- Fun skill set: Speed, switch-hitter, low K%, sneaky bat speed.
- Current .350 BABIP will drop → average will dip.
- But even "less lucky" version = 5-category contributor (AVG, R, HR, RBI, SB).
- Steals are real — hold for speed help.
Jacob Lopez, SP, Athletics (ATH)
- Legit breakout last 7 starts:
- Stuff+ 103 (100 = league avg; up from 93) — stuff improved
- ERA 3.13, K% 28.1%, BB% 8.5% — elite ratios
- BABIP low, strand rate high (some luck), but process is better
- Removed one bad start vs NYY from sample
- Park (Oakland) is pitcher-friendly. Hold — he’s pitching like a top-40 SP right now.
Hitter Free Agent Adds (Most <20% Rostered on Yahoo)
Category-specific: Target based on your team’s specific needs.
Batting Average
| Player | Team | Pos | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff McNeil | ATH | 1B/2B | Career .290+ hitter, low K%, always hits for average |
| Nathaniel Lowe | CLE | 1B | Solid contact, good lineup spot, .270+ floor |
| Luis Rengifo | SD | 3B/OF | Hot streak — ride while it lasts, decent filler |
| Andruw Monasterio | BOS | 2B/SS | Working for now — skeptical long-term, but use it |
Home Runs
| Player | Team | Pos | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Báez | STL | OF | Not in your league yet (prospect), but tools = future stud. High K%, peaks/valleys. Monitor for call-up. |
| Abimelec Ortiz | WAS | 1B | Platoon bat (vs RHP) — power + contact blend. Teammate Andrés Chaparro (vs LHP) also good. Playing time unclear. |
| Taylor Trammell | HOU | OF | Deep leagues only. Selling out for power — occasional big games. |
Steals
| Player | Team | Pos | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Walls | TB | SS | Pure speed specialist, plays regularly |
| Cole Carrigg | COL | OF | See Hold section — speed + average + some pop |
| Garrett Mitchell | MIL | OF | Losing PT vs LHP, but steals when in lineup |
Runs / RBI
| Player | Team | Pos | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brady House | WAS | 3B | See Buy section — middle of lineup, counting stats coming |
| Braden Montgomery | CHW | OF | Mixed bag overall, but hitting ball harder lately + moved up lineup |
| Jung Hoo Lee | SF | OF | Cold streak won’t last. Elite contact skills → hits will fall → runs/RBI follow |
Pitcher Free Agent Adds (Multi-Category Help)
Check weekly bullpen column for relievers beyond "Bradgley Rodriguez is pretty good."
Strikeouts
| Player | Team | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Scott | NYM | SP | High K stuff, rookie with swing-and-miss arsenal |
| Jacob Lopez | ATH | SP | See Hold — 28% K-rate last 7 starts, stuff improved |
| Gage Jump | ATH | SP | How bad do you need Ks? High upside, but volatile/innings limit risk |
Wins
| Player | Team | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | Unlucky: 8 straight starts: 5+ IP, ≤3 ER in 7 of 8. Only 1 win. Regression coming — buy low. |
| Dustin May | MIL | SP | Recovered from blowups, back to quality innings. Good offense behind him. |
ERA
| Player | Team | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Scherzer | TOR | SP | Future HOFer — looking like himself post-injury. Track record > recent sample. |
| Hunter Dobbins | STL | SP | "Kitchen sink" approach (throws everything) → weak contact, good results. Great streamer (spot start). |
WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning)
| Player | Team | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Mahle | ATL | SP | Weird profile: 3 fastballs, none "fast," slider usage dropped. But it works — low WHIP. |
| Robert Gasser | MIL | SP | Control improved recently. Watch for step-forward candidate. |
| Bradgley Rodriguez | SD | RP/SP | Dual eligibility! Excellent ratios, often 2 IP → steals wins too. Best all-around add here. |
Important Points Callout
KEY TAKEAWAYS — READ BEFORE MAKING MOVES
- Trade deadlines ≠ season end. You can still win via waiver wire.
- BABIP & xBA are your friends. High BABIP = lucky (regression coming). xBA > actual AVG = unlucky (bounce back coming).
- Barrel Rate > Home Runs. Barrels predict future power better than past HRs.
- Catcher is a wasteland. Hold Contreras. Even struggling elite Cs beat replacement level.
- Coors Field (COL) inflates stats. Veen, Carrigg, Ortiz get a park boost — factor that in.
- Streaming pitchers = championship sauce. Dobbins, Gasser, Rodriguez are weekly difference-makers.
- Prospects (Báez) ≠ immediate help. Only add in deep/dynasty or if call-up imminent.
- Category scarcity matters. Need steals? Mitchell/Walls. Need Ks? Scott/Lopez. Target your holes.
Summary
| Action | Players | Why |
|---|---|---|
| BUY | Steven Kwan, Zac Veen, Brady House | Kwan = AVG god; Veen = lottery HR/SB; House = young power breakout |
| SELL | Bryan Reynolds, Teoscar Hernández, Framber Valdez | Reynolds slumping; Hernández barrel rate collapsed; Valdez = 5th starter stuff |
| HOLD | William Contreras, Cole Carrigg, Jacob Lopez | Contreras = C scarcity + bad luck; Carrigg = 5-cat floor; Lopez = legit stuff jump |
| ADD (AVG) | McNeil, Lowe, Rengifo, Monasterio | Contact hitters, low K%, hot streaks |
| ADD (HR) | Báez (stash), Ortiz, Trammell | Power upside, platoon/playing time questions |
| ADD (SB) | Walls, Carrigg, Mitchell | Pure speed, regular PT (mostly) |
| ADD (R/RBI) | House, Montgomery, Lee | Lineup promotion + counting stat upside |
| ADD (K) | Scott, Lopez, Jump | High whiff stuff, Lopez trending best |
| ADD (W) | Nola, May | Nola = unlucky; May = rebounded |
| ADD (ERA) | Scherzer, Dobbins | Scherzer = pedigree; Dobbins = stream king |
| ADD (WHIP) | Mahle, Gasser, Rodriguez | Rodriguez = best all-around (SP/RP, ratios, wins) |
FAQ
1. What is BABIP and why does it matter?
BABIP = Batting Average on Balls In Play. It measures how often a ball hit into the field of play falls for a hit. League average is ~.300. >.350 = lucky (will drop); <.270 = unlucky (will rise). Kwan’s .414 is unsustainable. Contreras’ low BABIP suggests better days ahead.
2. What does "xBA" mean?
xBA (Expected Batting Average) comes from Statcast. It uses exit velocity and launch angle to estimate what a player’s average should be based on contact quality — removing luck. If xBA > actual AVG, the player is hitting the ball well but getting unlucky.
3. Should I drop a struggling star for a hot free agent?
Almost never. Stars have track records; hot free agents often cool off. Trade the star if you can, or hold. Only drop if they’re injured long-term or truly washed (rare in-season).
4. What is "streaming" a pitcher?
Streaming = adding a pitcher for one start only (usually a favorable matchup), then dropping them. Dobbins, Gasser, and Rodriguez are great stream targets because they pitch well and have good matchups often.
5. How do I know which category I need?
Check your league standings page. Look at roto categories (AVG, HR, R, RBI, SB, W, SV, K, ERA, WHIP). Find the ones where you’re bottom 3-4 — those are your "needs." Target adds only for those categories.
Final Thought: The wire is where championships are won in August. Be proactive, target your categories, and don’t fall in love with names — fall in love with skills and opportunity. Good luck!