The MLB and Fantasy Baseball season are just days away! At this point, you probably have already completed your drafts (this article will still be useful even if you haven’t), but that doesn’t mean there’s not better players available on your wire. News breaks and changes the landscape of the value of players and we need to stay on top of that. We will cover a range of players, so this should be useful regardless if you play in an ultra-competitive league or in a more casual one. The percentage shown in the parenthesis next to each player is their roster percentage on that site. 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

Jordan Walker, 3B/OF, St. Louis Cardinals (39% - ESPN)

ESPN leagues are asleep at the wheel sometimes it seems like. 

He is on the team and he is going to play. He had a great Spring Training and has immense upside as he provides power and speed. On top of that, he is 3B eligible and that is one of the weakest/thinnest positions in fantasy baseball this year. 

Jonathan India, 2B, Cincinnati Reds (38% - ESPN)

India, as you can see in the image, has had himself a great Spring Training, including swiping FOUR bags. He is going to lead off for the Reds and plays in a top-2 hitters park. He could provide a lot of runs scored with a solid average and 15-15 for home runs and stolen bases. His roster percentage shouldn’t be anywhere near this low. 

Anthony Volpe, SS, New York Yankees (26% - ESPN)

Much like Walker, Volpe has also cracked the Opening Day roster (and presumably lineup) with his club. Volpe had a fantastic Spring Training, hitting .314 with three home runs and FIVE steals. He is another player who provides upside in multiple categories and steals are always harder to come by. 

Jurickson Profar, OF, Colorado Rockies (21% - Yahoo / 26% - ESPN)

Profar is the only player I found who is actually higher rostered on ESPN than on Yahoo (just an interesting tidbit). Profar is penciled in as the Rockies everyday left fielder and leadoff hitter. He provides a little pop and a little speed, but more importantly is the fact that he is leading off and calls Coors Field his home ballpark now. 

Ezequiel Tovar, SS, Colorado Rockies (19% - ESPN)

Tovar is projected to be the Rockies everyday shortstop and the rookie carries a lot of upside. He has some pop and some speed and getting to play half his games at Coors Field certainly doesn’t hurt. The 21-year-old has hit .286 with a pair of home runs in Spring Training. 

Jarred Kelenic, OF, Seattle Mariners (15% - ESPN)

Kelenic has been bad in the Majors, no getting around that, but he has flashed power and speed despite his batting average struggles. However, as you can see below, he had an amazing Spring Training and he was once a top-prospect. His power/speed upside is enough of a reason to take a chance on him and see how he starts the year. 

Garrett Mitchell, OF, Milwaukee Brewers (52% - Yahoo / 5% - ESPN)

He may not be available on Yahoo for you, but it’s worth checking and he is almost certerinaly available if you play on ESPN. Mitchell is probably my highest-rostered player this season. He has hit .300 with four home runs in Spring Training and he ranked in the 99-percentile for sprint speed last season while swiping 8 bags in 28 games. 

Ha-Seong Kim, 3B/SS, San Diego Padres (19% - Yahoo / 10% - ESPN)

Kim is a solid player who will provide double-digit home runs and steals. He is going to start at 2B for the Padres, which means that he will quickly have eligibility at 2B, 3B, and SS, which provides a lot of flexibility and value. 

Dominic Smith, 1B, Washington Nationals (1% - Yahoo / 1% - ESPN)

Smith has hit .264 with three dingers in Spring Training and is going to be the Nationals starting first baseman. It is easy to forget, but Smith slashed .299/.366/.571 with 21 home runs across 354 at-bats during the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the Mets. No need to roster right now, but keep an eye on him. 

Will Benson, OF, Cincinnati Reds (1% - Yahoo / 0% ESPN)

Benson officially made the Reds Opening Day roster with a strong Spring Training. I expect him to be a starter Opening Day and if he plays well, it will remain that way. He gets to play in a great hitting park and yet he is less rostered than Tim Tebow on ESPN. No need to roster right now, but keep an eye on him.

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Reid Detmers, SP, Los Angeles Angels (32% - ESPN)

Another ESPN roster percentage that has me a bit confused. Detmers had a solid 3.77 ERA last season across 25 starts and he has looked even better in Spring Training. If he is available on your wire… go and change that now. 

Michael Fulmer, RP, Chicago Cubs (26% - Yahoo / 3% - ESPN)

Fulmer appears to be the Cubs closer to begin the season and that makes him worth rostering as is. Saves are a pain to try and find on the wire. Do not wait until he starts getting saves to try and pick him up, go and do it now. 

Eduardo Rodriguez, SP, Detroit Tigers (20% - Yahoo / 10% - ESPN)

Rodriguez has looked great in Spring Training and appears ready to return to his former Red Sox form. He has been tabbed as the Opening Day starter for the Tigers and has a decent matchup on tap as he will take on the Rays.  

Jared Shuster, SP, Atlanta Braves (19% - Yahoo / 5% - ESPN)

Schuster has made the Braves starting rotation and is currently tabbed to start the third game of the season against the Nationals. The Braves have had some strong arms come out of the farm system (guys like Fried, Soroka, Strider, etc) and Shuster could be the next one. With a great first matchup on tap, pick him up now before it’s too late. 

Jimmy Herget, RP, Los Angeles Angels (17%  - Yahoo / 2% - ESPN)

Herget could be the Angels closer. He ended last year as the closer (picking up 9 saves) and has pitched very well in Spring Training with five innings, one run, and seven strikeouts. His competition, Carlos Estevez, has a 12.15 ERA through eight games in Spring Training. 

David Peterson, SP, New York Mets (14% - Yahoo / 7% - ESPN)

Peterson is officially in the Mets rotation and he earned it. He had a strong season last year and carried the momentum into a fantastic Spring Training. He is pitching for a team that is projected to win 100 games and he has strong strikeout rates. There is a lot to like here. On top of that, his first start of the season is going to be against the Marlins. 

Shintaro Fujinami, SP, Oakland A's (4% - Yahoo / 3% - ESPN)

Fujinami had a solid Spring Training and averaged over a strikeout per inning. He has some control issues and pitching for the A’s isn’t exactly ideal, but he has good stuff and pitches in a great home ballpark. He is slated to start the second game of the season and is worth keeping your eye on. 

As always, you can message in the discord if you are unsure who to roster or if you should drop any of your players for any of the players listed here today. Good luck this fantasy season and let’s all crush it!