Focusing on fantasy baseball waiver wire targets available in 50% or under of most leagues. Here are five waiver wire targets to buy for Fantasy Week 12.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets
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Many may know Boston Red Sox infielder Trevor Story, but some might not be aware that he could be returning to MLB in just a few weeks. That’s not surprising since off-season reports pegged Story as potentially missing the entire 2023 season after undergoing an internal bracing procedure on his right throwing elbow.
This surgery is actually less severe than the traditional Tommy John, which Bryce Harper underwent in the off-season. Story’s surgery focuses on the same ligament. And don’t look now, but Trevor Story may be about to beat the prognosticated return dates, just as Harper did.
Already progressed in a throwing program to 120 feet, Story believes he can return to playing shortstop by August. DH is a possibility in July.
Trevor Story is now taking batting practice.
pic.twitter.com/q9HlaE72Ui— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) June 14, 2023
Struggles in First Season With New Team
While Story disappointed in his 2022 debut with the Red Sox, batting a meager .238, he still managed a near .200 ISO – displaying that his power asset was still working. It’s also entirely possible he could’ve been troubled by whatever was going on in his throwing arm, which he was using from his new position of second base. Playing injured and off position from his customary shortstop could also have thrown off Story’s game.
One need only look to the case study of Philadelphia Phillies’ Trea Turner for an example of a player who signed a big-money contract with a new team and struggled in his initial efforts. Story is only six months older than Turner and found similar travails in Boston, which is, like Philly, a tough market for stars to struggle.
Expectations Upon Return
Regardless, Story is a guy who hit a home run 505 feet, which is tied for the longest in the Statcast era. Definitely, a skill to bet on. Story will also be returning to a vastly different league, which will play up one of his best skills: base stealing.
Throughout his career, Story has been a valuable fantasy asset: particularly for his proficiency and efficiency in swiping bags. In total, he has 113 stolen bases, while being caught 30 times. Last year when he struggled for the Red Sox, he stole 13 in less than 400 plate appearances and wasn’t caught a single time.
Between the new stolen base fervor sweeping the league and an end to defensive shifts, Trevor Story contains the overall skills package for a fantasy stud – if he can put it together healthwise.
Story is still available in over 60% of Yahoo leagues, which could swiftly change once the news of him starting a minor league rehab assignment hits. And that news could come imminently, so steal Story – before it’s too late.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Breakout #1
As smart teams have recently proven to do, the Los Angeles Dodgers snuck a fast one and jumped pitching prospect Emmet Sheehan straight from AA into a start against the San Francisco Giants – skipping AAA entirely.
How were the results? Very promising and just modest enough to perhaps not entirely break the bank for those in weekly FAAB leagues.
The 23-year-old semi-unheralded prospect blanked the Giants for six innings in his rookie debut. The modest part that might keep some bids in check was the three strikeouts.
That number is a departure from the video game stats he was putting up at AA, where he led all the minor leaguers with a 41% strikeout percentage. The K is Sheehan’s calling card, and expect him to put up some immodest results in the near future with his four-pitch mix.
Sheehan dazzled in the Arizona Fall League as the Dodgers 22nd ranked prospect but had mostly been off prospect radars.
FanGraphs rates his fastball and changeup as plus pitches but only grades Sheehan as 40+ overall, which isn’t always good for a minor leaguer’s Major League potential.
An inflated walk rate could be what had scouts pessimistic about the developing pitcher, as he was carrying a nearly 4 BB/9 in AA. Control is definitely something to monitor going forward.
Overall, Sheehan looks like a great under-the-radar grab for those in need of strikeouts and wins, as he’s likely to get a few more looks for a powerful Dodgers team that needs quality pitching.
Breakout #2
For those who have Injured List spots available, this is a no-brainer. For anyone else, Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal still warrants a look as a replacement for any roster’s underperforming starting pitcher.
Returning from flexor tendon surgery, Skubal has been dominant during his minor league rehab assignment, where he has yet to allow a run or a walk over eight innings. He’s also struck out 12 between sessions at High-A and AAA.
Skubal hasn’t pitched in the Majors since August 2022. But during his 299 innings in the Majors, the lefty has flashed huge upside potential, owning a career rate of 9.57 K per nine.
Mixing five pitches, Skubal has shown himself to be a strikeout artist with an above-average 11.7% swinging strike rate.
Skubal will return to an arguably improved Detroit Tigers team since he last pitched for them. He’s scheduled to get stretched out to five innings on June 21 for AAA, so that Tigers return should happen in fantasy week 13.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Sleeper #1
For the many who missed out on the Elly De La Cruz sweepstakes, there is hope. With toolsy skills that could brand him as “Elly-lite,” New York Mets‘ number five prospect Ronny Mauricio is on the come.
Ironically, Elly and the Cincinnati Reds have been trending up, touting a roster of exciting young prospects – while a heavily favored and well-financed Mets team has floundered by engaging a strategy of playing veterans over prospects.
That may very soon change for the Mets as Mauricio is concerned. Rumors started flying weeks ago that Mauricio might get the call, with speculation coming from The Athletic publication. Instead, Mauricio hung around the minors long enough to get into a scary ankle injury.
The Mets recently cleared him with an MRI, and Mauricio returned to AAA action with a two-homerun game while debuting in left field, where he has the most potential to get major league playing time.
Whether it’s Roto, Points, or Head-To-Head, power/speed combinations play, regardless of fantasy format. And Mauricio blends both power and speed with a vastly improved strikeout rate that could also make him a batting-average threat.
In AAA this year, he’s slashed .322 with stellar companion rates of a .543 slugging and .221 ISO, indicating the potent power in his bat. He’s also got 11 steals and a 16% K percentage, which is quite disciplined for a power hitter.
By giving him time in left field, the Mets are telegraphing their intentions of bringing Mauricio up soon, where he would then qualify at shortstop and outfield. He may even get some run at second base, so positional versatility will also increase the sexy.
If roster allocation allows, Mauricio makes one of the hottest Week 12 stashes and could be a difference-maker in five fantasy categories.
Sleeper #2
Toronto Blue Jays‘ Nate Pearson used to be a starting pitcher, but a series of injuries led him to try his hand at short stints in the bullpen. It’s in this role that Pearson has thrived over 23 innings and accumulated four Wins.
23 innings approximates about four starts for a pitcher, so that would be four out of four if Pearson were still a starter. This is why middle relievers with elite skills can be fantasy game-changers. Pearson also has a Hold for those who play in leagues that value that stat.
Pearson utilizes a filthy moving fastball that averages 98 mph and two eye-popping off-speed options in a slider that gets 37.5% Whiffs and a curve that carves it up at 54.5%. This has resulted in his minuscule 1.96 ERA.
The phrase “bet on skills rather than role” certainly applies to Nate Pearson. He possesses the right pedigree and athleticism to return to a starting position if the Blue Jays ever see the need to stretch him out. And of course, should anything happen to Jordan Romano, Pearson could easily step into the closer’s role and start piling up Saves for an excellent Blue Jays team.
Pearson’s available practically everywhere, so snag him for boosts in strikeout ratios and ERA – plus the plentiful “vulture wins” he could accumulate in the middle innings.
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Main photo credits:
Dave Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
Trevor Story, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Emmet Sheehan, Tarik Skubal, Elly De La Cruz, Ronny Mauricio, Nate Pearson, Jordan Romano
