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Andy's FAAB fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and bidding guide for Week 8 (May 19 - May 25). His recommended FAAB dollars to spend on waiver wire adds.
With Week 7 in the books, it is time to look ahead to Week 8 and place our FAAB bids. This week, we will take a look at two of the top catching prospects who recently earned the call. In addition, a post-hype breakout infielder in Queens may have finally begun to tap into his potential. On the pitching side, we will look at Ryan Weathers, who made his season debut and looked quite strong against a potent Cubs lineup.
Our series about FAAB fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups continues as we head into Week 8 of the 2025 MLB season -- May 19 through May 25. This waiver wire article will recommend free agents to target and how much FAAB you should allocate for them.
Each week, I will break down at least one player from each position with ownership percentages under 40 percent in Yahoo! leagues who could improve your roster and provide you with an added boost in several categories. Let's get to it!
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters to Target
Alejandro Kirk, C, Toronto Blue Jays
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <20% if needing a No. 2 catcher, <9% for others
After posting a modest .253 AVG last season, Alejandro Kirk has enjoyed an impressive bounce-back season. Through his first 32 contests, the backstop has held a .293/.318/.398 line with three home runs. Under the hood, he sits in the 90th percentile in xBA and 92nd percentile in strikeout rate.
Over his last 10 games, Kirk has posted a stellar .425/.439/.600 line with one double and two long balls. He is the clear top backstop in Toronto and should provide a strong boost to your batting average.
Blue Jays Alejandro Kirk is batting an AL-best .339 with 2 strikes#LightsUpLetsGo pic.twitter.com/ye0E2mhi0l
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 15, 2025
Dalton Rushing, C, Los Angeles Dodgers
12% rostered
FAAB Bid: <6%
The Dodgers opted to promote their top prospect after designating Austin Barnes for assignment. While Rushing is expected to be the No. 2 catcher behind Will Smith, he should see plenty of opportunities in left field, with Teoscar Hernandez (groin) on the IL.
In 31 games at Triple-A this season, Rushing has posted an impressive .308/.424/.514 slash line with five doubles and five home runs. If he finds his footing early, he could carve out a role in left field while maintaining catcher eligibility. For now, he should only be added in deeper formats as his playing time is not clearly defined.
Moises Ballesteros, C, Chicago Cubs
7% rostered
FAAB Bid: <7%
The Cubs also decided to promote their top catching prospect, Moises Ballesteros. However, unlike Rushing, Ballesteros could have close to an everyday role as a designated hitter. With Ian Happ (oblique) hitting the injured list, the Cubs have shifted Seiya Suzuki to the outfield, which has opened the DH spot.
While the Cubs are still likely to give Carson Kelly opportunities at DH when he is not catching, Ballesteros could carve out close to a full-time role with Happ sidelined. At Triple-A this season, the young backstop posted a stellar .368/.420/.522 slash line.
Other C to consider: Drake Baldwin ATL, Dillon Dingler DET
Gavin Sheets, 1B/OF, San Diego Padres
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <15% in daily lineup leagues, <11% in others
Gavin Sheets has been on my collum several times this season but remains quite under-rostered. Through his first 39 games of the season, Sheets has continued to deliver, posting a .290/.341/.468 slash line with five home runs. Under the hood, he has generated a 53.9% hard-hit rate and a 44.9% LA sweet-spot rate, which are both well above the average marks.
Even though he is in a strict platoon, he continues to produce.
Ryan Mountcastle, 1B, Baltimore Orioles
16% rostered
FAAB Bid: <20%
Ryan Mountcastle was one of my favorite late-round targets, but he has gotten off to a slow start. Through his first 31 games, Mountcastle held a .200/.241/.310 line and was likely dropped in several leagues. However, Mountcastle has completely flipped the script and is showing his upside.
Over his last nine, he has posted a strong .324/.350/.432 line with four doubles and a 6:2 K:BB. His elite 50.2% hard-hit rate and 12.4% barrel rate suggest he should continue to find his power swing. If available, he is a must-add this weekend.
Other 1B to consider: Jared Triolo PIT, Andrew Vaughn CWS
Ernie Clement, 2B/3B/SS, Toronto Blue Jays
5% rostered
FAAB Bid: <7% in points leagues, <2% in standard leagues
Ernie Clement has been one of the most productive hitters over the past week. Over his last 10 contests, the infielder has posted a .412/.417/.618 line with four doubles, a home run, and a stolen base. During this stretch, he has only struck out seven times.
Overall, Clement has posted a strong 15.7% K rate, which raises his value in points leagues. While he does not carry much power upside, if you are looking to boost your batting average or look for a replacement infielder in a points league, Clement fits the bill.
Brooks Lee, 2B/3B/SS, Minnesota Twins
5% rostered
FAAB Bid: <8%
The former eighth overall pick made his MLB debut last season but struggled as he posted a modest .221/.265/.320 line. However, during his second taste of the majors, the Cal Poly product has begun to take the next step. Through his first 28 games of the 2025 season, Lee has held a .260/.311/.427 line with four long balls.
Lee has begun to heat up at the plate and is being rewarded. Over his last seven, Lee has posted a .311 AVG with one double and two home runs. During this week, the Twins have begun to deploy Lee as their cleanup hitter against right-handed pitching.
Brooks Lee over his last 6 games:
.320 AVG
2 HR
5 RBI
5 Runspic.twitter.com/BTztgphwaG— Kirk Snyder (@dynastyinfo411) May 14, 2025
Other 2Bs to consider: Connor Norby, Brett Baty NYM
Brett Baty, 2B/3B, New York Mets
8% rostered
FAAB Bid: <15%
Brett Baty earned a spot on the Opening Day roster but posted a poor.192 AVG over his first 18 games and was eventually optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. However, Baty was recently recalled and has begun to find his swing. Through his last six games, Baty has posted a .400 AVG and has gone deep four times.
Under the hood, he boasts a .528 xSLG with a 15.7% barrel rate, which suggests his power production could continue to remain stable during the summer. While he will sit against southpaws, given the power potential he has shown, he is a must-add if you need an infielder with power. In addition, he carries both second and third base eligibility.
Addison Barger, 3B/OF, Toronto Blue Jays
3% rostered
FAAB Bid: <8%
Addison Barger's .213/.273/.361 line does not tell the full story. Barger has had a difficult start to the season, but his metrics suggest he should be poised for a massive bounce-back. His recent play this week suggests his positive regression has begun to kick in.
Over his last seven, Barger has posted a .320/.370/.560 slash line with three doubles and a home run. The 25-year-old has generated an elite .281 xBA, 12.5% barrel rate, and a 52.1% hard-hit rate. He is an excellent target in deeper leagues, as another strong week will raise FAAB cost substantially.
Other 3B to consider: Brooks Lee MIN
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates
7% rostered
FAAB Bid: <9% if needing speed, <3% for others
Isiah Kiner-Falefa missed time with a hamstring injury but has picked up right where he left off. In his first three games since returning from the injured list, Kiner-Falefa has posted two multi-hit games, scored two runs, hit a home run, and swiped a bag.
Prior to his injury, Kiner-Falefa held a solid .280/.333/.330 line with 11 runs and six stolen bases. If you are falling behind in speed, target Kiner-Falefa, as he should also provide a boost to your batting average.
Other SS to consider: Brooks Lee MIN, Ernie Clement TOR, J.P. Crawford SEA
Trevor Larnach, OF, Minnesota Twins
9% rostered
FAAB Bid: <15% if needing an outfielder, <9% for others
The Minnesota Twins have enjoyed an incredible surge and have begun to break out of their early-season slump. Trevor Larnach has played a significant role in their recent win streak. Since May 2, Larnach has posted a .304/.333/.565 slash line with three doubles, three home runs, and nine RBI.
His .265 xBA and .336 xwOBA suggest he should remain a solid contributor in five-outfielder leagues. Now batting typically in the two-hole in the starting nine, Larnach is an excellent option if you need an outfielder.
Daulton Varsho, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
8% rostered
FAAB Bid: <20% if needing an outfielder with power, <10% for others
Daulton Varsho missed nearly the first month of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery. Through his first 11 games, Varsho has flashed high power upside, posting a .892 OPS with five long balls.
While he carries a modest .225 AVG, Varsho carries 25+ HR upside, which is hard to find on the waiver wire.
Other OFs to consider: Jo Adell LAA (category leagues), Addison Barger TOR, Gavin Sheets SDP
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers to Target
Will Warren, SP, New York Yankees
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <15%
After posting a 5.65 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP during his first 28 2/3 innings this season, Will Warren has begun to find his footing at the major league level. Over his last two starts, the right-hander has tossed 12 1/3 innings to the tune of a 2.19 ERA and a stellar 0.81 WHIP.
During this stint, Warren has struck out 16 batters and served up just two walks. While Warren comes with some risk given his early-season struggles, he is worth targeting simply due to his strikeout potential alone.
Logan Henderson, SP, Milwaukee Brewers
18% rostered
FAAB Bid: <18%
Logan Henderson made his MLB debut on April 20 against the Athletics and looked dominant, logging six innings of one-run ball. In this start, he struck out nine. However, he was sent back to Triple-A to continue his development.
The Brewers gave Henderson another call this past week, and the 23-year-old right-hander shined again, tossing five innings of two-run ball with seven punchouts against the Cleveland Guardians. The Brewers have recently confirmed that Henderson will stay in the rotation with Jose Quintana (shoulder) hitting the 15-day IL.
If available, he is a must-add this weekend.
Ryan Weathers, SP, Miami Marlins
13% rostered
FAAB Bid: <30%
The 25-year-old left-hander made his season debut on Wednesday evening against the high-powered Cubs and dominated. Weathers allowed just two hits, one walk, and one run across five innings. He struck out five.
Weathers missed the opening month of the season due to a forearm injury. Last season, Weathers flashed solid upside, holding a 3.63 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP across 86 2/3 innings of work. While wins may be hard to find in Miami, Weathers flashed elite control and strikeout upside against one of the sport's top lineups.
BUY RYAN WEATHERS!
He looked every bit as good as he did this Spring. Still just 18% rostered on Yahoo! https://t.co/0Mt4iQAY6w
— "Thunder Dan" Palyo (@ThunderDanDFS) May 15, 2025
Zebby Matthews, SP, Minnesota Twins
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <25%
Zebby Matthews was on the verge of a promotion for several weeks and finally got the call to Minnesota. Earlier this week, the Twins optioned struggling starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson to St. Paul, which opens the door for Matthews to find a permanent role in the big leagues.
While the right-hander struggled during his first taste of the majors last season, Matthews has shown significant improvement at Triple-A this season, posting a 1.93 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP across 32 2/3 innings. He has struck out 38 batters and served up just nine walks.
Other SPs to consider: Clayton Kershaw LAD
Jordan Romano, RP, Philadelphia Phillies
20% rostered
FAAB Bid: <15% if needing saves
The 32-year-old opened the season as the favorite for saves in Philadelphia but was eventually replaced by Jose Alvarado. In his first nine 1/3 innings, Romano stumbled, allowing 14 runs, 15 hits, and three home runs. However, the former Blue Jays closer has begun to turn the corner and is re-emerging as the favorite for saves in Philadelphia.
Over his last six innings, Romano allowed just three hits (no runs or walks), struck out eight, and tallied three saves. While Alvarado should remain in the mix, Romano is a must-add in all standard formats as he should see at least 15+ save opportunities over the remainder of the season.
Other RP to consider for saves: Shelby Miller ARI, Jesus Tinoco MIA
Fantasy Baseball Prospects to Monitor
Bubba Chandler, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <15%
With Jordan Lawlar and Cade Horton getting the call, Bubba Chandler reclaims the prospect to watch section. In his most recent outing, Chandler looked MLB-ready as he tossed five shutout innings against Triple-A Louisville. He struck out a season-high eight batters.
Through 33 innings at Triple-A, Chandler has posted a near-perfect 1.91 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP. He will carry high-end SP3 upside when he gets the call to the big leagues.
Other prospects to monitor: Roman Anthony BOS
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