Five Injured Players to Stash in Fantasy Baseball - Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 17

Wade J. Smith (@wadejosephsmith) highlights five fantasy baseball players worth stashing in your IL spots in redraft leagues, as of July 12, 2024 (Week 17).

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to this week's edition of the Injured Players to Stash in Fantasy Baseball series! Looking ahead to Week 17, we'll highlight five injured players worth stashing in your redraft leagues. New to the series? Check out previous articles for even more options!

Plenty of productive players are nearing a return. Stashing them on your IL could pay off in the long run. Whether it's pitching, offense, or both, these guys can help.

Only those rostered in less than 60% of Yahoo leagues are eligible. The goal is to spotlight overlooked players. Now, let's get into it.

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Jeffrey Springs, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

Rostered: 26% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Mid-July

How? How is Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs (elbow) still so widely available? Since last week's article, his roster percentage did jump from 19% to 26%. But I fail to understand how someone with this much upside -- and whose return is so imminent -- is waivered in almost three-quarters of Yahoo leagues.

Seriously, Springs is ready to go. His speeds and pitch shapes look great. Over his last 17 1/3 rehab innings, he has a 3.12 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 21:1 K/BB. He'll almost certainly make a serious impact once he's back in the Rays rotation. Make sure he's on your squad.

Jeffrey Springs made another AAA rehab appearance today, working through 4.0 IP on 64 pitches

The results weren't the best today, but he continues to increase his pitch count, which is encouraging! pic.twitter.com/XIDyibmxKU

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) July 10, 2024

Tommy Edman, 2B/SS/OF, St. Louis Cardinals

Rostered: 25% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Post All-Star Break

Over the last few years, St. Louis Cardinals utility player Tommy Edman has been one of fantasy baseball's most reliable sources of contact and speed. However, a slow recovery from offseason wrist surgery has delayed his 2024 debut. It's been a tough loss for the Cardinals; he's one of their most reliable assets.

Source: Baseball Reference

Fortunately, we don't have to wait much longer for Edman's return. He just began a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield. If all goes well, he could come back shortly after the All-Star break. In the second half of last season, he played in 53 games and slashed .263/.312/.429 with 25 runs, 10 doubles, six homers, 18 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. If he can post similar numbers this year, he'd provide a ton of value. On top of that, his eligibility at multiple positions makes him a great plug-and-play option.

Tommy Edman's first hit of the 2024 season comes in Springfield: an RBI knock through the left side in his first rehab game. pic.twitter.com/uAVrJdR0nb

— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) July 10, 2024

Yimi Garcia, RP, Toronto Blue Jays

Rostered: 25% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Post All-Star Break

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Yimi Garcia is having a great season. Through 28 innings, he's got five saves, a 2.57 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and 37:7 K/BB. However, right elbow ulnar neuritis has sidelined him for almost a month. Luckily, he won't be out for much longer. Currently in the middle of a rehab assignment, he should be recalled soon. A slight neck injury pushed back his next rehab outing, but it's reportedly not a big concern.

Yimi García’s neck was still stiff today, so he won’t pitch in Triple-A.#BlueJays now hoping for tomorrow, which would potentially allow him to return for Sunday.

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) July 11, 2024

The best thing about Garcia is that he'll likely get save opportunities. Jordan Romano won't throw for five more weeks, at least. If the Blue Jays make Garcia their interim closer, he'd provide a ton of fantasy value. With how hard it can be to secure consistent saves, this opportunity is too good to ignore.

Eduardo Rodriguez, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Rostered: 31% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Early August

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez has yet to throw a pitch with his new team due to a strained shoulder he suffered in spring training. The 31-year-old lefty is coming off his best season in years. Through 152 2/3 innings with the Tigers, he posted a 3.30 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 143:48 K/BB, ultimately earning a lucrative deal with the D-backs.

According to reports, Rodriguez has been cleared to pitch and will throw a few bullpen sessions. If all goes well, he'll start a rehab assignment. Once he's back, he should be a reliable arm. With how hard it's been to come across good pitching, I'm surprised to see how low his roster percentage is. Between Rodriguez and Jeffrey Springs, I prefer Springs. But there's nothing wrong with adding them both.

D-backs pitchers Jordan Montgomery, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez and Drey Jameson will all throw bullpens tomorrow.

Torey Lovullo said Montgomery could "potentially" be ready for Arizona's road trip out of the All-Star break.

— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) July 11, 2024

Robbie Ray, SP, San Francisco Giants

Rostered: 26% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Post All-Star Break

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher and 2021 American League Cy Young winner Robbie Ray (elbow) has been out since his first start in the 2023 season. But he's finally back and throwing again. His stuff has looked great through 19 rehab innings. He's got 29 strikeouts and only three walks.

In 2021 and 2022, Ray was one of the game's best pitchers. Through 382 1/3 innings, he had a 3.27 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 460:114 K/BB. His stuff had always been there -- he'd just struggled with command. But he's been dominant over the last few years. Based on his rehab numbers, his command should be just as good as it was before, if not better.

Robbie Ray Final Line in San Jose:
- 3 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Ray settled down after a noisy first inning that saw back-to-back home runs, one by Top Prospect Druw Jones.

Ray threw 59 Pitches #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/AQzeiI4LZC

— George Lund (@Glundmedia) July 10, 2024

It's hard to believe someone only three years removed from a Cy Young Award is so widely available. There's plenty of upside here.

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