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Kipp highlights five injured fantasy baseball players worth stashing in redraft leagues, as of May 23, 2025 (Week 9). His waiver wire pickups for IL players.
We've got another edition of the Injured Players to Stash in Fantasy Baseball series for Week 9 as we continue the 2025 season. Today's article examines injured players, including Tanner Houck, Matt Wallner, and Luke Raley, among others.
With the 2025 fantasy baseball season well underway, there are several injured players out there who have low roster percentages and may be available on your league's waiver wires. These players can provide significant value to fantasy managers, especially if they have an IL spot available on their roster.
This article will be featured weekly with updated players for fantasy managers to consider picking up and stashing off the waiver wire. Without further ado, let's look at what Week 9 of the fantasy baseball season has to offer.
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Tanner Houck, SP, Boston Red Sox
Rostered: 27% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Early June
2025 Stats: 8.04 ERA/32K/17 BB/43 2/3 IP
Look, I will not sit here and pretend that Tanner Houck provided fantasy managers any type of value during his nine starts, because he absolutely did not. I would know, as I had him rostered in my main league. That being said, he has shown that he is capable of being a more than serviceable starter in this league.
In 2024, Houck had a fantastic season, posting a 3.12 ERA with 154 strikeouts across 178 2/3 innings pitched. He also averaged nearly six innings per start last season. While 2025 has not gotten off to the start we would have hoped, perhaps his trip to the injury list will get him back on track.
Houck could be a solid add in deeper mixed leagues where pitching is at a premium. Managers who have the option to pick him up off the wire and sit him for a couple of starts could be best served to make the addition here. If he returns to any type of form that is close to what 2024 was, he could return immense value.
Shane Bieber, SP, Cleveland Guardians
Rostered: 25% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Early July
2023 Stats: 3.80 ERA/107 K/10 BB/128 IP
I know Shane Bieber has been in this article the previous two weeks, but he has to continue to remain a staple here as his roster share continues to sit at 25%. Bieber is probably the best player (not just pitcher) available on the wire in many leagues, so we must continue to talk about him until his roster share grows outside of the parameters for this article.
Bieber threw another live batting practice session in Arizona over the weekend, and by all accounts, it went well. It is possible that he may throw another live session within the next week. However, he is getting very close to a rehab assignment. Once the rehab assignment is announced, his roster share should skyrocket.
If you have an IL spot or the depth to add an injured piece, this is precisely the type of guy you can afford to hold onto for a month while you await his return, due to the rewards you will reap down the stretch in the fantasy baseball season.
Bieber is a former Cy Young winner who is only 30 years old and has a lot to prove. This offseason, he signed a team-friendly deal that would allow him to rehab with the Guardians' staff and build himself back up so he can snag a bigger deal on the free agent market. Simply put, he will be motivated.
Matt Wallner, OF, Minnesota Twins
Rostered: 10% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Late May
2025 Stats: .263/.373/.474/1 HR/3 RBI/9 BB
Matt Wallner is currently on the IL with a hamstring injury but is getting ready to start a rehab assignment. He will likely have a game or two under his belt by the time this article is published.
Wallner will not break the bank in terms of sheer power, but he does provide a bit of pop, as noted by his 13 home runs across just 261 plate appearances in 2024. Where he does thrive is getting on base. In 2024, Wallner posted a very respectable .372 OBP as he managed to walk 24 times across those 261 plate appearances.
He began 2025 the same way before getting injured, as noted by his nine walks across just 67 plate appearances. Wallner will also provide value when platooned, as he posted a .953 OPS against right-handed pitching last season. This is a good type of platoon split to have, as hitters will inevitably face more right-handed pitching throughout a season.
Look to add Wallner in leagues that emphasize OBP and/or if you have an outfielder you would like to platoon him with.
Matt Wallner Starting Rehab Assignment on Wednesday https://t.co/iIkoheA1ep
— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) May 21, 2025
David Fry, C/1B/OF, Cleveland Guardians
Rostered: 12% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Late May
2024 Stats: .263/.356/.448/14 HRs/51 RBI/42 BB
This is David Fry's second mention in this series as he is moving his rehab assignment from Arizona to Double-A. Fry injured his elbow at some point during last season and continued to stay in the Guardians' lineup as the designated hitter while providing a ton of value to fantasy managers.
This elbow injury caused him to undergo Tommy John surgery this offseason, and it will once again limit him to DH duties in 2025. However, he is eligible for multiple positions in Yahoo! leagues, including catcher.
He derives an immense amount of value out of being catcher eligible, which is why he is definitely worth the addition in the coming weeks. He is nearing action in Arizona and should be able to return by the end of May or early June.
In 2024, Fry managed to hit well against left-handed pitching, as noted by his .996 OPS and nine home runs. He is a must-add, in my opinion, and I'll be looking to scoop him up in the near future.
Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Seattle Mariners
Rostered: 4% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Mid-June
2025 Stats: .206/.345/.324/2 HRs/8 RBI/2 SBs
Luke Raley is available in 96% of Yahoo leagues, and this might be just a tick too high. Raley can provide fantasy managers with pop, as noted by his 22 home runs in 2024. He also managed to drive in 58 runs and provided a bit of speed with his 11 stolen bases.
He started slow this season by hitting just two home runs across 84 plate appearances and posting a .669 OPS, but he can have a solid second half once he returns from the IL.
Raley is especially potent against right-handed pitchers as he posted an OPS north of .830 in each of the previous two seasons. He plays first base and outfield in Yahoo, so he can be deployed in a variety of ways. Look to add him in the coming weeks if you need added depth in the infield or outfield.
Luke Raley is a massive runaway steamroller with no brakes and a cement brick on the gas pedal pic.twitter.com/1s8Nsy8nuL
— britt (@brittanyanne08_) June 22, 2024
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