BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues
ROSTERED IN: 56% of Leagues
ANALYSIS: William Smith signed a one-year, $five million contract with the Kansas City Royals this offseason, where he began his career in 2012. The 34-year-old racked up 22 saves while posting a 4.40 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 55:17 K: BB across 57 1/3 innings for the Texas Rangers in 2023. Smith is competing with James McArthur to be Kansas City's primary closer.
Smith struggled mightily after the All-Star break, posting a 6.12 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 25 innings before eventually ceding the closer role to Jose Leclerc in August. McArthur, on the other hand, ended last season on a high note, owning an impressive 19:0 K: BB across 16 1/3 scoreless innings.
#Royals bullpen is the talk of today, so here's a story from yesterday on reliever Will Smith and what he brings to KC this time around: https://t.co/VOsU3k0yLn
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) February 17, 2024
Royals manager Matt Quatraro has yet to define any bullpen roles, but he could lean on Smith to close games due to his experience, while McArthur would be used in more high-leverage situations. Smith entered Saturday's game against the Twins in the ninth inning with the game tied 1-1. The veteran allowed four runs on two hits and two walks without striking out a batter over an inning in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Twins. Smith imploded in the ninth and was tagged with his first loss of the season.
Smith is widely available, as he's only rostered in 56% of Yahoo leagues. Despite Saturday's implosion, fantasy managers should consider adding Smith to 12-plus-team leagues, as he is poised to log double-digit saves for the third time in four seasons.
More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
Hector Neris - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds (Week 4)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 46% of Leagues ANALYSIS: With the removal of Adbert Alzolay from the closer role for the Cubs after a fourth blown save already in the early going of 2024, an opportunity was created for another reliever to take over the job. Hector Neris was called upon... Read More
Hunter Goodman - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 5)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 1% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Colorado Rockies have promoted first base/outfield prospect Hunter Goodman from Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday. Infielder/outfielder Michael Toglia was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. It's been a massive start to the 2024 season for the 24-year-old who has slugged seven... Read More
Garrett Cleavinger - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 3% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Garrett Cleavinger recorded his second save in four days for the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning to nail down the 7-5 victory over the Tigers. Cleavinger has been used as one of the team's closers ever since... Read More
Pete Crow-Armstrong - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds
BALLER MOVE: 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 7% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Chicago Cubs have recalled center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong from Triple-A Iowa due to the rib fracture Cody Bellinger suffered while slamming into the outfield wall on Tuesday. It's the second recall in the young career of Crow-Armstrong after he debuted with a hitless... Read More
Yariel Rodriguez - Starting Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds
BALLER MOVE: Add only in dynasty leagues ROSTERED IN: 22% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Toronto Blue Jays were thrilled to land Cuban right-hander Yariel Rodriguez to a five-year deal this offseason. They weren't the only club interested in his services after he showed immense potential while pitching in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. The 27-year-old posted a... Read More
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!