MLB

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds: Week 9

John Stolnis  —  @johnstolnis May 30th, 2016
This week's waiver wire adds features a surging CC Sabathia and a young Dodgers' phenom. What other players are worth a waiver claim?

You know you're a pretty special player when you're playing in the Major Leagues and you're not old enough to drink alcohol in most states.

Last week, the Los Angeles Dodgers called up their 19-year-old phenom, starting pitcher, Julio Urias. Urias made his Major League debut against the New York Mets and struggled his first time out, allowing nine baserunners in 2 2/3 innings (four walks and five hits), giving up three earned runs.

Nevertheless, Urias tops this week's waiver wire adds because he has incredible talent and will likely be sticking with the Dodgers for the foreseeable future. In eight games at Triple-A this year, Urias had a 1.10 ERA and a 2.85 fielding independent pitching (FIP), striking out 9.66 batters per nine innings (K/9) and walking 1.76.

And remember, he's 19. He throws in the mid-90s and can flash some upper-90s gas and has a curveball and changeup that are both plus-offerings. It may take him a little while to get acclimated to the big-league level, but he's a guy with a ton of talent who could work himself in the National League Rookie of the Year conversation by year's end.

Urias is owned in 44.9% of all ESPN leagues, so if he's available in yours, it might be smart to put in a waiver claim and stash him on your bench until he starts producing.

Tommy Joseph - Philadelphia Phillies (1B)

ESPN Percentage Owned: 2.6%

Philadelphia first baseman Tommy Joseph is probably not going to win you your fantasy league this year, but if you were someone who was using Ryan Howard at all (why? I couldn't tell you), then you're going to want to have Joseph on your roster.

The Phils' young first baseman, still only 24 years old, has played well since being called up from Triple-A. In 11 games (38 plate appearances) he's hitting .286/.289/.571 with 3 homers, an isolated slugging (slugging percentage minus batting average) of .286, and a weighted runs created (wRC+) of 119.

After Sunday's loss to the Chicago Cubs, Philly manager Pete Mackanin said Joseph is going to see a lot more playing time, reducing Howard to more of a bench role. The strict platoon is over. Joseph will get the majority of starts at first and has enough power potential in his bat to be worthy of a stash.

Devon Travis - Toronto Blue Jays (2B)

ESPN Percentage Owned: 33.5%

Welcome back, Devon Travis.

Last year, Travis was steaming toward the American League Rookie of the Year award, batting .304/.361/.498 in 239 plate appearances before a shoulder injury ended his season in late July. He hadn't been back since then, but Travis made his return to the Jays last week and is already doing things like this.


Travis is hitting .273 since coming back, and if you're in need of middle infield help, his play last year should make him an enticing target for this week.

C.C. Sabathia - New York Yankees (SP)

ESPN Percentage Owned: 14.2%

What has gotten into CC Sabathia? Suddenly, the 35-year-old left-hander is pitching lights-out for the Yankees.

Through seven starts, Sabathia has already matched last year's fWAR total (1.2) and has put up an ERA of 2.83, a FIP of 2.99, and is striking out 7.84 batters per nine innings. And this production stretches back to late last season, too.

You might as well add him now, because there's no telling how long this will last.

Matt Shoemaker - Los Angeles Angels (SP)

ESPN Percentage Owned: 7.4%

With the loss of Garrett Richards to the disabled list, the Angels were going to need some of their other starting pitchers to step up. It appears as though maybe Matt Shoemaker is trying to do just that.

Shoemaker's season stats aren't that impressive -- 5.96 ERA with a 3.99 FIP -- but his strikeout rate (8.93 K/9) indicate he is missing some bats. And recently, he's started to see some more positive results.

In his last two starts, Shoemaker has pitched 15 2/3 innings and given up 2 earned runs, with 23 strikeouts and no walks. Not surprisingly, the Angels have won both of those outings.

Rajai Davis - Cleveland Indians (OF)

ESPN Percentage Owned: 26.7%

Cleveland outfielder Rajai Davis has been instrumental in turning what was supposed to be a major weakness for the Indians, their outfield, into something of a strength.

On the season, Davis has slashed .242/.319/.409 with 5 home runs, 24 runs scored and 22 RBIs. But he's been even more valuable on the bases, with 11 steals in 166 plate appearances. He's been especially hot as of late, hitting .306/.443/.571 with 3 bombs and 4 doubles since May 16.

He can provide some speed and steals while at the same time giving a little on-base-ability, sporting a career high 9.6% walk rate this season.