A long-held true mantra in fantasy sports is “the waiver wire wins you championships.” Whether playing DFS, weekly head-to-head, or a long-running keeper league, it’s never too early to raise your team out of mediocrity or leapfrog the other virtual GMs you play with by adding these sleepers (under 50% owned on Yahoo) to your squad.
C Sean Murphy, ATL (29% owned)
After suffering a miserable 2024 plagued by injury, Murphy entered Spring Training hopeful that his body would hold up–then promptly proceeded to land on the IL with a cracked rib. Those two factors led to the former All-Star backstop going undrafted in most leagues. But when he returned to the lineup this past Tuesday, Murphy showed why that was a mistake: he went 2-4, with a homer and 4 RBI. If fully healthy, the Braves figure to be one of the top-scoring offenses in The Show. This weekend, the Braves travel to sunny Florida to take on the Rays at Steinbrenner Field, the most hitter-friendly park east of the Appalachians. If you need an Ivan Herrera replacement or help in the power categories, he’s a good solution.
1B Wilmer Flores, SF (20% owned) / 1B Kyle Manzardo, CLE (37% owned)
Flores looks like a different player than the one who hit only four homers in 2024– he’s driving the ball with more authority while coming through in the clutch. His 88th percentile Squared Up Rate–basically, how many times the veteran infielder hits a ball in the sweet spot of his bat–and 78th xSLG percentage (a measure of the quality of contact for each batted ball)–rank among the top in the Majors. His actual exit velocity stats are down on the year, but the Venezuelan slugger has arguably been the MVP of the Giants through their first 12 games– .273 with 5 taters, 14 RBI (seventh in the Bigs), and seven runs scored so far. His next matchup is with the Yankees in the Boogie Down, who just lost a series to the Detroit Tigers and have lingering questions about their pitching staff. Start him this weekend with confidence.
If you’re not worrying about your average, can I interest you in one Kyle Manzardo? The Idaho native is currently sitting at .222 but has put four over the fence and brought 11 home. The Guardians badly need power in their lineup after trading Josh Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks this past offseason, so Manzardo has a runway to prove he is the run producer Cleveland thought he was after trading for him in 2023.
3B Ryan McMahon (39% owned) / 2B/3B Jorge Polanco, SEA (15% owned)
Third base is one of the most top-heavy positions in fantasy baseball, usually without much depth left on the wire. So why is a middle-of-the-order bat, who plays half his games in Coors Field, available in more than half of the leagues? Good question. McMahon, while not a particularly exciting player, is as steady as they come. Over the last three seasons, he’s averaged over 20 homers and 65 RBI per year. He started the season sluggishly, but in the past week, he’s maintained a .360 average, with 2 bombs, 3 runs scored, and 4 runs batted in. The matchup this weekend with the NL West-leading Padres is daunting, but the Mater Dei alum has a career slash of .271 with 15 homers and 52 RBI against the Friars, so expect him to keep swinging a hot bat when he visits America’s Finest City.
For a deep league option at the hot corner, look at Seattle’s Jorge Polanco. The former Twin had a rough inaugural season in the Emerald City, but after missing some time to welcome the birth of a new child, he’s been showing off his dad’s strength: he owns a blazing .370 average, with two dingers, two trips across home plate, a steal and a whopping 10 RBI over the last two weeks, while regularly hitting in the top of the order. Added eligibility at second base doesn’t hurt, either.
SS Geraldo Perdomo, AZ (29% owned)/ SS Trevor Story, BOS (34% owned)
Since Story signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2022, he’s played in 177 games–a disappointment considering the caliber of player he is and his relative health before signing his six-year deal (745 games played while with the Rockies). Knock on wood, but it looks like the veteran shortstop’s injuries are behind him and his talent is shining through: Story’s slashing .264/.291/.396 with two homers, five RBI, and four steals. There’s no guarantee he can stay healthy for the entire campaign, but a five-category contributor is always a luxury, no matter what part of the year it is.
Speaking of five-category contributors, Geraldo Perdomo has been making waves. A .320 average, with two homers, 13 RBI, 7 trips across home plate, and 2 bags aren’t numbers to sneeze at. A recent recipient of a four-year, $45 million contract extension, a renewed organizational commitment, and hitting atop the lineup card instead of the nine-hole has allowed Perdomo to blossom into more than a light-hitting super-utility man. Facing the Milwaukee Brewers and their lack of starting pitching this weekend at home, the third-ranked offense of the Snakes has been teeing off–grab your share.
UT Dylan Moore, SEA (26% owned)
In the wake of Victor Robles’ shoulder dislocation and Ryan Bliss’ torn bicep, the lead-off spot for the Seattle Mariners is hosting auditions for an understudy, and D-Mo is nailing the part. The former Gold Glover is slashing .286, with two home runs, 2 RBI, and two steals on the year. While his average might suffer(sitting at a career .208), this is a player who has hit 12 homers in 2021 and stole 32 bags last year. The power/speed potential is there, while his multi-positional flexibility makes him an intriguing gamble in deeper mixed leagues.
If you need a cheap power play in the outfield, take a look and see if an owner has dropped Jorge Soler (48% owned) after a poor start (3-for-17 over his first five games). The one-time World Series MVP has struggled recently, getting traded twice within a calendar year. Now settled in as the clean-up hitter for the Angels, Soler’s bat has come alive in the last week, driving in five runs while homering twice and touching home four times. He’s riding a seven-game hit streak going into a showdown with the Astros in Houston. The Angels haven’t lost a series yet, while Houston hasn’t looked as mighty as seasons past, so look for Soler to put up some big numbers in the 713.
SP Martin Pérez, CHW (26% owned)
A wild Chicago White Sox has appeared! The veteran lefty has been anchoring the South Siders’ rotation admirably. Over his first two starts, his ERA is 0.73 with 13 Ks in just over 12 innings. Pérez is sitting at 90 MPH, so the stuff isn’t overpowering, but the soft-tossing hurler is locating his spots and limiting hard contact. While the Red Sox have a challenging lineup this weekend, his next start would be against the Athletics at Rate Field, a mouthwatering matchup. Add him to your rotation now.
RP José Alvarado, PHI (64% owned)
This is technically cheating–entering play Friday, the hulking southpaw’s ownership percentages are up 44%. But still, the Venezuelan hurler needs his flowers. Not only has he converted his last two save opportunities in his last five appearances, but he’s also pitched in six of the team’s eight wins, illustrating how valuable he is to the bullpen early in the season. With Jordan Romano seemingly out of the closer role, Rob Thompson has been quick to use Alvarado in any high-leverage situation. Go add him to your team if you can.
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