MLB

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds: Week 13

Matt Kupferle  —  @MKupferle Jun 26th, 2022
Jarren Duran finally has gotten his call to The Show, and he's made the most of his opportunity. Who else should we consider adding?

With the 2022 baseball season getting to the midpoint, nailing the waiver wire and the players available are critical to beating out your league-mates in season-long formats.

Each week we will take a look at players who are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues and can help out your season-long squads. Remember, if you aren’t scouring the waiver wire, you are falling behind.

Jorge Alfaro, C, San Diego Padres

Roster Percentage: 29%

He may not play catcher really at all for the San Diego Padres, but I'll be damned if that small nuance doesn't allow us to take advantage of things for fantasy baseball purposes related to Jorge Alfaro.

The catcher turned outfielder has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, and he's trying to shoulder some of the offensive load for the team with Fernando Tatis Jr. out for the squad. This season, the dual threat is playing primarily outfield, but thanks to past positional eligibility, he's catcher eligible, too.

He's already slammed six homers while stealing a bag -- and he swiped eight last season -- so if you need help behind the dish, consider Alfaro.

Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox

Roster Percentage: 15%

Are we eyeing up the next leadoff man for the Boston Red Sox?

The young outfielder has been coming on strong for the BoSox, a big reason why over the last 30 days, they rank in the top-5 in nearly every offensive category. In Saturday's win over the Cleveland Guardians, Duran had four hits and two steals.

It would make a lot of sense to instill him as the leadoff man -- he's sporting a .373 OBP in his first 47 major league plate appearances -- and he's already stolen four bases. If your outfield needs a punchup, especially with some speed, Duran deserves a long look.

Note: Duran is unvaccinated and will be unable to play in the upcoming series against the Toronto Blue Jays, so make sure you have a backup plan in place.

Edward Olivares, OF, Kansas City Royals

Roster Percentage: 9%

This one is a bit of a deeper cut, but if you're involved in shallower formats, you may be searching the wire desperately for some help. Edward Olivares could be just what the doctor prescribed.

While it feels like Olivares has been on a constant shuttle to and from Triple-A, with Salvador Perez hitting the Injured List, he may finally be getting his opportunity. He homered twice in his first game up this season, and Olivares flashed plenty of power. In 2021, the outfielder ripped five long balls and swiped two bases in just 101 at bats.

The Kansas City Royals seem to do funky things with Olivares, but if he stays up, he could be a major contributor to fantasy squads.

Keegan Thompson, SP, Chicago Cubs

Roster Percentage: 39%

Keegan Thompson has season long numbers that, quite honestly, aren't overly intriguing. In the last month, he's recorded a 5.19 ERA and 1.35 WHIP over 26 innings.

But, a closer look makes you realize when you take out a poor start against the St. Louis Cardinals, he's been pretty darn solid. And, we have evidence as of late to prove this. In the last two weeks (two starts), Thompson has been somewhat dominant with 16 whiffs in 12 2/3 innings pitched, including a sub-3.00 ERA.

He's a bit enticing this week as he will make two starts, so if pitching help is your jam, he's definitely one to think about.