FABL Waiver Wire Pickups
Setting boundaries for myself is the main reason that I only linker with the lineups of the Fantasy Astrology Baseball League once a week. For that same reason, I only add players to teams via the waiver wire once a month. And with the calendar recently having changed over from April to May, here are some of the top fantasy players that I left on the bench to start the 2021 FABL season.
Sagittarius gets the most benefit from these new additions, with a huge influx of talent into the pitching staff. Carlos Rodon currently leads the pack, as he’s got a 4-0 record, an ERA under 1, and a no-hitter already under his belt in this young season. Ian Kennedy has emerged as the primary closer for the Rangers, while Kendall Graveman (Mariners) and Tyler Rogers (Giants) have put themselves on the depth chart for saves. Yusmeiro Petit is strictly middle relief, but he does it so well. And Ryan Weathers has performed admirably as a “utility pitcher” (i.e. starter/reliever) in his debut season.
But perhaps the most exciting player to be added to a roster this May is White Sox DH Yermin Mercedes. He’s batting over .400, he leads the league in hits, and he qualifies as a catcher for Aquarius. I foolishly didn’t give the Water Bearers a backup at third base, so I had to use a move to acquire veteran Todd Frazier to fill in for injured Ke’Bryan Hayes (which he’s also doing for the real-life Pirates). The Bearers are fairly deep at shortstop, but nobody would give up the chance to roster the energetic Bahamian youngster Jazz Chisholm Jr.
First basemen are not so important as they once were thanks to my new rule change, but Cancer will still welcome new Rangers starting first baseman Nate Lowe, who has blossomed after being traded from a team whose most famous Lowe is Brandon (and pronounced differently, to boot). Carson Kelly has blossomed in the D-Backs catcher role, just in time to fill in for injured Yadier Molina. And Ty France has developed a strong offensive attack as Seattle’s 2B/DH.
Libra’s benefit gets a big bump with Lou Trivino taking over as the A’s closer thanks to the injury to Trevor Rosenthal (a Gemini, so another Air sign). Cedric Mullins will actually step right into center field, with Starling Marte injured and Aaron Hicks struggling. The Scales corner outfield also gains a useful piece in Jordan Luplow, but with Mookie Betts and Bryce Harper your starting RF/LF, a dedicated lefty-masher probably won’t earn many weekly starts.
Pisces added some saves to their bullpen with surprise Orioles closer Cesar Valdez (although he’ll likely ride the bench behind Aroldis Chapman and Brad Hand). Adolis Garcia has emerged as a strong outfield option for Texas. The rest of the Fish’s additions were due to necessity: Jean Segura’s injury requires Marwin Gonzalez to fill in at 3B, while Yonathan Daza is performing SLIGHTLY better than Sam Hilliard in center field… why won’t the Mets just move Conforto back there?
Other notable additions include infielders Jed Lowrie and Travis Shaw to Aries. Taurus gets a breakout outfield option in Tyler Naquin. Scorpio, Gemini, and Capricorn add much needed starting pitchers in Wade Miley, Huascar Ynoa, and Tyler Anderson, respectively. And tremendous Rule 5 success story Akil Baddoo joins the Leo bench.
Virgo didn’t have any players worth adding, even though they still don’t have an active catcher. But that hasn’t stopped the Ladybugs from dominating the league so far, with an undefeated 4-0 record and a two-pronged attack in each of the offensive and defensive categories. (Freddie Freeman/Jose Ramirez, and Gerrit Cole/Tyler Glasnow, respectively).