Fantasy baseball waiver wire targets: The rush is on for Robby Snelling and Andrew Vaughn

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Jasen Vinlove / Getty Images Share articleAn already wild 2026 continued its descent further into madness this week, with potentially league-shifting news breaking practically every day. Feels like we say it every single year, but this time around really does feel different. Having a fully functional and healthy fantasy baseball squad at this point would take a relative miracle. Luckily, we’re here at The Athletic to help fill in the gaps. Every week, I’ll go position by position, ranking the very best additions in all formats — including hitter and pitcher stashes, and rankings of all available upcoming two-start SPs. NOTE: Please prioritize positional lists over the featured player write-ups. I’m trying to avoid covering the same players more than once and don’t want any extra focus misconstrued as personal preference. Thanks, and away we go! Of course, the most injury-riddled fantasy season in recent memory would also provide an abundance of viable catchers. Go figure. Every week, we’ve seemingly added an interesting name onto the backstop pile, and this one’s no different. Rodriguez, acquired in a deal last season with the Yankees, is ranked by Keith Law as the Giants’ No. 13 prospect. We can probably thank ABS in part for the promotion, as it greatly limits the impact of pitch-framing and, with it, Patrick Bailey’s subsequent value as an every-day fixture. Rodriquez offers an especially interesting skill set, featuring an elite batting average paired with lots of speed — evidenced in a very solid 5×5, 600-PA pace through his MiLB career (.311 BA/ 91 Runs/ 78 RBI/ 11 HR/ 24 SB). If that doesn’t sway you, the 24-year-old rookie also started in right field on Wednesday, as it appears San Francisco will aim to get him into their order every day. Giddy up! !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-4hxwO']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r What was once old is new again. Roughly six weeks ago, give or take, I couldn't stop banging the drum for the resurgence of Vaughn. The breakout couldn't have been clearer to me after the move to American Family Field finally unlocked the power potential fantasy GMs dreamt about for years. Well, that same dream lasted all of four plate appearances before Vaughn fractured his left hamate bone on an opening-day RBI single against Jordan Hicks. Sigh. Well, the No. 3 pick in the 2019 MLB draft is back in the Brewers' lineup — and after going 0-5 in his debut, he barreled an Andrew Pallante four-seamer for a 403-foot pulled-HR over the left-field fence. Priors confirmed, I'm sold. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-26bzN']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r It's only a matter of time before the masses come to their senses on the White Sox as a reliable offensive source. Chicago's now eighth in home runs and 12th in xwOBA. It's no fluke, largely in part to trailing only the Guardians in team-wide pull rate. Approaching the quarter pole, the White Sox sit just two games out of the AL Central lead and have decided to stay aggressive with promotions. Good for them. The most recent addition is Antonacci, a former fifth-rounder out of Coastal Carolina. Known more for an excellent plate approach and +40-stolen base potential, Antonacci's +10% barrel rate counters the argument that he's a zero in the power department. Granted, his lone home run was of the inside-the-park variety, but he also got cheated out of a 407-foot moonshot to dead center that clipped the ultra-high center-field fence in Arizona. Call that a wash. Last note of utmost importance — not only is Antonacci starting against both left- and right-handed pitchers, he's led off three of the past four games. Those extra plate appearances add up. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-Xv4dp']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r I guess it makes sense all the best remaining values would reside in the last place anyone wants to look, which means we're staying in the Windy City for the services of Meidroth. After starting with a bang on opening weekend, Meidroth descended into a multi-week slump that's still affecting the appearance of his season-long statistics. Will Venable granted his sophomore shortstop a mental reset on April 15, which apparently was just what the doctor ordered. Since that very well-placed day off, Meidroth's batting .333 with an impressive 154 wRC+. He plays every day, batting in the top half of the order versus righties and even taking over the leadoff spot against southpaws. While I doubt Meidroth will still be on my roster come September, he offers a decent mix of pedigree, skill and volume to fill any roster gap. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-aBi1Z']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r There's an old saying, "I'm here for a good time, not a long time" — that's how I feel about adding the 31-year-old Andujar. At only 1,875 plate appearances, he's admittedly got more tread left on the tires than his driver license might suggest, but let's just say I'm staying in the market at the hot corner. Andujar's found himself at DH and hitting in the three-hole every day for the Padres, which in and of itself has some fantasy value. Now mix in a light power/speed combo with a top-tier plate approach plus elite contact metrics. It's easy to see how this works out in the short term. Andujar should remain a volume-based play, at least until Jake Cronenworth returns from the IL. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-hC3QF']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r At this rate, I'll never shake my reputation for chasing former first-rounders, so may as well lean into the bit. When you look at what Bleday is doing in the box score for his third team in five years, you'll likely start thinking one of these things is not like the others — that one of these things just doesn't belong. I get it. Whether or not you're immediately filled with doubt, it is borderline preposterous that one of MLB's best power hitters is only rostered in 10% of leagues. Since getting the call up to Cincinnati, only five players have hit as many long balls as Bleday, whose .491 xwOBA trails only Aaron Judge, Pete Alonso, and Matt Olson in that timeframe. Wow! The strikeout metrics which plagued him throughout his career haven't quite been erased, but the risk-reward ratio is firmly in place to take a shot on a conceivable difference maker in a power-suppressed environment. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-XbCpX']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-6z8Ql']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Timing is to fantasy baseball as location is to real estate. What I mean to say is if the Marlins announced this promotion of rookie phenom Robby Snelling any earlier in the week, he'd already be bordering on universal rostership. Just two days after announcing Chris Paddack would make his next start after surrendering seven earned runs through 2.2 innings, skipper Clayton McCullough changed course and promoted the 22-year-old southpaw. Lied to again. Of course. There's clearly nothing left to prove for Snelling in Triple A, so this promotion is overdue. He's absolutely decimating minor league hitters (1.86 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 40% K) with a classic fastball/changeup/curveball combination. Each featured pitch boasts a +31% CSW and +51% ground-ball rate, exactly the type of skills that translate at the highest level. Miami is just four games out of a playoff spot and wants its best foot forward instead of wasting quality innings in Triple A. Good for them as well. Snelling has struck batters out at every level and, providing he keeps his command/control in check, I'm confident that long-running trend continues. He also threw a total of 136 IP last year, so making 30 starts to finish 2026 without restrictions is in the range of outcomes. I hope you kept your powder dry and FAAB bucks at the ready, because it's time to unload. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-OyG81']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-WeSC1']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-YXLHg']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-F4ssU']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-EeBFf']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Mining the perfect fantasy closer comes down to finding the ideal combination of skills and role. Remember not to get too hung up on the first part, either — we'll still take the bad pitcher getting save opportunities. For those managers who punted saves on draft day, the season begins on high alert, but fear not; you're in luck. MLB's save environment is literally as chaotic as ever. Despite just reaching May, a remarkable 111 different pitchers have already recorded a save in 2026. Wow! With that, the goal is always to acquire a reliever who either has the job now or direct access to it soon. Given the incredible number of league types out there, our best course is to keep a running list of relievers; grab the best available. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-rjvyV']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r The following players are now on many fantasy rosters, but those in 10-team leagues should look to them first before adding other, lesser-rostered players. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-125Lh']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms