Fantasy Baseball Week 23 Waiver Wire Adds: Connor Norby, Dylan Crews, Adrian Del Castillo, Junior Caminero and More

The 23rd week of the fantasy baseball season is here, which means it’s time to go over the top waiver wire options.

These players are all taken from the Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups page. We’ll avoid any starting pitchers, because FantasySP’s Daniel Hepner covers most of the top waiver SPs in his streaming stories.

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Jhonkensy Noel Fantasy Outlook

Noel was part of the last waiver wire story, and continued to mash over the weekend, so his own percentage continues to rise. He’s up to 30% owned now.

Noel had four hits over the weekend, including two home runs. He drove in four runs along the way.

Noel has proven to be a very streaky hitter in his short MLB career so far. He’s got 14 hits in 17 August games (13 starts), but he’s only posted hits in six contests. The multi-hit games are great, but it makes him sort of a boom-or-bust guy, especially because six of the knocks are home runs - he has 14 strikeouts this month.

I think fantasy owners should only consider him in deeper leagues. He’s playing enough and doing a good amount of damage at the plate to roster and start in deeper leagues, but there’s better options out there in standard leagues.

Connor Norby Fantasy Outlook

Norby was dealt to the Marlins at the trade deadline, and is now getting a chance to start. He’s hitting well of late and has seen his own percentage rise to 12.

Since Miami called him up on August 19, Norby has at least one hit in all six contests. He’s got nine total hits in that span, including four doubles and two home runs. Norby also has three RBIs, seven runs scored, a walk and five strikeouts in that timeframe.

He’s definitely heating up at the plate, but because he’s on a weak Marlins’ offense, he isn’t likely going to be a good fantasy option in standard leagues. Norby is a good deep league option right now, and of course is someone to own in dynasty leagues. 

He’s a highly-regarded prospect for a reason and seems to now be finding his way in the MLB. Scoop him up in deeper leagues and dynasties before it’s too late.

Dylan Crews Fantasy Outlook

Crews is the latest Washington prospect to get called up. He’s expected to debut on Monday, and his own percentage has already risen to 40.

He’s the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball right now, and has above-average marks in every tool. In two minor league campaigns, Crews has a .275 average and .351 on-base percentage. He has 147 total hits in 135 games played. Crews has 18 homers, 30 doubles, six triples, 50 walks, 130 strikeouts and 29 stolen bases along the way.

Crews can impact the game in a lot of ways, which is a good thing from a fantasy perspective. He was already a great option in dynasty leagues, and should be added in all deeper leagues immediately as well.

It’s a touch risky to add him in standard leagues because you never know how a player will respond to his first MLB action, especially a 22-year-old. But I tend to trust the prospect rankings, and if I had a roster spot to play with in a standard league, I’m all for picking up Crews. You could stash him until he gets adjusted to the MLB, and then you maybe have a daily starter for the remainder of the season.

If you don’t pick him up now in a standard league, put him on your watch list and add him the second he starts producing at the plate.

Tyler Stephenson Fantasy Outlook

Stephenson continues to stack up good hitting performances, so his own percentage continues to rise. He’s at 61% rostered now.

He has a hit in 10 straight games, and 13 total knocks over that span. Stephenson has 23 total hits in 20 August games (19 starts). He has six home runs and doubles among the hits, along with 16 RBIs, 15 runs scored, eight walks and 21 strikeouts.

I have been begging for fantasy owners to pick Stephenson up, and while he’s still trending up, his own percentage still isn’t high enough. In points leagues, Stephenson is the No. 6 fantasy catcher. That means he not only should be rostered in standard leagues, but started in most of them too.

Quit letting your current fantasy starting catcher block a top option like Stephenson. Pick him up and get him in your lineup for the stretch run.

Adrian Del Castillo Fantasy Outlook

Del Castillo is another option at catcher to consider. He’s at 22% owned now.

He got called up by Arizona on August 7, and has made 11 starts in 13 games since. He has 15 hits in that span, including two doubles and three home runs. Del Castillo also has 14 RBIs, nine runs scored, six walks and 16 strikeouts in his brief MLB career.

Gabriel Moreno had been the D-Backs primary catcher, but he’s on the injured list right now. Del Castillo isn’t starting everyday, but is getting more work than Jose Herrera.

Del Castillo is a solid option in deeper leagues and dynasties, but probably can be avoided in standard leagues. Moreno should return at some point in the regular season, but that’s likely several weeks off. De Castillo could be considered in standard leagues, but I have to think there’s better options out there. If Del Castillo keeps rolling at the plate though, he absolutely could be picked up in more standard leagues, so keep a close eye on him.

Lucas Erceg Fantasy Outlook

Erceg has been a part of several waiver wire stories over the past few weeks. He’s earned saves in two straight outings, so his own percentage has risen to 53.

Since being traded to Kansas City at the trade deadline, Erceg has worked 11 1/3 scoreless innings. He has four saves and six holds over that span, while allowing just five hits. Erceg has 15 strikeouts and no walks since becoming a Royal.

Because he’s earned some saves and has good strikeout-to-walk numbers, Erceg is worth a roster spot in deeper fantasy leagues. He’s also an option in standard leagues, but I’d really want him pitching more often to roster him in those leagues. Depending on your league’s settings though, Erceg might be the best fantasy relief option, so assess your situation and react accordingly.

Junior Caminero Fantasy Outlook

Caminero is the No. 2 prospect in baseball and is starting to heat up at the MLB level. He’s up to 51% rostered now.

Caminero had six hits over the weekend, including two home runs. Since his August 13 callup, Caminero has 13 hits in 12 contests. He has two doubles and homers among his hits, along with four RBIs, five runs scored, five walks and nine strikeouts.

It’s not a massive sample size, but there’s enough there to go off of. Caminero should already be rostered in every dynasty league, and now should be owned in all deeper leagues. He’s starting to heat up, which warrants consideration for him to be a standard league pickup. Again, if I had a roster spot to play with, I’d be all for taking a chance on Caminero. You could start him until he cools off, or just stash him for the time being.