FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE ACQUISITIONS
Noelvi Marte (Third Base/Outfield, Cincinnati Reds): Owned in 30% of Yahoo! leagues
He has returned. The 24-year-old was brought back up to the main roster on Wednesday to fill in for TJ Friedl, following a surprising attempt by the Reds two months prior to use Marte as a platoon player against left-handed pitchers and subsequently demoting him after 30 unproductive plate appearances. The hope is that he will now see consistent playing time. In his 40 Triple-A games, Marte achieved a .369 batting average, .409 on-base percentage, and .575 slugging percentage, along with eight home runs and nine stolen bases.
Cincinnati likely would have benefited more by having Marte as their primary right fielder throughout the season. Nevertheless, he has recently been deployed primarily in center field during his Triple-A stint, as the Reds sought to assess his potential as a replacement for the struggling Friedl. His performance appears to have been adequate to justify this chance. Should that not pan out, the right field position also remains available. Reds players occupying right field have posted a .206 average, .279 OBP, and .284 slugging percentage this season. Their center fielders have recorded a .209 average, .312 OBP, and .312 slugging percentage.
Last season, Marte proved to be a superb fantasy outfielder for the Reds across 90 appearances, achieving a .263 batting average with 14 home runs, 51 runs batted in, and 10 stolen bases at 23 years old. While his limited plate discipline somewhat reduces his tangible on-field worth, he was undeniably considered one of Cincinnati’s top three outfielders entering the current season, a sentiment that persists. The initial choice to limit his exposure against left-handed pitchers was perplexing, given his .562 OPS versus southpaws and significantly higher .821 OPS against right-handers in the previous year. If Terry Francona is prepared to reinstate him into a consistent role, Marte possesses a legitimate opportunity to establish himself as a top-30 fantasy outfielder for the remainder of the season. Furthermore, although he is unlikely to play third base, he retains eligibility at that position from the previous year.
Edwin Arroyo (Shortstop, Cincinnati Reds): Owned in 14% of Yahoo! leagues
Edwin Arroyo, another player recently elevated by the Reds, made his first major league appearance on Monday due to Elly De La Cruz’s hamstring ailment. Prior to this, some believed he deserved a chance over second baseman Matt McLain regardless. At 22 years old, while playing alongside Marte in Louisville, he recorded a .323 batting average, .383 on-base percentage, and .562 slugging percentage, including 11 home runs and nine stolen bases across 53 games.
It’s worth noting that the Reds obtained both Arroyo and Marte in the same trade that sent Luis Castillo to the Mariners in 2022. Arroyo’s prospect value had diminished since then, as he sat out the entire 2024 season recovering from shoulder surgery and subsequently displayed only average performance in Double-A last year. Nevertheless, his prospects have recently improved. Intriguingly, in both games since De La Cruz was placed on the injured list, the Reds have positioned Arroyo at second base while McLain played shortstop. Despite the shortstop position appearing secured for years to come in Cincinnati, Arroyo started 31 of his 53 Triple-A games there. Given McLain’s ongoing difficulties, Arroyo’s odds of securing a spot at second base are considerably higher. It seems plausible he could maintain a starting role over McLain if he performs well during De La Cruz’s time away. Perhaps the Reds might even consider training McLain for an outfield position if this scenario unfolds.
The potential for Arroyo is significant enough to warrant holding onto him. A contributing factor is that Great American Ballpark provides an exceptionally favorable environment for hitters. While Arroyo may not possess elite bat speed, he consistently pulls sufficient flyballs, which could enable him to hit 20 home runs in Cincinnati. Coupled with his ability to steal bases and flexibility to play both middle infield positions, substantial value could materialize if he successfully demonstrates to the organization that he merits a permanent major league roster spot.
Troy Melton (Starting Pitcher, Detroit Tigers): Owned in 21% of Yahoo! leagues
Melton showcased strong performances across four starts and 12 relief outings during his 2025 tryout, positioning him as a potential breakout candidate for 2026. However, he experienced arm soreness early in spring training and began the season on the 60-day injured list. Happily, he was prepared to return once his 60-day period concluded, and he has since posted a 1.74 ERA in his initial three starts for Detroit.
Melton features a diverse six-pitch repertoire, yet in his big-league starts, he has predominantly relied on his 94-97 mph four-seam fastball and sliders, utilizing them approximately 70% of the time combined. His 87-90 mph splitter shows promise, but he exhibits limited confidence in deploying it against right-handed batters. Across his three starts for the Tigers, he has accumulated merely nine strikeouts over 20 2/3 innings, a statistic that certainly raises questions. Nonetheless, a lack of strikeouts has not been a historical problem for him; he recorded 16 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings during his rehabilitation assignments last month. Last year, his strikeout percentage stood at 32% across his Double-A and Triple-A tenures.
In the long term, Melton is likely to settle in as Detroit’s fourth starter. This role, however, is often beneficial for pitchers, and Melton is an individual who ought to provide additional fantasy appeal thanks to his low walk rate and impressive WHIP figures. Provided his arm remains healthy, he should be considered a viable option in mixed fantasy leagues.
Rapid Waiver Wire Observations
– I find it quite illogical that Christian Scott is owned in merely 18% of Yahoo! leagues. He arguably deserved the NL Rookie of the Month award for May, having recorded a 2.79 ERA and fanned 37 hitters over 29 innings.
– Since Daniel Lynch IV was suggested here last week, Lucas Erceg has squandered two additional save opportunities. Lynch’s ownership remains at a mere five percent. Should Erceg receive the next save situation for the Royals, it would frankly necessitate someone’s dismissal.
