Fantasy Baseball: Top waiver wire targets, including breakout Angels and Tigers players

We are two weeks into the 2025 season and have a larger sample size to see how players are performing.

Yes, it is still too early to be making rash decisions on underwhelming stars (looking at you, Byron Buxton, Yordan Alvarez, and Christian Walker), but if you are looking for viable options to hold you over until stars return to form, here are players who are less than 50 percent owned in Yahoo leagues and could significantly contribute to your team.

Last week, I recommended Lars Nootbar (Cardinals), Kyle Manzardo (Guardians), Brady Singer (Reds), and Seth Halvorsen (Rockies).

Week Two's top fantasy baseball waiver wire additions

Note: All stats are valid through the morning of April 9.

Casey Mize (SP - Detroit Tigers)

Mize is in his second year back from Tommy John surgery and has not been fantasy-relevant in his six-year career until now. He has only had an ERA under 4.00 once in his first five seasons, but the righty has looked outstanding after two games, facing the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees.

Mize is 2-0 on the season, accumulating 11.2 innings, a 0.77 ERA, and 12 strikeouts, but he has struggled to fill the strike zone, recording six walks. Missing the strike zone is pretty concerning, but hopefully, that is just an early-season struggle.

The Tigers starter's only earned run came off a two-out Aaron Judge single that knocked in Trent Grisham. Mize's next start is scheduled for Sunday against the Minnesota Twins. The Twins are aggressive at the plate and do not walk much, which may help Mize's confidence as he struggles to find the strike zone.

Martín Pérez (SP - Chicago White Sox)

Pérez, too, has not been relevant in the fantasy world all that often over his 14-year career. He has faced the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers thus far, throwing 12.1 innings and posting a 1-0 record with 13 strikeouts. Notably, he's also steuggled with command, having recorded five walks.

The Tigers rank seventh in team batting average, and Pérez held them to four hits and only allowed one earned run on a two-out Javier Báez single that scored Manuel Margot. His next start will be Saturday against a red-hot Boston Red Sox team. It will be best to wait until after that start to pick up Pérez, though you could always stash him on your bench if you don't trust him against Rafael Devers and company.

Wilmer Flores (1B - San Francisco Giants)

Flores is having an unexpectedly hot start to the season. His batting average is mediocre at .250, but he has an OPS of .783. The right-handed hitter has scored five runs, hit four home runs, and knocked 12 runs in over 36 at-bats.

He has tied the number of home runs he hit last year with 214 at-bats. Flores has never been a big power hitter, as his career-best is 23 home runs set in 2023, but after the first week of the season, he was tied for the league-lead in home runs. He probably won't be a season-long contributor for fantasy managers, but while some of the stars are struggling for now, Flores is a reasonable stopgap.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B, SS, 3B - Pittsburgh Pirates)

Kiner-Falefa being three-position eligible is part of the reason fantasy managers should consider adding the Pittsburgh Pirate. He is 12-38 (.316) on the season with an OPS of .751. The 30-year-old has scored six runs and knocked four runs in, but he has also been stealing bases early this season.

He has stolen four bases on six attempts, more than in 2023, when he had 257 at-bats. Seeing him aggressive on the base paths is encouraging since this is not his forte. His career-best in stolen bases is 22, which he set in 2022.

If Kiner-Falefa continues to steal bases, his offensive production and position eligibility will make him a popular addition. The shortstop's one downfall is that he usually bats in the nine-hole, which limits his at-bats. However, it could earn him plenty of opportunities to tally runs as he sets the table for the top of the Pirates' order.

Kyren Paris (2B - Los Angeles Angels)

Paris is a player on whom I can not make a decision. He can be a five-tool player, which is extremely valuable to us fantasy managers, but he is not an everyday starter. He has only started in five of the Angels' 10 games, but has produced off the bench when given the opportunity.

The 23-year-old is 9-21 (.429) with nine runs scored, three home runs, six runs batted in, and four stolen bases. His OPS is 1.434, and wRC+ is an outrageous 309, so he may start earning some more time in the starting lineup soon.

He has made two starts at centerfield, so he may earn another eligible position later in the season. He has also played innings at shortstop in his career.

Manager Ron Washington cannot ignore Paris's production, but the only path to daily playing time is an injury. Alternatively, Jo Adell and Tim Anderson have struggled this season, hitting around .200. If they continue to falter, the surprisingly competitive Angels could opt for a few more nights in Paris.

If you have room on your bench, Paris is a good addition, even if he plays just a few days a week.

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