Fantasy baseball analyst Dalton Del Don offers up a batch of priority waiver wire pickups to consider adding as we come to the close of Week 3.
Chandler Simpson, OF, Tampa Bay Rays (12%)
Simpson hit .355 with 104 steals over 110 games across the minors last season, and he was called up to Tampa Bay on Friday. He’s racked up 215 stolen bases over 250 career minor league games. Simpson offers zero power, but his low K% and 80-grade speed should lead to a solid batting average. His role in Tampa Bay is unclear, but manager Kevin Cash said that Simpson is “going to get an opportunity here and a little bit of a runway.”
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Simpson has massive SB potential, so he’s worth adding in all fantasy leagues
Jonathan Aranda, 1B/2B, Tampa Bay Rays (47% rostered)
Aranda’s been a hot pickup over the last week, but he remains available in more than half of Yahoo leagues. He ranks second in the league in batting average (.377) and wRC+ (238) with an average exit velocity in the 98th percentile. Aranda is part of a platoon, but he’s on the strong side and batting cleanup against righties. He got a big boost leaving Tropicana Field to a much more favorable hitting venue in Steinbrenner Field. Aranda is a must-add in all fantasy leagues.
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics (23%)
Kurtz leads the minors with seven homers over just 16 games in Triple-A, and his callup to Sacramento feels imminent. Brent Rooker has moved to the outfield during three of the past five games, seemingly making room for Kurtz to take over DH soon. Kurtz was the No. 4 pick in last year’s draft and will enter the bigs with an advanced bat.
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A’s hitters are benefitting from moving from an extreme pitcher’s park to what’s been playing as a hitter’s paradise in Sacramento; Sutter Health Field has boosted run scoring by 25% while decreasing strikeouts (-24%) and increasing walks (+36%) for left-handed batters early in 2025. Kurtz’s combination of power and contact ability will play especially nice in Sacramento once it heats up over summer.
Kurtz is available in nearly 80% of Yahoo leagues, but he’ll be a hot commodity as soon as he’s called up.
Tyler Fitzgerald, 2B/SS/OF, San Francisco Giants (38%)
Fitzgerald was dropped in many leagues after getting off to a slow start, but he’s raised his OPS nearly 300 points over the last week after having a talk with Barry Bonds. Pitchers were attacking Fitzgerald differently this season, but he now sits with a .309/.345/.527 line (145…