Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Week of May 18th

Welcome back to another week of trying to save your season via the waiver wire. Well, at least for some of us. We have started to see some notable prospects called up recently, such as Bryce Eldridge, Ryan Waldschmidt, A.J. Ewing, Spencer Jones, and Robby Snelling and I’m sure more will be on the way soon.

Hopefully, you checked out last week’s waiver wire piece and took our advice. JJ Bleday has been excellent and might not be available in your league at this point. Luckily, we are back this week with five more names for your consideration.

Stats as of first pitch, May 17. Ownership percentages via ESPN.

Henry Bolte – OF – Athletics (9%)

2026 Stats: (4 G) .385/.400/.385, 1 SB, 117 wRC+

Bigger-name prospects stole the headlines this past week when Bolte was called up, but don’t sleep on what he can bring to the A’s and your fantasy team. In Triple-A, Bolte hit 12 home runs and stole 17 bags with a 157 wRC+ in 37 games and his elite speed can help your team in the stolen base department.

I am a little hesitant to believe the power numbers and swing and miss have been an issue in the past, but the tools are too good to pass on. He should man center while Denzel Clarke is out, and considering how much Lawrence Butler has struggled, he can find ample playing time once Clarke is back.

Nolan Arenado – 3B – Arizona Diamondbacks (18%)

2026 Stats: .273/.348/.453, 6 HR, 125 wRC+

How great is it to see Arenado rebound in Arizona? Fantasy players entered the season thinking that his value as a fantasy player was all but over. However, Arenado has found a way to make himself a worthwhile pick-up.

The advanced metrics won’t jump off the page, but the veteran is collecting singles and picking the right spots to hunt and hit the ball over the fence. It’s not a thrilling profile, but he’s already halfway to his home run total from last season, and with third base being rather thin, he’s worth an add.

Michael McGreevy – SP – St. Louis Cardinals (40%)

2026 Stats: 51.1 IP, 2.10 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 6.31 K/9, 1.93 BB/9

Speaking of profiles that aren’t going to catch your eye, McGreevy won’t land on many Pitching Ninja highlights. A low-velo, seven-pitch mix with plus control that keeps hitters guessing is working for McGreevy. Adding a starter with low strikeout upside is a tough sell, but if you have struggled with injuries, McGreevy is your guy.

Will this great start continue? It’s hard to say. If you point towards the metrics that say it won’t, you have an argument. However, we are seeing a lot more of these “old school” arms find success and I’m willing to ride it until the wheels fall off.

Grayson Rodriguez – SP – Los Angeles Angels (8%)

2026 Stats (Minors): 9.2 IP, 2.79 ERA, 1.93 FIP, 16.76 K/9, 1.86 BB/9

Rodriguez has made two rehab starts in the lower minors, so take those numbers with a grain of salt. My takeaway? What made him a top prospect appears to still be possible post-injury. If you are chasing strikeout stuff, Rodriguez can be a savvy pick-up that others might not catch onto just yet.

His first start will come against the Dodgers, so we might be looking at benching him right off the bat, but that’s okay. You are likely dealing with injuries on your roster or have resorted to several streamers a week, and G-Rod can offer some stability in your rotation.

Spencer Steer – 1B/OF – Cincinnati Reds (15%)

2026 Stats: .263/.333/.449, 7 HR, 2 SB, 116 wRC+

You might not have noticed, but Spencer Steer has been on fire lately. Over the past month, he’s slashed .315/.402/.494 good for a .896 OPS with four home runs. He’s putting up the best batted ball data in a long time, if not his career and has climbed the Reds batting order.

He does come with a little positional flexibility and has also made two appearances at third and second, which could develop into additional flexibility down the road. We have seen Steer go on hot stretches before, so beware, but this is the best I have seen him play in over a year.