Justin Mason | Tue, May 27th 2025, 6:58am EDT

Top 8 Fantasy Baseball FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups: High-Stakes Leagues

The best players in the world play on NFBC. The most popular high-stakes contest is the NFBC Main Event, which has a $1,750 buy-in with a $7,000 league prize and a $200,000 overall prize. Thankfully, for everyone, NFBC allows us to see what each team is doing with their FAAB pickups on Sunday night.

Each week, I look at the most popular fantasy baseball waiver wire and FAAB pickups in the NFBC Main Event to see who the best players in the world are picking up and whether we should add them.

Fantasy Baseball FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups

Daniel Palencia (RP – CHC)

Daniel Palencia was picked up in 54 Main Event leagues with a max bid of $231 and a minimum bid of $38. With Porter Hodge on the injured list (IL) and Ryan Pressly terrible, the Cubs need a new closer. Palencia has now gotten the last three saves, including two in a row on Sunday and Monday, which makes it seem like he has the role until Hodge comes back.

Marcelo Mayer (SS – BOS)

Marcelo Mayer was picked up in 52 Main Event leagues with a max bid of $315 and a minimum bid of $28. Mayer is a top prospect for the Red Sox and got the call-up this week with Alex Bregman hitting the IL.

Mayer doesn’t have a ton of speed or power, but he has some of both. The main question is whether he will make enough contact to unlock it. He will have an opportunity as Bregman is expected to miss at least a month, if not more. Trevor Story and Kristian Campbell are struggling as well.

Ronny Henriquez (RP – MIA)

Ronny Henriquez was picked up in 43 Main Event leagues with a max bid of $103 and a minimum bid of $3. With Jesus Tinoco struggling, the Marlins went to Henriquez on Sunday night for the save.

Henriquez has been great this season, throwing 25.1 innings with a 1.78 ERA and 35 strikeouts. The Marlins won’t win a ton of games, and it is hard to tell if he is the guy or if this will be a committee, but he is an interesting gamble.

Jorge Lopez (RP – WSH)

Jorge Lopez was picked up in 41 Main Event leagues with a max bid of $81 and a minimum bid of $4. Closer Kyle Finnegan is dealing with a shoulder issue, and there is some fear he will end up on the IL.

Lopez would be the next man up in Washington. While he has not been good this season, there have been a lot of save chances for Finnegan and the Nationals this season. There is risk here, but Lopez could fall into a plethora of saves if Finnegan is sidelined.

Matt Vierling (3B, OF – DET)

Matt Vierling was picked up in 41 Main Event leagues with a max bid of $55 and a minimum bid of $4. Vierling returned from the IL last week. While he is not a star by any means, Vierling is a good deep league option as someone who can do a little bit of everything. He is eligible at both third base and in the outfield.

Robert Hassell III (OF – WSH)

Robert Hassell was picked up in 39 leagues with a max bid of $75 and a minimum bid of $3. Hassell is a former first-round pick who never blossomed as a player, but with the Nationals losing both Dylan Crews and Jacob Young to the IL, they called him up. The power likely doesn’t play, but Hassell does have speed and has done a good job of making contact the last two years in the Minors.

Jacob Lopez (SP, RP – ATH)

Jacob Lopez was picked up in 35 Main Event leagues with a max bid of $35 and a minimum bid of $7. Lopez has been good since joining the A’s, throwing 14 innings over two starts and three relief appearances with a 2.57 ERA and 17 strikeouts.

Lopez is coming off a seven-inning gem versus the Phillies and has a great start this week at Toronto. Lopez has struggled with walks throughout his career and hasn’t had success as a starter in the Majors. He is worth streaming this week and then re-evaluating later.

Robert Garcia (RP – TEX)

Robert Garcia was picked up in 33 Main Event leagues with a max bid of $122 and a minimum bid of $9. With Luke Jackson struggling and Chris Martin on the IL, Garcia picked up the save on Sunday night, leading to speculation that he could take over the Rangers’ closer role.

Garcia would be the logical next man up, but it is hard to tell if that will be the case or if the Rangers will employ a committee. There is also a chance Jackson keeps the role, but there is not much clarity on the situation right now.

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