Brandon Waddell DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Athletic's Tim Britton guesses that New York Mets left-hander Brandon Waddell could start or pitch bulk innings for the team on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Two other potential options for Wednesday include Justin Hagenman and Blade Tidwell, who pitched for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday. Waddell is the pick over prospect Brandon Sproat because Sproat has struggled in the minors and Waddell hasn't. Arizona has also had much more trouble against lefties in 2025. The 30-year-old Waddell hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2021, when he appeared in nine games with the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals. In 23 1/3 innings for Syracuse to start this year, he has posted a strong 1.54 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and seven walks. Despite Waddell's strong start in the minors, he won't be a recommended fantasy streamer if he starts on Wednesday.

The New York Mets signed free-agent left-hander Brandon Waddell to a minor-league deal on Monday, according to a source familiar with the deal. Waddell, 30, was originally a fifth-round draft selection by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2015 out of the University of Virginia. He made his debut in the COVID-shortened season in 2020 with the Bucs but hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2021, when he appeared in just nine games in relief with the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals. Waddell has spent the last three seasons pitching for the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization and he's done quite well for himself, posting a 2.98 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 215 strikeouts in 65 walks over 144 1/3 innings during that span overseas. Waddell will give the Mets some left-handed relief depth in the minors to open 2025.