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Welcome back, RotoBallers! This article will discuss our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 16, July 8 through July 14. The difficult roster decisions keep rolling in, and the recent promotions and injured list activations from this past week won't make things any easier.
Roster spots and playing time are changing league-wide every day. Fantasy managers better be ready to stay on their feet all summer long. This article will highlight the guys deserving of more attention. Expect to see some consistently overlooked waiver wire fixtures while other up-and-coming names make their season debuts on this list.
The names in this article are in order of rostered percentage and are not indicative of a confidence ranking. Rostered percentages can change quickly, so check your leagues for availability.
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Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Standard Leagues
Heston Kjerstad, Baltimore Orioles (40% Rostered)
Playing time remains uncertain for Heston Kjerstad, but he has been starting regularly against right-handed pitchers of late. If that trend continues, we can optimistically assume he has settled into a strong-side platoon role. Kjerstad hit safely in four of his five starts this past week, including a pair of home runs, and he appears to be settling into the majors.
Kjerstad possesses all the tools to be a breakout player. He is the fourth-ranked prospect in the Baltimore Orioles organization and the No. 21 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. Kjerstad demonstrated his prolific hitting ability in Triple-A, where he posted a .300/.397/.601 slash line with 16 home runs across 56 games played this season. He often gets lost in the mix of all the talent coming up through Batlimore's deep farm system, but don't be surprised if we soon count Kjerstad among the team's young stars.
Joc Pederson, Arizona Diamondbacks (32% Rostered)
You won't be surprised to read Joc Pederson's name if you have followed this list all season long. After seeing his ownership dip again over the past two weeks, it would feel negligent not to highlight him as one of the best outfielders available. The 32-year-old has homered in three of his past four contests, which brings his season slash line to an impressive .289/.386/.531 with 13 home runs and a 153 wRC+.
Joc Pederson battles back from an 0-2 count and mashes a 2-run homer 💪 pic.twitter.com/HrCNYd6NNx
— MLB (@MLB) July 6, 2024
Pederson's batted-ball metrics fully validate his success in 2024. He has crushed opposing pitchers to the tune of a 12.2% barrel rate, 48.3% hard-hit rate, 92.2 MPH average exit velocity, and a .451 xSLG. Even considering that Pederson operates out of a strict strong-side platoon, he deserves to be rostered in the majority of fantasy leagues.
Matt Vierling, Detroit Tigers (22% Rostered)
Matt Vierling's real-life playing value is somewhat debatable, but he offers plenty of productivity from a fantasy standpoint. His defect? Vierling does not get on base enough. He walks at a frustratingly low 4.4% rate, which his middling .249 batting average does not quite compensate for enough. That said, walks do not win fantasy baseball championships, so Vierling's 11 home runs and .438 slugging percentage are a worthwhile pursuit.
Looking under the hood, Vierling's advanced numbers suggest he may be due for some positive regression. His fantastic batted-ball metrics include a 10.4% barrel rate, 44.3% hard-hit rate, 38.7% sweet-spot rate, 90.9 MPH average exit velocity, and a .440 xSLG. Further, Vierling doesn't strike out at an exceptional rate and, despite his low walk numbers, exhibits a disciplined approach at the plate by chasing on only 22.3% of pitches outside the strike zone.
LaMonte Wade Jr., San Francisco Giants (12% Rostered)
LaMonte Wade Jr. missed nearly all of June with a hamstring injury but has since reclaimed his spot near the top of the San Francisco Giants' batting order. Overall, he owns an outstanding .322/.458/.436 slash line with a 167 wRC+ for the season. A platoon split limits his playing time mildly, but Wade feels massively underrated based on his widespread availability.
Wade's three home runs suggest an underwhelming upside, but his batted-ball metrics are much more encouraging than what we see on the surface. He has generated an outstanding .496 xSLG, 10.2% barrel rate, 45.4% hard-hit rate, .307 xBA, and a 43.5% sweet-spot rate. Oracle Park does no favors for left-handed power, but even still, Wade is deserving of better results going forward.
Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues
Garrett Mitchell, Milwaukee Brewers (5% Rostered)
Formerly hailed as the Milwaukee Brewers organization's top prospect, Garrett Mitchell's stock has diminished due to injuries. The 25-year-old has been limited to only 52 games played in the major leagues since his debut in 2022, though the results have been worthwhile, producing a .780 OPS with a 117 wRC+. Mitchell made his season debut this past week and will look to establish himself quickly as an everyday contributor.
During his most recent rehab stint, Mitchell reminded us why he was such a prized prospect. Over 12 games in Triple-A, he generated a 1.040 OPS with four home runs and four stolen bases. Mitchell's power-hitting is closer to average, though he possesses a demonstrated ability to hit for average alongside elite 80-grade speed. Expect to see Mitchell get on base frequently and chase stolen bases.
Parker Meadows, Detroit Tigers (4% Rostered)
After being demoted to Triple-A earlier this season, Parker Meadows rediscovered his offensive approach. Over 47 games played, he posted a .298/.394/.511 slash line with eight home runs and 19 stolen bases. Meadows does not offer the same prospect pedigree as Garrett Mitchell, but many are rightfully excited about his most recent promotion this past week. He offers above-average power and fantastic stolen base upside, and if Meadows can find consistency at the plate, there is a tangible upside worth chasing.
Parker Meadows hit a home run in his return to the Tigers lineup.
He was sent down to Toledo on May 7, but was recalled before Friday’s game.
Video: @tigers
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) July 6, 2024
It will be hard to rectify the .096/.224/.219 slash line Meadows generated over 32 games with the big league club to begin the 2024 campaign, so it's best to ignore the overall numbers. That said, he did homer in his first game back, and Meadows may be able to carry over the momentum from his successful minor league stint.
Jesus Sanchez, Miami Marlins (3% Rostered)
On the surface, there is not a lot to be excited about with Jesus Sanchez. He owns an underwhelming .244/.294/.404 slash line with nine home runs and a 99 wRC+.That includes a horrible 35.9% chase rate alongside a mediocre 5.6% walk rate. If you can overlook the results, Sanchez may actually be a hidden gem waiting to break out.
Sanchez's underlying numbers paint the picture of a completely different hitter than what we have seen. He has crushed the ball this season, generating a phenomenal .521 xSLG, .280 xBA, 13.4% barrel rate, 51.9% hard-hit rate, and a 93.7 MPH average exit velocity. Further, Sanchez does not strike out at an exceptional rate and, more than anything else appears to be the victim of very bad luck. If he continues squaring up opposing pitchers like he is, the results will follow for Sanchez.
More Players to Consider
- Masataka Yoshida, Boston Red Sox (38% rostered)
- Eloy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox (28% rostered)
- Lars Nootbaar, St. Louis Cardinals (27% rostered)
- Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox (25% rostered)
- Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers (22% rostered)
- JJ Bleday, Oakland Athletics (19% rostered)
- Jake Fraley, Cincinnati Reds (13% rostered)
More Deep-League Players to Consider
- Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates (10% rostered
- Kevin Pillar, Los Angeles Angels (10% rostered)
- Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies (9% rostered)
- Joey Loperfido, Houston Astros (5% rostered)
- Luis Matos, San Francisco Giants (4% rostered)
- Alek Thomas, Arizona Diamondbacks (3% rostered)
- Trevor Larnach, Minnesota Twins (1% rostered)
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