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Welcome back RotoBallers! This article will discuss our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 11 -- June 3 through June 9. The time has come to start making those tough roster decisions and potentially cut ties with some of the struggling players who excited you on draft day. Trading in some of these early busts for players with more promising ceilings can be crucial to fantasy baseball success in the long run.
With the sample size becoming more substantial, we can start making better-informed decisions on the legitimacy of 2024 player performance. This article will highlight the guys who are trending upward and those whose standing with their team has changed significantly for one reason or another. At this stage, plenty remains speculative, but it's better to get out in front of the trends.
The names in this article are in order of rostered percentage and are not indicative of a confidence ranking. In the first few weeks, rostered percentages can change quickly, so be quick to check your leagues for availability.
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Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Standard Leagues
Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels (47% Rostered)
Jo Adell had seemingly graduated from this list, but a recent slump has seen his popularity take a dip. While his .211 batting average leaves plenty to be desired, Adell has showcased too much upside to write him off now. The 25-year-old still boasts a strong .748 OPS overall with 11 home runs, eight stolen bases, and a 107 wRC+. Importantly, Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington confirmed this week that Adell's recent slump has not put him at risk of losing out on consistent playing time.
JO ADELL GAME-TYING GRAND SLAM! pic.twitter.com/nU956O6T3u
— MLB (@MLB) June 1, 2024
Looking under the hood, Adell continues to produce very encouraging underlying numbers. While his 28.8% strikeout rate is a cause for some concern, the results have been spectacular when Adell puts the bat on the ball. He is crushing the ball this season to the tune of a .526 xSLG, a 15.7% barrel rate, and a 45.1% hard-hit rate. Look to Adell as a prime candidate for positive regression.
Davis Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays (41% Rostered)
Based on the recent rise in Davis Schneider's roster percentage, it appears the word is finally getting out on him. The 25-year-old sports a fantastic .824 OPS with seven home runs and a 137 wRC+ for the season. Schneider has emerged as one of the Toronto Blue Jays' most reliable hitters, and his performance recently earned him a promotion to the leadoff spot in the batting order.
At the core of Schneider's success is his elite plate discipline. While Schneider does strike out at an above-average clip, he chases on only 20% of pitchers outside the strike zone and walks at an outstanding 12.7% rate. The ability to draw walks is understandably not the most enticing characteristic of a fantasy baseball player, but that's where his strong batted-ball metrics come into play. Schneider is squaring up opposing pitchers this season, generating a 15.1% barrel rate, 90.7 MPH average exit velocity, and a 36.8% sweet-spot rate.
Jake Meyers, Houston Astros (39% Rostered)
Jake Meyers has been one of the fastest risers in fantasy baseball of late. The 27-year-old is enjoying a breakout campaign, slashing .289/.360/.489 with six home runs and a 144 wRC+. The Houston Astros are reputationally one of the most lethal lineups in baseball, but with several prominent names slumping in 2024, Meyers has seen his role elevated.
The underlying numbers fully support Meyers' success so far this season. As an overall jumping-off point, he sports a fantastic .379 xwOBA. That consists of some outstanding batted-ball metrics, such as a .299 xBA, .508 xSLG, 90.8 MPH average exit velocity, and a 38.9% sweet-spot rate. While Meyers' offensive profile does feature an uninspiring 30% whiff rate, he strikes out only 18.5% of the time, suggesting a sustainable approach.
Jacob Young, Washington Nationals (23% Rostered)
If you have an interest in Jacob Young, then you came here for one thing, and one thing only: stolen bases. Young presently ranks fourth in the majors with 17 stolen bases. This builds off the speed-demon reputation he built in the minors, swiping 91 bags over his past two minor-league campaigns combined. Young is likely going to be the best way to chase stolen bases on the waiver wire right now.
Looking deeper, Young's hitting profile does not inspire a ton of confidence. There is virtually no power-hitting upside, and his lackluster 4.4% walk rate somewhat impedes his ability to take full advantage of his base-stealing. Still, Young possesses a demonstrated ability to hit for average, producing a .288 xBA. This is largely thanks to a strong 20.3% whiff rate and an 18.8% strikeout rate. It's simple: Young consistently puts the ball in play, and speed doesn't go into slumps.
Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues
Adam Duvall, Atlanta Braves (10% Rostered)
With Ronald Acuna Jr. out for the season with a torn ACL, Adam Duvall now steps into an everyday role in the Atlanta Braves outfield. The results have been disappointing so far, generating a .198/.281/.386 slash line with five home runs. That said, it is hard to believe that Duvall has lost his ability to hit overnight, considering he slugged .531 with 21 home runs across just 92 games played in 2023.
At age 35, it's reasonable to expect that some of Duvall's struggles could be part of a new normal. Still, the underlying numbers suggest he is due for remarkable positive regression. Duvall is crushing the ball this season, producing a .469 xSLG, a 12.3% barrel rate, and a 37% sweet spot rate. There should be better days ahead for Duvall.
Heliot Ramos, San Francisco Giants (2% Rostered)
With LaMonte Wade Jr. and Michael Conforto on the injured list, there appears to be a path to consistent playing time for Heliot Ramos. Even stepping outside the health of the San Francisco Giants roster, Ramos has earned his spot in the lineup with fantastic production this season. Across 21 games played, the 24-year-old is slashing .280/.357/.413 with a 125 wRC+. This builds off the red-hot start Ramos had in Triple-A to start the year, producing a .953 OPS with eight home runs across 30 appearances.
While the surface numbers are encouraging, Ramos' advanced metrics take it a step further. He is consistently crushing pitches, generating a 12.2% barrel rate, 53.1% hard-hit rate, and a 92.3 MPH average exit velocity. There is plenty of swing-and-miss baked into his approach, but Ramos still manages to get on base consistently, thanks to a 10.7% walk rate. Assuming he can stick around in the lineup on most days, Ramos has a ceiling worth pursuing.
Dominic Canzone, Seattle Mariners (1% Rostered)
An early season injury derailed Dominic Canzone for several weeks. Since his return, he has immediately slotted into the heart of a struggling Seattle Mariners lineup and will be relied upon as a key producer moving forward. It's been a slow start so far for Canzone, but there is reason to believe he has better results just around the corner.
Dominic Canzone ties it up with a solo shot! pic.twitter.com/fdLspY0msb
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 30, 2024
The batted-ball metrics are too enticing to ignore. Canzone has generated a .501 xSLG, 47.8% hard-hit rate, 91.9 MPH average exit velocity, and a 10.9% barrel rate. His 30.1% strikeout rate is concerning, though he struck out just 17.6% of the time in 2023, and Canzone showcased consistently strong contact rates throughout his minor league tenure.
More Players to Consider
- Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals (47% rostered)
- Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins (40% rostered)
- Kevin Pillar, Los Angeles Angels (38% rostered)
- Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies (32% rostered)
- Ryan O'Hearn, Baltimore Orioles (26% rostered)
- Jarred Kelenic, Atlanta Braves (21% rostered)
- JJ Bleday, Oakland Athletics (21% rostered)
- Tommy Pham, Chicago White Sox (17% rostered)
More Deep-League Players to Consider
- Joc Pederson, Arizona Diamondbacks (10% rostered)
- Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates (8% rostered)
- Miguel Andujar, Oakland Athletics (7% rostered)
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs (5% rostered)
- Jake McCarthy, Arizona Diamondbacks (2% rostered)
- Willie Calhoun, Los Angeles Angels (1% rostered)
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