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Welcome back RotoBallers! This article will discuss our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 15 -- July 1 through July 7. The difficult roster decisions keep rolling through, and the much-anticipated promotion of James Wood 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. Some names will be reliable placeholders, while others may prove to be the investment that changes the entire outlook of your fantasy campaign.
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 be quick to check your leagues for availability.
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Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Standard Leagues
James Wood, Washington Nationals (46% Rostered)
Undoubtedly, James Wood is the headliner of this week's article. With news of his promotion arriving this week, it's a little surprising that he remains available in more than half of fantasy leagues. Wood is the top prospect in the Washinton Nationals farm system and the third-ranked prospect in all of baseball, per MLB Pipeline. The 21-year-old features prolific hitting ability and speed, though his 70-grade power is the primary selling point.
3 doubles, 3 RBIs for MLB's No. 3 prospect James Wood with the Triple-A @RocRedWings 💪
The top @Nationals prospect is expected to make his MLB debut Monday: https://t.co/yivZP9baNZ pic.twitter.com/cOLvtVom0w
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 29, 2024
Wood got off to a predictably red-hot start in Triple-A this season, slashing .353/.463/.595 with 10 home runs, 10 stolen bases, and a 173 wRC+. The fantastic production is business as usual for Wood. Instead, Wood's ability to cut his strikeout rate from 33.7% in 2023 down to just 18.2% this season was most remarkable. He has accomplished everything he needed to in the minor leagues, and Wood appears poised to become a star.
Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles (28% Rostered)
Colton Cowser posted a 1.004 OPS during March and April and was one of the hottest names in fantasy baseball during the first part of the 2024 season. A subsequent cold stretch has killed his hype considerably, but it's worth checking back in with him now that he's available again in most leagues.
After going yard in three consecutive starts this past week, Cowser is up to a strong .777 OPS with 12 home runs and a 120 wRC+. Cowser's 28.8% strikeout rate remains a legitimate concern, but it is hard not to love the results when he does put the ball in play. His prolific batted-ball metrics include a .517 xSLG, 91.8 MPH average exit velocity, 16.3% barrel rate, and a 51% hard-hit rate.
Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies (23% Rostered)
Brandon Marsh doesn't get much attention for it, but he has been consistently solid for the Philadelphia Phillies this season. Overall, he is up to a .270/.351/.429 slash line. That success includes seven home runs, nine stolen bases, and a 122 wRC+. Although Marsh was already operating as an everyday player in the Philadelphia Phillies lineup, he will be relied upon more heavily with Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper both landing on the injured list this past week.
Although Marsh's strikeout woes have carried over into 2024, his underlying numbers are too good to ignore. He has generated a 52.3% hard-hit rate, alongside similarly outstanding batted-ball metrics, such as a .453 xSLG, 92.4 MPH average exit velocity, and a 49.2% sweet-spot rate. Marsh's whiff rate sits at just a middling 24.5% mark, suggesting that a more aggressive approach could result in fewer strikeouts and more production. We will gladly take Marsh how he is now, but a much higher ceiling feels within reach.
Jhonkensy Noel, Cleveland Guardians (12% Rostered)
While he is not necessarily a heralded prospect like James Wood, Jhonkensy Noel is certainly an exciting prospect. The 22-year-old made his major league debut this past week and wasted no time launching his first career home run during his first at-bat. Power is what Noel does best, launching 27 long balls in Triple-A last year and 18 home runs across 65 games played in Triple-A this season.
115.4 mph EV for Jhonkensy Noel's 2nd big league homer 😲
Only MLB players this season with harder-hit HRs than the @CleGuardians' prospect:
Giancarlo Stanton
Aaron Judge
Oneil Cruz
Yordan Alvarez
Shohei Ohtani pic.twitter.com/wzkBCm6u2o— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 29, 2024
Despite an undeniably worthwhile ceiling, Noel has historically been limited by his gratuitous strikeout numbers. That said, Noel has made strides in 2024, striking out at just a 21.1% rate in Triple-A. The result has been a more comprehensive ability to produce offensively, generating a .295/.359/.578 slash line. If this trend continues, Noel could be a breakout waiting to happen.
Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues
Joey Loperfido, Houston Astros (9% Rostered)
Joey Loperfido appears to have finally etched out a regular playing role for the first time since he debuted in the major leagues. Following his most recent promotion, Loperfido started six consecutive games for the Houston Astros, including once against a left-handed pitcher. Playing time has been the primary factor holding Loperfido back, and if we can put that in the rearview mirror, Loperfido is a very real breakout candidate. The eventual return of Kyle Tucker will throw a wrinkle into the equation, but his current absence may buy Loperfido enough time to establish himself.
Whatever the reason for Loperfido's inconsistent role with the big league roster so far, it is not performance. Across 21 games played, he has generated a .293 batting average with a 116 wRC+. The production picks up right where Loperfido left off in the minor leagues, where he posted a .933 OPS with 13 home runs and nine stolen bases through 39 games in Triple-A this season.
Brett Wisely, San Francisco Giants (3% Rostered)
While the return of LaMonte Wade Jr. from the injured list has bumped Brett Wisely down in the batting order, he continues to excel with the opportunities he is given. The 25-year-old is slashing .304/.333/.461 with three home runs and a 127 wRC+ overall this season. Wisely will usually sit against left-handed pitching, but that still leaves him in the lineup more often than not.
Looking deeper at Wisely's batting profile, he does not excel in any one area with power or speed. Still, he has demonstrated the ability to contribute across various categories. Wisely finds success by whiffing on only 21.8% of swings while producing an impressive 11.3% barrel rate. It would be reasonable to assume some regression is headed his way, but Wisely generated a .890 OPS in Triple-A and may simply be underrated. In either event, he is a worthwhile streaming option for deeper leagues.
Trevor Larnach, Minnesota Twins (1% Rostered)
Trevor Larnach has been a consistent feature on this list. Despite his apparent lack of popularity, he remains one of the best sources of deep value in fantasy baseball this season. Larnach's surface numbers are middling, producing a .248/.297/.422 slash line with seven home runs, but underneath a breakout is bubbling.
Larnach's advanced metrics paint the picture of a much more prolific hitter. He has crushed opposing pitchers to the tune of a .500 xSLG, .282 xBA, 92.4 MPH average exit velocity, 10% barrel rate, and a 44.6% hard-hit rate. Further, Larnach only strikes out at an 18.9% rate. There is nothing egregious in his batting profile to suggest that he should continue to struggle. Better days are coming for Larnach.
More Players to Consider
- Ryan O'Hearn, Baltimore Orioles (47% rostered)
- Joc Pederson, Arizona Diamondbacks (39% rostered)
- Heston Kjerstad, Baltimore Orioles (30% rostered)
- Matt Vierling, Detroit Tigers (28% rostered)
- Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox (27% rostered)
- JJ Bleday, Oakland Athletics (27% rostered)
- Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers (25% rostered)
- Jake Fraley, Cincinnati Reds (13% rostered)
More Deep-League Players to Consider
- Jake McCarthy, Arizona Diamondbacks (10% rostered)
- Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies (9% rostered)
- Jake Meyers, Houston Astros (7% rostered)
- Tommy Pham, Chicago White Sox (6% rostered)
- Jake Bauers, Milwaukee Brewers (2% rostered)
- Dominic Canzone, Seattle Mariners (1% rostered)
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