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Welcome back, RotoBallers! This article will discuss our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 17, July 15 through July 21. As we head into the All-Star break, it's an excellent time to evaluate our rosters and deep-dive into some names that may be due for a big second half.
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
Ryan O'Hearn, Baltimore Orioles (49% Rostered)
Ryan O'Hearn had previously graduated from this list, but a hitting slump over the past couple of weeks has caused his ownership to dip below the 50% mark for the first time in a while. That said, the recent dip in production is no major cause for concern. O'Hearn still carries a fantastic .275/.333/.451 slash line with 11 home runs and a 126 wRC+. His strong-side platoon deployment remains a limiting factor, though O'Hearn remains in the lineup on most days, and his production is worthwhile.
We can overlook O'Hearn's July struggles because his underlying numbers continue to look great. The 30-year-old has produced a tremendous .295 xBA, .517 xSLG, and a 90.4 MPH average exit velocity. In addition to generating strong batted-ball metrics, O'Hearn has demonstrated elite plate discipline, striking out at a 10.9% rate, alongside an 18.6% whiff rate and a 24.9% chase rate. It is unlikely that his struggles will last much longer, and O'Hearn may even be due for some positive regression.
Joc Pederson, Arizona Diamondbacks (34% Rostered)
Joc Pederson is another familiar name if you have followed this list all season. Over the past few weeks, his ownership has taken a noticeable dip, but Pederson remains one of the best outfielders available. The 32-year-old owns an impressive .862 OPS for the season with 13 home runs and a 146 wRC+. Pederson is quietly having one of the better seasons of his career.
Pederson's batted-ball metrics fully validate his success in 2024. He has crushed opposing pitchers to the tune of a 11.9% barrel rate, 45.6% hard-hit rate, 91.8 MPH average exit velocity, and a .448 xSLG. Even considering that Pederson operates out of a strict strong-side platoon, he deserves to be rostered in the majority of fantasy leagues.
Lars Nootbaar, St. Louis Cardinals (28% Rostered)
Lars Nootbaar recently returned from the injured list this past week, and we may not see his ownership percentage stick around in this range for much longer. The 26-year-old has been limited to just 43 games so far this season. Nootbaar's 242/.335/.420 slash line isn't terribly impressive, though there is reason to believe that he could be in store for a big second half of the season.
First HR since returning from the IL Monday for Lars Nootbaar. pic.twitter.com/ath9m7fUYy
— Cardinals Dude (@Turn2Dude) July 11, 2024
Looking under the hood, Nootbaar's underlying numbers paint the picture of a much better hitter than what we have seen on the surface. His impressive batted-ball metrics include a .274 xBA, .491 xSLG, 91.9 MPH average exit velocity, 10.3% barrel rate, and a 52.1% hard-hit rate. If he can stay healthy, better days are ahead for Nootbaar.
Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies (24% Rostered)
Brandon Marsh gets overshadowed by the bigger names in the Philadelphia Phillies' lineup, but he's been a consistent contributor all season. The 26-year-old is slashing .271/.351/.450 overall in 2024 with nine home runs, 11 stolen bases, and a 127 wRC+. Marsh isn't exceptional in any one offensive area; however, he can fill up the box score in numerous categories. Additionally, Marsh sees added run-scoring and RBI opportunities hitting among guys like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, and Kyle Schwarber.
Marsh's advanced metrics go a long way toward validating his success this season. His impressive marks include a .353 xwOBA, .455 xSLG, 92 MPH average exit velocity, 50.3% hard-hit rate, and a 48.3% sweet-spot rate. The only identifiable fault in Marsh's offensive profile is his ugly 31.4% strikeout rate. Considering his middling 25.7% whiff rate and an outstanding 21.3% chase rate, Marsh could most likely benefit from a more aggressive approach at the plate. Fantasy managers will be happy rostering him as he is, but a more concerted effort to swing at more pitches could take him to another level.
Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues
Jesus Sanchez, Miami Marlins (3% Rostered)
Jesus Sanchez debuted on this list last week and is again worth highlighting as a deep sleeper. Overall, he owns an underwhelming .244/.294/.425 slash line with 11 home runs and a 100 wRC+. That includes a horrible 35.7% chase rate alongside a mediocre 5.7% walk rate. If you can overlook the results, Sanchez may secretly be a hidden gem waiting to break out.
Sanchez's underlying numbers are the source of the enthusiasm. He has crushed the ball in 2024, generating a phenomenal .511 xSLG, .273 xBA, 13.2% barrel rate, 52.8% 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 recipient of very bad luck. If he continues striking the ball like he has, Sanchez could be primed for a big second half.
Lawrence Butler, Oakland Athletics (2% Rostered)
There is a slim chance that Lawrence Butler was ever on your radar heading into this season. If he were, then you likely would have given up on him at some point during his horrible first three months of the campaign. However, something has apparently clicked for Butler. Since the beginning of July, the 24-year-old is batting .313 with four home runs and a .719 slugging percentage. The sample size is small enough to be a fluke, but it may be a sign of Butler beginning to realize his ceiling.
Lawrence Butler to deep center! pic.twitter.com/kFMU4RvNuZ
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 13, 2024
Until recently, Butler has never found much success at the major league level. He did flash a worthwhile upside during his time in the minor leagues. Over 89 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season, Butler generated a .825 OPS with 15 home runs and 21 stolen bases. He possesses a legitimate 20-home run and 20-stolen base upside, and the underlying numbers support a potential breakout. Butler's surprising batted-ball profile includes a 10.1% barrel rate, 47.7% hard-hit rate, and a 92 MPH average exit velocity.
Jonatan Clase, Seattle Mariners (1% Rostered)
With Dominic Canzone hitting the injured list again this past week, Jonatan Clase will get another opportunity to forge a role with the Seattle Mariners. Through 16 career games played in the majors, Clase sports a horrible .184/.205/.211 slash line. The results are discouraging, but the sample size is small, and Clase has a prospect pedigree worth taking a chance on.
Nagging injuries have frequently clouded Clase's development, but he ranks as the No. 10 prospect in the Mariners farm system, per MLB Pipeline. He has long been regarded as the fastest player in the organization, swiping 79 bags to complement 20 home runs over 129 games last season. Whether Clase will be given consistent enough playing time to figure out major league pitching remains to be seen, though the fantasy appeal is obvious.
More Players to Consider
- Bryan De La Cruz, Miami Marlins (50% rostered)
- Rece Hinds, Cincinnati Reds (43% rostered)
- Masataka Yoshida, Boston Red Sox (40% rostered)
- Heston Kjerstad, Baltimore Orioles (43% rostered)
- Eloy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox (26% rostered)
- Matt Vierling, Detroit Tigers (20% rostered)
- Amed Rosario, Tampa Bay Rays (19% rostered)
- Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers (18% rostered)
- Harrison Bader, New York Mets (13% rostered)
More Deep-League Players to Consider
- LaMonte Wade Jr., San Francisco Giants (10% rostered)
- Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates (8% rostered)
- Jake Meyers, Houston Astros (8% rostered)
- Kevin Pillar, Los Angeles Angels (8% rostered)
- Wenceel Perez, Detroit Tigers (5% rostered)
- Joey Loperfido, Houston Astros (4% rostered)
- Garrett Mitchell, Milwaukee Brewers (3% rostered)
- Trevor Larnach, Minnesota Twins (1% rostered)
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