X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Outfield Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 20 (2024)

James Wood - Fantasy Baseball Prospects, Draft Sleepers, MLB Rankings

Welcome back, RotoBallers! This article will discuss our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 20, August 5 through August 11. With the fantasy trade deadline fast approaching, it's time to consider our waiver wire options more urgently. For most managers, it's not too late to turn your season around.

Roster spots and playing time are changing league-wide every day. Fantasy managers better be ready to stay on their feet all summer long and adapt to evolving situations. This article will highlight the guys deserving of more attention this week, including some names whose outlooks have changed remarkably following the passage of the MLB trade deadline.

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.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

 

Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Standard Leagues

James Wood, Washington Nationals (50% Rostered)

Following the immense hype surrounding James Wood's promotion to the major leagues last month, the new toy shine has worn off in the eyes of some fantasy managers. Wood's roster percentage has dipped in recent weeks, and he is now available in roughly half of fantasy leagues. Despite his underwhelming .688 OPS overall, Wood remains one of the highest-ceiling players available on the waiver wire. He has hit safely in six out of his last seven games and appears to be establishing himself against big-league pitching.

Wood's early struggles in the majors should not overshadow his prospect pedigree. Wood is the top-ranked prospect in the Washington Nationals farm system and the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. His offensive profile features a unique combination of 60-grade speed alongside prolific 70-grade power. Wood produced a 1.058 OPS with 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases across 52 Triple-A games this season, building off his 26-home run, 18-stolen base 2023 campaign.

Michael Toglia, Colorado Rockies (38% Rostered)

Michael Toglia's name has continuously picked up steam in recent weeks. His hitting profile features glaring downsides, headlined by his .210 batting average and 33.1% strikeout rate. Still, while the lows can be hard to stomach, Toglia's highs are worth chasing. Through 65 games played this season, Toglia is slugging .500 with 19 home runs. He has etched out an everyday role in the heart of the Colorado Rockies' batting order, and there is reason to suspect that a strong second-half finish is in store for Toglia.

Looking deeper at Toglia's advanced numbers, he is a strong candidate for positive regression. The strikeout rate shows no signs of slowing down; however, Toglia's .242 xBA and .349 xwOBA suggest he is a much more well-rounded hitter than the surface stats tell us. Additionally, Toglia's batted-ball metrics are outstanding, including a .527 xSLG, 17.9% barrel rate, 92.6 MPH average exit velocity, and a 52.4% hard-hit rate.

Victor Robles, Seattle Mariners (17% Rostered)

Nobody could have predicted it, but Victor Robles has emerged as one of the most consequential hitters in a struggling Seattle Mariners offense. Over the past two weeks, Robles has secured himself a new role atop the Mariner's batting order. He is making the most of his new opportunity, slashing .367/.425/.557 with three home runs and 10 stolen bases across 34 games since joining Seattle. Robles feels like a player whose popularity is about to take a big jump over the next week, so act now if you hope to roster him.

2024 has all the optics of a breakout season for the 27-year-old, and the advanced metrics support Robles' recent run of success. He sports an outstanding .371 xwOBA alongside similarly fantastic numbers, such as a .496 xSLG, a .283 xBA, and an 11.6% barrel rate. Robles is generating better contact than he ever has before in his career, and with his tremendous base-stealing upside, he is capable of contributing fantasy value across numerous categories.

Tommy Pham, St. Louis Cardinals (11% Rostered)

If you've been following this list all season long, you've seen Tommy Pham's name mentioned here before. Between making a delayed season debut and anchoring a horrible Chicago White Sox offense, Pham's contributions have flown under the radar. However, Pham has been as solid as ever in 2024 producing a .275 batting average with a 109 wRC+. And now, as part of a stronger St. Louis Cardinals lineup, Pham should see more run-producing opportunities moving forward.

Peeking under the hood, Pham's advanced numbers suggest he's striking the ball even better than what the surface results tell us. His fantastic batted-ball metrics include a .294 xBA, .449 xSLG, and a 90.8 MPH average exit velocity. Comprehensively, there is nothing to hate about Pham's entire hitting profile. He doesn't strike out at an exceptional rate and exhibits some truly elite pitch selection with his 19.8% chase rate. Pham doesn't have the ceiling as some others on this list, but he is about as reliable as they come.

 

Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues

Joey Loperfido, Toronto Blue Jays (3% Rostered)

One player who has benefited massively from a post-trade deadline change of scenery is Joey Loperfido. Although he was beginning to etch out more playing time with the Houston Astros, there was an ongoing reluctance to commit to him as an everyday player. Now after joining the Toronto Blue Jays this past week, Loperfido has settled into a regular playing role and a spot near the top of the batting order. For the first time, he has the runway to succeed.

Admittedly, the .241/.299/.371 slash line Loperfido has produced in the majors does not inspire a lot of confidence. That said, keep in mind how infrequent at-bats can prevent any player, let alone a rookie, from establishing their rhythm at the plate. Instead, let's look at the minor league numbers. Loperfido generated a .933 OPS with 13 home runs and nine stolen bases over 39 appearances in Triple-A this season. That success built off the 25-home run, 27-stolen base campaign Loperfido produced in 2023. If you missed out on Lawrence Butler, Loperfido profiles similarly.

Miguel Vargas, Chicago White Sox (2% Rostered)

Miguel Vargas is another winner of the trade deadline. Although getting traded from a World Series favorite Los Angeles Dodgers squad to a historically awful Chicago White Sox team doesn't sound like a great career move, it does finally guarantee Miguel Vargas will receive regular playing time. Vargas was blocked in Los Angeles and has immediately assumed a regular spot atop the White Sox batting order.

Vargas has received sporadic playing time in the majors, playing a total of 132 games dating back to 2022, and the results haven't been anything to get excited about. He sports a middling .693 OPS with four home runs this season. Still, it's worth reminding ourselves of Vargas' potential. When he still carried prospect status in 2023, he was the third-ranked prospect in the Dodgers farm system and a top-40 prospect in all of baseball, per MLB Pipeline. Vargas produced a 1.005 OPS over 41 games in Triple-A this season, up from an impressive .886 mark last year. We won't be blindsided by a sudden breakout.

Kyle Stowers, Miami Marlins (1% Rostered)

Keeping with the trend of post-trade deadline outlook changes, Kyle Stowers is an interesting player to watch. With the Baltimore Orioles, he had seemingly no path to regular playing time or even a regular spot on the major league roster. However, after being dealt to the Miami Marlins, Stowers is now being given an extended look as an everyday player.

Stowers' name gets lost in the mix of the elite Baltimore Orioles farm system, but he offers tremendous power-hitting upside. The 26-year-old slugged .555 across 58 games in Triple-A this season, up from a .511 slugging percentage in 2023 and a .527 mark in 2022. Stowers isn't likely to emerge as a .300 hitter, but he has a ceiling fantasy managers will not usually find this deep on the waiver wire.

 

More Players to Consider

 

More Deep-League Players to Consider



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Carlos Estévez3 hours ago

Carlos Estevez Feels Great After Cactus League Debut
Jon Gray3 hours ago

Leaves Game Friday After Being Hit By Comebacker
Eli White6 hours ago

Appears Likely To Open Season In Utility Role
Tommy Henry6 hours ago

Optioned To Triple-A
Blake Walston6 hours ago

To Have Tommy John Surgery
Jacob Misiorowski6 hours ago

Brewers Reassign Jacob Misiorowski To Minor-League Camp
Erik Swanson6 hours ago

Diagnosed With "Median Nerve Entrapment"
Shane Baz6 hours ago

Not Worried About Spring Training Results
Mason Adams8 hours ago

Exits With Elbow Injury
Will Klein8 hours ago

Optioned To Triple-A Tacoma
Jared Shuster8 hours ago

Optioned To Triple-A
José Buttó8 hours ago

Jose Butto Dealing With Groin Injury
Wenceel Pérez8 hours ago

Wenceel Perez Receives Injection, Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day
Jose Trevino8 hours ago

Exits Early On Friday
Jake Cronenworth9 hours ago

Not Expected To Play First Base
Lance McCullers Jr.9 hours ago

To Make Grapefruit League Debut On Tuesday
Giancarlo Stanton9 hours ago

Dealing With Minor Calf Injury
Jacob deGrom9 hours ago

Throws In Minor-League Game On Friday
Wilyer Abreu9 hours ago

To Make Spring Debut On Saturday, Could Be Ready For Opening Day
Grayson Rodriguez9 hours ago

Should Begin Throwing Progression Next Week
Kyle Wright9 hours ago

Hoping To Face Live Hitters Next Week
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP
10
9
11
10
12
19
13
22
14
24
15
25
16
33
17
40
18
41
19
42

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
1
1
2
3
3
7
4
11
6
14
7
15
8
18
9
19
10
20

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Michael Florio's Football Show - Podcast RotoBaller Network

Florio's Football Show: Free Agency Fantasy Fallout!

Michael F. Florio is back going over the any signings and trades that free agency week brought us! He discusses his winners and losers of players that changed teams - then does the same for players who were not moved but still had their value impacted! Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

NFL Free Agency Tracker - Updates On Every Free Agent Signing (2025)

The NFL offseason is starting to heat up, and the league's legal tampering period is set to begin on March 10 at noon Eastern. Free agents cannot officially sign until the new league year begins on March 12 at 4 p.m. Eastern, but deals will be agreed to, and news will be coming in quickly […]


Drake Maye - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Players To Target In Deep Leagues

Fantasy football sleepers are what make the game fun. There is nothing like landing an absolute stud in the double-digit rounds of your fantasy draft. The more teams in your league, the more important sleepers become. As the player pool shrinks, it is an absolute must to hit on at least one or two sleepers. […]


DK Metcalf - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Avoids, Busts: 2025 NFL Free Agent Signings

The 2025 NFL free-agency period is well underway, and many wide receivers, tight ends, quarterbacks, and running backs have already found their new homes. While some of them are in better landing spots, or at least should continue having solid production relative to their ADP (anticipated draft position) in fantasy football, some of them should […]


Jaydon Blue - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Picks, NFL Draft

2025 Fantasy Football Rookie Sleepers: Late-Round Prospects With Immediate Upside

Players who are thought of as less likely to succeed in the NFL are typically selected later in drafts. When a player falls through the rounds, it's generally because teams have doubts about their ability to produce. It takes a specific family of skill sets to succeed in the big leagues. But sometimes, players fall […]


Cole Kmet - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL injury News

2025 Fantasy Football Tight End Sleepers For Best Ball Drafts

Tight end is one of the most important positions in fantasy football, and heading into 2025, the position seems even deeper than it has been in past seasons. Sure, there’s the new cream rising to the top with Brock Bowers and Trey McBride, but a lot of veterans are seen much lower in best ball […]


Tyreek Hill - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Picks

Fantasy Football Bust Candidates: Second Round Avoids For 2025 Drafts

It's a little bit easier to identify potential busts in the second round of fantasy football drafts than in the first round. Of course, the further the drafts wear on, the fewer highly-talented players everyone knows are available. In the second round, there are usually more players with question marks than there are in the […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Free Agency Fantasy Football Analysis: Risers On New Teams (2025)

Sometimes the grass really is greener on the other side, and sometimes NFL players are able to go to said other side where said grass is greener and sign with a team that puts them in a better situation for fantasy football success. Such is the case for several players this season. Sometimes wide receivers […]


Dallas Goedert - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Dallas Goedert Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Trade Outlook

The Philadelphia Eagles are apparently attempting to trade their top tight end, Dallas Goedert, for at least a fourth-round pick in compensation. Whether or not they get their wish remains to be seen, but Goedert was still a reasonably productive TE in his final year with the Eagles with injuries aside. Part of the reason […]


Kareem Hunt - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Kareem Hunt Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt had a decent season filling in for the injured Isiah Pacheco and later serving in a committee with him when he returned from his broken fibula. He was technically signed "off the street" as he wasn't even in the NFL when the Chiefs reached out to him for […]


Joe Flacco - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Joe Flacco Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco has hit the open market, and the Colts have decided to go in another direction for their backup QB job. They signed former New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones to back up Anthony Richardson, though many are rightfully convinced that Jones will end up as the starter, […]


Brandin Cooks - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Brandin Cooks Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks is a free agent for the first time in his career after his contract with the Dallas Cowboys expired this offseason. He is now free to sign with any team he chooses. Cooks did not have his best season in 2024. He only posted a 26-259-3 line in 10 games and […]


Gus Edwards - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL DFS Picks

Gus Edwards Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

The Los Angeles Chargers recently cut Gus Edwards after one season with the team. He had just signed a two-year deal with Los Angeles last offseason, but apparently, the team wanted to go in a different direction. It’s understandable as Edwards averaged a career-worst 3.6 yards per carry in 2024. His advanced metrics weren’t great […]