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Welcome back RotoBallers! This article will discuss our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 8 -- May 13 through May 19. 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.
As the sample size becomes 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 percentage rostered 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 their availability.
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Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Standard Leagues
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins (50% Rostered)
After missing a chunk of the early season with injury, Max Kepler has come on strong lately. He's slashing .338/.398/.568 with three home runs and a 174 wRC+ through 22 games played. Kepler's success is largely tied to his ability to put the ball in play, striking out just 14.5% of the time while producing a strong 9.5% barrel rate and a 90 MPH average exit velocity.
The small sample size might be a factor in Kepler's .926 OPS, but his productivity at the plate is by no means surprising. Kepler smashed 24 home runs last season en route to a .816 OPS and a 124 wRC+. At 31 years old, it's reasonable to assume he remains in his playing prime, and we should not be quick to forget Kepler's 36-home run campaign a few years ago.
Michael Conforto, San Francisco Giants (49% Rostered)
Despite playing half his games in a ballpark that hates left-handed power, Michael Conforto is starting to resemble the hitter he was before his shoulder injury. The 31-year-old is slashing .277/.329/.489 with seven home runs and a 136 wRC+. Conforto has emerged as one of the most important bats in the San Francisco Giants lineup and is finally starting to see more consistent action against left-handed pitchers.
Looking under the hood, Conforto's advanced metrics appear to support his run of success. His 20.4% strikeout rate is moderately better than the league average, and despite a low walk rate, Conforto has generated a strong .352 xwOBA overall. Conforto's impressive batted-ball metrics underscore his fantasy value, producing a .498 xSLG, a 10% barrel rate, and a 44.5% hard-hit rate.
Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels (35% Rostered)
This might sound like a broken record since his name has been featured here so frequently, but Jo Adell continues to go unnoticed in the majority of fantasy leagues. Through 32 games, he sports an impressive .856 OPS with six home runs, seven stolen bases, and a 137 wRC+. Adell is demonstrating his ability to fulfill a box score in a variety of ways, and with the Los Angeles Angels lineup severely depleted, there is no longer any threat to his playing time.
Just listen to the sound off of Jo Adell's bat 😲
(MLB x @Chevrolet) pic.twitter.com/8hKVhsXVGx
— MLB (@MLB) May 11, 2024
Adell's underlying numbers continue to support his breakout campaign. The 25-year-old sports an outstanding .412 xwOBA, alongside fantastic batted-ball metrics, like a .590 xSLG, .314 xBA, 15.4% barrel rate, and a 47.7% hard-hit rate. Adell's chase rate leaves something to be desired, but his 24.5% strikeout rate is a remarkable improvement from his career 34.3% strikeout rate.
Mike Tauchman, Chicago Cubs (18% Rostered)
The Chicago Cubs lineup is getting healthier with Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki returning to the batting order, but that hasn't hurt Mike Tauchman's playing time. Instead, the 33-year-old was promoted to the leadoff role in his most recent appearance. Overall, Tauchman sports a respectable .271/.409/.430 slash line with three home runs and a 148 wRC+. He does not possess the same fantasy ceiling as others featured on this list, though Tauchman remains a reliable on-field contributor and a worthwhile streaming option.
It's not typically what we look for in fantasy producers, but a good eye is what sets Tauchman apart. He chases only 21.1% of pitches outside the strike zone and carries an elite 17.4% walk rate, which juxtaposes nicely against an 18.2% strikeout rate. Plate discipline is nothing new for Tauchman, though he is generating some of his best-batted ball metrics. Those numbers include an 8.4% barrel rate, .412 xSLG, and a 37.3% sweet-spot rate.
Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues
Tommy Pham, Chicago White Sox (7% Rostered)
Tommy Pham has been with the Chicago White Sox for roughly two weeks now, and his presence has been a breath of fresh air to their lineup. Through 13 games played, he is slashing .308/.333/.481 with a 131 wRC+. His placement in the batting order migrates slightly, but Pham should remain a fixture in the top three spots for the foreseeable future.
Pham's advanced numbers support his success. Despite a low walk rate, he sports a strong .346 xwOBA, comprised of worthwhile batted-ball metrics. Those marks include a .322 xBA and a .449 xSLG. The 36-year-old is likely beyond his prime, but there is still plenty of production remaining in Pham's bat.
Davis Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays (7% Rostered)
Davis Schneider experienced a cold start to the season, but his production has rebounded. Overall, he's up to a .265/.378/.458 slash line with a 144 wRC+. The strong performance builds off Schneider's impressive 2023 campaign, which saw him post a 1.008 OPS with a 176 wRC+ across his first 35 major-league games.
Davis Schneider's 4th homer of the season 💪 pic.twitter.com/2BG9hWqolB
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 11, 2024
While Schneider's surface numbers show promise, his underlying metrics indicate he's capable of much more. Schneider boasts an elite 19.3% barrel rate alongside similarly fantastic batted-ball metrics, such as a .490 xSLG, 91.1 MPH average exit velocity, and a 45.6% hard-hit rate. His 26.5% strikeout rate is a little higher than ideal, but Schneider compensates for it with excellent pitch selection. He chases on just 18.1% of pitches outside the strike zone and sports an outstanding 13.1% walk rate. Altogether, it seems unlikely that Schneider's fantasy ownership will remain this low.
Joc Pederson, Arizona Diamondbacks (5% Rostered)
Joc Pederson's ceiling continues to be limited by his platoon-style role with the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, his production is worthwhile when he is in the lineup. Overall, Pederson carries a .302/.421/.535 slash line with four home runs and a 172 wRC+. He's been a rare bright spot in a lineup that has struggled immensely against right-handed pitching this season.
Similarly to the surface stats, Pederson's advanced numbers are encouraging. The 32-year-old is ripping the ball to the tune of a 92.3 MPH average exit velocity, 9% barrel rate, and a 49.3% hard-hit rate. Pederson also strikes out less than average and generates walks at a 13% rate. There is no reason to suspect he can't continue to produce.
More Players to Consider
- Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies (44% rostered)
- Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox (43% rostered)
- Connor Joe, Pittsburgh Pirates (32% rostered)
- Ryan O'Hearn, Baltimore Orioles (27% rostered)
- Brenton Doyle, Colorado Rockies (26% rostered)
- Jonny DeLuca, Tampa Bay Rays (22% rostered)
- Jake Fraley, Cincinnati Reds (19% rostered)
More Deep-League Players to Consider
- Nick Senzel, Washington Nationals (9% rostered)
- Blake Perkins, Milwaukee Brewers (8% rostered)
- Wenceel Perez, Detroit Tigers (8% rostered)
- Harold Ramirez, Tampa Bay Rays (6% rostered)
- Richie Palacios, Tampa Bay Rays (4% rostered)
- Trevor Larnach, Minnesota Twins (3% rostered)
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