Welcome back to another edition of the top waiver wire pickups. I’m especially excited about this week’s list, as we have a great mix of positions and availability, so there’s truly something for everyone.
From an explosive duo on the verge of activation to a few under-the-radar players riding hot streaks, this week’s selections offer both upside and intrigue. I always enjoy uncovering these hidden gems, so let’s dive right in.
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All players listed are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues and have never appeared on this list before (except for one). I rarely repeat players, so if these players don’t fit your needs, it might be a good idea to read my previous articles to see if any of them are still available.
Without further ado, here are this week’s top fantasy baseball waiver wire adds.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets (2025)
Ryan Weathers (SP – MIA): 34%
Ryan Weathers ain’t messing around. Not only did he shut down the Cubs’ high-powered offense two times in a row, but he also faced his former team in San Diego and held them off the scoreboard for nearly six innings.
Weathers is off to an incredible start, registering a 1.15 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 15 strikeouts over 15.2 innings. The crafty southpaw was solid for the Fins last year as well, quietly finishing with a 3.63 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. The former seventh draft overall pick has dealt with his fair share of injuries in his career, but he could now be peaking at just 24 years old.
Carlos Narvaez (C – BOS): 18%
Carlos Narvaez has quietly been one of the Red Sox’s best hitters this season. With Alex Bregman (who’s now facing a long stint on the injured list), Rafael Devers, and Jarren Duran garnering most of the attention, it’s been the BoSox catcher who’s hit for the highest average this month (.375).
The 24-year-old Venezuelan has moved up to third in the lineup since Bregman’s departure and has looked very comfortable there. Narvaez is sporting an impressive 1.015 OPS in May and has collected nine runs and nine RBI. He could cool off at any moment, but he’s been one of the hottest hitters at the catcher position.
Nick Martinez (SP, RP – CIN): 43%
Nick Martinez has been an ace of sorts lately, registering six consecutive quality starts. Armed with one of the best change-ups in the game, Martinez can consistently miss barrels and induce weak contact.
The journeyman pitcher doesn’t collect many strikeouts, but he seldom walks a batter (just two over his last 32 innings), which has helped keep his WHIP low (1.11). He’s not flashy by any means, but he continues to get the job done and deserves a spot in most leagues.
Miguel Vargas (1B, 3B, OF – CWS): 47%
The sympathetic feeling for Miguel Vargas was palpable after he was traded from the eventual World Series-winning Dodgers to the lowly White Sox last year. To go from the best team to the worst team can’t be a great feeling, but don’t feel too bad for the former top prospect. Vargas seems to have found his footing in the North Side of Chicago and has quickly become their best hitter.
After failing to cash in on the hype surrounding him in Los Angeles, Vargas is enjoying a solid season for the White Sox. The corner infielder is hitting .275 for the month to go along with seven home runs, 17 RBI and 15 runs scored. His strikeout rate has also dropped to a low 14%.
Under less pressure in Chicago and with a bit more experience under his belt, Vargas is thriving. He was thought of as a near can’t-miss prospect at one point in the Dodgers’ system and is now making good on those predictions. He’s worth adding in nearly all leagues.
Miguel Vargas – Chicago White Sox (8)
pic.twitter.com/NtDZ1CfUOv— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) May 27, 2025
Lance McCullers Jr. (SP – HOU): 14%
I mentioned Lance McCullers before his activation, and while he’s had an up-and-down return, the strikeouts have been coming in droves.
After such a long layoff, it’s not surprising to see McCullers get hit around a bit and to sometimes be at odds with his command. While his fastball has been hit or miss, McCullers’ old calling card, his slider, has been as nasty as ever.
Over McCullers’ last two starts, the 31-year-old has racked up 20 strikeouts in just 10.1 innings. That’s a K/9 ratio of 17.8/9, which is truly off the charts. While the sample size is low, the results are hardly surprising considering McCullers always possessed one of the best sliders in the game.
While the Astros righty may struggle with walks at times or give up the occasional home run, if you’re low on strikeouts, McCullers is strongly worth considering. Fantasy managers should be licking their chops for his upcoming matchup against the Pirates.
Noah Cameron (SP – KC): 41%
Noah Cameron is the epitome of the term, “Throw me a fastball already!” If you’ve tuned into any of Cameron’s starts, you’ve witnessed hitters falling all over themselves trying to square up one of his four breaking pitches.
Cameron is what is known as a junkball pitcher — someone who spins the baseball on nearly every offering, making it dance before it crosses the plate. By missing so many barrels, Cameron’s able to routinely retire the side in order, which keeps his pitch count to a minimum. He’s pitched into the seventh inning in all four of his starts and hasn’t allowed more than a single earned run in any of them.
Cameron’s returns in the Minor Leagues were also successful. Last season, he held Triple-A opponents to a 2.32 ERA, and this year he was off to a similar start. He also managed a strikeout rate of nearly 30%.
The downside is that Kansas City has arguably its two best pitchers returning from the injured list (IL) soon, so it’s anyone’s guess as to what the club will do with Cameron. My feeling is that he could be sent down briefly once Seth Lugo (who was activated on Friday) and Cole Ragans return, but there’s always the chance they move Michael Lorenzen to a swing role after allowing 13 runs over his last three starts.
Cameron could receive one more start against St. Louis before a decision has to be made. But even if he’s sent down for a bit, another injury could occur at any time, placing Cameron back in the starting five. With Lorenzen struggling and Cameron competing so consistently, he may return to the rotation before you know it.
David Peterson (SP – NYM): 42%
David Peterson probably isn’t available in more competitive leagues, but seeing as he’s still under 50% rostered, he belongs on this list.
Peterson’s been nothing but consistent this year, holding teams to just two runs or fewer in nine of his 10 starts (he allowed three in his other one). He’s also faced some pretty tough competition during that stretch, including games against the Dodgers, Yankees and Phillies.
His WHIP is slightly bloated (1.28) because of all the walks he allows (3.41/9), but it’s extremely tolerable considering everything else he offers. The 6-foot-6 lefty should be rostered in all leagues as he continues to build off of last year’s breakout season (10 wins, 2.90 ERA, 21 starts).
Gavin Sheets (1B, OF – SD): 39%
Gavin Sheets just keeps on hitting. Despite being on a roster full of stars, it’s been Sheets who leads the team in RBI (34) while placing second in home runs (11). Besides the power numbers, Sheets is also collecting base hits as his average now sits at a robust .275.
Sheets was solid when he first came up in 2021, when he produced nearly identical numbers, so his breakout shouldn’t come as a complete surprise.
Sheets’ numbers in 2021 versus 2025:
| At-Bats | Runs | Home Runs | RBI | Average | |
| 2021 | 160 | 23 | 11 | 34 | .250 |
| 2025 | 171 | 23 | 11 | 34 | .275 |
Hitting behind all the big names on the club, the RBI and homers should continue to mount, if Sheets can continue to drive the ball with authority (92.5 average exit velocity).
Landen Roupp (SP, RP – SF): 18%
As far as young pitchers on the Giants go, most fantasy pundits will point you in the direction of Hayden Birdsong. While Birdsong does deserve his merits and consideration, I’ve been more impressed with teammate Landen Roupp.
Roupp has been a pleasant surprise for the Giants’ organization, racking up gaudy strikeout totals in the Minor Leagues while continuing to produce a low ERA. Not much was expected from the 12th-round pick back in 2021, but Roupp has continued to impress and is now doing it in The Show.
Over 11 Major League starts, Roupp has managed a strikeout per inning to go along with a solid 3.54 ERA. His expected ERA comes in a few ticks lower because of his inflated batting average on balls in play (BABIP). His walk rates are steady at just over three per nine, and he keeps the ball on the ground at a strong 46.7%.
Roupp’s WHIP is high because of all the ground balls that ended up as hits early in the season, but that number has steadily come down, as Roupp has allowed just 31 base runners over his last five starts (26 innings, 1.19 WHIP).
Striking out a batter per inning while regularly holding opponents to two or three runs a game has its place in fantasy leagues. Add Roupp and Birdsong, for that matter, for the upcoming period and beyond.
Giancarlo Stanton (OF – NYY): 17%
Lacking some much-needed thump to your lineup? Look who’s on the precipice of returning to baseball activities. I know. I know. Giancarlo Stanton comes with plenty of risk and headaches, but his power upside is nearly unmatched.
Stanton crushed 27 long balls last year in a partial season. He was also a monster in the playoffs while battling the same issue he’s dealt with this season. Over 14 playoff games, facing some of the game’s toughest opponents, Stanton crushed seven long balls while driving in 16 runs.
The Yankees slugger is likely still a couple of weeks away, but he’s someone to put on your immediate radar. You could also add him now if you’ve got the room.
Carlos Correa (SS – MIN): 28%
Carlos Correa was off to a dismal start and then clunked heads with Byron Buxton. Buxton, taking the worst of it, was just activated on Friday, but Correa seems to have caught fire since his return. While the results have been exemplary (.333 batting average, three home runs, five RBI), I’ve been more impressed with his quality of contact.
In the seven games since being activated, Correa is averaging nearly a 95 miles per hour (MPH) exit velocity, while only striking out four times. He’s already clubbed four extra-base hits, including three homers, and even his outs have been hard-hit balls. Correa has one of the fastest swing speeds in the league, so it’s not surprising to see the ball suddenly jumping off his bat.
The highly scrutinized shortstop had an excellent season last year as well, finishing with a .310/.388/.518 triple slash line over 367 plate appearances.
While Correa was missing the barrel in the early stages of the season, with a little time off, he seems to be back on track. He has a tough stretch of opposing pitchers this weekend, but don’t let a possible slide dismay you. By Monday, the Twins cleanup hitter should be mashing once again for what should be a solid seven-game week versus the A’s and Blue Jays.
Jac Caglianone (1B – KC): 21%
I also have to briefly mention Jac Caglianone. His power surge in the upper Minors has been well documented lately, as he’s launched six home runs in just over a week. Caglianone is blocked at first base at the Major League level, so the Royals’ brass has him experimenting out on the grass. While there are whispers about a potential call-up looming, my gut says it’ll be a few more weeks before he gets the call.
Caglianone’s two-strike approach could still use some work, and he’s barely sniffed his new position. That said, the Royals are dead last in outfield production, so his promotion could come sooner than the organization would like.
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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.
