I’ve got 12 more high-quality waiver wire pickups for you this week, and I’m especially excited about this group. Most are newcomers to this list, while a pair are here for a second time due to their pending or recent activation. Whether you’re looking for power, speed, wins or saves, I’ve got you covered. There should be something for everyone once again, so let’s get right to it.
All players are rostered in 50% or fewer of Yahoo leagues and deserve your immediate attention. A few names won’t last through the weekend, while others are perfect for deep-leaguers as they remain widely available.
- Fantasy Baseball Research & Advice
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- Rest-of-Season Projections
Without further ado, here are this week’s top fantasy baseball waiver wire adds.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets (2025)
Jose Caballero (2B, 3B, SS, OF – TBR): 35%
Jose Caballero ranks fifth in steals (19 – tied with Elly De La Cruz) and qualifies all over the diamond. He will hit the occasional bomb and starts the majority of the time. The Rays utility man performs better against left-handers but is still worth starting against righties because of the steals.
Caballero collected 44 swipes last year while launching nine home runs in limited playing time. This season, he seems to be playing more often and has even moved up to second in the lineup versus left-handed starters. Caballero is the perfect complement to your squad if it’s power-heavy.
Matt Wallner (OF – MIN): 13%
Matt Wallner hits the ball hard. Wallner’s exit velocity, bat speed, barrel rate, hard-hit rate and xSLG would all rank in the top 10% of the league if he qualified with enough at-bats. Injuries have limited his availability this season, but now fully healthy, Wallner is back to punishing baseballs. In four games since his return, the Twins outfielder has connected for two home runs and four hits.
Wallner’s previous two seasons have resulted in similar results. The Southern Miss alum launched 13 homers last year and 14 the year before in just over 200 at-bats each season. His strikeout ratios are high, but because of all the hard contact, Wallner’s still been able to register a palatable batting average. He currently sits at .268 for the season. He hit .259 in 2024.
Wallner will sit against some tough lefties, but he’s done well against them this year and routinely bats fourth in the lineup versus righties. To me, he’s on par with Jac Caglianone (for this season) but is more proven, widely available and can be had for next to nothing.
Roman Anthony (OF – BOS): 32%
What more can be said about Roman Anthony? Everyone who remotely follows baseball and its prospects has heard of the Red Sox’s future star. Anthony is the top player in the Minor Leagues, and if rumors are to be believed, he could be called up as early as this weekend.
Anthony possesses a keen eye at the plate that will serve him well in the Major Leagues. Currently sporting a .422 on-base percentage (OBP) in Triple-A, Anthony is a regular on the base paths. He can hit for a high average and also boasts above-average power. How he fits into the lineup remains to be seen, but no matter how Alex Cora gets him in, Anthony will likely be an excellent four-category producer once he joins the league.
Bailey Falter (SP – PIT): 22%
Bailey Falter flies under the radar because he pitches for the Pirates, and he doesn’t strike out many batters. He’s also had middling results for most of his short career. That said, few in the game have been as good as Falter since the beginning of May.
Over the last month, according to Yahoo’s ranking system, Falter ranks as the 12th-best starting pitcher in fantasy baseball. He’s allowed just three earned runs over his last six starts (0.76 ERA) and has recorded a WHIP of 0.84.
Falter’s game against the Phillies is currently delayed by weather, but even if he has a not-so-great performance in this one, I’d still recommend him for his upcoming start against the Marlins.
Bryce Harper constantly sang Falter’s praises back when he was in Philadelphia. He now seems to be making good on those predictions. Target Falter before his upcoming start against Miami.
Thairo Estrada (2B – COL): 6%
This one’s for deep-league managers. Thairo Estrada was once a key fantasy cog while playing for the Giants. He was an above-average power-speed guy in 2022 and 2023 while also hitting for a solid average. Last season, Estrada dealt with a few ailments that led to a down year, but now in Colorado’s thin air environment, Estrada could thrive once again.
The Rockies second baseman has missed most of the season due to injury, but now fully recovered, Estrada is back and hitting towards the top of the lineup. He’s knocked in three runs over five games since his activation and is batting .278. Estrada is worth a look at second base, with the position proving to be the toughest spot to fill in fantasy.
Kirby Yates (RP – LAD): 41%
Earlier in the week, Dave Roberts announced that the Dodgers have no set closer. Tanner Scott, the team’s top reliever, hasn’t been very reliable, producing a 4.55 ERA while converting just 10 out of 15 save opportunities. Blake Treinen, who was sound, is out for at least another couple of months. And Evan Phillips, who got off to a hot start, is out for the year after having Tommy John surgery.
Thankfully for the Dodgers, their 38-year-old reliever who racked up 33 saves last year and is averaging 14.95 K/9 this season is about to be activated. Kirby Yates has finally recovered from his injured hammy and is set to rejoin the club this weekend.
Yates is not the only veteran arm returning to the pen. Michael Kopech is set to make his season debut this weekend as well. Kopech will likely be eased into his role, but Yates could be immediately thrust back into high-leverage situations.
Tanner Scott will still be very much in the mix, but if the ninth inning features a heavy right-handed hitting lineup, it could be Yates who gets the call. He’s worth re-adding in all leagues that record saves or holds.
Jake Mangum (OF – TBR): 6%
Jake Mangum, what a name. To make room for the switch-hitting outfielder, the Rays sent down Chandler Simpson, which created a bit of backlash online. While many were upset about Simpson’s demotion, his defense was below average, and his exit velocity on offense was near the bottom of the league. Mangum, on the other hand, has produced positive numbers in most aspects, and like Simpson, Mangum also runs.
While Mangum won’t swipe nearly as many bags as Simpson will, he should outperform him in nearly every other category. He’s a strong candidate to hit over .300 while stealing two bags a week. Mangum will also score you the occasional home run. He’s worth a look in deeper leagues if you’re lacking speed.
Rhys Hoskins (1B – MIL): 47%
Rhys Hoskins hit 30 home runs in 2023 and 27 in just 131 games last year. He also knocked in 79 and 82 runs, respectively, in those two seasons. The hesitancy around Hoskins has always been his batting average. While he helps boost your power numbers, his low .200s batting average is often too much to stomach. Well, that could all be changing this year.
Hoskins has not only launched nine home runs while driving in 35 this year, but he’s also currently hitting for a .269 average. While the sample size isn’t enormous, there is merit in Hoskins’ latest approach. The Brewers first baseman is sacrificing a bit of power for more line drives. The results have been favorable, leading to an increase in sweet spot contact. Higher batting averages usually go hand in hand with sweet-spot ratios, so Hoskins’ increased production makes sense.
The RBI should also continue to mount, as Hoskins regularly hits in the middle of the order. The Brewers first baseman is currently up to 35 RBI on the season, with a total of 85 to 90 within sight by the end of the year.
Eury Perez (SP – MIA): 43%
Eury Perez made this list a few weeks back as a strong stash candidate, but now qualifies as a must-add with his activation pending. Penciled to start Monday’s game against the Pirates, Perez is an immediate must-start. During his rehab assignment, the 6-foot-8 righty turned in a 1.19 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 22.2 innings between Single-A Jupiter and Triple-A Jacksonville. He also struck out 28.4% of the batters he faced and reached 82 pitches in his latest outing.
Perez’s rostership will likely shoot up to the mid-70s by the end of next week, so now is your last chance to snag him.
Mick Abel (SP – PHI): 44%
I mentioned Mick Abel before his previous call-up. Once again, he did not disappoint. The Phillies won’t have room for the young phenom once Aaron Nola returns, but a lot can happen between now and then. The former first-rounder has now pitched 11.1 innings in two starts while allowing just one run, with zero home runs or walks allowed. He also struck out 11. Abel was equally lights out in Triple-A this season, registering a 2.21 ERA over 10 starts.
Despite an atrocious start to the season, Nola will be given every opportunity to keep his spot in the rotation once healthy. But even if the Phillies are forced to eventually make the move, Abel should be in line for another few starts with Nola being shut down again with side stiffness.
Willi Castro (2B, 3B, SS, OF – MIN): 43%
Willi Castro is a better real-life player than a fantasy contributor. He does the little things well that don’t always show up in the box score and plays terrific defense. That said, Castro is back healthy and beginning to hit.
Over the last eight games, Castro has blasted four home runs, a double and six base hits. The jack-of-all-trades has also scored eight times while knocking in six and stealing a base. Castro stole 13 bags last year and 33 the year before, so the swipes should continue to mount.
Castro is a decent value play because of his vast eligibility and his ability to fill up a stat sheet on any given night.
Ceddanne Rafaela (2B, SS, OF – BOS): 49%
Ceddanne Rafaela has been on a tear lately, hitting in eight straight games. With Roman Anthony’s call looming, many have speculated it would be Rafaela who would lose out on playing time — but that may no longer be the case.
Rafaela has gone 14 for his last 34 (.412 average) while mashing four home runs. He also scored six times and knocked in as many during that span. He even hit a home run in each of the last three games, including Wednesday night’s walk-off game-winner.
Rafaela may still eventually lose starts in the outfield to Anthony, but similar to last year, he could move around the infield to help keep his bat in the lineup. There are also rumors flying about a potential Jarren Duran trade, but that’s merely hearsay at the moment.
Whatever the outcome, there’s no denying Rafaela is on fire right now and should be starting in all leagues.
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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.
