The trade deadline was massive this year. With plenty of marquee names changing teams and numerous prospects on the move, it made for an exciting week. While switching homes can boost a player’s fantasy value it also leaves behind an opening for a lesser-known commodity. This is especially true when discussing closers.
Plenty of ninth-innings guys were on the move this year, leaving their previous closer role up for grabs. There are still plenty of questions as to who might replace some of these guys on their respective teams but a handful of players are worth adding just in case. We’ll discuss those players and more in just a bit.
Closers aside, there are also still plenty of offensive weapons out there you should be turning your attention to. As well as a few starting pitchers.
Let’s get to it. Here are this week’s top waiver wire adds (I haven’t mentioned before) for Week 19. All players highlighted are rostered in under 50% of Yahoo leagues (or close to it).
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Tools
- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Top 10 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 19)
Victor Robles (OF – SEA): 16%
Victor Robles. Does anyone remember the hype that surrounded this guy after the 2019 season? Robles successfully stole 36 times that season while scoring 86 runs and clubbing 17 homers. He was 22 at the time. Then over the following three seasons, the Dominican prospect tanked so badly he elicited groans from fans anytime he was in the lineup.
Now with a change of scenery from D.C. to Washington State, Robles has rejuvenated his career. While he was able to produce a .300 average in very limited playing time last year, the 27-year-old has taken it much further in Seattle. In just over 100 at-bats, Robles has registered three home runs, 14 steals and a .308 batting average. He’s also racked up 11 free passes. He’s been serving as the Mariners’ leadoff hitter since joining the club and has been a massive boost for them overall (he also plays a stellar defense).
Unfortunately, Robles is dealing with a bit of a hip injury right now but it looks to be minor and is hopefully something he can overcome soon. On the bright side, because of the injury, you should be able to roster him without spending much of your waiver budget. If Robles does return to full health soon and continues to produce as he has, then you may just have one of the top steals of the second half.
Freddy Fermin (C – KC): 5%
Freddy Fermin’s been playing every day and has been mashing. The Royals’ part-time catcher/DH is up to a .313 batting average with six homers, 30 runs scored and 29 RBI. He put up similar numbers last year in limited duty and hit well in the Minors before being promoted. He strikes out less than 18% of the time and he hits breaking balls equally as well as he hits heaters. He’s also a wizard on defense so he should continue to play. Any time a backstop can offer you four categories of production, you need to take it. Add Fermin now if you need a boost at catcher.
Coby Mayo (3B – BAL): 31%
It’s Coby Mayo time in Baltimore. I want your DOR Mayo-nnaise. That’s a shoutout for the older crowd. Mayo has officially been called up to the big league club, joining a squad full of top young talent. The O’s are going to be great for years to come and it all starts with their top-tier youthful infield. Mayo mashed for power in Triple-A and will likely do the same in the Majors. He may already be rostered in your league but his ceiling is enormous and is worth a flier in most leagues.
Christopher Morel (2B, 3B, OF – TB): 56%
The Cubs soured on Christopher Morel and traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays alongside two prospects for Isaac Paredes. While Paredes is impressive, he doesn’t possess the same skill set as Morel. Morel hits for power while also stealing bases. Yes, his batting average has been hovering around the Mendoza line for most of the season and he’s been thrown out four of the nine times he attempted to steal, but plenty of that can be chalked up to bad luck (at least the hitting).
Morel’s strikeout rate has declined dramatically from 31% last year to nearly league average at 24%. Morel also hits the ball hard, which is surprising when his batting average on balls in play (BABIP) is so low (.213). He is guilty of selling out and trying to launch the ball over the fence in nearly every at-bat. When he does connect, though, the ball flies.
Morel’s swing speed ranks in the top 3% of hitters, while his hard hit rate is 44%. He also barrels the ball 12.3% of the time ranking him in the top 17%. Morel’s xSLG is a full 73 points higher despite connecting for 20 home runs this year. His xwOBA is in the top 19% of the league. Did I mention he walks? Morel walks impressively 11% of the time.
He is still pretty awful in the field but the Rays are confident enough to play him at second. The good news is defense rarely counts in fantasy leagues. As long as he’s hitting third every day in their lineup, Morel possesses massive value. He already hit two home runs for his new club in a matter of three days. If he’s still available in your league, now is the time to pounce. That .213 BABIP isn’t going to last much longer.
Matt Wallner (OF – MIN): 6%
I thought I was done with hitters but I can’t leave out Matt Wallner. While the Minnesota outfielder doesn’t play every day, he crushes right-handed pitching when he does – when he makes contact. His strikeout rate is astronomical but so are his batted ball metrics. The Twins have him consistently batting in the middle of the order against right-handed pitching. With plenty of weak competition coming up, Wallner is worth adding if you’re lacking in homers or RBI.
Hayden Birdsong (SP – SF): 34%
I was going to recommend Max Meyer until I saw him pitch against the Braves. While Meyer’s slider is nearly unhittable, it’s the rest of his repertoire that could use work. So I turned my attention to Hayden Birdsong. Birdsong is an elite strikeout pitcher who produced high strikeout totals in the minor leagues. He also vastly limits home runs. Anytime a pitcher can strikeout hitters while limiting the long ball, it’s almost always a recipe for success. He’ll need to keep his walks in check, but his ceiling is high and the Giants seem to be willing to give him a shot. Birdsong’s worth a look in deeper leagues.
Tyler Mahle (SP – TEX): 5%
Tyler Mahle is nearing his long-awaited return and it couldn’t come at a better time. With Max Scherzer recently being placed on the injured list (IL) with shoulder trouble, Mahle should slide into his spot without a hitch. The former Red has maintained an opposing batting average below .200 every step of the way during his rehab process. He most recently capped it off with a three-hit, one-walk session over 4.2 Triple-A innings. With Josh Jung back in the fold, the Rangers should get better on defense and offense giving Mahle a decent chance to win every time out. He averages nearly 10 K/9 throughout his career and deserves attention in most leagues.
Tyler Ferguson (RP – OAK): 16%
Mason Miller broke his finger and then the club traded Lucas Erceg, pushing Tyler Ferguson into the closer role. Ferguson had already successfully closed a game while Erceg was in town (after the Miller injury). There was no doubt who would take over once Erceg was traded. He did get crushed on Friday night in a non-save situation, but the A’s don’t have anyone else to turn to, so the job will be his until Miller is ready to return.
Michael Kopech (RP – LAD): 20%
Michael Kopech’s replacement isn’t worth adding outside the deepest of leagues because the White Sox aren’t likely to offer more than a handful of saves the rest of the season. However, their recently traded flame thrower is. The Dodgers aren’t going to hand Kopech the job outright but with Evan Phillips now pitching in low-leverage situations and Daniel Hudson looking shaky at times, it could be Kopech’s job before you know it. It doesn’t hurt that he did this in his first Dodger showing.
Michael Kopech looked SHARP in his Dodger debut striking out the side, averaging 99.4 MPH on 11 fastballs thrown
Would love it if he’s a bullpen arm that can be relied on down the stretch
pic.twitter.com/KIxDy6LMPR— Overdue Sports (@OverdueSports) August 1, 2024
The former top prospect is now up to 62 strikeouts in 44.2 innings. Kopech offers plenty of upside despite the mediocre ERA and WHIP he produced in Chicago. If he’s handed the job in L.A., he could give your team a massive boost down the stretch. He’s worth an add in most league types.
Ben Joyce (RP – LAA): 31%
Ron Washington handed the ball to veteran Hunter Strickland in the ninth inning for the club’s most recent save opportunity. However, Ben Joyce was called upon to face the heart of the order in the eighth and got the job done. No one in baseball throws the ball harder than Joyce. While his strikeout rate isn’t as high as you would think, his ERA is below two and his WHIP stands at an impressive 1.16. Armed with a fastball that reaches 104, it seems like he’ll be shutting the door in Anaheim sooner than later.
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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.
