Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups For Fantasy Baseball - Week 22

August 20, 2023

Kevin Hickey's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for outfielders and Week 22 of the 2023 MLB season. Consider adding and streaming these free agent hitters.

This article will discuss fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 22 -- August 21 through August 27. Whether your team is derailed by injuries or you’re simply ready to give up on your draft day darlings, navigating the waiver wire will be crucial to finding long-term success in fantasy baseball. 

As we move through the season, trends fluctuate, and we must learn to react on the fly. When it comes to hot streaks, you have to act fast, or you may miss out. This set of outfield-eligible players may not all have the longest track records, or their success could be considered unsustainable. However, you have to take risks early in the season in order to uncover your breakout stars. It will already be too late if you wait until these names are established. 

Names listed are in order of roster percentage, not confidence ranking. Position eligibility and roster percentage are based on Yahoo!, so check your leagues for availability! 

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Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Standard Leagues

Bryan De La Cruz, Miami Marlins - 41% Rostered

Bryan De La Cruz is having a quietly productive season at the plate. He sports a strong .257/.305/.424 slash line with 16 home runs. The 26-year-old has an everyday role in the heart of an underrated Miami Marlins offense and should remain a key contributor as they attempt to make a playoff push. 

Looking under the hood, De La Cruz's advanced numbers are encouraging. He carries a .268 xBA, .434 xSLG, 44.3% hard-hit rate, and a 90.6 mph average exit velocity. However, his ceiling probably isn't much higher than what we already see. De La Cruz's 24.3% strikeout rate and 6.8% walk rate leave something to be desired, but the results are worthwhile when he puts the bat on the ball.

Nolan Jones, Colorado Rockies - 30% Rostered

Nolan Jones' breakout season has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise bleak Colorado Rockies campaign. Through 66 games, he boasts a .275/.355/.500 slash line with 12 home runs, seven stolen bases, and a 116 wRC+. Jones has etched out an everyday playing spot in the Rockies' lineup, including against southpaws more often than not. 

Though Coors Field notoriously boosts offensive statistics, Jones' underlying numbers support his continued success. He carries an outstanding .500 xSLG, 15.6% barrel rate, 91.8 mph average exit velocity, 45.2% hard-hit rate, and .354 xwOBA. He strikes out at a gratuitous 34.1% rate but supplements that well with a strong 10.6% walk rate.

Luke Raley, Tampa Bay Rays - 28% Rostered

With Wander Franco likely out for the remainder of the season, the Rays are relying on Luke Raley now more than ever to be a crucial source of left-handed offensive production. He's been navigating a second-half slump but still owns a respectable .256/.338/.512 with 17 home runs and 12 stolen bases. Raley should get consistent playing time down the stretch and has a higher upside than most players around his ownership level.

If we can overlook his 30.3% strikeout rate, there's not a lot to dislike about Raley's batting profile. He crushes the ball to the tune of a .466 xSLG, 14.1% barrel rate, 91.3 mph average exit velocity, and 45.5% hard-hit rate. Further, Raley possesses deceptively elite sprint speed, which has translated into 12 stolen bases this season. Whether through power or speed, we can count on Raley for valuable fantasy production.

Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins - 21% Rostered

Max Kepler has been red-hot since the All-Star break. In that time, he boasts a .939 OPS, .394 wOBA, 156 wRC+, eight doubles, and eight home runs. He's one of the most locked-in hitters in baseball at the moment and is absolutely worth roster consideration. Overall, Kepler is having one of the best seasons of his career, posting a .238/.302/.470 with 20 home runs.

Kepler's advanced stats suggest he may be hitting the ball better than the surface numbers tell us. He carries a phenomenal .510 xSLG alongside similarly impressive figures like a 13% barrel rate, 91.6 mph average exit velocity, 45.5% hard-hit rate, .264 xBA, and .358 xwOBA. Kepler has been overdue for positive regression, and the recent hot streak should come as no surprise.

Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues

Lawrence Butler, Oakland Athletics - 4% Rostered

Lawrence Butler debuted in the majors last week and immediately attracted some fantasy attention. Despite a successful first week of action, his roster percentage has halved in the time since. Through seven games, Butler sports a .280/.280/.480 slash line, including a home run and a pair of doubles. He made his first appearance in Oakland's leadoff spot on Friday and could maintain a prominent role through the last part of the season.

The fifth-ranked prospect in Oakland's farm system, Butler is a heralded rookie. He possesses above-average power and above-average running speed, projecting as a potential 20-20 producer when he settles in at the major-league level. Butler posted a .284/.350/.475 slash line with 15 home runs and 21 stolen bases across 89 games between Double-A and Triple-A this season. There's plenty of upside.

Nelson Velazquez, Kansas City Royals - 4% Rostered

Since being traded from the Cubs at the deadline, Nelson Velazquez has made a strong impression with the Royals. He's homered four times across seven starts, posting a 1.217 OPS. Though Velazquez failed to maintain a role with Chicago's major-league roster, he did manage a .621 slugging percentage during 13 appearances for the Cubs earlier this season. The power is apparent, though it remains to be seen whether he'll be able to find consistency. In any event, Velazquez has a much clearer path to playing time in a thinned-out Kansas City offense.

The sample size is small, but Velazquez's advanced metrics are encouraging. That includes a .644 xSLG, 21.1% barrel rate, 93 mph average exit velocity, 57.9% hard-hit rate, .313 xBA, and .418 xwOBA. Uncertain playing time appears to be the main thing that's held Velazquez back until this point. If he can maintain anywhere close to this level of output, his ownership should start to spike.

Jesus Sanchez, Miami Marlins - 2% Rostered

If you've been following this list on a weekly basis, you've probably noticed Jesus Sanchez highlighted here several times before. His consistent production continues to defy the lack of attention he receives in fantasy leagues. Overall, Sanchez sports a .271/.333/.469 slash line with 10 home runs and a 117 wRC+ this season. The surface numbers alone justify more fantasy consideration, though the advanced metrics point to an even higher ceiling.

Sanchez's batted-ball metrics are among the best you'll find anywhere near this level of ownership. He carries a .485 xSLG, .280 xBA, 48.1% hard-hit rate, 91.1 mph average exit velocity, and 11.4% barrel rate, alongside a .355 xwOBA. The only downside is Sanchez's 25.7% strikeout rate. Even so, there's positive regression to be found here.

More Players To Consider

• Austin Hays, Orioles - 43% rostered
• Mike Tauchman, Cubs - 33% rostered
• Sal Frelick, Brewers - 33% rostered
• Tommy Pham, Diamondbacks - 22% rostered
• Eddie Rosario, Braves - 18% rostered
• Stone Garrett, Nationals - 11% rostered

More Deep-League Players To Consider

• Ryan O'Hearn, Orioles - 10% rostered
• Matt Wallner, Twins - 7% rostered
• Jurickson Profar, Rockies - 7% rostered
• Michael Brantley, Astros - 4% rostered
• Cade Marlowe, Mariners - 3% rostered
• David Peralta, Dodgers - 3% rostered

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