Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups For Fantasy Baseball - Week 24

September 3, 2023

Kevin Hickey's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for outfielders and Week 24 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 24 -- September 4 through September 10. Whether your team is derailed by injuries or slumping bats, navigating the waiver wire will be crucial to finding long-term success in fantasy baseball. 

As we approach the home stretch of the season, it's time to take some hard stances on your fantasy rosters. If you're still hitting the waiver wire, you're either geared up for a championship run or reconfiguring your team for the next year. This set of outfield-eligible players may not all have the longest track records, or their success could be considered unsustainable. But with the fantasy playoffs arriving, it matters most what these guys can do for you right now. 

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

Nolan Jones, Colorado Rockies - 40% Rostered

We are approaching the last call on Nolan Jones. He's been mentioned regularly on this list in recent weeks, and his ownership level is finally catching up with his performance. Jones boasts an impressive .284/.367/.523 slash line with 14 home runs and a 115 wRC+. He's evolved into a core piece of the Rockies' lineup and should remain in that role as the season winds down. 

Jones' underlying numbers support his sustained success. He sports a .461 xSLG, 14.7% barrel rate, 90.9 mph average exit velocity, and .335 xwOBA. As an added advantage, Jones is fortunate to call Coors Field home, which only bolsters his fantasy value.

Jasson Dominguez, New York Yankees - 29% Rostered

Jasson Dominguez is among the most exciting September call-ups. His big-league arrival came with considerable hype. The 20-year-old wasted no time making an impression with the Yankees, taking Justin Verlander deep in his first career at-bat. His ownership has shot up in the time since, so add him now if you want in.  

Dominguez is the second-ranked prospect in the Yankees farm system and the No. 77 prospect in all of baseball, per MLB Pipeline. He posted a .265/.377/.425 slash line with 15 home runs and 40 stolen bases across 118 games between Double-A and Triple-A this season. With 55-grade power and 55-grade running, Dominguez's immediate fantasy value is worthwhile. He's even more attractive in dynasty leagues. 

Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins - 20% Rostered

Max Kepler is still struggling to crack the lineup consistently against left-handed pitchers. But when he is in the lineup, the results are there. He's slashing .250/.319/.483 with 21 home runs and a 120 wRC+ this season. It's the best we've seen from Kepler since his 36-home run campaign in 2019, and it doesn't feel like he's getting the credit he deserves.

Looking under the hood, the advanced metrics are even more encouraging than what we see on the surface. Kepler boasts a .511 xSLG, 92.1 mph average exit velocity, .271 xBA, 12.3% barrel rate, 48% hard-hit rate, and .364 xwOBA. He's overdue for positive regression.

DJ Stewart, New York Mets - 11% Rostered

DJ Stewart is one of the more unlikely breakouts of the second half. He's homered eight times in his last 14 games, so it's getting hard to ignore. Overall, he's slashing .270/.359/.629 with nine home runs and a 172 wRC+ through 37 games. Stewart's MLB career goes back to 2018. He's never been exceptionally successful, but he's at least a worthwhile streamer right now.

Based on the underlying numbers, Stewart's success appears legitimate. He carries a .584 xSLG, 16.9% barrel rate, 50.8% hard-hit rate, 92.6 mph average exit velocity, and a .395 xwOBA. The sample size is small, but Stewart is clearly seeing the ball well right now.

Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues

Michael Brantley, Houston Astros - 7% Rostered

It's been a long road, but Michael Brantley finally made his season debut this past week. It was his first MLB action since undergoing shoulder surgery last August, and his two-hit performance on Wednesday was an encouraging sight.

The Houston lineup features no shortage of outfield options. It remains to be seen what level of playing time Brantley will settle into alongside Chas McCormick, Kyle Tucker, and Yordan Alvarez. In all likelihood, we're looking at a strong-side platoon situation. That places Brantley in the lineup more days than not.

At 36 years old, it's reasonable to feel skeptical about what Brantley has left in the tank. He's at an age where most experience a decline, and that always catches up at some point. That said, we haven't seen it yet. Brantley posted an impressive 127 wRC+ in 2022 and has posted a minimum of 121 wRC+ in five consecutive seasons.

Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox - 7% Rostered

Ceddanne Rafaela is another exciting September call-up. He's the third-ranked prospect in the Red Sox farm system and the No. 75 prospect around the league, per MLB Pipeline. Playing time is not given for the 22-year-old. If the Red Sox drift any further away from playoff contention, Rafaela should expect to see plenty of opportunities down the stretch.

While Rafaela's elite defensive ability has long been his hallmark, his offensive production has taken off in the last couple of seasons. He posted a .302/.349/.520 slash line with 20 home runs and 36 stolen bases across 108 games between Double-A and Triple-A this season. Rafeala's respectable power numbers defy his small frame, while his 60-grade running ability makes him a constant threat.

Parker Meadows, Detroit Tigers - 5% Rostered

Parker Meadows got the call in August, but we can group him with the exciting September call-ups. After being drafted in the second round back in 2018, Meadows struggled to find consistent production at the plate and saw his stock drop. He's reworked his offensive approach over the past two seasons, and the results have been encouraging. Meadows produced a .811 OPS with 19 home runs and 19 stolen bases across 113 games in Triple-A this season.

Meadows doesn't carry the same pedigree as other rookies on this list, though his early returns in the majors have been noteworthy. He's slashing .289/.386/.474 with a 134 wRC+ through 11 games. Meadows has secured a regular starting spot with a Tigers team playing for little else than to see what the future holds. He offers respectable power-hitting alongside legitimate base-stealing upside.

More Players To Consider

• Austin Hays, Orioles - 49% rostered
• Bryan De La Cruz, Marlins - 32% rostered
• Tommy Pham, Diamondbacks - 30% rostered
• Luke Raley, Rays - 26% rostered
• Brandon Marsh, Phillies - 17% rostered
• LaMonte Wade Jr., Giants - 12% rostered

More Deep-League Players To Consider

• Ryan O'Hearn, Orioles - 9% rostered
• Matt Wallner, Twins - 5% rostered
• Jesus Sanchez, Marlins - 3% rostered
• Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox - 3% rostered
• Jason Heyward, Dodgers - 3% rostered

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers