TAP FOR 6 MONTHS OF PREMIUM FREE 💰
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Deep League Waiver Wire: Week 20

Hello and welcome to the Week 20 deep waiver wire targets. The fantasy baseball season is entering the final stretch, especially for those of you with league playoffs. For those of you in leagues with exceptional depth, these six widely available players could bring you ever closer to that league championship. Featured this week will be a certain Hall-of-Famer, a "Splash Brother's" brother, and a super sleeper in an all rookie rotation.

For other waiver wire options, check out RotoBaller’s fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups list. It's updated every single day. Our awesome writers bring you analysis on hot or emerging deep league options.

iPhone Fantasy Baseball App - Waiver Wire PickupsAndroid Fantasy Baseball App - Waiver Wire PickupsPrefer using a phone? Our famous 2015 Sleepers & Waiver Wire Pickups app is free, and available in the Apple & Android Stores.

 

Deeper Leagues Waiver Wire Analysis

Trayce Thompson (OF, CWS, Owned in 0% of fleaflicker leagues)

It is hard to say a player is a surprise or a sleeper when his brother is one of the best basketball players on the planet. Having said that, Trayce Thompson is available in nearly every league. He has displayed very well-rounded offensive abilities in the minor leagues. In 2,765 AB since 2009, Thompson recorded 101 HR, 94 SB, 163 doubles, and a .747 OPS. In his first 12 major league AB, Thompson hit a HR, recorded a .500 BA, a 1.372 OPS, and a 284 OPS+.

Currently, the Chicago White Sox are 25th in the league in OPS with .683 and are 29th in the league in runs with 422. They're still only five games out of the second AL-wild card spot. If the Sox continue to give Thompson opportunities to propel them into October in place of players like Melky Cabrera, Avisail Garcia, and Adam Laroche, fantasy baseball managers can look for Thompson to produce in almost every offensive category.

 

Danny Valencia (1B/3B/OF, OAK, Owned in 4% of fleaflicker leagues)

This season has seen quite a jump in production from Danny Valencia. So far in 201, Valenica has hit ten HR, 36 RBI, scored 30 R, produced a .302 BA, and a .887 OPS in 189 AB. In his 27 AB since being claimed by the Oakland A's Valencia has hit three HR, produced a .333 BA, and a 1.178 OPS. Valenica hits his best when at home as he has a home OPS of 1.045 on the season and he hits exceptionally well against both arms with a .836 OPS vs LHP and a .927 OPS vs RHP.

Valenica's hot hitting and triple eligibility make him a must have for any fantasy baseball manager in a deeper league heading into crunch time. The A's have installed him as their regular cleanup hitter. He should produce plenty of runs down the stretch.

 

Martin Perez (SP, TEX, Owned in 6% of fleaflicker leagues)

Martin Perez is the epitome of a pitcher getting passed over due to terrible luck. At first glance, Perez looks none to appealing with a 5.81 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and 5.5 K/9. However, his statistics tell a clear story. With a fantastic 2.80 FIP, it can first be determined that Perez has been the victim of unlucky fielding. With 0.0 HR/9 and a 2.4 BB/9, Perez is keeping batters well under reasonable control.

Perez allows 10.6 Hits/9 which would be the cause of his high WHIP and ERA. He has a .348 BABIP, which is quite high especially when considered that Perez has a 1.50 GB/FB ratio and a 2.50 GO/FO ratio with a 21% LD%. Perez is a prime candidate for a major statistical bounce back.

 

Keyvius Sampson (SP, CIN, Owned in 3% of fleaflicker leagues)

The Reds are putting out an all rookie rotation and Keyvius Sampson may be the last member of said rotation that fantasy baseball managers would expect to target. Sampson is certainly a sleeper under more highly touted rotation mates such as prospects Raisel Iglesias and John Lamb. Sampson's 4.11 FIP indicates that he has a better isolated performance than fellow sleeper Cincy prospect David Holmberg.

This season in the minors, Sampson had a 3.38 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, an impressive 0.3 HR/9, and a solid 8.1 K/9. So far in 17 MLB IP Sampson has a 3.18 ERA, 1.118 WHIP, and 7.9 K/9 to go along with his 4.11 FIP. Sampson's main problem in the minor leagues related to walks. That may gradually be fixed with MLB experience - an opportunity Sampson will get because the Reds chose to send Michael Lorenzen back to Triple-A. Cincinnati has been quite tentative with Robert Stephenson's advancement. Sampson should produce decent fantasy numbers through the remainder of the season.

 

Ichiro Suzuki (OF, MIA, Owned in 6% of fleaflicker leagues)

If I told you many years ago that Ichiro Suzuki would one day be owned in just 6% of fantasy baseball leagues, your mouth would hang agape. If I told you last year that Ichiro Suzuki would ever be worth owning again, your mouth would hang agape. So here we are, condescendingly analyzing one of the greatest players of a generation...we'll get over it.

In short, Suzuki has been hot with XBH of late. In the last 14 days in 32 AB, Suzuki has a double, two triples, while producing a .344 BA, and a .921 OPS. In his 12 AB, Suzuki has a 1.104 OPS. Suzuki has excelled against LHP this season with a .849 OPS. With Suzuki's BA and subsequently OBP shooting up due to his recent hot streak, he becomes more and more of a base stealing threat. He has nine SB on the season. If in need of XBH, BA, SB, and nostalgia, Ichiro Suzuki is a justifiably trendy and smart add for fantasy baseball managers in very deep leagues.

 

Kelly Johnson (1B / 2B / 3B / OF, NYM, Owned in 7% of fleaflicker leagues)

The Mets needed a little bit of everything at the trade deadline, and Kelly Johnson certainly is a little bit of everything. He comes with eligibility at four positions. Whenever a player offers that level of flexibility, he jumps up in value. So far in 224 AB, Johnson has 11 HR and a .755 OPS. Over the last seven days, he has hit a hot .846 OPS.

Johnson's season totals were dragged down by a sole poor month of June as Johnson's month by month OPS splits look like this: April - (.787), May - (.890), June - (.562), July - (.840), August - (.740). Johnson's solid performance at the plate can be attributed to the fact that his HR% of 4.6% is the highest of his career and his XBH% of 11.4% since joining the Mets is also the highest of his career. In deeper leagues where fantasy baseball managers may have to make the difficult choice between adding a solid hitting first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, or outfielder, Kelly Johnson makes the choice a no-brainer: he is all four.

 

MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-12" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]

 

 




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

J.J. Spaun

A Steady Option At Farmers Insurance Open
Andrew Novak

Looking For More Success At Torrey Pines
Denny McCarthy

A Wild Card At Farmers Insurance Open
Max Homa

Looks To Keep Resurgence Going At Torrey Pines
Joe Highsmith

Struggling Heading Into Torrey Pines
Wyndham Clark

Looks To Carry Momentum Into Farmers Insurance Open
Tony Finau

Aims To Turn Things Around At Torrey Pines
Darius Garland

Won't Be Available Wednesday
Akshay Bhatia

Looks to Bounce Back at Torrey Pines
Franz Wagner

Won't Play Wednesday
Draymond Green

Expected to Return Wednesday
Kawhi Leonard

Available Against Jazz
Jordan Goodwin

Starts Against Nets
Peyton Watson

Back for Nuggets Tuesday
Paul Goldschmidt

Yankees Expressing Interest in Re-Signing Paul Goldschmidt
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Ready to Rock Tuesday Night
Jamal Murray

Active Versus Pistons
Bo Bichette

Won't Play in World Baseball Classic
Aaron Wiggins

Moves to Starting Lineup Tuesday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Bobby Portis Replaces Giannis Antetokounmpo in Starting Unit
Joel Embiid

Ready to Take on Bucks
Paul George

Returns to Action Tuesday
Stephen Curry

Listed as Probable for Wednesday
Collin Gillespie

Misses Tuesday's Matchup
Cason Wallace

Out Tuesday
Quentin Grimes

Won't Play Against Bucks
Cooper Flagg

Iffy for Wednesday's Action
NFL

Bill Belichick Won't be First-Ballot Hall of Famer
Anthony Edwards

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday
Kevin Love

Available Tuesday
Kris Dunn

Cleared for Action Tuesday
Khris Middleton

is Available on Tuesday
Leo Carlsson

to Miss Olympics
Alex Turcotte

Unavailable Tuesday
Carlos Correa

Won't Play for Puerto Rico in World Baseball Classic
Dylan Holloway

Remains Out Tuesday
Marco Rossi

to Return After Olympics
Thatcher Demko

Won't Return This Season
Sam Malinski

Inks Four-Year Extension With Avalanche
Bryan Rust

Slapped With Three-Game Suspension
Si Woo Kim

Looks to Continue Incredible Run at Torrey Pines
Jason Day

has a Good Chance to Keep Momentum This Weekend
Keegan Bradley

has Good Course History at Torrey Pines
Billy Horschel

Isn't a Great DFS Option at Torrey Pines
Aaron Rodgers

Mike McCarthy Says he Wants Aaron Rodgers to Return
Will Zalatoris

Has a Shot to Challenge at the Farmers Insurance Open
Adam Scott

Can Continue Hot Start to 2026 Season at Farmers Insurance Open
Keith Mitchell

Hoping For a Strong Finish at Farmers Insurance Open
Hideki Matsuyama

Looks to Continue Strong Start at Farmers Insurance Open
Tom Hoge

Can Continue Hot Start to 2026 Season at Farmers Insurance Open
Harris English

Has a Chance to Repeat as Winner at the Farmers Insurance Open
Patrick Cantlay

Continues Playing Well and Can Compete at Farmers Insurance Open
Ludvig Aberg

Looks to Bounce Back After Withdrawing at American Express
Drake Maye

Expected to be Fine for Super Bowl
Xander Schauffele

is The Best Fit at Torrey Pines This Week
Tennessee Titans

Titans Set to Hire Brian Daboll as New Offensive Coordinator
Buffalo Bills

Bills Promote Joe Brady to Head Coach
CFB

Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi Signs with Michigan
Teuvo Teravainen

Set to Return Tuesday
CFB

Darian Mensah Reaches Settlement with Duke, Expected to Land at Miami
Simon Edvinsson

Out Until Olympics
Josh Norris

Won't Play This Week
Zeev Buium

Lands on Injured Reserve
Brock Boeser

Canucks Place Brock Boeser on Injured Reserve
Sean Durzi

Hurt on Monday Night
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Not Drawing Interest on Open Market?
Jonas Brodin

to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Kasperi Kapanen

Returns From Three-Game Absence Monday
Lawson Crouse

Available Against Lightning
Carson Soucy

Won't Play Monday
Rasmus Ristolainen

Returns to Flyers Lineup
Ryan Pulock

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Shedeur Sanders

Named as Pro Bowl Replacement
Simon Holmstrom

a Game-Time Call Monday
Framber Valdez

Among Many High-End Pitchers on Free-Agent Market
Jose Altuve

Won't Participate in World Baseball Classic
Harrison Bader

Agrees With Giants on Two-Year Deal
Paddy Pimblett

Drops Decision
Justin Gaethje

Becomes the New Interim-Lightweight Champion
Song Yadong

Suffers Unanimous Decision Loss
MMA

Sean O'Malley Gets Back In The Win Column
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Extends His Win Streak
Derrick Lewis

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers Officially Hire Mike McDaniel as Offensive Coordinator
Nathan Eovaldi

Doesn't Expect Any Limitations in Spring Training
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Dominates in NFC Championship Game Win
Scott Wedgewood

Activated From Non-Roster List
Matthew Stafford

Plans to Return in 2026
CFB

Arthur Smith to Become Ohio State's Offensive Coordinator
Bo Nix

Sidelined for 12 Weeks With Broken Ankle
Jose Altuve

to Mainly Play Second Base
Yu Darvish

Considering Retirement
Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers Finalizing Deal to Make Mike McCarthy Their Head Coach
José Ramírez

Jose Ramirez Signs Seven-Year Extension With Guardians
Gunnar Henderson

is Fully Healthy Heading into Spring Training
Tyreek Hill

Dolphins Expected to Release Tyreek Hill
Paddy Pimblett

Set For Interim Lightweight Title Fight
Justin Gaethje

An Underdog At UFC 324
Song Yadong

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Sean O'Malley Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Derrick Lewis

Returns At UFC 324
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Philip Rivers

Interviewing for Bills Head-Coaching Job
NFL

Fernando Mendoza Officially Declares for NFL Draft
CFB

Arch Manning Undergoes Foot Surgery
Dalton Kincaid

Played Through Torn PCL
CFB

College Football Playoff Expected to Remain a 12-Team Field in 2026
Baltimore Ravens

Ravens Hire Jesse Minter as Their Head Coach
Indianapolis Colts

FBI Investigating the Death of Colts Owner Jim Irsay
MacKenzie Gore

Rangers Acquire MacKenzie Gore From the Nationals

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP