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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.

 

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Chuba Hubbard

and Rico Dowdle to Trade Series Early Sunday
J.J. McCarthy

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Brock Purdy

Could Return in Week 8
Stefon Diggs

Likely to be Active Against Titans
Nils Lundkvist

Expected to Miss Time
Pierre-Luc Dubois

to Remain Out Sunday
Jacob Bryson

in Concussion Protocol
Niko Mikkola

Hurt in Saturday's Loss
Shayne Gostisbehere

Exits Saturday's Action With Lower-Body Injury
Mark Stone

Suffers Apparent Wrist Injury
Chase Elliott

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Chase Briscoe

Likely to Finish Worse Than he Starts
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Despite Winning at Talladega, Tyler Reddick's Drafting Record Is Not So Hot
Ross Chastain

Poor Qualifying Makes him a Strong DFS Option at Talladega
Chris Buescher

Excellent Crash Avoidance Could Reap Dividends at Talladega
Ty Gibbs

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Daniel Suarez

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Josh Berry

Might Contend at Talladega
Austin Dillon

Doesn't Lead Enough at Talladega to Contend for Wins
Josh Jacobs

"a True Game-Time Decision" for Week 7
Kyler Murray

Expected to Return in Week 9
Brock Bowers

Not Expected to Play on Sunday, "Good Chance" he Returns After Bye
Christian Kirk

Won't Play on Monday Night
Frederick Gaudreau

to Be Sidelined for 4-6 Weeks
Kaiden Guhle

to Miss 4-6 Weeks
Patrick Kane

Ruled Out for Sunday
Noah Hanifin

Not Ready to Return Saturday
Brandon Montour

Takes Leave of Absence
Joel Kiviranta

Out Indefinitely With Lower-Body Injury
Hampus Lindholm

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Rob Dillingham

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Scotty Pippen Jr.

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least 12 Weeks
George Kittle

Activated From Injured Reserve, All Set for Week 7
Jacoby Brissett

Expected to Start for Cardinals in Week 7
Mike Evans

a Game-Time Decision in Week 7
Chris Godwin

Ruled Out for Week 7
Emeka Egbuka

Week 7 Status a "Game-Time Decision"
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Knicks Cut Ties with Garrison Mathews
Dallas Mavericks

Dalano Banton Waived by the Mavericks
Miami Heat

Precious Achiuwa Waived by Miami
Dallas Mavericks

Mavericks Waive Dennis Smith Jr.
Macklin Celebrini

Has Multi-Point Outing Friday
Clayton Keller

Grabs Four Points in Friday's Victory
Nick Schmaltz

Celebrates Second Career Hat Trick Versus Sharks
Dylan Strome

Erupts for Four Points Against Wild
Dylan Larkin

Leads Red Wings to Victory Friday
Zach Bogosian

Hurt on Friday
Nikita Kucherov

Struck by Illness
Jauan Jennings

Good to Go in Week 7
George Kittle

Expected to Play With No Limitations in Week 7
Brendan Donovan

Undergoes Sports Hernia Surgery
George Springer

Exits Game 5 Early After HBP on his Knee
Jackson Chourio

Back in Game 4 Lineup Against Dodgers
Deebo Samuel Sr.

Questionable for Week 7
Kyler Murray

Officially Questionable for Week 7
George Kittle

Likely Playing in Week 7
Alexander Romanov

to Be a Game-Time Call Saturday
Brock Bowers

Considered Doubtful for Week 7
Brock Purdy

Ruled Out Again in Week 7
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Clears Concussion Protocol, Will be Active on Sunday
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Ivan Herrera Has Bone Spurs Removed From his Elbow
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Set to Return for Preseason Finale
Jeremy Sochan

Won't Play in Season Opener
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Looks To Extend Her Win Streak
AJ Green

Bucks Agree to Contract Extension
Manon Fiorot

Looks To Bounce Back
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Cody Gibson

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
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Considered Day-to-Day with Hamstring Tightness
Kyle Nelson

Set For Lightweight Bout
Matt Frevola

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Jaden Ivey

Will Miss Four Weeks After Knee Surgery
Paul George

Expected to Miss Season Opener
Joel Embiid

Set to Make Preseason Debut on Friday
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Curt Cignetti Signs Eight-Year, $11.6 Million Extension With Indiana
Carlos Rodón

Carlos Rodon Unlikely to Be Ready for Opening Day After Elbow Surgery
Anthony Santander

Removed From ALCS Roster With Back Injury
Jackson Chourio

Aggravates Hamstring, Pulled Early in Game 3 of NLCS
Aaron Judge

Will Not Need Elbow Surgery
Anthony Volpe

Won't be Ready for Start of Next Season
Gerrit Cole

Won't be Ready for Opening Day Next Year
Milwaukee Bucks

Chris Livingston Waived by the Bucks
Keegan Murray

Nique Clifford Shines in Keegan Murray's Absence
Cooper Flagg

Continues to Start at Point Guard
Ron Harper Jr.

Earns a Two-Way Deal with the Celtics
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Waived by the Hornets
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Sterling Shepard's Stock Rising for Buccaneers
CFB

Jermod McCoy Officially Out for Alabama Matchup
CFB

Jam Miller Questionable to Face Tennessee
Jaden Ivey

Considered Day-to-Day
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Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt Probable For Saturday
Anthony Volpe

Undergoes Left-Shoulder Surgery
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Jayden Gibson No Longer with Oklahoma Program
Emmanuel Clase

to be Banished for Life After Gambling Allegations?
Alex Bregman

Plans to Opt Out of Contract With Red Sox
Christopher Bell

Sits Third in Points After Quiet Third-Place Finish
Chase Briscoe

Passes Denny Hamlin at the Start, but Hamlin Gets Him in the End
Joey Logano

Falling Out of Playoff Picture Despite Other Contenders' Crashes
Ryan Blaney

Stage 1 Crash Puts Ryan Blaney in Severe Playoff Trouble
Denny Hamlin

Wins at Las Vegas and Will Compete for the 2025 Cup Series Title
Kyle Larson

Dominates at Las Vegas but Ends Up Second
Chase Elliott

Struggles to Gain A Solid Finish at Las Vegas After Pit-Road Penalty
William Byron

Strong Run Ends In A Wreck at Las Vegas
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Sam Leavitt Viewed as Day-to-Day with Undisclosed Injury
Anthony Santander

Scratched From Game 2 of ALCS With Back Tightness
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Mike Shildt Retires as a Manager
Mateusz Gamrot

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Charles Oliveira

Gets Back In The Win Column
Montel Jackson

Drops Decision
Deiveson Figueiredo

Gets Split-Decision Victory
Vicente Luque

Outclassed
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Joel Alvarez Outclasses Vicente Luque
Jhonata Diniz

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
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Remains Undefeated
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Matt Rhule Denying Interest in Penn State Head Coaching Job
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Bill Belichick Says he's Committed to North Carolina

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