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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

Rui Hachimura

Back in Action on Christmas
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Cleared to Play on Christmas Night
George Kittle

Remains Sidelined During Thursday's Practice
Malik Willis

Carrying Questionable Tag for Week 17 Tilt
Jordan Love

Questionable for Saturday's Contest
Lamar Jackson

Listed as Doubtful for Week 17
Amon-Ra St. Brown

to Suit Up on Christmas Day
Rome Odunze

"Increasing Unlikely to Play" in Week 17
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Carries Questionable Tag on Thursday
David Montgomery

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
Seth Curry

to Remain Sidelined on Christmas Day
Jae'Sean Tate

Questionable Thursday
Dwight Powell

Likely to Return on Christmas
Jaylin Williams

Misses Fifth Straight Game
Ousmane Dieng

Unavailable on Christmas Day
Guerschon Yabusele

Questionable for Christmas Action
Miles McBride

Remains Out on Christmas
Cameron Johnson

to Miss Time With Bone Bruise in Right Knee
Jaxson Hayes

Considered Questionable for Christmas Matchup
Rui Hachimura

Likely to Return Thursday
Dorian Finney-Smith

Could Make Season Debut on Christmas Day
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Uncertain for Christmas Day
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Listed as Questionable for Christmas Game
Al Horford

on Track to Return Thursday
Jaden McDaniels

Iffy for Christmas Day
Brandon Williams

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
P.J. Washington

at Risk of Missing Second Straight Game
Klay Thompson

Likely to Play on Christmas Day
Max Christie

Probable for Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Davante Adams

Could Sit Out Final Two Regular-Season Games
Brock Bowers

Placed on Injured Reserve Due to Lingering Knee Injury
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Expected to Play on Christmas Day Against the Vikings
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
DK Metcalf

has Two-Game Suspension Upheld
Philip Rivers

to Remain the Starter in Week 17
George Kittle

Dealing With Mid-to-Low Ankle Sprain
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
Deshaun Watson

Will Not be Activated Off PUP List, 2025 Season is Over
J.J. McCarthy

Ruled Out for Week 17
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade

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