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Andy's FAAB fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and bidding guide for Week 19 (August 4 - August 10). His recommended FAAB dollars to spend on waiver wire adds.
Happy Saturday, RotoBallers! This week, we will focus much of our attention on the bullpen moves that happened before the trade deadline. With Mason Miller, Ryan Helsley, David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Kyle Finnegan all being traded, there are several closer roles open across the major leagues.
Our series about FAAB fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups continues as we head into Week 19 of the 2025 MLB season -- August 4 through August 10. This waiver wire article will recommend free agents to target and how much FAAB you should allocate for them.
Each week, I will break down at least one player from each position with ownership percentages under 40 percent in Yahoo! leagues who could improve your roster and provide you with an added boost in several categories. Be sure to follow RotoBaller MLB and me on X for all your fantasy baseball needs this season. Let's get to it!
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters to Target
Ben Rice, C/1B, New York Yankees
25% rostered
FAAB Bid: <15% if needing a catcher, <10% for others
After weeks of only seeing a handful of stars, it appears Rice could be given a close to a full-time role in the second half. With Aaron Judge (elbow) on the IL, there is an open spot in the Yankee lineup. In addition, the Yankees recently optioned J.C. Escarra, leaving just Rice and Austin Wells as the only catchers on the roster.
While his pedestrian .231./.327/.464 line may not be too eye-catching, his elite .400 xwOBA, .548 xSLG, and 53.8% hard-hit rate suggest he could be a late-season breakout if given everyday at-bats.
BEN RICE 3-RUN HOMER! pic.twitter.com/IsXxDSPas2
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 31, 2025
Dillon Dingler, C, Detroit Tigers
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <5% if needing a No. 2 catcher, <1% for others
My other catcher is a recurring name for all the dedicated followers of this column. Dingler has continued to find great success as a solid C2 in the starting role of one of the most potent lineups in the sport. He has held a .281/.321/.434 line with nine home runs.
Over his last 10 games, he has posted a .414/.447/.611 line.
Other C to consider: Sean Murphy ATL
Kyle Manzardo, 1B, Cleveland Guardians
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <10%
The 25-year-old appeared to be a breakout candidate in the opening months, but hit an extended slump through most of May and June. However, he has begun to catch fire in July and could be worth adding if you need some power at your corner infield spot.
Over his last 12 games, the former top prospect has gone deep an impressive five times. During this stretch, he has only sat out for four games. If Manzardo continues to see close to every day at the ABs, he could find his footing.
Coby Mayo, 1B/3B, Baltimore Orioles
5% rostered
FAAB Bid: <8%
Mayo was a popular stash option in the 2024 season as he flashed immense upside at Triple-A. However, when given the call to the majors, he struggled and hardly saw any consistent playing time. This season, he appeared to be on a similar track but has been trying to find his swing.
Since July 22, Mayo has held a .350/.500/.750 line with two home runs. Mayo has high potential that could emerge as a strong option if given the opportunities. He is a solid option to keep on your bench in hopes the Orioles finally give him the opportunity as they sit out of the playoff picture.
With Ryan O'Hearn shipped to San Diego, Mayo has a path to an everyday role.
Other 1B to consider: Tyler Locklear ARI, C.J. Kayfus CLE
Brett Baty, 2B/3B, New York Mets
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <7%
After typically operating on the strong side of a platoon, it appears Baty has begun to earn everyday opportunities in the New York starting nine. Before going hitless in his last four games, Baty was flashing solid upside, holding a .319/.385/.553 line with two doubles and three home runs over his last 17 contests.
Given his above aeage 13.0% barrel rate and impressive 75.0 mph bat speed, he is a solid target if looking to boost their power production in their corner or middle infield spots. The Mets did not make any significant moves to bolster their infield, which should continue to provide Baty with a locked-in role going forward.
Other 2Bs to consider: Angel Martinez CLE
Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Rangers
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <15%
Following his brief demotion to Triple-A Round Rock, the former eighth overall pick has looked like a new hitter since returning to Texas. Over his last nine games, Jung has tallied at least one hit in each game while holding a .991 OPS with two home runs.
The 27-year-old is heating up at the right time and has low-end No. 1 3B upside for the remainder of the season.
Warming Bernabel, 1B/3B, Colorado Rockies
5% rostered
FAAB Bid: <4%
The 23-year-old recently made his MLB debut and has been nothing short of impressive, posting a .389/.421/.833 line with two home runs through five games. Earlier this season, he flashed solid upside at the plate, posting a .301/.356/.450 line across 75 games at Triple-A.
With Ryan McMahon now in the Bronx, Bernabel should have an everyday role in the second half.
Other 3B to consider: Brett Batty NYM, Coby Mayo BAL
Colson Montgomery, SS, Chicago White Sox
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <7%
While the 23-year-old struggled to find consistency while progressing through the minor leagues, he has looked quite comfortable since joining the major leagues. Through his first 22 games on the South Side, the former first-round pick has posted a .257.313/.514 line with two doubles and five home runs.
Under the hood, he has generated a strong .359 xwOBA, .524 xSLG, with an elite 77.0 mph bat speed. His power production appears to be legit.
Colson Montgomery is showing out 📈‼️ pic.twitter.com/mFgb5Wwhxy
— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) July 31, 2025
Other SS to consider: J.P. Crawford SEA
Ramon Laureano, OF, San Diego Padres
20% rostered
FAAB Bid: <20%
Ramon Laureano made my column last week as an Oriole, but he has now found himself traded to a contender, which should only improve his fantasy upside going forward.d With the Orioles, Laureano was one of the few bright spots in their lineup as he posted .356/.406/.661 line with five home runs, 14 RBI, and 11 runs over his last 17 games.
His elite .373 xwOBA, .279 xBA, and .531 xSLG suggest he should be viewed as a must-start No. 4/No.5 OF going forward. He should have ample opportunities to rack up counting stats batting alongside Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, and Luis Arraez.
Miguel Vargas, 1B/3B/OF, Chicago White Sox
20% rostered
FAAB Bid: <7%
The former Dodger prospect caught some eyes earlier in the season, but hit a bit of a slump, which caused many fantasy managers to cut ties. However, over his last 11 games, Vargas has been unable to find his swing and is a solid utility infielder/outfielder to target. In his last 11 games, Vargsas has held a .304/.347/.565 line with 10 runs and nine RBI.
He should continue to be a strong target for counting stats, batting cleanup, and is worth pushing up your waiver claim list in points leagues, given his strong 16.8% K rate.
Update - Vargas has been placed on the 10-day IL with an oblique strain
Victor Scott II, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
25% rostered
FAAB Bid: <10% if needing steals, <2% for others
After swiping only three bags in his first 17 games this month, Scott has finished the month on a high note, tallying four stolen bases in his final seven games. On the season, Scott has swiped 29 bags, which is the second-highest mark in the NL.
While he will not contribute much to the other four standard categories, he is a must-roster simply due to his speed upside. Holding a 75% availability rate in Yahoo leagues, fantasy managers looking to preserve their stock should consider adding Scott this weekend.
Other OFs to consider: Joey Loperfido TOR, Angel Martinez CLE, Mickey Moniak COL
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers to Target
Cal Quantrill, SP, Miami Marlins
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <2%
Cal Quantrill had a rough start to the season but has logged three straight impressive outings and is worth a look on the waiver wire. Over his last three starts, the right-hander has logged 16 innings of one-run ball with an elite 0.63 WHIP. During this stretch, Quantrill has struck out 10 hitters and walked only two hitters.
Is this turnaround legit? The driving force for his turnaround has been his cutter. Quantrill is throwing this pitch more often (in relation to June) and is finding strong results with it, generating a .255 xwOBA. While he sits below average in terms of xERA and xBA, his recent start suggests he could find value as a starter in deeper leagues.
JP Sears, SP, San Diego Padres
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <6%
I recently did a full breakdown on JP Sears (you can check it out here), and with him now being shipped to Petco Park and leaving the batter's box of Sutter Health Park in the rearview mirror, I am pretty interested in him this weekend.
Since June 28, Sears has logged 30 innings to the tune of a 3.60 ERA and a strong 1.10 WHIP. In fact, he had a six-run home run start during this stretch, which significantly inflated his ratios. Removing that outing, the left-hander would hold a 2.08 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP.
Given his elite command (6.1% walk rate) and now pitching in a more friendly environment, Sears is a great target if you need to drop your WHIP ratio.
Yu Darvish, SP, San Diego Padres
30% rostered
FAAB Bid: <10%
My final starting pitcher is nearing the 40% roster mark, and this is likely the final week you can grab him. The veteran is coming off his best start of the season as he tossed seven shutout innings with two hits and seven strikeouts against the Mets. He did not allow a walk.
This is an excellent sign as Darvish held a hefty 9.18 ERA through his first four outings since making his season debut. While it could take him some time to get settled, given that he still holds a solid 3.80 xERA and a .244 xBA (both above average), Darvish clearly got very unlucky during his first few starts. He has generated a strong 26.% whiff rate with an imrpessive 35.1% hard-hit rate.
Other SPs to consider: Jacob Lopez ATH, Cade Horton CHC
Randy Rodriguez, RP, San Francisco Giants
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <30%
Rodriguez was enjoying a stellar campaign operating as a seventh/eighth inning reliever for the Giants. However, with Ryan Walker's struggles and both Doval and Tyler Rogers being traded before the deadline, Rodriguez has a clear path to claim the ninth-inning role down the stretch.
Through 45 innings, the right-hander has posted a remarkable 1.20 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP. He has struck out 62 batters while tallying 13 holds. He is a priority target in all formats this weekend.
The final FAAB dump of the year will be for Randy Rodriguez
— Andy Smith (@A_Smith_FS) July 31, 2025
Dennis Santana, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <15% if needing saves
While I debated placing Jack Perkins as my No. 2 reliever, Santana has a slightly more viable path to remain in the ninth inning in the Steel City, which will give him the edge here. Santana was a potential trade target, but the Pirates were unable to get a deal done. However, they did move David Bednar to the Yankees, which leaves Santana as the only proven high-leverage option on the team.
Santana has already seen time as the closer this season when Bednar was in the minor leagues, and was very impressive. Through 46 1/3 innings, he has generated an elite 91st percentile xERA with a 0.82 WHIP. While his 21.7% K rate is underwhelming, he should have a path to earn 10+ saves by the end of the season.
Other RP to consider for saves: Jack Perkins ATH, Kevin Ginkel ARI, Corbin Martin BAL
Fantasy Baseball Prospects to Monitor
Andrew Painter, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <5%
With the Phillies not acquiring any starting pitching at the deadline, Painter remains a top-priority stash. Over his last two outings at Triple-A, the top prospect in Philadelphia tossed 12 1/3 innings of three-run ball with eight strikeouts.
While he has struggled at times, seeing Painter log six innings in each of his last two starts suggests his development is near complete.
Other prospects to monitor: Bubba Chandler PIT
More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice
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