Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups For Fantasy Baseball - Week 16

July 9, 2023

Kevin Hickey's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for outfielders and Week 16 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 16 -- July 10 through July 16. Whether your team is derailed by injuries or you’re simply ready to give up on your draft day darlings, navigating the waiver wire will be crucial to finding long-term success in fantasy baseball. 

As we move through the season, trends fluctuate, and we must learn to react on the fly. When it comes to hot streaks, you have to act fast or you may miss out. This set of outfield-eligible players may not all have the longest track records, or their success could be considered unsustainable. However, you have to take risks early in the season in order to uncover your breakout stars. It will already be too late if you wait until these names are established. 

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! 

Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Standard Leagues

Tommy Pham, New York Mets - 48% Rostered

Tommy Pham's bat has come alive over the past few weeks, hitting safely in 18 of his last 21 contests, including eight multi-hit efforts in that span. He was ice-cold over the season's first two months but caught fire in June, posting a 1.027 OPS with six home runs. Pham's slash line is up to .282/.354/.495 for the season and has taken on an elevated role recently in the Mets' batting order. 

The underlying numbers have long suggested Pham was due for significant positive regression, so the recent hot streak isn't a complete surprise. He carries a tremendous .393 xwOBA, .533 xSLG, .303 xBA, 13.5% barrel rate, 49% hard-hit rate, and 93.4 mph average exit velocity. Pham's popularity has skyrocketed over the past two weeks, and it's easy to understand why.

Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox - 39% Rostered

Jarren Duran is another player whose stock has taken a noticeable bump lately. He's hit safely in six consecutive starts, including a five-hit, four-double performance against the Blue Jays on Sunday. For the season, Duran is slashing a fantastic .319/.365/.520 with a 131 wRC+. He's worked his way back into Boston's leadoff spot and appears to be a fixture there for the foreseeable future.

Looking under the hood, Duran carries some encouraging metrics. That includes an impressive .271 xBA, 47.2% hard-hit rate, and 90.2 mph average exit velocity. He's only managed five home runs and realistically isn't likely to experience a power surge. Still, Duran brings elite sprint speed, and that's paid off in the form of 33 extra-base hits and 17 stolen bases. Look for Duran to continue producing in a variety of ways.

Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles - 32% Rostered

Colton Cowser was called up earlier this week, and his fantasy ownership has already taken off. The heralded rookie is the second-ranked prospect in the Orioles' deep system and the 14th overall prospect in baseball. Cowser possesses a 55-grade hit tool, 55-grade power, and 55-grade running ability, placing him well above average in every offensive facet.

Through his first four career games, Cowser is slashing just .154/.389/.154, though the sample size is obviously too small to put much stock in. He slashed .330/.459/.537 with 10 home runs and seven stolen bases across 54 games in Triple-A this season and figures to have an offensive approach that will translate to the big leagues. Fantasy managers may have to show a little patience as Cowser gains his footing, but the payoff expects to be worthwhile.

Mickey Moniak, Los Angeles Angels - 14% Rostered

Mickey Moniak continues to mash when given the opportunity. Through 37 games, he's slashing .310/.341/.651 with 10 home runs and a 168 wRC+. Playing time has been uncertain since Moniak was called up earlier this season, and he's largely served as a strong-side platoon player. However, with Mike Trout sidelined for the next two months and the Angels starved for consistent offensive production, Moniak figures to be a near-everyday player for the foreseeable future.

Though Moniak strikes out plenty and rarely walks, he's absolutely launching the ball when he does manage to put it in play. Moniak sports an outstanding .539 xSLG and 16.7% barrel rate. Angel Stadium is also a very supportive environment for left-handed hitting power, further bolstering Moniak's power upside. There's likely some negative regression in his game, but Moniak should remain a worthwhile fantasy asset.

Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues

Ryan O'Hearn, Baltimore Orioles - 10% Rostered

The Orioles' rotation of hitters is getting crowded, and the approaching return of Ryan Mountcastle won't help matters. Still, Ryan O'Hearn continues to rake. He's slashing .307/.353/.526 with seven home runs and a 143 wRC+ across 45 games this season. Despite the wealth of talent coming up through Baltimore's minor-league system, O'Hearn figures to see playing time as long as he continues to produce at this level.

Looking at O'Hearn's underlying numbers makes it clear that he isn't simply experiencing good luck. O'Hearn carries a tremendous .511 xSLG, including a 59% hard-hit rate, 13% barrel rate, and .356 xwOBA. He has not been a particularly reliable producer in his six-year career, so there is a reasonable level of skepticism. But he's shown no signs of slowing down. O'Hearn may be more of a streamer than a long-term fantasy asset.

Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels - 8% Rostered

INJURY UPDATE (July 9th): Jo Adell suffered an oblique injury during Saturday night's game. He was forced from Saturday's tilt with the Los Angeles Dodgers due to left oblique discomfort. He will undergo further tests in a few days to determine the severity of the setback.

Jo Adell has been teasing fantasy managers all season long, and the injury to Mike Trout appears to have finally opened up a spot for him on the Angels' major-league roster. With Trout departing to the injured list, Adell was called up earlier this week. The highly-touted prospect has never found success in the majors during several prior stints dating back to 2020. At only 24 years old, it's certainly not too late for him to realize his potential.

Adell has terrorized minor-league pitching this season, launching 23 home runs across 72 appearances in Triple-A. That includes a .271/.376/.580 slash line and nine stolen bases. Success in the minors is nothing new for Adell, who was revered as one of the top prospects in all of baseball a few seasons ago. Whether or not his game will finally translate to the majors remains a major question mark, but Adell's fantasy ceiling is sky-high.

Matt Vierling, Detroit Tigers - 6% Rostered

Matt Vierling has been a rare bright spot in a largely disappointing Detroit Tigers offense. He carries a strong .284/.346/.427 slash line with seven home runs and a 118 wRC+. It's been a breakout campaign for the 26-year-old, and the Tigers have rewarded his performance with an elevated role in their batting order. Vierling is typically hitting leadoff against southpaws and drawing starts in the heart of the order against right-handed pitchers, even with the return of Riley Greene. 

The advanced stats look good for Vierling, too. He sports a .281 xBA alongside similarly impressive numbers, like a .342 xwOBA, .435 xSLG, 44.3% hard-hit rate, 90.5 mph average exit velocity, 18.5% strikeout rate, and 17.1% whiff rate. Vierling's ceiling isn't as high as some featured on this list, but his production is consistent.

More Players To Consider

• Lars Nootbaar, Cardinals - 46% rostered
• Nolan Jones, Rockies - 38% rostered
• Harrison Bader, Yankees - 37% rostered
• LaMonte Wade Jr., Giants - 31% rostered
• Adam Duvall, Red Sox - 26% rostered
• Corey Julks, Astros - 16% rostered

More Deep-League Players To Consider

• Oscar Colas, White Sox - 7% rostered
• Joey Wiemer, Brewers - 6% rostered
• Ryan Noda, Athletics - 6% rostered
• Kerry Carpenter, Tigers - 3% rostered
• Jesus Sanchez, Marlins - 3% rostered

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers