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Yankees Place David Bednar on Paternity List
The New York Yankees announced on Monday that they placed right-handed reliever David Bednar on the paternity list and recalled right-handed reliever Jake Bird from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a corresponding move. Bednar will now be away from the Yankees for up to three days and will most likely miss their three-game series against the visiting Detroit Tigers that starts on Monday. With Bednar away from the team for few days this week, right-hander Fernando Cruz will likely be first up for saves for the Yankees if the situation arises in the ninth inning for manager Aaron Boone. The 31-year-old Bednar has gone 2-3 with a 3.09 ERA (2.67 FIP), 1.23 WHIP, 16 saves, 40 strikeouts, and 12 walks in his 35 innings out of New York's bullpen in 2026 in his first full year in the Bronx. The two-time All-Star is currently tied for seventh in the majors with his 16 saves in 33 appearances in his eighth year in the majors.
Source: New York Yankees
Source: New York Yankees
Josh Bell Heating Up as a Strong Add in 12-Team Leagues?
Minnesota Twins first baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell has quietly put together an excellent June. He is batting .299/.351/.529 with four home runs, six doubles, 19 RBI, and 14 runs across 25 games this month. Bell has appeared in every Minnesota game during that stretch and has regularly hit in the middle of the order. His season line now sits at .243/.300/.395 with nine homers, 51 RBI, and 41 runs over 296 at-bats. Bell is not suddenly becoming an elite power hitter, but he can still help fantasy managers looking for corner-infield production. His 42.3% hard-hit rate and 9.7% barrel rate are both respectable, while his .320 xwOBA sits slightly above his .306 wOBA. The downside is a 22.0% strikeout rate, his highest since 2020, along with an otherwise modest .696 OPS. Still available in 84% of Yahoo leagues, Bell is worth adding in 12-team formats for fantasy managers chasing RBI, moderate power, and steady playing time.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Karson Milbrandt Could Have Immediate Success as a Stash
Miami Marlins right-handed pitching prospect Karson Milbrandt is one of the brightest fantasy prospects to stash on fantasy rosters, making him worth a waiver-wire look. Milbrandt has four starts at the Triple-A level with Jacksonville and has compiled a 2.33 ERA in 19 1/3 innings with 19 strikeouts and a 1.40 WHIP. Between two minor-league levels this season, Milbrandt is 4-1 with a 1.63 ERA in 66 1/3 innings with 89 strikeouts and a 1.12 WHIP. The numbers have come down a bit in Triple-A, but his strikeout rate at Double-A Pensacola was elite. The 22-year-old is the No. 4 prospect in the Marlins system and is looking like an immediate waiver-wire addition in fantasy circles. Given the chance to crack the Marlins' rotation, the talented right-hander could provide immediate fantasy dividends. Don't let Milbrandt sit on the fantasy waiver wire for much longer.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Owen Murphy Could be Worth Long-Term Stash in Deeper Leagues
Between two minor-league levels this season, Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect Owen Murphy has a 4-7 record with a 4.80 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 75 innings pitched. Between Double-A Columbus and Triple-A Gwinnett, Murphy has shown that he has good stuff with more than a strikeout per inning. His 4.80 combined ERA is a bit high, but he has a 3.90 ERA in five June starts. The No. 20 overall pick of the Braves in the 2022 MLB Draft, Murphy has advanced through the minors in the Braves system, and his next step could be an opportunity to pitch for Atlanta at the big-league level. Murphy is a highly-touted prospect and is worth keeping an eye on in the minors, and he could be worth a long-term stash in deeper leagues. He will likely need to show the Braves and fantasy managers more consistency before he earns his shot at the major-league level.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Kade Anderson Dominating at Double-A, Worth a Stash Look
Seattle Mariners left-handed pitching prospect Kade Anderson was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of LSU. He is already showing off his dominant left-handed arsenal at Double-A. With the Arkansas Travelers, Anderson's numbers are sparkling, with an 8-0 record in 13 starts and a 1.22 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings pitched. He has pretty much done enough to get the call to Triple-A sooner rather than later. His record is flawless, his ERA is barely existent, but most impressive perhaps is his strikeout rate. That is what makes him the most enticing for fantasy purposes. Anderson looks like he could be impressive at the major-league level, but he does still likely need to prove himself at Triple-A before the Mariners call him up. While Anderson could hold his own right now at the big-league level, the Mariners have hinted that they most likely won't call him up until later in the second half of the regular season, and when they do, he could be used in a relief role.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Zac Veen's Steady Numbers Could Make Him Excellent Waiver-Wire Stash
Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Zac Veen has steadily been hitting all year long at Triple-A Albuquerque in the Pacific Coast League. In 270 at-bats, Veen is hitting a whopping .330 with 13 homers and 54 RBI to go with 14 steals. The No. 9 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Veen is pushing hard for a promotion to Colorado, but the outfield is stocked at the big-league level with the likes of Jake McCarthy, Cole Carrigg, and Mickey Moniak. Veen, who bats left-handed and throws right-handed, would be an excellent option for the big-league club to add a lefty-swinging outfielder. Now is the time to add Veen to fantasy rosters. His Triple-A numbers, while in a good hitting environment, are too good to ignore, and a chance to play half his games at hitter-friendly Coors Field is too good to pass up. Veen has the prospect pedigree, and now might be the time when the production comes.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Kaelen Culpepper Stash-Worthy Now That he's Healthy?
St. Paul Saints shortstop Kaelen Culpepper (hip) was recently activated from the seven-day injured list and is ready to continue his hot hitting at the Triple-A level. Culpepper has 249 at-bats this year with St. Paul and has produced 14 homers with 43 RBI while hitting .269 and adding 15 stolen bases. Culpepper is pushing for a promotion, even with the Minnesota Twins featuring a talented infield that includes Brooks Lee, Ryan Kreidler, and Kody Clemens, among others. Culpepper, the No. 21 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, is a five-tool prospect who would make for a dynamic addition to fantasy rosters when he gets the promotion to Minnesota. However, coming off his left-hip strain, he might need some time to get back in the swing of things at Triple-A. Fantasy managers might want to act quickly and add him before he gets the call to beat the rush.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Joshua Baez Looking Like a Waiver-Wire Option
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez has the Triple-A numbers to justify a call-up, and when the Cardinals decide to make the call from Triple-A Memphis, he should reward fantasy managers. Savvy fantasy managers may recall Baez's four-homer game, but his overall numbers are outstanding all year at Memphis. He is hitting .265 with 26 homers, 65 RBI, 58 runs, and 13 stolen bases. The second-round pick has shown off his power stroke in Memphis, but a crowded outfield exists in St. Louis with the likes of Jordan Walker, Nathan Church, and Lars Nootbaar. Expect Baez to force the Cardinals' hand soon if he keeps hitting, and fantasy managers may want to beat the rush to add the talented outfielder. The power numbers could translate and thus reward managers who take an early chance on the big-time prospect.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Carlos Estevez to be Re-Evaluated After Potential Setback With Shoulder
Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (shoulder) suffered a shoulder injury while rehabbing his foot on May 6. He threw a bullpen session on June 27, but his right shoulder didn't feel great, so the Royals will re-evaluate him in the coming days, according to MLB.com. Estevez initially went on the 15-day injured list on April 1 with a foot injury, but he was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 15 with a right rotator-cuff strain in his shoulder. It's unclear exactly what is wrong with the 33-year-old Dominican veteran now, but he's unlikely to come off the IL to rejoin the Royals' bullpen before the All-Star break next month, and depending on what the team finds this week, Estevez could be out well into the second half of the season. Right-hander Lucas Erceg was the next man up for saves in KC with Estevez hurt early in April. Erceg has 12 saves, but he has since been booted from the closer's role in favor of Alex Lange, who has converted all seven of his save opportunities in June. It's becoming harder to justify holding Estevez in fantasy baseball leagues as we near the end of the first half. He's currently rostered in 42% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Marcus Semien has Grade 3 Flexor Strain, Out 4-6 Weeks
New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (elbow) was diagnosed with a Grade 3 hip-flexor strain, and he will be out four to six weeks at a minimum, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Semien tried to play through the injury until it severely limited his movement. Outfielder Tyrone Taylor had a Grade 1.5 to 2 flexor strain and missed 28 days. The 35-year-old Semien had been showing signs of decline offensively in recent years, but playing through injury in 2026 in his first year in New York had really tanked his numbers. In 80 games (318 plate appearances) in his 14th year in the majors, the three-time All-Star hit .214/.271/.341 with a career-worst .613 OPS, nine home runs, 29 RBI, 30 runs scored, six stolen bases, and a 21.4% strikeout rate, which is his worst mark since 2017 with the Athletics. There's no guarantee Semien will bounce back in the second half for the last-place Mets if he can return fully healthy in the second half. For the foreseeable future, Brett Baty will serve as the team's primary option at the keystone in Queens.
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
Liam Hicks Likely to Come Off the Injured List on Tuesday?
Miami Marlins catcher/first baseman/designated hitter Liam Hicks (back) took part in a full day of baseball activities on June 26 and is swinging without limitations and can catch. If Hicks continues to make progress, MLB.com suggests he's likely to come off the 10-day injured list when he's first eligible on Tuesday. Hicks was put on the IL on June 21 with a lower-back strain, but it looks like fantasy managers will get him back this week. The 27-year-old left-handed-hitting Canadian backstop has had a breakout in his second season in the big leagues, slashing .278/.359/.472 with an .831 OPS, 13 home runs, 53 RBI, 40 runs scored, and a stolen base across 73 games played and 288 plate appearances in 2026. For fantasy purposes, it's the perfect time for managers to get Hicks back, with Miami in Colorado and Sacramento at Coors Field and Sutter Health Park, respectively -- two of the most hitter-friendly parks in the league. In 16 games in June before his back injury, Hicks had gone 18-for-58 (.310) with two homers, two doubles, a triple, eight RBI, and 13 runs scored. Get ready to plug him back into all starting fantasy lineups this week.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Aaron Judge Not Ready for More Testing?
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that All-Star outfielder Aaron Judge (ribs) is still taking things slow, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Judge is coming up on four weeks on the 10-day injured list due to a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side, but it doesn't sound like he will be ready for more testing at that point. The 34-year-old former MVP was placed on the IL on June 5, and at the time, the Yankees said Judge would be re-evaluated in four to six weeks. It sounds like the Yankees don't plan on re-evaluating him for another couple of weeks, so fantasy managers definitely cannot expect the slugger to return before the All-Star break in mid-July. The former first-rounder in 2013 out of California State University, Fresno, is an obvious must-stash while he heals, but fantasy managers may not get him back until early August in a best-case scenario. We'll have a better idea on a timeline for a return once he resumes baseball activities. Judge has hit .248 (53-for-214) with 17 homers, 38 RBI, 43 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 2026 in his 11th year in the majors. With Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Trent Grisham (hamstring) still on the IL as well, Jasson Dominguez will continue to be an everyday player in the outfield in the Bronx.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Mauricio Dubon Becoming Waiver Target With Multi-Position Eligibility
Atlanta Braves infielder/outfielder Mauricio Dubon has never had much power or speed in his seven-plus years in the big leagues with four different teams as a utility player, but he has recently become more attractive off the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues as a short-term boost during his hot streak with the Braves. Dubon has hit .267/.316/.421 with a .738 OPS in 78 games across 314 plate appearances with Atlanta so far this year, and he's only three home runs away from setting a new career high in that category. The 31-year-old veteran from Honduras has been excellent in 22 games (89 plate appearances) in June, going 26-for-84 (.310) with five long balls, five doubles, 14 RBI, 12 runs scored, and two stolen bases. Dubon is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak in which he's gone 11-for-29 (.379) with a homer, four doubles, an RBI, five runs, and a stolen base. He sits in just the 11th percentile in hard-hit rate and 25th percentile in barrel rate, but he rarely strikes out (85th percentile in K rate) and should continue to play regularly with Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) on the injured list. Most importantly, Dubon is eligible at second base, third base, shortstop, and the outfield, and he's rostered in only 39% of Yahoo leagues. Ride the wave in deeper fantasy leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Chase Meidroth Heating Up, Becoming Infield Waiver Target?
Chicago White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth is quietly hitting .276 (83-for-301) in his second year in the major leagues for a resurgent White Sox club in 2026. Meidroth hit .253/.329/.320 with only five home runs, 23 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 54 runs scored in 122 games (505 plate appearances) in 2025 in his rookie season. He's only stolen two bases in his 80 games so far in 2026, but the 24-year-old former fourth-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2022 out of the University of San Diego already has a career-high six homers in 339 plate appearances. In 23 games and 97 plate appearances in June, Meidroth has gone 26-for-89 (.292) with a homer, three doubles, nine RBI, and 11 runs scored. The problem with adding Meidroth off the waiver is that he currently has an elevated 24.8% strikeout rate (up from 14.3% last year), and his walk rate is nearly identical to what it was last year at 8.6%. His xBA of .227 and xwOBA of .282 point to serious regression since he's not making nearly as much contact as he did in 2025. Meidroth might be in play as a short-term middle-infield boost while he's hot, but his underlying metrics say that it's not going to last. He's rostered in only 30% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Caleb Durbin a Must-Add Off the Waiver Wire as he Continues to Rake?
Boston Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball recently, and he went 1-for-4 at the plate with two RBI, a run scored, two stolen bases, and a strikeout in the team's 5-4, 10-inning win at Fenway on Sunday to help Boston complete a four-game sweep over the division-rival New York Yankees. Durbin's overall numbers in 2026 in his second year in the majors (first with the BoSox) don't look very enticing from a fantasy standpoint, as he's hitting just .230/.283/.381 with a .664 OPS, six home runs, 34 RBI, 30 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 75 games and 267 plate appearances. However, he has become a strong waiver-wire addition in fantasy leagues of late due to his hot streak at the plate, and he's eligible at both second and third base in most leagues. In his last 11 games, Durbin has gone 17-for-39 (.436) with three home runs, eight RBI, and four stolen bases. Durbin had 11 homers and 18 RBI in 136 games in his rookie campaign with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2025, and he's Boston's starting third baseman. He's available in 70% of Yahoo leagues right now.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
