Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: 1 player from each MLB team to target for the second half
This week's list of possible player additions is meant to give managers plenty of options to consider while they have extra time. From each MLB team, I've selected one player who could be much more productive in the second half than he has been thus far. Many of these players can be added from waivers, some can be acquired via trade, and a few others are worth monitoring for now.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice
Anthony Santander, OF, Blue Jays (60% Rostered on Yahoo)
Santander ranked sixth in homers across 2022-24, and if he can overcome his current shoulder injury, he could hit cleanup in an offense that has really found its groove.
Jasson Domínguez, OF, Yankees (58%)
Domínguez is off to a solid start in his first full season (.768 OPS), but he has much more upside. He has recently received some chances from the leadoff spot, where he could maximize his 88th percentile hard-hit rate and 87th percentile sprint speed.
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Chandler Simpson, OF, Rays (35%)
Simpson merely needs regular playing time to lead the Majors in second half steals. And with a .309 batting average, the speedster has given the Rays plenty of reasons to leave him in the lineup.
Roman Anthony, OF, Red Sox (54%)
Baseball's consensus No. 1 prospect at the start of the season, Anthony is starting to find his groove in the Majors. He has hit .351 with a .915 OPS in July and could become a star in the second half.
Tyler O'Neill, OF, Orioles (33%)
O'Neill is injury prone and inconsistent, but he also has impactful stretches and has a pair of 30-homer seasons. He's finally healthy and ready to have a hot streak.
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Reese Olson, SP, Tigers (60%)
Olson has solid ratios this season (2.95 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) and in his three-year career (3.58 ERA, 1.17 WHIP). If not for a finger injury earlier in the season, he would be rostered in 80% of leagues.
Royce Lewis, 3B, Twins (45%)
I'm down on Lewis, but I can't give up on such a talented player. He's in his prime, entered 2025 with a career .825 OPS and could finally be past the hamstring woes that have ruined his season.
Slade Cecconi, SP/RP, Guardians (12%)
Cecconi has fared well in 10 starts with the Guardians, and his 56:18 K:BB ratio offers hope for even more. He has also been consistent, allowing more than three runs just once.
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Jonathan India, 2B/3B/OF, Royals (37%)
India seemed like a perfect fit as the Royals' leadoff hitter, but he has been underwhelming thus far. He tallied 32 homers and 27 steals across 2023-24, which gives hope that he can improve on his meager 2025 totals (4 HR, 0 SB).
Grant Taylor, SP/RP, White Sox (12%)
Have the lowly White Sox finally found a closer? Taylor has three saves since June 22, and in 13.1 innings this year he has recorded a 15:3 K:BB ratio while not allowing a homer. Jordan Leasure recently earned a save, but his numbers are no match for Taylor's.
Brandon Walter, SP/RP, Astros (16%)
A pair of disappointing starts, one of which occurred at Coors Field, are impacting Walter's 3.98 ERA. I see his 40:2 K:BB ratio as a clear sign that he could be special in the second half.
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Jake Burger, 1B/3B, Rangers (39%)
Last year, Burger struggled in the first half (.635 OPS) before thriving after the break (.901 OPS). History could repeat itself, as the entire Rangers offense is showing signs of waking up from their first half slumber.
Reid Detmers, SP/RP, Angels (10%)
From May 20 to July 8, Detmers has recorded a 12.7 K/9 rate while allowing zero earned runs across 22 innings. He could take over as the team's closer if Kenley Jansen is traded later this month.
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics (51%)
Kurtz fits in the same bucket as Domínguez and Anthony — youngsters who are off to decent starts and have so much talent that they could soon take off. It's already starting to happen for Kurtz, who has a .937 OPS since coming off the injured list on June 9.
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Max Kepler, OF, Phillies (3%)
Kepler's batting average has been dragged down by a .241 BABIP. I don't see a big breakout coming, but he could hit .240 with helpful power numbers.
Sean Manaea, SP, Mets (42%)
Manaea will return on Sunday from a season-opening stint on the IL. He was excellent last season (3.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) and will benefit from joining one of baseball's best teams.
Jurickson Profar, OF, Braves (52%)
I don't expect Profar to be a game-changer, but he should be productive. The veteran was the 37th overall player in Yahoo roto production in 2024.
Agustín Ramírez, C/1B, Marlins (63%)
I see Ramírez as a top-5 catcher for the second half. He ranks among the top 25% of players in average exit velocity, barrel rate, hard-hit rate and bat speed.
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Luis García Jr., 2B, Nationals (59%)
Managers shouldn't expect miracles, but García should be more impactful in the second half, as his actual stats sit lower than his expected marks in several key areas.
Nestor Cortes, SP, Brewers (10%)
It has been a lost season for Cortes, who has respectable career ratios (3.88 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) and remains part of an organization that tends to get the most out of their pitchers. He is on a rehab assignment right now.
Iván Herrera, C, Cardinals (53%)
Imagine the buzz that would surround Herrera if he hadn't endured two IL stints. Hitting .320 with a .925 OPS, the potential second-half star could return right after the break.
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Chase Burns, SP, Reds (52%)
Fantasy managers are putting too much stock in one bad start, when they should be focusing on the swing-and-miss abilities of Burns, who has recorded 15 of his 30 outs via the strikeout.
Bubba Chandler, SP, Pirates (25%)
Chandler is spinning his wheels in the Minors, while this low-budget organization delays his debut. He should finally get a chance in the second half.
Emmet Sheehan, SP, Dodgers (28%)
Sheehan has looked great in two starts (2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 10:1 K:BB ratio). If he can maintain a rotation spot on a deep Dodgers' pitching staff, the sky is the limit.
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Randy Rodríguez, RP, Giants (30%)
With a 0.69 ERA and a 0.77 WHIP, Rodríguez could make a case for being baseball's best reliever this year. Camilo Doval has been inconsistent of late, and Ryan Walker has already lost the closer's role once this year. Rodríguez has earned ninth-inning opportunities.
Yu Darvish, SP, Padres (52%)
Darvish reminds me of Clayton Kershaw. Neither man had a dazzling debut after a long IL stint, but Kershaw has logged a 2.70 ERA and 1.18 WHIP after his initial outing. The same could happen for Darvish, who was effective (3.31 ERA, 1.07 WHIP) last year.
Kevin Ginkel, RP, D-backs (13%)
Ginkel is the last man standing in an Arizona bullpen that has lost Justin Martinez, A.J. Puk and Shelby Miller. He has poor numbers this season but has been effective (2.00 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 8:1 K:BB ratio) in his past nine outings.
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Brenton Doyle, OF, Rockies (52%)
There is little to like on the Rockies, but Doyle is someone to root for. He was hitting .315 with an .888 OPS when he and his wife lost their unborn baby on April 17. Since then, Doyle has hit .182 with a .522 OPS. Here's hoping that he gets some time to clear his head over the break.
Bonus: Trade Targets
George Kirby, SP, Mariners (94%)
I don't see a good waiver-wire option from this team, so instead I'll mention Kirby as a trade candidate. The righty has been excellent since June 1 (2.68 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 42:6 K:BB ratio) and should be a fantasy ace the rest of the way.
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Ian Happ, OF, Cubs (88%)
The Cubs are a veteran team that will surely add at the deadline, which limits the potential of their less-rostered players. I'll instead recommend Happ as a buy-low trade candidate, as he should provide more counting stats while continuing to rank among the runs scored leaders from his leadoff spot.
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