Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Load up on Yankees with Aaron Judge on mend — starting with Giancarlo Stanton

Yahoo

a day ago

As the fantasy baseball season enters the late summer grind, roster flexibility and timely additions remain critical. While this list won't feature popular waiver pickups like Matt Shaw or Ryan McMahon, several other hitters are producing heading into Week 17.
From established veterans heating up to call-ups carving out everyday roles, here are five players to consider adding now to boost your offensive output for the upcoming scoring period.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
Giancarlo Stanton - OF, New York Yankees (40% rostered)
Stanton may not be the most under-the-radar name, but he's shockingly under-rostered at just 40% in Yahoo leagues. The Yankees' slugger has rediscovered his groove in July, batting over .340 with a 1.100+ OPS since the All-Star break. Statcast continues to back the performance — he ranks in the upper tier in average exit velocity (mid-90s), hard-hit rate (above 50%), and barrels. Matchup-wise, the Yanks have a three-game homestand against the Rays to start the week and close with a favorable road trip versus the Marlins. With Aaron Judge (elbow) on the injured list, Stanton offers a ton of power and potential run support in the heart of the Yankees' lineup.
Ramón Laureano - OF, Baltimore Orioles (21% rostered)
Laureano is another undervalued asset, especially in category leagues. Over the last 30 days, Laureano has quietly batted .292 with a .884 OPS, five home runs, 13 runs, 19 RBI and one stolen base. In just the past week, he's added another three dingers, four runs, and seven RBI — good for 72nd in category formats in Week 16. Now entrenched in Baltimore's everyday lineup, Laureano has become a well-rounded contributor offering power, speed, and run production. He's also likely to face several righties this week, facing the Blue Jays and Cubs. Laureano is slashing .298/.352/.565 with a .917 OPS against RHP this season.
Ángel Martínez - 2B/OF, Cleveland Guardians (26% rostered)
Guardians CF Lane Thomas' prolonged recovery from a foot injury opened the door for Martínez to play an everyday role for Cleveland. Since the All-Star break, the Cleveland utilityman is hitting .317 (13-for-41) with four doubles, a homer, and eight runs scored with a .892 OPS. While his season line sits at .247/.280/.403, Martínez has seen significant improvements in his contact rates and barrel metrics in recent weeks. Maybe it's because he's moved up in the batting order, hitting no less than second in the Guardians' lineup since mid-July. The Guardians kick off the week against the Rockies (positive) and close it out against the Twins. I'd be looking to add Martínez in deeper leagues while he's riding a mini hot streak.
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Francisco Álvarez - C, New York Mets (17% rostered)
Álvarez had a career-low .652 OPS before being optioned to Triple-A on June 22. After blasting 11 homers with a 1.233 OPS in 19 Triple-A games, he overstayed his welcome and was recalled on July 21. Since his recall last week, Álvarez is riding a five-game hitting streak, batting .353 and tallying a home run, six runs, and two RBI. And most importantly, he's firmly in line for regular playing time for a contender. Although his season slash (.240/.329/.364) is modest, Álvarez's recent stint in the minors taught him to be patient with his approach offensively, and it's already showing. There should be ample plate appearances available this week with the Mets playing against the Padres and Giants, both of whom have primarily right-handed pitchers. Rostered in just 17% of Yahoo leagues, another big week from the Mets' backstop will push him from a must-add in two-catcher leagues to a top-12 option in 12-team leagues.
Colson Montgomery - 3B/SS - Chicago White Sox (13% rostered)
The White Sox rarely present appealing fantasy options, but this is about riding a hot bat. Montgomery knocked three homers (in consecutive days) with eight RBI just last week, finishing as a top-25 option in category formats. And, he's been nearly a top-50 player since the All-Star break, hitting .265 but slugging a robust .588. Montgomery is building a compelling case for fantasy relevance, as he's earning a steady role in the White Sox lineup, alternating between SS and 3B. The White Sox objectively stink, but he's bringing a ton of power for an infielder and should be considered a streaming option against the Phillies and Angels this week.