2025 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds: Week of April 27
It's the most important time of the year for waiver wire pickups. Here are some names to consider adding before it's too late.
Well, I hope you got in on last week’s waiver wire picks because there were a few gems. I assume a few of those players are still available in your league and are still considered an add. We have left those picks at the bottom of this article, but this week, we have a fresh batch of names that you should be targeting for your waiver wire pickups.
Of course, I have a new group of names for you this week.
Since last week’s fantasy waiver wire pickups article, we have seen a number of players make their Major League debut, most notably Nick Kurtz. The early-season waiver of debuts is always one to monitor closely. These players might take some time to adjust but could hit their stride with plenty of season left, giving you extra value.
Without further ado, here are this weeks waiver wire adds.
Stats as of first pitch on April 27th. Owner percentage via ESPN.
Agustin Ramirez – C, Miami Marlins (13.8%)
2025 Stats: .500/.563/.1.000, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Ramirez came to Miami as part of the Jazz Chisholm trade with the Yankees last season and has gained a lot of helium as a prospect, and it’s easy to see why. The power potential, especially from the catchers’ position, is legit and something your team might need if you have struggled behind the plate.
Ramirez has posted a 94.3 mph average exit velocity since joining Miami and does not have a ton of swing and miss in his game. The sample size of small, but he is currently one of the hottest hitters in MLB, so grab him and put him in your lineup immediately.
Offensive upside from catchers is hard to find on the waiver wire, so scoop Ramirez up before someone else does.
Noelvi Marte – 3B, Cincinnati Reds (16.7%)
2025 Stats: .333/.381/.641, 3 HR, 2 SB
Now THIS is the Noelvi Marte the Reds traded Luis Castillo for. After missing a chunk of last year due to suspension then returning and looking lost, Marte has bounced back in a major way. Even in his small sample, Marte has a 116.7 mph exit velocity, five mph faster than any ball he hit last season.
He looks much more comfortable both at the plate and in the field. We are seeing a level of play that did not once show last year, and I think it’s worth rolling the dice. Marte is hitting everything right now and should see plenty of playing time while giving you both power and speed upside.
Reese Olson – SP, Detroit Tigers (11.9%)
2025 Stats: 27.1 IP, 3.29 ERA, 3.11 FIP, 8.23 K/9
Reese Olson continues to be one of the more underrated pitchers in the league. Last season Olson had a 3.17 FIP across 112.1 innings, and he’s trending in the same direction this year. He’s a groundball machine and rarely has a disastrous outing, making him a high-floor starter for your team on the MLB waiver wire.
Detroit is one of the best teams in baseball, which benefits owners, as Olson should rack up wins. He started the year shaky but has back-to-back starts with no runs, including 7.1 shutout innings against the Padres.
Griffin Canning – SP, New York Mets (9.1%)
2025 Stats: 26 IP, 3.12 ERA, 3.30 FIP, 9 K/9
Last year was about as bad as it gets for Canning. Not only did his ERA inflate to over 5.00, but his strikeouts took a major dip to under 7.00 K/9. Now with the Mets, Canning has been a pleasant surprise and worth rostering off the deep waiver wire, at least until a drop off comes.
Canning has five starts this year and has allowed one run in three of those starts. He’s going to allow some contact, but a 54% groundball rate allows you to buy in without worrying about getting blown up.
Camilo Doval – RP, San Francisco Giants (9.9%)
2025 Stats: 12 IP, 2.25 ERA, 3.20 FIP, 5 SV
The Giants have used Ryan Walker as their closer but with a 5.91 ERA and a significant drop in his swing and miss a door has opened for Doval. This one is simple. If Doval takes the closers role, he’s well worth a roster spot. Keep a close eye, because once he starts walking too many batters he could lose the spot once again.
Wait and See
Lucas Giolito (SP, Boston Red Sox), Tyler Stephenson (C, Cincinnati Reds), Jordan Beck (OF, Colorado Rockies), Adel Amador (2B, Colorado Rockies)
Giolito and Stephenson are both proven players set to return from injury within a week. Neither are must adds, but in deeper leagues you might want to get ahead before others scoop them up. Stephenson hasn’t been sharp in his rehab assignment but did launch a home run on Sunday. He comes with a solid offensive track record for a catcher.
Beck and Amador are both younger options for the Rockies and should get plenty of run as Colorado continues to look toward the future. Amador gives you a high batting average upside while Beck has the ability to put up a decent amount of power.
Last Week’s Waiver Wire Adds from April 21st: Some of These Guys Are Still Available
Stats and rankings taken prior to first pitch on April 21.
Austin Hays – OF, Cincinnati Reds (9.6% Rostered)
2025 Stats: .429/.467/.786, 3 HR, 8 RBI
Hays dealt with injuries last season which dampened his fantasy value, and he missed the beginning of this campaign as well.
Now back, Hays is getting everyday at-bats in the four hole right behind Elly De La Cruz. Although he will not draw many walks, fantasy owners can expect to see the best power output of his career this season.
Hays’ power was robbed due to the left field fence in Baltimore not playing to his pull-heavy style, but it should play up in Great American Small Park. He’s an immediate add in deeper leagues and one you should consider in 10-team formats as well.
Hays makes great contact and looks to be the healthiest he has been since posting a .769 OPS in 2023, his lone All-Star season.
Dillon Dingler – C, Detroit Tigers (6.3% Rostered)
2025 Stats: .276/.288/.466, 2 HR, 9 RBI
Dingler took a slower path through the minors, but he has finally been given a full-time role as the Tigers’ backstop following Jake Rogers’ injury.
He comes with a high strikeout rate but big power potential for a catcher. He’s looked more comfortable than he did in his first taste of the big leagues last season, already posting a 92.5 mph average exit velocity in 2025.
I’m not sure how long Dingler can keep this up, but we could be looking at a breakout instead of just a hot streak. There’s a good chance he earns the lion’s share of the catching duties even when Rogers comes back.
His terrific Triple-A numbers in 2024 were no fluke, and fantasy managers won’t want to miss out on the opportunity to scoop up a good bat at a position of limited offensive value.
Andrew Abbott – SP, Cincinnati Reds (13.5% Rostered)
2025 Stats: 11 IP, 1.64 ERA, 16 K , 3 BB
This Cincinnati rotation has been excellent to start the season, and Abbott has been a big part of that.
After missing the start of the season due to injury, Abbott has returned to action with back-to-back two-hit starts including an outing with 11 strikeouts. His fastball has better shape, and I think it could take his game up a notch.
Abbott will never be the sexiest arm on your team, but he’s pretty reliable. He’s posted a sub-4.00 ERA each of his first two seasons and has always managed to outpitch the peripherals. If you need an injury replacement or just an arm to round out your rotation, Abbott can be just that.
Rhys Hoskins – 1B, Milwaukee Brewers (9.5% Rostered)
2025 Stats: .262/.352/.426, 3 HR, 12 RBI
If you have ever owned shares of Hoskins in the past, I’m sure you just rolled your eyes. Without a doubt, Hoskins is one of the more frustrating players. His insane hot and cold streaks make him a difficult player to roster, but when he’s hot you need him on your team.
Hoskins is getting everyday playing time and has posted an .842 OPS over the past two weeks. You know he’ll bring your team 25 home runs, but plenty of strikeouts to go along with that pop. Go ahead an add Hoskins, but watch his performance closely, because once the dip starts, you’ll likely need to drop him.
Jake Irvin – SP, Washington Nationals (16.2% Rostered)
2025 Stats: 29.1 IP, 3.68 ERA, 27 K, 7 BB
Like Abbott, Irvin isn’t going to excite many fantasy owners. However, he brings a baseline of production that is often needed throughout the season to get you by. What I find intriguing is the Nationals’ willingness to let him go deeper into games, as he has gone six and seven innings in his last two outings, respectively.
If you are not one to dig through streamers everyday while you wait for a certain player to come back, consider adding Irvin. Stability and predictability can be important, and I know he’ll at least provide that for your fantasy team.
Wait And See
Chandler Simpson (OF, Tampa Bay Rays), Edgar Quero (C, Chicago White Sox), Luke Keaschall (2B, Minnesota Twins), Nick Kurtz (1B, Athletics), Lance McCullers (SP, Houston Astros)
The first three names listed above are highly-rated prospects who are worth an add in deep leagues and should warrant a watchlist add in 10-team or 12-team formats.
Chandler Simpson comes with a ton of stolen base upside, but he has a questionable hit tool. Edgar Quero and Luke Keaschall should see a good amount of playing time but not enough to get me excited just yet.
Nick Kurtz is hitting bomb after bomb in a homer-friendly environment, but he could join the Athletics at any moment. His power upside cannot be ignored, and it should be fun to watch him with Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom in the same lineup.
Of course you know Lance McCullers, who has just 47 innings pitched since 2021. He has racked up nine strikeouts in 7.2 innings in his rehab starts though, which is encouraging. Who knows what he will ultimately offer, but McCullers is worth monitoring at the very least.
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