Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire 2025: Top Pickups & Sleepers of the Week, Every Week

While nailing your fantasy baseball draft is always the first step towards having a great season, make no mistake about it, leagues are won and LOST on the waiver wire.

There is nothing more important in fantasy baseball than being proactive. Whether that is picking up one of the hottest hitters in MLB to ride the wave, or if it means identifying players who are off the radar entirely that are your best stash players in MLB.

In fantasy, you want to be deep in the waiver wire constantly, making sure you never get too complacent with your roster and continue to make weekly waiver wire pickups whenever an opportunity arises.

Throughout the 2025 Fantasy Baseball season, this post is going to be your home to stay on top of the MLB waiver wire, so that you don’t miss any of the diamonds in the rough that can transform your fantasy lineup.

Also, since players often sit on the waiver wire for more than just one week, we will keep up to three weeks of wires saved at the bottom of each update. Just in case you miss a week, and a player has slipped through the cracks in your league longer than they should have.

Without further ado, let’s dive into our latest update of the top players you should have your eye on this week’s waiver wire!

Best Waiver Wire Pickups This Week: June 16th, 2025

It’s starting to feel like summer. Temperatures that are truly uncomfortable are here, and I doubt they will be leaving for some time. Hopefully, more offense comes as the summer heats up, as well. This past week had some notable prospect promotions and I’ll make sure to cover a few today.

A number of this week’s suggestions are young players in their “second wave” of their young baseball career, and a guy who might finally be breaking out in year five? Let’s dive in.

Stats at of first pitch 6/22. Ownership percentiles via ESPN

Cam Smith – 3B/OF – Houston Astros (10.8%)

2025 Stats: .265/.336/.405, 5 HR, 113 wRC+

I know the stats do not jump off the page, but I think it’s time to add Smith. He’s putting together good at-bats, drawing walks at a respectable clip, and comes with some positional flexibility. He’s a talented player who I think will only continue to improve as the season goes on.

Smith has been making good contact with an 89.8 mph average exit velocity and 48.3% hard hit rate, but he hasn’t lifted the ball as much. That being the last step for a young player to take isn’t too uncommon, and the expected stats are pointing toward better numbers.

Evan Carter – OF – Texas Rangers (10.3%)

2025 Stats: .256/.348/.449, 4 HR, 6 SB, 128 wRC+

Carter is back to looking like the player who made him a top prospect. A blend of power and speed that will not set the world on fire but will provide enough of a boost to your fantasy lineup. Carter has also cut his strikeout rate from over 25% down to 14.6% while walking at a 9% clip.

The improvements he’s made with lifting the ball lead me to think the power could be better than expected. The exit velocities are less promising, but he has put up a 111.1 mph max, which is significantly higher than previous years. Once he gets more at-bats under his belt, I could see his data improving.

Case Burns – SP – Cincinnati Reds (16%)

2025 Stats (MILB): 66 IP, 12.14 K/9, 1.77 BB/9, 1.77 ERA, 2.13 FIP

The wait is over in Cincinnati! The Reds’ top prospect is set to debut on Tuesday and immediately becomes the highest strikeout potential left on the waiver wire. Burns comes with electric stuff, and his command has only improved.

I’m usually cautious with prospects, but Burns is cut from a different cloth. Even if Great American Ballpark turns a couple of fly balls into home runs, his strikeout numbers should provide you with enough value. You cannot pass up the opportunity to get an arm of this talent.

Jordan Beck – OF – Colorado Rockies (5.6%)

2025 Stats: .261/.319/.477, 10 HR, 107 wRC+

Beck has been much better in his second season, and I think he’s due for an add, at least for the time being. The Rockies are about to play nine of the next 12 games at home, where Beck has slashed .297/.336/.484 on the season.

Beck has been on the fringes of being worth a pickup for some time, and this next stretch is the right test for your team. You can capitalize on the home stand and then reevaluate and see if he’s still worthy of a roster spot. He’ll get games at Fenway (green monster) and Cincinnati (hitter-friendly) after the home stretch as well.

Edward Cabrera – SP – Miami Marlins (4.6%)

2025 Stats: 59 IP, 9.61 K/9, 3.97 BB/9, 3.81 ERA, 3.89 FIP

Is this finally the Cabrera breakout? Maybe? He’s showing improved command without sacrificing his strikeout ability, and at some point, the sample size is large enough to take a chance. He doesn’t usually get to six innings, which might be good news considering the third time through is never great.

I’m hesitant to stake my name to this pick up, but we are in the part of the season where a risky move could pay off, especially with injuries popping up. I say roll with the hot hand and see what happens.

Wait and See

Tyler Freeman (UTL – COL), Joe Boyle (SP- TB), Brady House (3B – WSH)

Freeman, acquired for Nolan Jones this past offseason, has surpassed last year’s WAR total in about 25% of the games. He’s walking at a 10% clip while only striking out 7.8% of the time.

All great, but I want to see more before adding a guy with so little power. Boyle has always been an exciting arm, but I will not believe his command is good enough until he proves it over a larger sample than one start.

House very well could land on a waiver wire pick-up piece in the future. A top prospect with plenty of offensive upside, Hosue has struggled a bit out of the gate. Let’s see if he can find his footing first.

Best Waiver Wire Pickups This Week: June 16th, 2025

The players listed below were featured in our waiver wire article from last week. Stats as of first pitch June 15. Ownership percentages via ESPN.

Alejandro Kirk – C – Toronto Blue Jays (46%)

2024 Stats: .322/.363/.433, 5 HR, 31 RBI

Kirk has returned to fantasy relevance after being on a hiatus since 2022. The contact oriented, low strikeout and low power bat is currently hitting everything and his .322 average is tough to ignore. Not only is he hitting, but the power has ticked up slightly already matching last seasons home run output in half the games.

As I mentioned last week with Kyle Teel, finding offensive catchers in June can be difficult. If you are struggling to get production from the position I highly suggest leaning into picking up whoever’s hot and riding it until they cool off. In Kirk’s case, you might get the rest of the season with how great he’s been.

Jose Quintana – SP – Milwaukee Brewers (13.2%)

2025 Stats: 48.1 IP, 3.35 ERA, 1.43 FIP, 35 K

Quintana has never been the sexiest pickup, but we have all rostered him before. His strikeouts have continued to go down as he ages but his ability to miss barrels still makes him effective enough. I’m not expecting huge numbers but I am sure you are dealing with injuries and Quinatana can help.

I’m mostly relying on a veteran who continues to prove time and time again that’s he’s a perfectly fine back end option. In a fantasy space where chasing upside is fun, sometimes having the steady option is more important.

Jeff McNeil – UTL – New York Mets (18.8%)

2025 Stats: .268/.361/.528, 7 HR, 22 RBI

Now here’s a name you shallow leaguers likely haven’t considered in some time. McNeil was an asset in 2022 when he won the batting title and actually has a higher wRC+ (146) this season. His .268 average is good enough to help you out but his .260 ISO is a career best and worth noting.

McNeil is on pace to blow past his average of about 10 home runs and his positional flexibility will help construct your lineups. He’s once again a key part of a good offense so run production opportunities will be there.

Shelby Miller – RP – Arizona Diamondbacks (9.9%)

2025 Stats: 28.2 IP, 1.57 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 29 K, 7 SV

Rostering “Closers: has never been more difficult. More and more teams are leaning into the closer by committee approach and Arizona was no different. However, Justin Martinez and AJ Puk have both hit the shelf giving Miller a clearer path to collecting saves.

He’s already collected seven saves and has looked fantastic while doing so. The Diamondbacks are good enough to warrant a roster spot for their (now) primary closer. Keep a close eye on this one because Miller could slip.

Sawyer Gipson-Long – P – Detroit Tigers (5.9%)

2025 Stats: 8.1 IP, 4.32 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 8 K

Gipson-Long has just returned form over 600 days off due to injury. While he’s not a household name, trust me when I say his stuff is gross. He has the ability to be a good back end option with strikeout potential but the role he is in is something you can capitalize on.

Gipson-Long has been working bulk innings after a starter. IF you are in a league where you have a limited number of starts Gipson-Long can give you starter innings without counting towards your total number of starts. We’ll see how long this cheat code works but ride it until it fails.

Wait and See

Jo Adell (OF – Los Angeles Angels), Hunter Dobbins (SP – Boston Red Sox), Grant Holmes (SP – Atlanta Braves)

Jo Adell and his power have been a hot topic in the fantasy space. I wrote more in-depth on Adell here if you are interested in a longer breakdown. While I like the adjustments he has made, I want a larger sample before I give a roster spot away. If I miss out, so be it.

Dobbins has been a name on the waiver wire due to his 3.74 ERA through 55.1 innings with Boston. He’s similar enough to Quintana and maybe has the upside, but I went with the track record instead. Holmes has allowed three or less runs in each start since the beginning of May. He does have strikeout ability but I personally have not been a huge believer. Maybe I need to change my mind, but I’m cautious for now.

Best Waiver Wire Pickups This Week: June 9th, 2025

The players listed below were featured in our waiver wire article from two weeks ago. Stats as of first pitch June 8th. Ownership percentages via ESPN.

Kyle Teel – C – Chicago White Sox (4.1%)

2025 Stats: .375/.500/.375, 0 HR

Teel is the big name prospect that was called up this week. Acquired in the Garrett Crochet deal, Teel hammered Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .295/.394/.492 slash and 130 wRC+ prior to his promotion. He should see plenty of run with Chicago while also sliding into the middle of the order.

I am usually more of a wait and see than rush to the waiver wire type when it comes to prospects but Teel is different. First, I love his bat and think he’ll get prime position in the batting order over time. Second, catcher can be a difficult postion to replace if you failed in the draft so take advantage now!

Christian Encarnacion-Strand – 1B/3B – Cincinnati Reds (4.9%)

2025 Stats: .209/.229/.433, 4 HR, 72 wRC+

CES has lost the better part of this year and last due to injury but is back and swinging a hot stick. In a tiny sample since returning from injury CES has been more patient and chasing less which I think is the key to unlocking his potential.

You won’t find many players with this type of power on the waiver wire. Also, CES played third on Sunday and if that continues he’ll bring added versatility to your team. I understand waiting if you are in a shallow league but I think he’s a must pick up in 12 or deeper.

Landen Roupp – SP – San Francisco Giants (21.3%)

2025 Stats: 64.2 IP, 3.48 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 62 K

Roupp has sold me on his move from the bullpen back to the rotation this season. He’s striking out nearly 9 K/9 and has improved his walk rate from a season ago. The 3.18 ERA and 3.47 FIP look real and I think he’s the next good pitcher the Giants have developed.

His curveball/sinker duo is pretty unqiue but also effective. He’s been able to limit hard contact and keep the ball on the ground which is also a great profile for fantasy owners. I expect him to continue to get picked up and if you don’t act now he’ll be gone within a week.

Abraham Toro – 1B/3B – Boston Red Sox (1.5%)

2025 Stats: .325/.338/.506, 3 HR, 130 wRC+

Am I truly a believer in Abraham Toro in 2025? Hell no. But, I know a hot streak when I see one. The Red Sox have made some head-scratching moves with addressing first, and the Bregman injury opened the door for more AAAA talent to get at-bats. Toro should continue to play enough for you to scoop him.

This move likely buys you a week or so. Very deep leagues maybe longer. One aspect of Toro’s game I have always liked is how little he strikes out, which could be important depending on your scoring. Ride the hot hand and see what happens.

Lance McCullers – SP – Houston Astros (19.6%)

2025 Stats: 24.1 IP, 4.44 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 33 K

It just feels right seeing McCullers back on the mound. After dusting off the arm, McCullers has settled in over his past two outings, each going six innings with one allowing three runs and the latter allowing none.

I’m not sure what to make of McCullers so far, especially because his two best outings were against the A’s and Pirates. However, a guy with his track record who currently has a 12.21 K/9 is worth picking up and seeing what happens.

Wait and See

Roman Anthony (OF- Boston Red Sox), Thairo Estrada (2B – Colorado Rockies), Jac Caglianone (1B – Kansas City Royals)

Let’s start with the prospects. Cag’s was recently recalled after destroying the minors and many have already picked him up. I want to see how he handles major league pitching first, even if the power potential is tough to pass up. Anthony continues to get picked up while in the minors but I think the Red Sox already have too many outfielders and it could be closer to the deadline before it’s sorted out.

Estrada is off to a good start with the Rockies slashing .308/.321/.423 through his first seven games. However, he has not walked and I don’t think even Coors will help his power enough to make it worth it. So much is riding on him hitting for average and I don’t think he’ll keep up the .300 pace.

Best Waiver Wire Pickups This Week: June 2nd, 2025

The players listed below were featured in our waiver wire article from three weeks ago. Stats as of first pitch June 1st. Ownership percentages via ESPN.

Max Muncy – 3B – Los Angeles Dodgers (27%)

2025 Stats: .220/.341/.382, 6 HR, 106 wRC+

Muncy can be a frustrating player to have on your team. The cold stretches pretty rough but you can still count on a 15% walk rate to help you out. Over the past month Muncy has posted an .883 OPS with five of his six home runs and as many walks as strikeouts.

I don’t think the power will be what it once was, but Muncy can still bring you value. Not only is he on a hot streak, but anyone playing for the Dodgers gets a bump due to the potential run production. Scoop him up and ride the hot streak.

Ryan Weathers – SP – Miami Marlins (26.6%)

2025 Stats: 15.2 IP, 8.62 K/9, 1.15 ERA, 3.60 FIP

Weathers was mentioned as a pick up earlier this season while he was still on the IL, but I want to make sure you are reminded again. His 1.15 ERA is impressive but is even more noteworthy when you consider his three starts included one against the Padres and two versus the Cubs.

His start on Sunday (not included in stats) was a bit shaky, but he still produced seven strikeouts. I don’t think Weathers is trending toward ace by any means, but will be a solid addition to your team and perhaps fill a spot you have needed to stream in the past.

Alex Burleson – OF/1B – St. Louis Cardinals (26.8%)

2025 Stats: .278/.323/.404, 4 HR, 103 wRC+

I think the Cardinals are all but finished with giving Jordan Walker a runway. That alone should open more at-bats for Burleson, who has a .928 OPS over the past month. Although he’s a platoon option, in deeper leagues he’s worth a shot due to his relatively high floor and positional flexibility.

I’m not too worried about the power output. Burleson is still putting up a 91.5 mph average exit velocity and only a 17.5% whiff rate. He’s making a lot of quality contact and it’s only a matter of time before he starts lifting the ball more.

Addison Barger – 3B/OF – Toronto Blue Jays (3.1%)

2025 Stats: .267/.336/.466, 4 HR, 125 wRC+

Barger struggled in his first stint with the Blue Jays last season but looked like a more comfortable batter this go around. He’s dropped his strikeout rate by six percent while bumping his walk rate by two percent. Combine that with elite contact while lifting the ball, and the possibilities of a productive player are high.

The Blue Jays have not used Barger against lefties too often, but that could change. He’s held his own (.250/.368/.375) in a small sample that should grow over time. While I don’t think he’ll put up big numbers against southpaws it will at least keep his bat in your lineup.

Jameson Taillon – SP – Chicago Cubs (44.5%)

2025 Stats: 63 IP, 7.29 K/9, 3.86 ERA, 5.13 FIP

Taillon has had up and down fantasy seasons throughout his career but you can always count on at least one stretch where he’s worth rostering. He’s been mostly effective this season with each start resulting in three or fewer runs outside of one against the Mets and one against the Diamondbacks.

His next few starts are lining up to come against better competition so beware. Pick your spots wisely as you will not be able to fall back on high strikeouts. But, if we are in one of those Taillon stretches, he could steal you a few weeks.

Wait and See

Cole Young (2B – Seattle Mariners), Marcelo Mayer (INF – Boston Red Sox), Ha-Seong Kim (SS – Tampa Bay Rays), Brandon Lowe (2B – Tampa Bay Rays)

Two highly regarded infield prospects were both called up, and Mayer is off to a cold start. I think there’s a lot of upside but I worry about it coming in this season. I wonder how much power will translate right away and if the swing-and-miss will be too much. Young comes with great bat-to-ball skills, but I just want to see more before dropping a player in order to scoop him.

The two Tampa players are pretty straightforward. Kim is currently on rehab and should return soon and become an option in deeper leagues or for owners dealing with injuries. Lowe is on one of his hot streaks, but the swing-and-miss combined with how poorly he handles lefties always makes me weary of adding him.