Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week of June 22

This coming week will mark the halfway point of the 2026 MLB season for all teams. This means that for head-to-head fantasy leagues with playoff matchups, your regular season is more than halfway complete.

Time flies when you’re having fun, right?

With each passing day, we get more data on new and existing players to analyze. To win your league, you have to beat your competition to the next hot commodity on the wire.

If you’re feeling stuck on who might be the next solid addition to your roster, I’m here to help. Below are five players owned in 25% or less of ESPN leagues that could benefit your fantasy squad.

Stats updated prior to games on Monday, June 22. Ownership percentages via ESPN.

Paul Goldschmidt, NYY 1B (21% owned)

2026 Stats: 199 PA, .289/.352/.544, 12 HR, 1 SB, 147 wRC+

Goldschmidt has performed well as a Yankee, but his fantasy upside had been capped because he’d often sit against opposing right-handers. Now, with Aaron Judge on IL, “Goldy” has been in the lineup every day and has been mashing.

A former fantasy first-round pick, the 38-year-old Goldschmidt can still swing it. His bat speed may be below average (71.4 mph), but he is still able to barrel the ball at a solid 11.9% clip in the closing stretch of his career.

He’s a must-add in leagues of 12 teams or greater. With his recent success, Goldschmidt is now on the fringe of being rosterable in 10-team leagues. What fun seeing a former top player still killing it in year 16!

Kody Clemens, MIN 1B, 2B, OF (18% owned)

2026 Stats: 258 PA, .243/.305/.464, 11 HR, 6 SB, 109 wRC+

Clemens has been a player that I’ve gravitated towards in my leagues over the past couple of weeks. His tri-positional eligibility is very helpful, especially given how much the 2B and OF markets in free agency have dried up.

Kody, the son of legendary pitcher Roger Clemens, has regularly been batting in the top half of Minnesota’s lineup. His 92.5-mph average exit velocity and 12.6%-barrel rate marks are both well-above average, which demonstrate Clemens’ propensity to do damage offensively.

I think Clemens is rosterable in leagues as small as 10 teams. He adds flexibility to your roster and offers solid power with some speed.

Jared Jones, PIT SP (15% owned)

2026 Stats: 20.1 IP, 5.75 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 14.4% K-BB%

The results haven’t been there so far this season for Jones, who returned from Tommy John surgery on May 29, but I think you can make reasonable justifications for why he could be an impact arm moving forward.

First and foremost, Jones throws gas. His fastball sits at 98-99, and his 8.9% walk rate thus far indicates that he’s been able to control his pitches at this high velocity. Also, Jones has faced some tough opponents in his past three starts: he threw against the Dodgers on 6/10, then pitched in the two most hitter-friendly parks in baseball in Sacramento and Denver on 6/15 and 6/21.

Jones was struck in the elbow by a line drive in his start vs the Rockies yesterday, but initial imaging came back negative. He lines up for a start at home against the Reds this coming Saturday, which will hopefully help to get him back on track. Jones has a ceiling higher than most pitchers available in free agency.

Elvis Alvarado, ATH RP (4% owned)

2026 Stats: 19.2 IP, 2 SV, 4 HD, 5.49 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 23.1% K-BB%

If you’re in need of a closer, the options are getting bleak. It’s tough to rely on a closer who has to call Sutter Health Park his home, but Alvarado does have the top-tier velocity that could help him survive in such an unfavorable environment.

The season-long numbers don’t look great, but since being re-called from Triple-A on June 6, Alvarado has allowed three earned runs in 10 innings with 16 strikeouts. He’s been tasked with finishing ballgames by getting five or six outs recently, showing that he’s gained trust from his skipper.

There are sure to be blow-ups for any closer unfortunate enough to call that minor league park home, but adding Alvarado could help you pick some saves off of the wire.

Heriberto Hernandez, MIA OF (0.6% owned)

2026 Stats: 162 PA, .233/.302/.404, 7 HR, 5 SB, 95 wRC+

I have been a believer in Hernandez’s skillset all season, with receipts to back it up:

It hasn’t been a good start for Heriberto Hernandez of the Marlins, but he’s a guy I’ve been trying to hold in deeper leagues and dynasty.

Plus bat speed (74.4 mph), good walk rate (10.5% in 2025), and top 14% in the league in sprint speed. Feels like the tools are there.

— Daniel Rotter (@drot_6) April 12, 2026

Hernandez has had a great month of June thus far, he’s slashed .294/.333/.628 with five homers in 54 plate appearances. He’s batted as high as fifth in the order against righties and third against lefties recently.

He’s more of a deeper league shout – a fringe roster candidate in 12 teamers, but he has appeal in leagues larger than that. Hernandez has great bat speed, is seeing regular playing time, and is doing damage (92 mph avg. exit velo, 50% hard-hit rate).