Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week of August 3

The trade deadline brings opportunity for fantasy baseball managers looking to make a move in the standings. When sellers trade their contributors, that allows other players to emerge in greater roles down the stretch.

Whether it be in the bullpen with a new closer or a prospect promotion to replace a key performer, these guys can help you win leagues. Watch playing time trends closely the week after the trade deadline and try to beat your league mates to a second-half stud.

Clay and I make it a point to suggest a variety of players in these waiver-wire pieces, but there are still some great options out there that I’ve covered recently. Heriberto Hernández, Heliot Ramos, Christian Scott, and Walbert Ureña are all owned in less than 25% of ESPN leagues and are worth picking up.

Tigers prospect Max Clark was promoted from Triple-A this week, but is already owned in over 25% of ESPN leagues. If he’s available in your league, he is also worth following for contributions in all five roto categories.

Ownership percentages via ESPN. All stats as of games on 8/2.

Dominic Canzone, SEA, OF (15% owned)

2026 Stats: 320 PA, .257/.334/.514, 18 HR, 1 SB, 141 wRC+

Canzone has been mashing baseballs all season and is an everyday player for the Mariners. The 28-year-old possesses above-average bat speed (74.7 mph), which he’s leveraged to post an elite barrel rate (14.8%).

If you are in need of outfield help in a league of any size, I can’t imagine many other players available in free agency can slug like Canzone. He’s probably not available in any league with 12 teams or more, but Canzone has been productive enough that he should be getting looks in even shallower leagues now.

Shane Drohan, MIL, SP (15% owned)

2026 Stats: 88 IP, 3.48 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 17.9% K-BB%, 3.61 SIERA

The Brewers’ pitching lab has done it again. The little-known Drohan was likely undrafted in almost all redraft leagues, but he has been excellent filling in for teammates that have been hampered by injuries.

Drohan doesn’t have elite velocity, but commands his pitches well (6.6% walk rate). It’s good to limit walks, but it’s even better when you can pitch effectively in the zone to get whiffs (27.9%) and strikeouts (24.5%).

The southpaw offers a six-pitch mix, with an above-average slider (108) and an average fastball (100), per Stuff+. He may not have an elite ceiling, but Drohan is looking like a starter that you can deploy confidently – unless he has a bad matchup.

Joc Pederson, TEX, DH (4% owned)

2026 Stats: 338 PA, .253/.341/.509, 20 HR, 2 SB, 137 wRC+

A longtime slugger that was left for dead after a brutal 2025 season, Pederson has bounced back in a big way this year. He’s always had good plate discipline, but now Pederson is barreling the ball at an improved 11.5% clip.

Pederson isn’t a good fit for all fantasy teams. If you have someone else that is exclusively UTIL-eligible, like Kyle Schwarber, then you have no use for him. However, if you have no bats that are exclusively a DH on your squad, Pederson is a good enough bat that he could occupy a UTIL slot in leagues as small as 10 teams.

Tyler Wells, BAL, RP (4% owned)

2026 Stats: 54 IP, 4 SV, 2.67 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 19.0% K-BB%, 3.47 SIERA

The Orioles signed Ryan Helsley to be their closer this past offseason, but he has missed much of the season due to an elbow injury. While he could be due back at some point this year, Baltimore has had to turn to other options for saves.

There are more than a few Oriole relievers that have earned saves this season, but Wells is the one that they turn to in highest-leverage spots most often recently. Wells isn’t a typical flamethrowing closer, but he is getting enough swing and miss to stick around in the role.

Wells doesn’t project as a closer long-term, due to his below-league-average fastball velocity and his tendency to surrender fly balls at an extreme rate. In spite of that, Wells has been limiting walks, picking up strikeouts, and accumulating saves of late. That’s worth a look for a fantasy manager in need of saves.

Jackson Jobe, DET, SP (2% owned)

2026 Stats: N/A (has not played due to injury)

Thought by some to be the top pitching prospect in the game entering 2025, Jobe is closing in on a return from Tommy John surgery. With the Tigers trading their ace Tarik Skubal, Jobe is likely to occupy his vacated rotation spot when ready.

Jobe struggled with his command last season (12.4% BB%) but has a big fastball (96.1 mph on average) and a five-pitch mix. Reportedly touching 100 mph in his latest rehab outing, Jobe could be back in just a couple of weeks.

In leagues of 15 teams or greater, it’s a great time to stash Jobe and see if you can catch lightning in a bottle down the stretch. In shallower leagues, keep an eye on his recovery and the results of his first start back on a big-league mound.