Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week of June 29

The calendar will officially flip to July this week, which is always the month I feel comfortable drawing conclusions on specific players or teams. By now, the buyers and sellers are beginning to separate, the standings have created a clearer divide between the contenders and pretenders, and your fantasy team has shown its true colors.

At this point, you probably know whether your team has a legitimate chance. You’ve identified your keepers and, hopefully, already cut ties with the dead weight. Funny how there’s usually more of that than you’d like, isn’t there?

With that in mind, I’m back with five deeper waiver wire pickups to help strengthen your roster for the playoff push.

Stats as of first pitch June 28th. Ownership percentages via ESPN

Henry Bolte – OF – Athletics (5.9%)

2026 Stats: .305/.388/.397, 2 HR, 10 SB, 122 wRC+

I had added Bolte to the waiver wire list when he was first recalled, but he’s playing at a level that deserves a reminder. Playing time was a question at one point, but after the stretch he has had, I’d say a starting job is locked up now and well into the future. It’s looking like the A’s developed another offensive weapon.

Bolte’s speed will always be the biggest driver in his fantasy value, so if you are in a categories league then he’s a must add. The batting average is inflated by an unsustainable .437 BABIP, but I do think there’s more power that can come into play. I’d say he’s an add at least until he cools off.

Lars Nootbaar – OF – St. Louis Cardinals (7%)

2026 Stats: .308/.410/.492, 2 HR, 152 wRC+

Nootbaar has long be a favorite “what if” of many fantasy owners due to him being a data darling. The issue has not been talent, but availability. Injury held him out at the start of the year, but he is now back in a Cardinals lineup that is over performing relative to preseason expectations and should continue to provide plenty of run producing opportunities.

What you know you’ll get with Nootbaar is a high on-base percentage. His career 12.9% walk rate appears sustainable, and he has enough power to avoid hurting your team, even if his power isn’t going to carry your lineup.

The question is whether this will finally be the season his underlying batted-ball metrics translate into meaningful fantasy production. So far, they have, and I’m willing to bet that trend continues.

Jake McCarthy – OF – Colorado Rockies (19.9%)

2026 Stats: .305/.344/.493, 6 HR, 13 SB, 116 wRC+

Need a third outfielder? Surely one of these players is available in your league.

McCarthy has always been a player I’ve liked, but he seems to have a habit of breaking out every other year. Fortunately, this appears to be one of the good ones.

He doesn’t strike out much, will chip in stolen bases, and is on pace for a career high in home runs, with Coors Field giving him a boost. We’ll see what happens once Colorado gets healthier, as the outfield could become crowded, but McCarthy has played his way into a steady role and should continue to see plenty of playing time.

Keider Montero – SP – Detroit Tigers (9.9%)

2026 Stats: 87.2 IP, 3.39 ERA, 3.85 FIP, 5.75 K/9, 1.85 BB/9

What Keider Montero is doing in Detroit is a bit unusual in this day and age. He isn’t striking many hitters out, but he also isn’t issuing many walks. Soft contact, plenty of pop-ups, and an ability to avoid the barrel have allowed him to find success without overpowering hitters or generating a ton of swing-and-miss.

We all love chasing high-strikeout pitchers in fantasy, and I’m no different. But every once in a while, you just need a guy who can consistently get outs to round out your rotation. Montero has improved each season, and after 15 starts, I’m willing to buy that this production is legitimate.

Garrett Whitlock – RP – Boston Red Sox (9.1%)

2026 Stats: 26.2 IP, 2.70 ERA, 2.99 FIP, 10.13 K/9, 2.03 BB/9

In my opinion, Garrett Whitlock is one of the most underrated relievers in baseball, if not the most underrated. Year after year, he quietly puts together excellent seasons, yet hardly anyone seems to talk about him. His K/9 took a huge step forward last season, and while the number is not quite as high this year as it has been in the past, it’s still above average. He’s also keeping the walks to a minimum.

Finding saves can be difficult this time of year, and Whitlock could find himself in a closing role before long. If Aroldis Chapman is moved at the trade deadline, Whitlock could slide into the Red Sox’s ninth-inning role. Or perhaps another contender acquires Whitlock and views him as a potential closer, giving you a chance to stash him before the rest of your league rushes to the waiver wire.