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!

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Week of June 30

Here we are. The end of June and what used to be the start of deadline discussions, although those come earlier and earlier each year. Outside of the Mets’ free fall, the standings haven’t changed too much recently, although the Rays are gaining some momentum.

Today I’m back with more waiver wire picks. A player returning from suspension, a unique profile at first, a name you might not know, and finishing with a name we all know. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

Stats as of first pitch June 29th. Ownership percentages via ESPN

Jurickson Profar – OF – Atlanta Braves (23.4%)

2025 Stats: .200/.250/.200, 27 wRC+, 4 games played

We all know the Profar story. A major career year at 31 last season resulted in a deal with the Braves, only to get busted for PEDs and miss the first portion of the season. Now back, the Profar believers and those battling injury should scoop him before others notice.

Personally, I’m not much of a Profar believer. However, at this point in the season, I’d rather roster Profar than continue to shuffle medicore outfielders hoping for a hot week. It’s worth a shot to see if Profar’s 2024 was real and although it might take some time for him to get up to speed, it could be a dynamic mid-season add.

Nolan Schanuel – 1B – Los Angeles Angels (14%)

2025 Stats: .273/.363/.408, 7 HR, 118 wRC+

A bat to ball, low power profile at first is tough to stomach, I know. However, Schanuel might make sense in your specific league. He rarely strikes out (12.6%), draws walks (10.8%), and hits for average. IF you are getting power from the rest of your lineup, Schanuel can help in the average department, for category leagues.

He’s only 23 years old and is putting up the best average exit velocity, ISO, and barrel rates of his young career. While none of impressive compared to most first basemen, he’s trending in the right direction.

Grant Taylor – RP – Chicago White Sox (1.1%)

2025 Stats: 10 IP, 10 K, 1.80 ERA, 1.39 FIP, 2 SV

If you are not familiar with Taylor, you will be soon. The 2023 second-round pick has dominated through the minors and is already flashing in the majors. His fastball sits 99 mph and has generated a 38.5% whiff rate with 18 inches of IVB.

He is the best option to close out games for the White Sox and should be cemented in that role soon enough. The issue? The White Sox won’t have a ton of save opportunities. A deep league add or injury replacement, but also a name to remember for next year.

Otto Lopez – INF – Miami Marlins (12.8%)

2025 Stats: .260/.330/.394, 8 HR, 8 SB, 101 wRC+

Lopez came up on some radars last season and has picked his game up since returning from injury. Over the past month, Lopez is slashing .303/.364/.455 with four home runs and three stolen bases. He is in the lineup every day, and his versatility can help your teams in more ways than one.

I think the Otto Lopez (quiet) breakout is real. Over the past 365 days, he has a .726 OPS, and his bat-to-ball profile means few strikeouts (13.9%). He’s already surpassed his home run total from last season in about half the number of games.

Clayton Kershaw – SP – Los Angeles Dodgers (39.2%)

2025 Stats: 38.2 IP, 3.03 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 29 K

I know Kershaw has been great for, well, forever, but every time I look at his career stats, it still amazes me. His strikeouts continue to tick down year over year, but he’s smart enough to adjust and still find ways to get outs. Roster the future Hall of Famer!

It really is as simple as that. Kershaw continues to provide value and playing for the Dodgers will allow your team to get tons of opportunities for him to snag wins.

Wait and See

Emmet Sheehan (SP- Dodgers), Parker Meadows (OF – Tigers), Bryan Bello (SP – Red Sox), Chandler Simpson (OF – Rays)

Sheehan had one start before being sent back to Triple-A. A talented arm, but with so many options and Glasnow returning from the IL soon, I cannot afford to roster Sheehan until I see a clearer situation. Bottom line, I don’t trust Bryan Bello. He’s inconsistent, walks too many batters, and the strikeouts are either there or they are not. I’d go elsewhere.

Two outfielders with some tools. Meadows is more established, but not by much. He’s off to an awful start since returning from injury (65 wRC+) and Wenceel Perez is playing well and Matt Vierling is back in the fold. Need to see him have a three week hot stretch first. Simpson is a category only add (SB) without any power and modest OBP potential.

Best Waiver Wire Pickups This Week: June 23rd, 2025

The players listed below were featured in our waiver wire article from last week. Stats as 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 two weeks. 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 three 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.