The fantasy baseball waiver wire ebbs and flows in terms of the amount of value available at any given time. Injuries can change things in a hurry, especially when it comes to closer, and prospects call-ups always cause a ripple effect. Heading into Week 7, the potential waiver pickups and free agent adds aren't overly exciting, at least among hitters, but there are always diamonds in the rought if you look hard enough.
Emerging pitchers Anthony Desclafani, Spencer Turnbull, and Pablo Lopez are interesting, and power bats like Hunter Refroe and Derek Dietrich can help almost any team. Overall, it’s not the strongest class of free agents, likely due to the relative stagnancy of MLB rosters over the past seven days. Still, we're confident some of our targets will pan out as genuine difference-makers to your fantasy baseball teams, especially the fill-in closers.
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Week 7 Fantasy Baseball Top Waiver Pickups
Ownership percentage from ESPN — for consensus ownership, visit FantasyPros
Position eligibility based on ESPN's default settings
Hitters
OF Hunter Renfroe, Padres (50.3 owned) — Renfroe is enjoying a breakout season across the board, distinguishing himself in a crowded Padres outfield. He's more than a power-only guy now, no longer posting a batting average that will cancel out his home run production. In fact, once his .239 batting average on balls in play ticks up, he could settle in as a .260 hitter with 30-plus HRs while playing most days.
2B/3B Michael Chavis, Red Sox (48.6 percent owned) — We've talked about Chavis before, but it's worth repeating that since being called up, the top prospect has been outstanding for Boston, hitting six home runs and stealing a pair of bases in 17 games. He's owned in 66 percent of Yahoo leagues but he remains under 50-percent owned in ESPN leagues. It should be higher on both sites, so don't be afraid to grab him even in shallower leagues.
SS/OF Chris Taylor, Dodgers (37.1 percent owned) — With middle-infield eligibility, 10-SB potential, and a chance to drive in a good deal of runs, Taylor is useful, particularly in leagues that value on-base percentage. We advise waiting until he gets hot to add him to your team, however, given his mediocre first month and a half.
OF/1B/2B Derek Dietrich, Reds (20 percent owned) — Dietrich has transformed from an anonymous Marlins player on and off the field to a bat-flipping, unbuttoned-uniform wearing phenomenon in Cincinnati. His positional versatility is an asset for fantasy owners, but really his offensive profile could play up anywhere in your lineup. Despite one of the league’s lowest batting averages on balls in play (.180), he’s still hitting .240 with gobs of power. Playing in Great American Ball Park, there’s a chance he winds up batting around .270 with 30 home runs. Grab him before he’s owned in your league, though beward in weekly leagues because he often sits against lefties.
SS/2B Eric Sogard, Blue Jays (18.9 percent owned) — If you’re thinking of picking up Sogard, we think you’re out of your mind. This is a hitter who over the course of a nine-year career has barely hit better than some pitchers with virtually no power or assets beyond maybe a decent batting average if he’s lucky. There’s essentially zero upside here, and banking on his hot start with the Blue Jays to continue is silly. We don’t usually come down so forcefully on a player, but this needs to be said because Sogard has become a hot pickup.
2B/3B David Fletcher, Angels (6.2 percent owned) — As Los Angeles’s annual search for hitters to complement Mike Trout continues, Fletcher will take his turn trying to provide supplemental offensive support. Because the lineup is so barren, he's already getting top-of-the-order opportunities, and by virtue of hitting in front of Trout and now Shohei Ohtani, he could keep giving owners a boost in runs scored. There are flashier options out there, but Fletcher at least will not sink you in any one category and is playing well enough of late to warrant a roster spot in deeper leagues.
OF Bryan Reynolds, Pirates (1.3 percent owned) -- Reynolds was tearing up Triple-A (.367/.446/.735) before carrying it over to the majors (.357/.386/.571 through his first 15 games). He doesn't hit a ton or homers, nor does he steal bases, so it's fair to winder if he's really worth owning, but he never hit below .302 at any stop in the minors, so there's still upside here. -- Matt Lutovsky
Pitchers
SP Anthony Desclafani, Reds (22.9 percent owned) — Desclafani has always been difficult to assess because he plays in such a hitter-friendly ballpark, has had injury issues, and has long remained on the fringe of fantasy relevance. He’s striking out a career-high 10.7 batters per nine innings this year, perhaps in part to the increased use of his curveball. At this point, his best value may be as a matchup play on the road and against subpar offenses.
SP Spencer Turnbull, Tigers (20.6 percent owned) — Turnbull churned out impressive strikeout numbers throughout the minor leagues, and at 26, he’s still young enough to be considered a breakout candidate. The ERA will likely rise a bit, but he’s an interesting buy-low flier worth looking at in deeper formats.
SP Pablo Lopez, Marlins (8.0 percent owned) -- Lopez has fantastic peripherals (9.2 K/9 ratio, 2.1 BB/9, 0.47 HR/9, 2.79 FIP, and 11.5-percent swinging-strike rate). Don't let his 4.03 ERA scare you or the likely lack of wins. He's worth owning in all formats. -- Matt Lutovsky
SP Lucas Giolito, White Sox (7.2 percent owned) — The prized return from the Adam Eaton trade with the Nationals has been a major disappointment so far in his career. Still just 24, perhaps he can make a post-hype push. His early season returns are promising, with an 11.03 strikeouts per nine innings clip easily the best of his career. In deeper leagues, it would be hard to find more untapped potential than here.
SP Jimmy Nelson, Brewers (6.6 percent owned) -- Nelson missed all of last season because of a shoulder injury, and an elbow injury and personal issues have held him back this year. Obviously, there are red flags, but he's back rehabbing in the minors and should be with the big club within a couple weeks. He'll likely be on an innings limit this year, but he put up solid numbers in 2017 (3.49/1.25, 10.2 K/9 ratio) and has plenty of upside. Great him now before it's too late. -- Matt Lutovsky
RP Chris Martin, Rangers (2.7 percent owned) -- With Shawn Kelley (infection) on the IL and Jose Leclerc still working out his issues, Martin will get a chance to close in the short term. He's already picked up one save, and assuming he can keep the ball in the yard, he should get a few more. -- Matt Lutovsky
RP Brandon Brennan, Mariners (1.7 percent owned) -- Anthony Swarzak has melted down and Roenis Elias is better suited a middle reliever/LOOGY. Brennan has been talked up by Seattle beat writers as the reliever to watch while Hunter Strickland (lat) is out, and the 27-year-old righty has pitched well this year, posting a 2.21/0.98 line and 10.6 K/9 ratio. Don't be surprised if Brennan starts getting some save chances soon. -- Matt Lutovsky
RP Carl Edwards Jr./Brandon Kintzler/Steve Cishek, Cubs (1.4 percent/0.6 percent/3.7 percent owned) — Brandon Morrow and Pedro Strop are on the IL, meaning an already wide-open closer’s job is now up for the taking. If Edwards is back to his old self after a stint with Triple-A Iowa — and Joe Maddon is willing to take him out of the fireman role — he would make a smart speculative pickup. Meanwhile, Brandon Kintzler, who has prior closing experience with the Twins, is likely another ninth-inning option. Steve Cishek is also in contention because of his prior closing experience.