2025 NFBC 15-Team Waiver Wire (6/20 – Hitters)

Every Sunday, the free-agent pool has a moving range of value based on each player's success and any injury news. For late updates, I will post them in the notes area on my Substack site.

Note: If I’m in a league with someone, I will be aware of what I've written and pay closer attention to your bids if I believe you may be looking for a similar player in a particular week. At the same time, our free agent spending during the year will have different paths. If I’m aggressive early and a competitor is not, they will have the advantage of buying power as the season progresses, and vice versa. I’ll do my best to list all players of interest, but there will be times when waiver thread lines are backfilled with low-dollar players to ensure an unwanted or injured player is released and replaced.

Catchers

Gary Sanchez, BAL (4.0%)

The Orioles lost Adley Rutschman for some time with an oblique injury, creating a starting window for Sanchez. He missed six weeks earlier in the season with a right injury. Sanchez has a four-game hitting streak (6-for-14 with five runs, two home runs, and seven RBIs) after playing well in his seven contests at AAA (.364 over 22 at-bats with six runs, three home runs, and eight RBIs).

Rating: Rutschman owners should run to the free agent window for Sanchez as he replaces lost at-bats and eliminates the need to guess when their top catcher returns. His power over the past week shines light in Sanchez’s corner, putting his bidding between $10 and $20 in some leagues.

Pedro Pages, STL (21.0%)

With Ivan Herrera injured again with a hamstring issue, the Cardinals and fantasy teams need a replacement for two to possibly six weeks. Pages is another catcher with a power resume who is also the natural replacement for Herrera. His bat has been better over his previous seven games (6-for-23 with four runs), but his ceiling isn’t high enough to trust for long-term replacement. Over two years with St. Louis, Pages is hitting .228 with 40 runs, 12 home runs, and 49 RBIs over 380 at-bats. I’m bidding under $5 because I expect Yohel Pozo to at least get in the way.

Joey Bart, PIT (47.0%)

Since returning from the injured list, Bart has four hits over 16 at-bats with four RBIs. His last and only home run this year came on April 7th (125 at-bats ago). Last week, he was added to five main events, with a range of $14 to $2.

Rating: Based on his ownership (47.0%), some fantasy teams are hoping Bart regains his 2024 power form with the Pirates (13 home runs and 45 RBIs over 157 at-bats). I don’t see enough to fight for him this week, even with multiple catching injuries occurring over the past 10 days or so. Let’s go with minimal flier bids here.

First Basemen

Michael Toglia, COL

Between AAA and the majors over the last 12 days, Toglia went 14-for-40 with 12 runs, six home runs, and 20 RBIs while striking out 12 times (26.1%). His inability to make contact (84 strikeouts over 199 at-bats – 38.2%) with the Rockies led to his retooling in the minors. Toglia brings power and speed to the first base position, but his batting average is real. The Rockies play nine of their next 12 games at home.

Rating: Last week, there were four buyers ($3, $3, $2, and $1) and two sellers of Toglia in the main event. The first base position is full of empty replacement players in the player pool, and the Rockies’ top first base options did deliver 25 home runs and 10 steals over 399 at-bats in Colorado last week. I expect his home run chase to fall in the D-class range ($35) this waiver period.

Andrew Vaughn, MLW (7.0%)

Since his trade to the Brewers, Vaughn has played in four games at AAA (5-for-16 with three runs, one home run, and six RBIs). He struggled to find his rhythm at the plate in the White Sox minor league system (.211/9/2/11 over 57 at-bats) after his demotion in late May, even with a rebound in his approach (10 walks and 10 strikeouts).

Rating: Vaughn will be a free pickup this week in most main events. He only needs to outplay Jake Bauers (.237/13/5/18/4 over 97 at-bats) to get a recall to the majors.

Second Basemen

Casey Schmitt, SF (14.0%)

Matt Chapman’s injury led to Schmidt posting an excellent five-game stretch (7-for-19 with four runs, three home runs, and 11 RBIs). The run to the waiver wire window led to empty stats (six hits over 18 at-bats with two runs) over his next six matchups. Once the Giants added Rafael Devers, it changed the future structure of the Giants’ lineup.

Rating: After his big week, eight teams added Schmidt with a high of $17 and a low of $1. Two teams attempted to buy him for $5, but they fell short of the mark. More of the same this free agent period, unless Schmidt has a big day at the plate on Sunday.

Cole Young, SEA (21.0%)

The flow of Young in the main event is toward dropping rather than adding over the past couple of weeks. Heading into Saturday night, he’s been on the bench in nine of Seattle’s last nine games. His bat has been better over his previous 33 at-bats (.333 with four runs and four RBIs), but no power or speed won’t move the fantasy needle. Over the past two seasons between AA and AAA, Young hit .273 over 675 at-bats with 106 runs, 14 home runs, 83 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases while showcasing a winning approach (98 walks and 115 stolen bases).

Rating: Young falls into the bench stash category in main events for teams looking for a bump in speed in the middle infield. Last week, three fantasy managers took a flier on him for $2, $1, and $1.

Third Basemen

Brady House, WAS (0.0%)

The Nationals called up House this week after a 15-game hitting streak (24-for-64 with 10 runs, four home runs, and 13 RBIs) at AAA. His strikeout rate (21.8) was improved over this span. Over the past two seasons in the minors, he hit .263 with 110 runs, 32 home runs, 107 RBIs, and six steals while striking out 218 times (26.4%).

House has five hits over his first 19 at-bats with Washington while stealing a base. Washington drafted him 11th overall in the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft.

Rating: Based on how many young hitters have failed upon their call-up this season, House falls into the flier category for teams looking for an out at third base. He has enough experience at AAA to stick in the majors, but his bat will need time to develop.

Coby Mayo, BAL (42.0%)

Mayo is another player that the main event crowd is selling rather than adding this week. He’s hitting only .192 over 52 at-bats with Baltimore with three runs, three RBIs, and 16 strikeouts. Over his last nine games, Mayo went 7-for-27 with two RBIs and one steal.

Rating: Surprisingly, Mayo was added to six mains last week ($11 to $2) while being dumped in eight other leagues. He is a better player than Mayo has shown, but a rotational role won’t help fantasy teams. The Orioles have a starting job for him once his bat puts a few balls over the fence.

Shortstops

Jordan Lawlar, ARI (37.0%)

For the fantasy teams that need a Hail Mary at shortstop or middle infield, Lawlar could be the answer to their prayers over the second half of the year. He has nothing to prove at AAA (.321/49/10/45/18 over 215 at-bats), and Arizona doesn’t have the pitching staff to stay in the playoff race in the National League.

Rating: Lawlar didn’t play at AAA on Friday or Saturday, with no apparent injury. He was added to five main events last week ($33, $27, $6, $5, and $3). I was the highest bidder, so I expect lower prices unless there is a call-up announcement about him on Sunday.

Ryan Ritter, COL (21.0%)

Since arriving in Colorado, Ritter has 11 hits over 46 at-bats with six runs and six RBIs with a poor strikeout-to-walk ratio (18:1). The Rockies play nine games at home over the next two weeks, potentially helping his bat. He had an 18-game hitting streak (.443 over 79 at-bats with 20 runs, nine home runs, and 29 RBIs) before getting called up.

Rating: Ritter is only a short-term gamble until he gains more confidence in the majors. He was dropped in 10 main events last week, with no one shopping in his aisle. Let’s put him in the dollar and a dream category.

Outfielders

Mickey Moniak, COL (19.0%)

In Week 4, Moniak gave fantasy teams a boost (7-for-24 with six runs, two home runs, and seven RBIs), but he went over a month (.194 over 93 at-bats with four runs, six RBIs, and 26 strikeouts) before hitting his next home run. Heading into Saturday, Moniak’s bat has been back on the uptick (10-for-24 with seven runs, four home runs, seven RBIs, and one steal). His success, paired with nine games at home over the next two weeks, should increase eyeballs on him this week.

Rating: Six teams (high–$5 and low–$1) were ahead of the curve last week. His starting window may be short, and Colorado should face five left-handed pitchers over their next 12 games. I expect under E-class token bids ($20).

Isaac Collins, MLW (0.0%)

Over the past 10 days, Collins went 9-for-25 with seven runs, one home run, and eight RBIs, putting him on fantasy team radar. Garrett Mitchell was progressing at AAA, but he suffered a left shoulder injury on Saturday. Collins had a winning approach (149 walks and 152 strikeouts) over the past two seasons in the minors (AA and AAA), leading to a .266 batting average with 140 runs, 25 home runs, 121 RBIs, and 52 stolen bases over 714 at-bats.

Rating: Collins has an opportunity to earn regular at-bats if he can lengthen his hot streak. His balance skill set reminds me of Lane Thomas, with a higher walk rate. Worth a teen bid, but the Brewers could always shift their DH at-bats to Andrew Vaughn later in the year.

Daylen Lile, WAS (5.0%)

Between AA and AAA this season, Lile was off to a fast start in batting average (.328) over 195 at-bats. He didn’t offer a defining edge in runs (35), home runs (4), RBIs (29), and SBs (12). His bat has been quiet with the Nationals (.152/5/1/3 over 46 at-bats).

Rating: Lile brings talent while offering no reasons to be rostered at this point in the season. More of a follow, until his speed emerges and he gets on base more often.

Jake McCarthy, ARI (5.0%)

I stumbled into McCarthy’s profile last Sunday after doing some in-depth waiver wire research. Heading into Saturday night, he has 27 hits over his previous 74 at-bats with 16 runs, one home run, eight RBIs, and five stolen bases. His approach (10 walks and 10 strikeouts) over this span has been favorable. Since his demotion to AAA, McCarthy has 203 at-bats (.315/43/1/16/12).

Rating: For a fantasy looking for some speed, McCarthy falls into that realm if the Diamondbacks call him up and give him starting at-bats. $1 should do the trick.

Joc Pederson, Texas Rangers (4.0%)

Over the next week or so, there should be some reports on the progress of Pederson’s broken right hand. He’s been out of action since May 25th, putting him a couple of weeks away from returning. His bat was empty over his first 122 at-bats (.131/10/2/6/1), but he had a favorable walk rate (13.8) and strikeout rate (19.3).

Rating: I’m sure Pederson won’t be added to many teams this week, but he is worth a follow for someone looking for a second-half power boost.