We saw a flurry of trades at the deadline Monday, which sent ripple effects through the fantasy baseball landscape. Some teams have also recently given opportunities for their top prospects to shine, vaulting them into fantasy relevancy. With all of that in mind, here are five players to consider adding who are still available in the majority of Yahoo leagues.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets For Week 21
Max Clark, OF, Detroit Tigers (47% rostered)
The Tigers selected Clark in the first round of the 2023 Draft. He reached Triple-A for the first time this year, posting 11 home runs and 21 stolen bases over 90 games. He also showed an excellent eye at the plate with his 12.0% walk rate and 15.8% strikeout rate. In his first game in the majors, he racked up three hits. He followed that up with a home run in his second game. Overall, he is 8-for-24 with four walks since being called up. With his combination of speed and power, he can provide significant fantasy value.
George Lombard Jr., 2B/3B/SS, New York Yankees (42% rostered)
The Yankees finally made a change at shortstop, sending Anthony Volpe down to the minors. They called up Lombard, who had a .386 wOBA and a .172 ISO across 56 games at Triple-A this year. Not only can Lombard do damage at the plate, but his stellar defense can help cement his spot in the majors. The Yankees badly need a jolt to their lineup, so expect Lombard to get an extended opportunity to be their everyday shortstop.
Dustin May, SP, St. Louis Cardinals (36% rostered)
May was one of the players on the move at the deadline, being traded from the Cardinals to the Brewers. He made his first start with his new team Thursday, allowing two runs and posting five strikeouts over six innings against the Pirates. After giving up 1.4 HR/9 last year, he has only allowed 0.6 HR/9 this season. Next up should be a matchup against the Padres, who rank inside the bottom 10 in baseball in OPS and runs scored. For at least that start, May is worth rostering.
Luke Weaver, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates (29% rostered)
The Pirates made a few moves to try and fortify their bullpen for the stretch run. The most noteworthy was acquiring Weaver from the Mets. He has experience closing out games, including his eight saves with the Yankees last year. He was nearly unhittable with the Mets, posting a 1.84 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP. While Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery could also be in the mix for the ninth inning, Weaver should at least receive some save opportunities over the final two months of the season.
Andruw Monasterio, 1B/2B/3B/SS, Boston Red Sox (13% rostered)
As the Red Sox continue to rack up victories, Monasterio has been an unsung hero within their lineup. Over his last 18 games, he is 24-for-61 (.393) with a .458 OBP, two home runs, 15 RBI, and 11 runs scored. During that stretch, he only had a 16.4% strikeout rate. He has played his way into an everyday role, and with him being eligible at four positions on Yahoo, he is at least worth adding in deeper formats.
Takeaway
Clark and Lombard are two highly regarded prospects who can make an impact in fantasy baseball down the stretch. May, Weaver, and Monasterio can also provide value off the waiver wire for Week 21 and beyond. Be sure to check back throughout the season as we provide the top waiver wire options to help you win your fantasy baseball league.
