It’s the weekend of the trade deadline, everybody, and a lot is about to change. I had to keep that in mind this week with my picks, and I will surely be making recommendations next week relating to who gets moved. No matter what, it’s always an exciting time, as I’m sure all of us are fervently checking our phones right now, hoping our teams are making that big swing.
Throughout the season, this column is designed to help guide those in Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) leagues make the best choices in who to target on the waiver wire. Specifically, we’re focusing on players who are between 20-25% rostered in most 12-team leagues and/or 25-50% rostered in 15-teamers. Every league is different, so we won’t be labeling player bids with any sort of recommended dollar amount but instead will use a four-tier investment rating system, ranging from a minimal spend to a potential difference-maker (or LEAGUE-WINNER, if you will).
Let’s dig in!
Investment Rating System
SEVEN GAMES: TOR, PHI, WSH, CHC, MIL, PIT, ARI, SDP
Batters
Outfielders
Max Clark (OF, $$$): 23% rostered on Yahoo
Clark is a tantalizing prospect that many fantasy managers have been ecstatic to finally get their hands on. Clark is a very toolsy player, showcasing great contact skills, sneaky pop, and speed on the basepaths. All of these add up to create a player who has a fairly high floor as a youngster, as well as, of course, an excellent ceiling that made him a top-10 prospect. It’ll be interesting to see what moves the Tigers make with their lineup, as I feel there’s a high chance they sell a couple of bats. This could really give Clark a major role on the team for the rest of the season,
Heriberto Hernández (OF, $$): 18% rostered on Yahoo
Hernández has been excellent for the Marlins as of late. He had a 151 wRC+ in July, and everything seems to be falling into place for him. He’s hitting higher in the Marlins lineup now, which is no doubt a decision made to give them a bit of a spark considering their recent woes. He’s a flyball hitter with above-average bat speed and a tendency to pull the ball in the air. This is a recipe for home run hitting, and he’s delivered, with 16 so far. He’s also a bit more aggressive on the basepaths these days, with eight steals.
Kevin Alcantara (OF, $): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Alcantara is playing down in Triple-A Iowa, and it makes one wonder if he has any future with the team moving forward. The Cubs are in desperate need of some arms, and they could dangle Alcantara for one of the top pitchers, trading him to a team that could play him every day. The power is there, though he has a strikeout problem that may hurt his ratios and limit his effectiveness in leagues with a strikeout penalty.
Zac Veen (OF, $): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Veen had a cup of coffee last season and became known for his awesome personality and the fun he brought to the game. Unfortunately, he didn’t make much of an impression with the bat, which is why his squad sent him back down to Triple-A Albuquerque. He’s been on a tear down there, and if the Rockies are to sell off some pieces in their lineup (as they should), he could slot in nicely the rest of the way.
Infielders
Jackson Holliday (2B, SS $$$): 29% rostered on Yahoo
It’s kind of funny that just a couple of weeks ago, the talk was about Jackson Holliday being a bust. In the month of July, he put up a wRC+ of 172, which is much more in line with the predictions pundits had for him when he was ranked as the #1 prospect in the sport. There are clear signs that he is breaking out right in front of us, and his five-tool profile makes him intriguing for fantasy managers. With how weak the second base position can be outside of the top guys, he’s worthy of a pickup to bolster your lineup.
Catchers/UT
Ryan Jeffers (C – $$): 45% rostered on Yahoo
While he missed nearly a couple of months this season, Jeffers has been great while healthy. He’s given managers 10 home runs to go along with stellar ratios for a catcher. He doesn’t play as consistently as some other catchers (splitting time with Victor Caratini), but his high offensive floor and ceiling make him worthy of rostering. There is some trade buzz around him, though with the A.J. Minter addition, the Twins may be looking to buy and put their chips in on competing this season.
Bo Naylor (C – $): 22% rostered on Yahoo
Naylor was recently traded to the Brewers, where he hopes to get a fresh start after spending a lot of 2026 in the minor leagues. Naylor was always a hyped-up prospect, and unfortunately, he never became what he was expected to be in Cleveland. This represents a fresh start for him, though he likely won’t get the consistent playing time with William Contreras being their primary backstop. Still, in deep leagues, it’s safe to assume that Naylor can generate a bit of value when he plays with his decent pop.
Pitchers
Starting Pitchers
Ian Seymour (SP, RP – $$$): 33% rostered on Yahoo
There are a couple of options with Seymour at this point. He either goes to another team in a trade for a starting pitcher, joining the rotation for a team such as the Tigers, Giants, Blue Jays, Twins, Reds, or Angels. Or, he continues to fill in for the injured Shane McClanahan as the Rays’ fourth starter. It feels like the Rays don’t have confidence in him as a long-term starter, and that’s kind of a shame, as he provides that excellent lefty changeup action that so many teams are looking for. I guess the Rays are just too loaded with changeups.
Kade Anderson (SP – $$): 17% rostered on Yahoo
The Mariners are getting a lot of interest with some of their big-name starters, including Luis Castillo, Emerson Hancock, and most surprisingly of all, George Kirby. This all but means that they are going to give Anderson a shot at becoming a fixture in their rotation following the deadline, as he’s showcased a skill set that should translate well. Despite not even throwing a major league pitch yet, he’s rostered in 17% of leagues, as managers circle like sharks trying to find the next Trey Yesavage.
Ryan Sloan (SP – $): 3% rostered on Yahoo
A Sloan call-up seems less likely than Anderson, as he hasn’t quite looked as steady in the minors and is a year-and-a-half younger. Still, Sloan has the arsenal to be an even better pitcher than Anderson, as his stuff is legit. I think that Anderson will probably be better at first, but Sloan will be a better long-term arm. Either way, it looks like the future of the Mariners’ rotation is fast approaching.
Relief Pitchers
Brandyn Garcia (RP – $$$): 10% rostered on Yahoo
Garcia appears to have taken over as the closer in Arizona, which comes as a bit of a surprise with their options. His basic numbers are great, with a 2.10 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP. The Diamondbacks haven’t officially given him the reins, but they really should, as he’s showcasing excellent skills with a deadly sinker/sweeper combo.
Clayton Beeter (RP – $$): 17% rostered on Yahoo
Beeter is the primary closer for the Nationals, which automatically gives him some value. The problem is he can be quite erratic, but they’ve stood with him, and he should be available in most leagues. I assigned more value to Garcia largely because he’s a hot new commodity and keeps the sheet cleaner than Beeter. Beeter may have a longer leash, though.
Ben Joyce (RP – $$): 4% rostered on Yahoo
Joyce seems like a lock to return to the Angels soon, and he will probably fill in as their closer. He’s looked good in Triple-A, flashing 103 mph velocity and showcasing great efficiency. The Angels need help really anywhere, especially as they will be selling off pieces in the next couple of days. Expect Joyce to be a high-leverage option who could get some saves for an Angels squad down the stretch.
Camilo Doval (RP – $): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Camilo Doval was recently traded to the Pirates from the Yankees, and he will be looking to bounce back after a less-than-stellar run in the Bronx. The Pirates have a couple of closing options (including Mason Montgomery, who we’ve written about in previous entries). Doval brings experience in the ninth-inning role that really only Gregory Soto in that bullpen can match, so perhaps Doval will be given the closing role right out the gate.
