Each week, we’ll look at a handful of different hitters who fantasy managers should consider picking up in deeper fantasy baseball leagues. Many of these players will have the most value in larger leagues where waiver wire options aren’t as plentiful. Still, they could also occasionally be useful additions in other, more standard-sized leagues, depending on your options at their position.
All roster percentages mentioned in this column are via FantasyPros as of Wednesday afternoon.
Victor Caratini – 12%
Since joining the Houston Astros ahead of the 2024 season, Victor Caratini has consistently provided above-average production at the plate, making plenty of contact in the process.
In 274 plate appearances in 2024, the catcher and first baseman hit .269 with a .336 on-base percentage, eight home runs, a 113 wRC+ and just a 19.3% strikeout rate.
This season, in 257 plate appearances so far, he’s batting .272 with a .323 on-base percentage, 10 home runs, a stolen base, an identical 113 wRC+ and a strikeout rate that sits at 16.7%.
If the season were to end today, the strikeout rate would be a new career best for Caratini, who is also one home run away from equaling his previous career high.
All those things are certainly positive and make Caratini worth a look for fantasy managers in deeper leagues, particularly those with two catcher spots in the starting lineup, it’s the fact that the veteran is starting to hit in more fantasy-friendly positions in the Houston batting order that only solidifies his fantasy upside the rest of the way.
After hitting more toward the bottom of the order last season when he played, Caratini has hit further up the lineup, sometimes more in a middle-of-the-order role, or at least something closer to it.
And while Yordan Alvarez is currently on the injured list and Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman are playing for different teams, there’s still more than enough lineup depth in Houston to help Caratini continue to log quality fantasy numbers.
It also doesn’t hurt that the veteran catcher also has fantasy eligibility at first base.
Travis d’Arnaud – 1%
Sticking with catchers, specifically catchers who could be worth a look for fantasy managers in deeper, two-catcher leagues, Travis d’Arnaud has enjoyed a quality season at the plate from a power production standpoint for the Los Angeles Angels in 2025.
The 36-year-old has connected on six home runs in 155 plate appearances for the American League West club, logging a .186 ISO and a strong 14.6% barrel rate in the process.
And while d’Arnaud is batting just .234 with a .277 on-base percentage and a 32.3% strikeout rate so far (a number that would be a career worst for the catcher), his power production, specifically from a home run standpoint, makes him a quality starting option in two-catcher leagues with 14 or more teams. Particularly on fantasy rosters in those types of leagues with less home run production in general.
Among players who primarily play catcher this year and have logged a minimum of 150 plate appearances, just 16 have a double-digit barrel rate. Of those 16, only five have a barrel rate north of 14%.
Those five catchers? Cal Raleigh, Salvador Perez, d’Arnaud, d’Arnaud’s former Atlanta teammate Sean Murphy and d’Arnaud’s current Angels teammate Logan O’Hoppe.
Even with O’Hoppe seeing plenty of playing time for the Angels, d’Arnaud is worth considering for fantasy managers in deeper leagues in search of additional power production.
John Rave – 1%
If you’re looking for short-term power production, now might be the time to add John Rave to your fantasy roster.
The 27-year-old outfielder is batting .210 with a .293 on-base percentage, three home runs and five stolen bases in 94 Major League plate appearances this season, but all three of his home runs have come since July 18, a stretch in which he is five-for-14 with the three aforementioned home runs, a stolen base and just two strikeouts.
And while it remains to be seen if he’ll continue to hit home runs at this rate, the Royals have a reasonably fantasy-friendly schedule for the next week in terms of home run potential.
Kansas City kicks off a three-game series at home against Cleveland on Friday before three more at home against Atlanta and three on the road in Toronto.
Entering play Wednesday, the Blue Jays pitching staff had given up the fourth most home runs per nine innings (1.33) in the league, while Atlanta was just outside the top 10 highest home runs allowed per nine innings rates with a 1.19 number.
Graphic by Carlos Leano.
