Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Replacing Ketel Marte, Edwin Diaz

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire pickups this week

We’ll use free-agency figures from Yahoo Fantasy Baseball leagues and target players who are rostered on 50% or fewer teams as of Aug. 19.

Replacing Ketel Marte at second base

One of fantasy’s top second basemen over the past several years, the 32-year-old has been placed on the restricted list by the Diamondbacks due to ongoing personal issues. Recent concerning events included no-showing their game Monday, and miscommunication regarding his availability for testing on his injured knee.

We hope Marte is OK off the field and that this can be resolved as soon as possible.

As for fantasy players, they should move forward with several pickups for second base.

I’d recommend scaling these no bigger than 20% of your remaining FAAB budget, as you can probably try a few pickups to replace Marte. Save that big bid for a new closer or 2-start pitchers, who’ll command a stronger budget down the stretch.

Zack Gelof, 2B/3B/OF, Athletics (50%)

Following his 17-homer, 25-steal breakout season in 2024, Zach Gelof played just 30 games in 2025 due to a broken hamate bone and a stress reaction in his ribs; these injuries delayed his debut until July and basically snuffed out his season.

This year, the 26-year-old has returned to fantasy viability with 14 homers, 8 steals, and a .276/.331/.496 line, and that’s even after sustaining two separate IL stints once again (hand contusion, knee laceration).

His ability to appear defensively in several spots plays well for his daily lineup viability down the stretch, making him an ideal Marte replacement with potentially valuable SB contributions to go with his at-bats in Sacramento’s hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park.

Gleyber Torres, 2B, Tigers (47%)

Torres has played just 69 games this year, having two stints of more than a month on the injured list with a left oblique strain.

However, the 29-year-old remains an underrated source of extra bases and should serve that role for fantasy rosters who need a power threat from the keystone.

Gleyber Torres also ranks top 5% in the majors with a whopping 14.5 BB%, which makes him an even bigger priority add in OBP games.

Luis Rengifo, 2B/3B/OF, Padres (15%)

Typically merely useful due to falling into playing time, Luis Rengifo has made true improvements in plate discipline, going from 6.1 BB% and 19.2 K% last year to 9.7 BB% and 13.4 K% this year.

Sure, the 29-year-old should hit more homers; he peppers the ground with an average 5.6 degrees in launch angle. However, he typically approaches double-digit homers and steals in a full season, and he’ll receive residual benefits in runs and RBIs from a suddenly surging Padres offense.

NL-only and deep-mixed players often settle for warm bodies with a much worse combination of skills, roster eligibility, and situation.

Fantasy waiver wire pickups: More top adds for Aug. 20

Hitters

• Josh Bell, 1B, Twins (27%)
• Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 1B/3B, Orioles (10%)
• Alejandro Kirk, C, Blue Jays (39%)
• Griffin Conine, 1B/OF, Marlins (22%)
• Tyler Stephenson, C, Reds (20%)

Bell’s been underrated much of the year, but ranks top-20 in the majors with 76 RBIs. The Twins lineup is waking up, and he’s benefiting with runners on base while on a heater:

CES gets a near full-time run with the disappointing O’s, who will let him try to bring his once tantalizing power back and convince them he deserves a long-term place in yet another Baltimore rebuild.

Kirk and Stephenson should continue collecting extra plate appearances as designated hitters, which should help any catcher-starved managers down the stretch.

Conine has more playing-time stability, as well, with the Marlins trading Connor Norby to Colorado and giving him a longer leash in the lineup.

Starting Pitchers

• Kyle Leahy, Cardinals (49%)
• Brandon Pfaadt, Diamondbacks (48%)
• Joe Musgrove, Padres (23%)
• George Klassen, Angels (3%)
• Cal Quantrill, Rangers (9%)

Leahy and Pfaadt should be close to universally rostered, given their progress or recovery of skills.

Musgrove (elbow) is ramping up for a return from the injured list. He last appeared in major-league action Sept. 26, 2024, but has obviously posted elite seasons in the past. (Dynasty players could look to stash him on the cheap for 2027, just in case there’s a season.)

Klassen (1.59 ERA in three starts) and Quantrill (0.95 ERA in four appearances that include three starts) have been on scorching runs of late and should hold down rotation spots for teams playing out the string.

Relief Pitchers Locking Down Closer Role

• Tanner Scott, Dodgers (49%)
• Ben Joyce, Angels (14%)
• Kodai Senga, Mets (26%)
• Jacob Webb, Cubs (33%
• Steven Cruz, Royals (10%)
• Mason Montgomery, Pirates (12%)

While the Dodgers may incorporate Alex Vesia and other back-enders occasionally, Scott remains the seamless replacement for Diaz, who’s on the 15-day injured list with neck inflammation. He’s an immediate pickup in all formats.

Joyce has stepped up since returning from the IL, and especially since the Halos traded Ryan Zeferjahn, and he adjusted the grip on his fastball:

I wrote about Senga in last week’s edition, and not many have caught on yet despite his likely holding the job for at least another week.

Webb, Cruz, and Montgomery also recently gained the job; prioritize them in this order, especially with the Cubs being a better, more winning environment for save opportunities.