It’s often said that it’s not how you start, but how you finish that matters. This obviously rings true for fantasy baseball leagues. It can also be said for waiver wire player evaluations. In this week’s deep fantasy baseball league waiver wire targets article, the list is comprised of several players who faltered mightily throughout the majority of the season but now have seemingly found their stride again. There’s much value for savvy fantasy managers to tap into forgotten players that are salvaging their seasons with a late surge.
More great Fantasy Baseball Analysis: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire | Weekly SP Rankings | Pitching Streamers | Two-Start Pitchers | Hitting Planner | Lineup Analysis | MLB Injury Report | Risers and Fallers | Prospect Report | Advanced Stats | Under the Radar | Overvalued & Undervalued
Deep League Waiver Wire Targets for Week 23
15-Team Mixed League Targets
1. Joc Pederson, DH, Rangers (26% rostered)
Joc Pederson is now on his fifth team in the last five seasons. At each new stop, he’s exceeded expectations, except for this season with the Texas Rangers. Coming off a career season with the Diamondbacks last year, where he produced 23 home runs and a .393 OBP, the belief was that he’d help propel Texas back into contention. He’s fallen far below expectations so far with a lowly .171 batting average and .283 OBP. Pederson is turning things around quickly, however, as he’s hitting .321 with three home runs and nine RBI over the last seven games. Given his elite power, he can fill up the stat sheet quickly once he’s fully regained his confidence at the plate.
Joc Pederson belts a 3-run homer and the @Rangers have put up 7️⃣ through 2 innings! pic.twitter.com/LrQ5bkFnaU
— MLB (@MLB) August 28, 2025
2. Luis Matos, OF, Giants (19% rostered)
The former Giant’s top prospect, Luis Matos, was promoted a couple of seasons ago at the raw age of 20. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to quickly translate his minor league success into the majors to hold a roster spot in the following seasons. Though perhaps his third promotion is a charm, as Matos is starting to make meaningful contributions as of late. In fact, he’s been scorching hot over his last seven games, batting .391 with two home runs and two steals. Matos has the talent to stick with the Giants and consistently produce in their lineup for the remainder of the season.
Luis Matos since being recalled from AAA Sacramento…
🔥15 AB
🔥 2 HR
🔥 2 2B
🔥 1 3B
🔥 2.250 OPSMy mentions are quiet for the time being… I love this kid! pic.twitter.com/s3MOJvHe1Q
— Giant Hot Takes (@GiantHotTakes) August 24, 2025
AL-Only League Waiver Wire Target
Dominic Canzone, OF, Mariners (13% rostered)
Similar to Luis Matos’s situation, Dominic Canzone seems to be finally finding his footing in the majors. A third-year outfielder for the Mariners, Canzone has been locked in a position battle with Luke Raley much of the season. Despite the time share, Canzone has produced consistently and slowly increased his playing time. On the season, he’s hitting .283 with a .342 OBP, both above the league averages. More impressive is the power output he’s displayed with seven home runs in just 60 games. Canzone can prove a rare find near the end of the season in AL-only leagues with his safe batting average and power production.
Dominic Canzone sends the @Mariners home with a #walkoff win! 🔱 pic.twitter.com/EzW2kLfYzy
— MLB (@MLB) August 7, 2025
NL-Only League Waiver Wire Target
Will Wagner, 1B/2B/3B, Padres (13%)
Rarely does a player hit over .300 in their debut stint, but that’s exactly what Will Wagner did for the Blue Jays late last season. This actually came as little surprise, as he had hit well above that clip in the minors. Yet, this season has been a different story as he’s only hit .237 for the Blue Jays before being moved to the Padres at the trade deadline. Now up with the Padres, he will step into a super-utility role, primarily filling in for the injured Jackson Merrill. Take a flyer on Wagner to see if the change of scenario can spark a strong finish to the season.
Will Wagner talks about being traded from the Blue Jays to the Padres, getting acclimated to the organization at AAA, and his potential role with the team after being called up earlier today. pic.twitter.com/G35FRMSxbr
— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) August 24, 2025
Got a few deep league waiver wire targets of your own? Tell me who is standing out to you by sharing in the comments below.
Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites in the fantasy sports industry, and we’re not stopping anytime soon. We are the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform in the industry, offering the greatest fantasy experience for your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and best ball leagues. Fantasy sports doesn’t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons running 365 days a year. Take your fantasy leagues to the next level now at Fantrax.com!
