Fantasy Baseball 2026: Deep League Waiver Wire for May 4-10

If you're in a Deep League, here's a closer look at some must-add waiver wire targets. These players are available in 20-50% of Deep Leagues.

Immediate Impact Players for 12-15+ Team Leagues

Josh Jung, 3B (TEX) (50%) - It's amazing that Jung isn't more widely owned. All he's done is bat .317/.381/.545 since the beginning of the season. His strikeout rate has dropped from 25.2% last season down to just 16.8% this year. He's also walking at an 8.8% clip, an improvement from 5.3% last year. His hard-hit rate is a healthy 53% and his average exit velocity is up to 91.9 MPH.

Ryan Jeffers, C (MIN) (22%) - Jeffers is off to a hot start, batting .291/.411/.494 with 4 HR in his first 95 PA. He's showing better selection at the plate with a 15.8% walk rate and increases in his overall contact rate (83.7%) and zone contact rate (91.2%). There isn't a ton of power in his profile but he's making the most of what he's got, barreling up the ball 14.5% of the time and generating an average exit velocity of 91.3 MPH. He's pulling the ball in the air 20.6% of the time, which almost matches his career high in 2024, when he hit 21 HR.

Carlos Cortes, OF (ATH) (27%) - Cortes is playing in the strong side of a platoon and doing amazing in the process. He's batting .391/.462/.667 and walking more often than he's striking out. Normally, I'd look at this skeptically and say it isn't sustainable. However, Cortes has an xBA of .362 and his 87.9% zone contact rate supports the argument that he can do this despite a .397 BABIP.

Max Meyer, SP (MIA) (22%) - Six starts into the season, Meyer has earned his spot in fantasy rotations. He's posted a 3.30 ERA backed by a 3.30 FIP. His 25% strikeout rate is an improvement over last season's 23.9% and he's done a great job in limiting hard contact with just two homers allowed through 30 IP. His slider (46.6% whiff rate) and sweeper (34.8%) have been his best weapons and he's deploying both liberally to hitters on both sides of the plate.

Chase Dollander, SP (COL) (47%) - It seems crazy to recommend a Rockies pitcher but Dollander has been outstanding through 32 innings with a 2.25 ERA. He's been used primarily in relief but now appears to be set to stay in the Rockies starting rotation. He's striking out 30% of the batters he faces, blowing them away with a four seamer that averages 98.8 MPH. He also throws a sinker and slider along with three other pitches, mixing all five in from 8-25% of the time. Batters are hitting that four seam fastball at just a .120 clip and five of Dollander's pitches generate whiffs at least 30% of the time.

Stash Candidates & Deep-League Only Targets

Players With Rest-of-Season Upside Still on Waivers

Luis Severino, SP (ATH) (15%) - Severino's performance has been a bit uneven with home runs raising his home ERA to 4.91 and walks being a problem on the road with 14 in 20 innings of work. Aside from that he's done pretty well overall with a 24.7% strikeout rate and a pair of wins to go with his two losses. If you're desperate for pitching you could do a lot worse in deep leagues.

Brayan Rocchio, 2B (CLE) (15%) - Rocchio has done well for himself thus far, batting .283/.360/.404 with 3 HR and 2 SB to go with 13 R, and 17 RBI. He's walking almost as often as he's striking out. He chases around the league average and his contact rate in the zone is healthy at 85.8%. He's crushing fastballs at a .339 clip, so I expect the good hitting to continue. Just don't expect a ton of power.

Jake Bauers, 1B/OF (MIL) (21%) - Bauers has been written up here before, yet he's still widely available and continues to get playing time. He's knocked seven percentage points off his strikeout rate, which is down to 20.2% and his hard-hit rate is up to a strong 55.1% a big improvement over last year's 45.1%. The power is real and he's getting an opportunity to play almost every day. You'll want to sit him against lefties, whom he's only hitting at a .143 clip.

Bryce Miller, SP (SEA) (28%) - Miller is likely one more rehab start away from returning, so you'll want to stash him now. In his last outing he topped out at 98.8 MPH on his fastball and threw 53 pitches, 36 for strikes. He tossed four innings of shutout ball, and only allowed two hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Given Luis Castillo's struggles over the first six weeks it wouldn't be a surprise to see him supplanted in the rotation by Miller and perhaps given time to work out his kinks.

Deep League Waivers: Questions Answered

Who are the top deep-league waiver wire adds for May 4–10 2026?

The highest-priority targets include starting pitchers and hitters with strong matchups and underlying Statcast improvements who remain available in 40–65% of deep leagues.

Should I stash injured players on the waiver wire right now?

Yes-several high-upside stash candidates nearing return are still available in deep leagues and offer significant rest-of-season value if you have bench space.

How does roster percentage affect waiver wire decisions in 12-15+ team leagues?

In deep leagues, any player rostered in fewer than 60% is usually a viable add. The article highlights the exact ownership thresholds for each recommendation.

When should I drop a player to make room on the waiver wire?

Drop low-upside bench pieces or players whose underlying metrics have collapsed, especially if they no longer project above replacement level.

How often should deep-league managers check the waiver wire in May?

Check daily or at least twice per week. Early May is when breakout candidates and injury replacements first become widely available.

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This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 2:05 PM.