Waiver Wired: Waiver Wired: Bang for the Buc
We’re just eight days away from the July 31 trade deadline, but so far there’s been a lot of talk with no action. That should change very soon. By this time next week, hopefully we’ll already be able to break down some of the fantasy fallout involved. With each trade deadline comes opportunity on the waiver wire, so be sure to stay alert. The best way to keep tabs on the action is to refresh our player news page and follow @Rotoworld_BB on Twitter.
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Have specific questions about your roster? Ask @djshort on Twitter.
MIXED LEAGUES
C.J. Cron 1B, Angels (Yahoo: 11 percent owned)
The Angels have won seven straight and 16 out of their last 20 to move two games ahead of the Astros in the American League West. Cron has played an important part in their recent surge. In 15 games since his return from Triple-A, the 25-year-old is batting .431 (22-for-51) with four home runs, four doubles, and 12 RBI. Of course, he also has a 12/2 K/BB ratio during that time, so his plate discipline remains a work in progress. But those in deeper formats should be willing to take a chance on his power potential.
Mike Leake SP, Reds (Yahoo: 35 percent owned)
Leake has done wonders for his trade value of late. The 27-year-old was dominant in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Cubs and has allowed two just two earned runs in 22 innings over his last three starts, lowering his ERA to 3.78 for the year. Leake has never been a big strikeout guy, but he has very good control and would really benefit by moving to a more pitcher-friendly home stadium. He owns a 3.48 ERA on the road during his career compared to a 4.36 ERA at Great American Ball Park. He’d be a great fit with the Dodgers, who obviously need some rotation help.
Steven Souza OF, Rays (Yahoo: 48 percent owned)
Souza still doesn’t have 100 percent feeling back in his finger, but he was able to rejoin the Rays earlier this week. He had a golden sombrero in his first game back, which underscores the big issue with him. The 26-year-old has struck out in 35.4 percent of his plate appearances, which is the highest rate in the majors among qualified hitters. It’s not surprising that he’s only batting .211 on the year, but he has managed to eke out fantasy value by amassing 15 home runs and 10 steals. That power-speed combo should have him on your radar in most formats, though obviously it will be a bit of a compromise given his swing-and-miss tendencies.
Jung Ho Kang 3B/SS, Pirates (Yahoo: 17 percent owned)
The Pirates have lost both Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer to injury in recent weeks, so they figure to be in the market for an infielder before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but fortunately Kang has stepped things up of late. After a quiet June, the 28-year-old is batting .362 (21-for-58) with six extra-base hits, five RBI, and 11 runs scored through 18 games this month. Many wondered how Kang’s production would translate in the majors, but the gamble has paid off nicely for the Pirates thus far. He now has a solid .286/.365/.412 batting line on the year. Kang offers modest pop and speed and hits in the middle of Pittsburgh’s order, so he’s relevant as a middle infielder in most formats.
Delino DeShields, Jr. 2B/OF, Rangers (Yahoo: 14 percent owned)
It’s increasingly clear that DeShields has overtaken Leonys Martin as the Rangers’ starting center fielder. The 22-year-old Rule 5 pick is hitting .304 (14-for-46) since coming off the disabled list and now owns a solid .277/.370/.408 batting line on the year. Not only has he been starting over Martin recently, but he’s also the Rangers’ regular leadoff man. Sure, there’s not much pop here, but he gets on base and runs a lot when he does. He’s in a great situation for fantasy value and it’s about time he gets more attention.
David Peralta OF, Diamondbacks (Yahoo: 20 percent owned)
The Diamondbacks were given quite the scare on Wednesday night when Peralta was hit in the back of the head by a pitch from Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez, but fortunately he passed his concussion test and isn’t expected to miss any time. The 27-year-old outfielder has quietly been very useful this season, batting .272/.347/.494 with nine home runs, 43 RBI, 38 runs scored, and four steals over 87 games. This includes an .874 OPS against right-handers and an .868 OPS at home. The Diamondbacks will face three right-handers against the Brewers at home this weekend, so I really shouldn’t have to explain this one any further.
Travis d’Arnaud C, Mets (Yahoo: 31 percent owned)
After missing close to two months with a broken pinkie finger, d’Arnaud appeared in just eight games prior to suffering a left elbow sprain during a play at home plate. He was originally called day-to-day, but has now been out for close to a month. If you follow the Mets at all, this makes all kinds of sense. The good news is that d’Arnaud began taking batting practice earlier this week and go out on a minor league rehab assignment over the weekend, which could set up his return before the end of next week. And boy, could the Mets use his bat right now. He’s a fine option in most mixed leagues when healthy.
Jean Segura SS, Brewers (Yahoo: 47 percent owned)
Following a miserable June, Segura has bounced back nicely this month by batting .417 (25-for-60) over 15 games. Unfortunately, he’s not really doing much damage in the process. Of his last 47 hits dating back to the start of June, only two of them have been for extra-bases (both of them were home runs). Still, Segura has speed and qualifies at the wasteland that is the shortstop position, so it doesn’t take much to make him useful. By the way, I expect him to stay put at the trade deadline, which isn’t such a bad thing from a fantasy perspective.
Randal Grichuk OF, Cardinals (Yahoo: 32 percent owned)
One of the most popular adds in fantasy leagues over the past week, Grichuk thrived while Matt Holliday was on the disabled list and should continue to have a significant role even now that he’s back. The 23-year-old has a lot of swing and miss in him, so he’s a batting average risk, but he has 32 extra-base hits in just 229 plate appearances this season. According to the excellent Baseball Savant, Grichuk currently ranks among the league leaders in average exit velocity, so he’s mighty intriguing right now.
Marco Estrada SP/RP, Blue Jays (Yahoo: 28 percent owned)
I was burned in a big way by Estrada last season, but he has done enough recently to warrant attention again in most mixed leagues. Over his last nine starts, the 32-year-old owns a 2.75 ERA and 41/15 K/BB ratio in 55 2/3 innings. This includes eight scoreless innings against the Rays last time out. Estrada still allows a lot of fly balls, so that blowup potential remains, but remember that he was a useful pitcher for a time with the Brewers. Give him a look against the Mariners this weekend on the road and perhaps for a bit longer.
Shopping at the five-and-dime:
(Players owned in under 10 percent of Yahoo leagues)
Tyler Saladino 3B, White Sox (Yahoo: 2 percent owned)
Saladino has been on fire since his promotion earlier this month, batting .314 (11-for-35) with two home runs, a triple, four RBI, and five runs scored over nine games. Opening Day third baseman Conor Gillaspie was recently designated for assignment, so the opportunity is there for regular playing time. Many view the 26-year-old as a utility player in the long run, but he’s hitting second in Chicago’s lineup and could be worth a shot in deeper mixed leagues because of his speed. He had 25 steals in 52 games this season in Triple-A.
Michael Conforto OF, Mets (Yahoo: 3 percent owned)
While the Mets previously downplayed the possibility of promoting Conforto, the combination of their downright awful offense and Michael Cuddyer‘s knee injury reportedly has them reconsidering matters. The 22-year-old was one of the most polished bats in last year’s draft class and has lived up to the billing thus far, including a .321/.406/.518 batting line with five home runs and 26 RBI over 44 games since his promotion to Double-A Binghamton last month. He’s not a sure thing to be called up and he’s obviously far from a guarantee to have immediate success, but those in deeper leagues can afford to speculate at this point.
Carter Capps RP, Marlins (Yahoo: 8 percent owned)
Despite his hiccup against the Phillies over the weekend, A.J. Ramos has clearly established himself as a quality closer for the Marlins. However, don’t overlook his set-up man, who is quickly emerging as one of the top relievers in the game. Armed with a high-90s fastball and a wicked curve, Capps has a 1.32 ERA and 52/6 K/BB ratio over 27 1/3 innings this season. Yes, that works out to 17.12 K/9, which is basically Aroldis Chapman territory. His swinging strike rate sits at 26.1 percent, which is quite simply historic. If you are trying to maximize your innings, Capps should be able to help in most formats even if the save chances aren’t there. I’m honestly surprised he’s still so widely available. It’s time to get on that, people.
Editor’s Note: You (yes, you) have misconceptions about how certain players might fit into your FanDuel lineups each day, and you probably don’t even know about them. Check out this RotoGrinders article by Dave “CheeseIsGood” Potts, the 2014 FanDuel DFBC Champion, on why it’s important to play DFS MLB with a clean mental state.
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