Archive for the ‘Waiver Wire’ Category

2011 Waiver Wire – Week 26

Posted by Tony Mancini on September 21st, 2011

This is the last fantasy baseball waiver wire article for 2011 with the Major League regular season ending next week Wednesday. The wildcard spot is up for grabs in both the American and National League, so it should be a fun week of baseball.

Here are some names to consider picking up for the remainder of this season and for possible keepers for your 2012 rotisserie season.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

Eduardo Nunez and Chris Dickerson (NYY) – With the New York Yankees wrapping up a playoff spot today, I would suspect the Yankees will rest their regulars before the playoffs. Nunez has played second, third and shortstop all season long and Dickerson has enough range to fill in for all the outfielders. I would expect to see both of them play three out of the next seven games.

American League:

1B – Chris Parmelee (MIN) – Parmelee has been playing first base and hitting 4th in the Minnesota Twins lineup. In 42 at-bats, Parmelee has two home runs, eight RBI and is batting .380.

2B – Brian Dinkelman (MIN) – Dinkelman has also been playing everyday for the Twins and is currently hitting .370 through his first 48 at-bats.   If you need a roster fill in, look at the Twins roster and I’m sure you’ll find a few other Twins available on your waiver wire

National League:

OF – Jerry Sands (LAD) – Sands has also been playing regularly for the Los Angeles Dodgers and is batting over .450 with two home runs and six RBI over the last seven days.

SP – Randall Delgado (ATL) – Delgado is a rotation prospect for the Atlanta Braves next season. Delgado has a 2.70 ERA over 30 innings in six appearances this year.

SP – Anthony Bass (SD) – Bass won his second start of the season and holds an ERA under 1.70 Bass is a good keeper prospect for NL-only leagues since the Padres have a lot of question marks heading into next season in their rotation.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 25

Posted by Tony Mancini on September 15th, 2011

With the regular season winding down and most of us in the second round of our Head-to-Head leagues, here are a few names to consider prior to next weeks final waiver wire of the season. Continued good luck to those of you that are in the playoffs or fighting it out to win your fantasy baseball league.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

RP - Joel Peralta (TB) – With the Tampa Bay Rays still in the wild card hunt and with Kyle Farnsworth hurting, Peralta will see the majority of the save opportunities for the Rays until Farnsworth is healthy.

American League:

SP – Matt Moore (TB) – Moore is considered the Rays top pitching prospects and one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. Even though Moore struggled in his debut last night in relief he is worth grabbing especially if you are in a keeper or dynasty league.

OF – Nolan Reimold and Matt Angle (BAL) – Reimold has been playing regularly for the Baltimore Orioles since mid July. Even though is hitting .239, if you are looking for regular at bats with the potential to hit a home run or steal a base, Reimold is a nice option. He has ten home runs and five stolen bases in 230 at bats.

Matt Angle has filled in for Felix Pie’s spot as the 4th outfielder for the O’s. He is hitting under the Mendoza Line, but has six stolen bases in 49 at-bats.

National League:

C – Wilin Rosario (COL) – The Colorado Rockies are committed to taking a long look at Rosario, which means he should see most of the playing time over Chris Iannetta the rest of the way. The 22-year-old had 21 homers in Double-A this season after hitting 19 in 2010. Rosario hit his second home run in the majors last night.

RP – Santiago Casilla (SF) – Casilla picked up his third save for the San Francisco Giants last night. Although he is not considered the full time closer in San Francisco with Brian Wilson out, he could get a few more saves when Sergio Romo is over worked, plus Casilla sports a 1.36 ERA on the season.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 24

Posted by Tony Mancini on September 7th, 2011

With the majority of top prospects already promoted to the major leagues, there were very few prospects that have been called up to the major leagues since September 1. Here are a few names to consider for your fantasy baseball leagues with three weeks to go in the season.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

3B/OF - Dayan Viciedo (CWS) – Everyone was wondering why it took the Chicago White Sox so long to call up Viciedo with all the problems they have had at third base this season. Viciedo has helped out in the outfield as well with Carlos Quentin sidelined. Viciedo is hitting over .350 in his first nine games and hit .289 with 14 home runs in Triple-A this season.

RP - Jason Motte (STL) – Since St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Motte would start to see more save chances, Motte has gone 3-for-3 in save opportunities. Motte has a 1.70 ERA over 58 innings this season so grab him now if he is still siting out on the waiver wire on your league.

American League:

OF – Leonys Martin (TEX) – Martin is a top three prospect in the Texas Rangers organization and is considered one of the best hitting prospects. Martin is worth stashing and will likely play regularly once the Rangers wrap up the AL West.

C – Jose Lobaton (TB) – Lobaton is not a highly touted rookie at age 26, but the Tampa Bay Rays have said that they are going to give him an extended look for the remainder of the season to see if he can be a backup option next season. Lobaton was hitting .293 with eight home runs in Triple-A this season.

National League:

SP - Eric Surkamp (SF) – Surkamp has been filling in as the 5th starter for the San Francisco Giants since being called up. In two starts Surkamp is 1 – 0 with a 3.27 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.

SP - Brad Lincoln (PIT) – Lincoln struggled last year for the Pittsburgh Pirates but has been solid this season and has had five quality starts in a row and currently has a 3.53 ERA. Consider using Lincoln in the right match up situation.

RP - Manny Acosta (NYM) – With Bobby Parnell being pulled from the closers role for the New York Mets, Acosta is next in line and picked up a save tonight. Acosta will likely pick up a few more saves until Parnell rights the ship and it will then likely be a closer by committee.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 23

Posted by Tony Mancini on August 31st, 2011

Even though some of you have started your fantasy football drafts, we still have a month to go in the baseball season and hopefully you are still in the running for a spot in the money. Here are a few players who can help you get to the playoffs or win your league down the stretch.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

OF – Ezequiel Carrera (CLE) – With Michael Brantley landing on the disabled list again, Carrera is seeing regular playing time in the Cleveland Indians depleted outfield. Carrera has been batting at the top of the order for the Tribe and is hitting .272 with 18 run scored and eight stolen bases.

American League:

C – Salvador Perez (KC) – Perez has been doing so well for the Kansas City Royals that they traded Matt Treanor back to the Texas Rangers this afternoon. Perez is going to play five days a week for the Royals to see if they can count on him next year. Perez is hitting .293 in 17 games with one home run and eight RBI.

C – Jesus Montero (NYY) – This would be a great pick up if he is still out there in your league. Although I don’t anticipate Montero playing more than two or three times a week as a DH and a late inning catcher in blow outs, he’s not going to hurt you team at a weak catcher position. Montero was hitting .288 with 18 home runs and 67 RBI Triple-A.

2B – Carlos Guillen (DET) – Yes, Guillen is always on the disabled list. Yes, Guillen is not hitting his weight. However, when Guillen has been in the line-up, he’s produced for the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers. In 22 games and 82 at bats, Guillen has two home runs and 11 RBI.

National League:

RP – Rafael Betancourt (COL) – Even though Huston Street has come off the disabled list, the Colorado Rockies are going to ease him back into the closer role so Betancourt will continue to get a few saves in the process. Betancourt has converted four out of five save chances this season.

1B - Jesus Guzman (SD) – The San Diego Padres are going to have a hard time sitting Guzman after they call up top prospect Anthony Rizzo. Although the Padres see Rizzo as their first baseman of the future, Guzman has had the hot bat of late. Guzman is batting .330 on the season with 35 runs and is eight-for-eight in stolen base attempts.

OF – Matt Diaz (ATL) – Diaz was traded back to the Atlanta Braves today from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Diaz could be a valuable 5th outfielder since he is hitting .330 against lefties.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 22

Posted by Tony Mancini on August 24th, 2011

In this weeks edition of the waiver wire, let’s go around the league and take a look at players who are receiving playing time prior to roster expansions in less than a week. Keep in mind that there was one trade where players switched teams with Kelly Johnson going to the Toronto Blue Jays and Aaron Hill being shipped to Arizona so be sure to look for them on the waiver wire in your fantasy baseball league.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

1B/OF - Kyle Blanks (SD) – Blanks has been a man on a mission over the last few weeks since being recalled from Triple-A in late July. Blanks has five home runs and 14 RBI since being the promotion, though he still has some work to do on his pitch selection with 32 strikeouts in 96 at bats.

RP – Bobby Parnell (NYM) – The Mets are going to have Parnell and Jason Isringhausen share closer duties for the remainder of 2011. With Isringhausen a free agent after this season, Parnell could be a potential keeper next year. Parnell picked up his first save of the season this afternoon.

American League:

1B/OF - Brandon Allen (OAK) – Oakland has given Allen the full time job at first base and has responded by providing the A’s with some much needed power in their lineup. Allen is hitting over .350 since being traded to Oakland and has five home runs and 11 RBI.

3B - Kyle Seager (SEA) – Seager has been on fire since being called up in July by Seattle. He was hitting just .136 before being demoted and is now up to over .270 on the season and will be a fixture in the Mariners lineup so if you need counting stats for your AL-only team he is a solid play.

National League:

3B – Kevin Kouzmanoff (COL) – With the Colorado Rockies running out of options at third base, they are hoping a change of scenery will help Kouzmanoff whom they acquired in a trade from the Oakland A’s. He’s their best option right now and with everyday at bats, he’s worth picking up.

OF – Brian Bogusevic (HOU) – The Houston Astros has to start someone after trading all of their players away and Bogusevic is swinging a hot bat right now with an average over .300. Although he has hit for power with four home runs, Bogusevic is better known for his speed.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 21

Posted by Todd Lammi on August 17th, 2011

Now that all is quiet on the major league baseball front and likely in your fantasy baseball leagues after the trade deadline has past, we can now look at some familiar names that have been hot since the trade deadline to help their teams and hopefully yours.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

RP – Rafael Betancourt (COL) – with Huston Street on the disabled list, Betancourt takes over as the closer in Colorado for the next 10 days or so until Street is due back. He has racked up 13 scoreless innings since the All-Star break while picking up 24 strikeouts in that period.

1B / OF - Lucas Duda (NYM) – The power has slowly started to come on for Duda making him more of an option in mixed league formats now. Duda is hitting .341 since the All-Star break in 85 at bats with five home runs and 17 RBI.

American League:

1B – Brandon Allen (OAK) – The Oakland Athletics recently called up Brandon Allen and he has promptly collected eight hits in his last four games. He has shown power in limited playing time in the major leagues  with a career 8 home runs overs 191 at bats though his batting average of .236 lifetime can cost you a couple of points in the standings.

C – Tyler Flowers (CHW) – Flowers takes over as the starting catcher for the Chicago White Sox with A.J. Pierzynski sidelined due to injury. Flowers is hitting .296 in 27 at bats and collected his first major league career home run last week.

National League:

OF – Bryan Petersen (FLA) – the demotion of Logan Morrison to the minor leagues opened a hole in the Florida Marlins outfield that Bryan Petersen has been filling quite nicely. For the season Petersen is hitting .273 with a home run and three stolen bases on 88 at bats. Morrison will likely be back at some point this season but Petersen should provide a nice fill in for your NL-only roster for the next couple of weeks if you are short a hitter.

 

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 20

Posted by Tony Mancini on August 10th, 2011

Now that all is quiet on the major league baseball front and likely in your fantasy baseball leagues after the trade deadline has past, we can now look at some familiar names that have been hot since the trade deadline to help their teams and hopefully yours.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

OF - Rick Ankiel (WAS) – With all of the Washington Nationals injuries, Ankiel has been forced into regular playing time and has thrived. In 12 games hitting leadoff, Ankiel has posted a .300 average, with two doubles, four homers, eight runs and 11 RBI.

SS - Marco Scutaro (BOS) – Scutaro has been on fire over his last three games for the Boston Red Sox going 8 for his last 11. With Jed Lowrie coming off the disabled list, Scutaro is going to need to keep up this pace to get regular playing time.

SP - Brett Cecil (TOR) – After struggling and being demoted to Triple-A, Cecil has responded since being recalled by the Toronto Blue Jays, posting a 2.70 ERA over his last seven outings to lower his ERA to 4.31 to go along with a 1.31 WHIP.

American League:

OF – Alejandro De Aza (CHW) – With Alex Rios struggling, De Aza was called up from the minors last week. De Aza is currently hitting .296 and is a good source for stolen bases while he is playing regularly.

SP – Kevin Slowey (MIN) – With Scott Baker going on the disabled list, the Twins are planning to call up Slowey from Triple-A to start Sunday. Slowey was 13 – 6 last year and has allowed three earned runs in his three starts at Triple-A this season.

National League:

3B – James Darnell (SD) – Darnell was hitting .272 with six homers and 13 RBI in 26 games since being promoted to Triple-A. He is a top prospect within the San Diego organization and can hit for power and average (he hit .333 in 76 games at Double-A). He will play third base for the Padres while Chase Headley is on the disabled list.

OF – JD Martinez (HOU) – Martinez was called up after the Astros traded Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn. In 10 games since being recalled, Martinez is hitting .306 with four home rums and 12 RBI. Martinez will likely man right field for the Astros for the remainder of the season.

2B/OF – Eric Young (COL) – Young has played in the outfield in 12 of the last 13 games for the Rockies. During this stretch, Young is hitting over .290. Though he is only hitting .232 on the season, he is a good source for stolen bases and runs.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 19

Posted by Tony Mancini on August 3rd, 2011

With the major league baseball trade deadline now over, many players have now gained tremendous value and should be picked up immediately if they are available in your league(s).

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

1B - Paul Goldschmidt (ARI) – The Arizona Diamondbacks also did not hesitate to call up their best first base prospect from Double-A after the trade deadline. Goldschmidt had 30 home runs and 94 RBI prior to being recalled on Monday and hit his first home run in the majors last night. Grab him if he’s still available.

1B - Chris Davis (BAL) – Davis was traded from the Texas Rangers where he was a bench player to the Baltimore Orioles where he will be their everyday first baseman. With no first base prospects in the Baltimore system, Davis will not have any pressure to perform. Davis has always been a great source for power in the minors. This is the chance Davis has been waiting for and he knows this may be his last chance to show his potential.

SS - Dee Gordon (LAD) – Once Rafael Furcal was traded, the Los Angeles Dodgers did not hesitate to recall their shortstop of the future. Gordon struggled in his first go around with the Dodgers but again, there is no additional pressure for him to out perform any competition. Gordon is a great source for runs and stolen bases.

American League:

OF – Casper Wells (SEA) – Wells was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Seattle Mariners and has played in all three games since the trade. Wells has always been able to hit lefties, but if he is given regular at-bats, he could provide some decent power numbers for your team.

SP – Brad Mills (TOR) – Mills has been told he can keep his rotation spot if he continues to pitch well for the Toronto Blue Jays. In his first start, Mills threw seven innings giving up six hits and two walks while striking out five.  He pitches against the Orioles next and is worth a spot in your rotation.

National League:

SS – Yuniesky Betancourt (MIL) – It looks like the trade rumors about the Milwaukee Brewers needing a better SS in order the make the playoffs really woke Betancourt up as he is hitting .355 with three home runs in 62 at bats since the All Star break.

OF – Lucas Duda (NYM) – Duda is seeing regular time in the outfield since Carlos Beltran was traded to San Francisco. Duda was the New York Mets minor league player of the year in 2010 and hit for power in the minors even though he only has three home runs so far this season with a .268 batting average.

C – David Ross (ATL) – With Brian McCann going on the disabled list, Ross is now the primary catcher for the Atlanta Braves. Ross has always done well as a back-up hitting for power in limited duty. On the season, Ross has five home runs with 19 RBI and a .267 batting average over 100 at bats.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 18

Posted by Todd Lammi on July 28th, 2011

The big winner so far of the trades leading up to the Sunday deadline from a fantasy baseball perspective looks to be outfielder Jon Jay of the St. Louis Cardinals. With Colby Rasmus shipped to the Toronto Blue Jays, Jay should see the majority of at bats in the outfield the rest of the way where his .300 plus batting average is going to pay big dividends for his fantasy baseball owners the second half of the season.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

RP – Jason Isringhausen (NYM) – What looked like a closer by committee bullpen for the New York Mets with the trade of Francisco Rodriguez has been Isringhausen by himself so far. With him now just three saves away from 300 for his career, look for him to stay at closer unless he is traded at the deadline.

American League:

OF – Colby Rasmus (TOR) – a great trade by the Toronto Blue Jays to acquire Rasmus without surrendering anything of real value. St. Louis Cardinal fans are going to be kicking themselves for this trade over the next five to seven years.

OF - Kosuke Fukudome (CLE) – Acquired today by the Cleveland Indians for two minor league prospects, Fukudome doesn’t offer much help for AL-only owners unless you need some help in batting average.

National League:

OF - Tyler Colvin / Tony Campana (CHC) – Colvin was recalled from Triple-A today with the trade of Kosuke Fukudome to the Cleveland Indians. Colvin plus Campana should both see time in the Chicago Cubs outfield going forward.

OF – Corey Patterson (STL) – becomes a fourth outfielder in St. Louis coming over in the trade from Toronto, but should see more at bats with Lance Berkman an injury risk. Worth a pickup for NL-owners looking for stolen bases.

SP – Edwin Jackson (STL) – another pitcher for Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan to try to work his magic on. Jackson struggled in the National League last season with Arizona but should do better this time around.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 17

Posted by Tony Mancini on July 22nd, 2011

Is there anything more exciting than the MLB trade deadline? Action has already begun with trades of Jeff Keppinger and Wilson Betemit this week. Rumors will be flying around over the next week and a half so pay careful attention to the waiver wire in your league for some possible gems.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

OF – Josh Reddick (BOS) – Reddick has been seeing more playing time over the last week with J.D. Drew and Darnell McDonald riding the pine. Reddick is hitting .367 with four home runs and 18 RBI over 79 at-bats. Reddick is going to be a key factor for the Red Sox now and for years to come since Drew will be a free agent after the season.

American League:

2B - Mike Aviles (KC) – With Wilson Betemit traded to the Detroit Tigers, the Royals recalled Aviles to fill his roster spot. Aviles was awful hitting .213 before being sent now, but was tearing up Triple A with nine home run and a .307 batting average.

National League:

2B - Jeff Keppinger (SF) – Keppinger was sent to the Giants to help fill in the second base void. Keppinger only played in 43 games for the Astros this year and was hitting .307 over 163 at-bats with four home runs and 20 RBI.

2B - Jose Altuve (HOU) – The top prospect in the Houston Astros farm system this year, Altuve was called up from Double-A to play second base. Altuve was recently ranked in the top 50 for baseball prospects and was hitting .389 in the minors this season.

1B – Steve Pearce (PIT) – Pearce is also about to come off the disabled list in Pittsburgh. Rumors are out there that Lyle Overbay is going to be sitting more than playing going forward. Pearce was hitting .291 over 55 at-bats before his injury.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 16

Posted by Tony Mancini on July 14th, 2011

Congratulations to Robinson Cano for winning the Home Run Derby and to the National League for winning the All-Star game. After a few days off from fantasy baseball, hopefully your batteries are recharged to make a strong push the second half of the season to win your fantasy baseball league. Here is a look at some players to be targeting on the waiver wire this week.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

OF - Mike Trout (LAA) – The Los Angeles Angels called up their top ranked prospect last week due to all the injuries in the Angels outfield. Although his stay may be short, Trout is definitely worth picking up and keeping as a reserve after he is sent back down if he is still available in your league.

OF – Nate Schierholtz (SF) – Schierholtz seems to have convinced the San Francisco Giants to give him an everyday role in their outfield and he has shown some power and even batted clean-up a couple of times since then. Schierholtz is hitting .293 on the season with seven home runs and 31 RBI.

American League:

OF – Travis Buck (CLE) – With Shin-Soo Choo on the disabled list, Buck has been seeing the most time in right field. Over Buck’s last seven games, he is hitting over .370 with eight RBI. Buck is a decent fill in outfielder while he is playing and hitting.

3B – Kyle Seager (SEA) – I believe Seager may be in over his head right now since he only played 12 games at Triple-A before being recalled, but he obviously can’t be any worse than Chone Figgins at the hot corner. Seager has hit .336 between two levels with six home runs and 49 RBI.

National League:

RP – Brad Lidge (PHI) – Lidge has had some successful minor league rehab appearances and will likely make another six to nine additional rehab appearances which could put him back in the major leagues in three weeks. If you have a bench spot available and are locked in a closer battle for saves, he is worth picking up now with the hopes that he will see some save opportunities down the stretch.

SS – Zack Cozart (CIN) – With Edgar Renteria and Paul Janish struggling, the Cincinnati Reds called up Cozart four days prior to the All-Star break and he saw action in all four games. Cozart was hitting .310 in Triple-A prior to being recalled and is hitting .312 in four games with the Reds. Cozart has shown power and speed in the minors hitting 17 home runs and stealing 30 bases in 2010.

By now we’ve all heard that closer Francisco Rodriguez was traded from the New York Mets to the Milwaukee Brewers where he will share closer duties with John Axford. The big question is who is going to close games out of the Mets. This is likely going to be a committee situation to begin with but the two most likely to get the first shot at closer duties will be Bobby Parnell and Jason Isringhausen.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 15

Posted by Todd Lammi on July 6th, 2011

Here is a look at some players to target in your fantasy baseball league in the week 15 waiver wire including two new closer options and several players heading over to the National League.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

RP – Joe Nathan (MIN) – Current closer Matt Capps has been struggling in Minnesota and has been removed from his two previous save opportunities. Glen Perkins picked up saves in both of those instances, but they were the first two saves of his career and Nathan has been throwing better or late and has closing experience which gives him the upper hand.

RP -David Hernandez (ARI) – With J.J. Putz sidelined, Hernandez could grab you a couple of saves in a week. Given Putz’s injury history, having Hernandez on your squad is a good hedge if you are still looking to find saves on the waiver wire.

American League:

SP – Zach McAllister (CLE) – McAllister was promoted from Triple-A to take the place of Fausto Carmona (disabled list) in the Indians rotation. McAllister was acquired from the New York Yankees last season in a deal for Austin Kearns. McAllister was 8-3 for the Columbus Clippers with a 2.97 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 97 innings and a .241 batting average against.

National League:

2B – Mark Ellis (COL) – Depending on when your league assigns free agents, there is a chance that Ellis could hit the free agent pool in your league this week. Ellis has four multi-hit games since coming to the Rockies with two home runs, seven RBI and a stolen base.

OF – Mike Cameron (FLA) – Cameron was acquired by the Florida Marlins from the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later and should take hold of the job in center field. He was hitting a paltry .149 for the Red Sox in 94 at bats with three home runs and nine RBI. If your team can take the batting average hit, he should help out in three other categories.

 

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 14

Posted by Tony Mancini on June 29th, 2011

Many players have been recently activated from the disabled but as one comes off another one goes on.  This revolving door has created openings for players who may be available in your league to give you an advantage in head-to-head leagues, gain extra points in a standard rotisserie league or fill holes on your roster

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

RP – Antonio Bastardo (PHI) – With Ryan Madson landing on the disabled list, Bastardo is now the temporary closer for the next two weeks for the Philadelphia Phillies. Bastardo has pitched well this year with an ERA under one over 28 innings this season with 33 strikeouts.

3B -Lonnie Chisenhall (CLE) – The Cleveland Indians finally have given the reigns to one of their top prospects and will give limited playing time to Jack Hannahan at third base. Chisenhall was batting .265 with seven home runs and 44 RBI before his call up from Triple-A. Jason Kipnis could be the next top prospect to be recalled by the Indians at some point this season to help them out at second base.

American League:

OF/1B Conor Jackson - Jackson has been filling in at first base since the Oakland A’s sent Daric Barton down to Triple-A. Jackson has played 16 games at first and 35 in the outfield and is a nice stop gap if you have an injury to a regular player. Jackson is batting .261 with one home run and 20 RBI on the season.

OF – Jason Repko (MN) – With Denard Span, Jason Kubel and now Delmon Young on the disabled list, Repko is going to play most days. If you are looking for some stolen bases, Repko could help in that category.

SP -Scott Feldman (TEX) – With Alexi Ogando’s recent struggles and rumors of him being sent down to the minors Feldman who has been pitching well on his rehab assignment could be called up by the end of the weekend to replace Ogando in the rotation. Feldman has a 2.93 ERA in seven rehab starts.

National League:

SP – Barry Zito (SF) – Zito came off the disabled list last night and threw seven innings giving up four hits walking two and striking out three for a win. With Jonathan Sanchez on the disabled list, Zito will get a few starts for the Giants until they have to make a rotation decision. Zito faces two weak hitting teams in the San Diego Padres and New York Mets next week.

OF - Reed Johnson (CHI) – Johnson has played nearly everyday since being activated from the disabled list on June 14th. Johnson is a career .270 hitter, but is currently over .330 with four home runs and 22 RBI. Since he is playing everyday, Johnson is a good 4th or 5th outfielder right now.

OF/1B – Wily Mo Pena (ARI) – Pena will have some short term value and will likely DH when the Arizona Diamondbacks are playing at Oakland this weekend. Pena has opened up some eyes hitting three home run in 25 at-bats since being called up without having played in a major league game in over two years.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 12

Posted by Tony Mancini on June 15th, 2011

The waiver wire for week 12 contains a few surprising names including some throw back names you may recognize if you have been playing fantasy baseball for a few years.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

SP - Jeff Karstens (PIT) Karstens has quietly had a very good season so far with a 4-4 record, a 2.66 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He is a good starting option against the right opponent and with his next start against the Cleveland Indians this weekend, he looks like a good play.

American League:

SP – Carlos Villanueva (TOR) – Villanueva has been a great surprise for the Toronto Blue Jays since moving into the starting rotation. In five starts, Villanueva has picked up four wins and has a 3.25 ERA and 1.04 WHIP for the season.

OF – Andy Dirks (DET) – I’ve been hesitant to mention Dirks for a few weeks since I felt he was going to only be up with the Detroit Tigers until Magglio Ordonez was activated from the disabled list. Detroit now has a platoon situation with Dirks, Ordonez and Casper Wells in the outfield. Dirks is hitting .258 with three home runs and nine RBI andcan be a nice fifth outfielder on your AL-only squad.

SP – Andrew Miller (BOS) – Rumors are circulating that Miller will be called up next week to join the Boston Red Sox rotation. Miller has an opt out clause in his minor league contract as of today and seems to be willing to give the Red Sox until next week to make a decision on his future services. Miller has pitched well in Triple-A with a 2.47 ERA and struck out 10 batters in just over five innings in his last start.

SP – Brian Gordon (NYY) – This is a true flier. Gordon is a converted outfielder and with the New York Yankees desperate for starting pitching help, Gordon is going to get the start on Thursday. Gordon was with the Phillies Triple-A affiliate earlier this year throwing 55 1/3  innings with 56 strikeouts and a 1.14 ERA.

National League:

OF – Charlie Blackmon (COL) – Blackmon is filling in while Dexter Fowler is on the disabled list. With the way Fowler was hitting over the last six weeks, Blackmon has a real chance to show what he can do and stick around even when Fowler is ready to be activated. In eight games with the Colorado Rockies, Blackmon is hitting .290 with three RBI and four stolen bases. Prior to getting called up, Blackmon was hitting .342 with 10 home runs, 49 RBI and 12 steals.

SP - Juan Nicasio (COL) – Nicasio has pitched well for the Rockies since being recalled from Double-A.  In four starts, he is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA with 15 strikeouts. He is a good situational match-up player to have and with the Indians coming up, I would use him.

2B/SS - Ruben Tejada (NYM) – Tejada is a great stop gap to fill your roster if you have a hurt middle infielder on your team. Tejada is hitting .312 with nine RBI in 84 at-bats. There isn’t much upside but he’s not going to hurt your team either. Tejada played 28 games at short and 50 at second last year, so he qualifies at several spots in the infield.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 11

Posted by Tony Mancini on June 8th, 2011

Lots of action to be had on the waiver wire this week with multiple prospects getting promoted from the minor leagues. Here is a look at some of the key players to target to help improve your fantasy baseball team.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

1B – Anthony Rizzo (SD) – Rizzo was recalled from the minor leagues by the San Diego padres and will take over as the starting first basemen immediately. It was also good news to hear manager Bud Black say the left-handed hitting Rizzo will not be platooned so he will see plenty of action. Rizzo was hitting .365 in Triple-A with 16 home runs and 63 RBI.

SS – Dee Gordon (LAD) – With Rafael Furcal on the disabled list, Gordon has a chance to showcase his glove and his speed for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In four seasons in the minor leagues, Gordon has over 166 stolen bases and stole a base in his first start yesterday. Gordon has a career .299 batting average in the minors but has displayed little power with a total of seven home runs.

SS - Cliff Pennington (OAK) – Pennington seems to be turning it around getting hits in six of his last seven games, bringing his average up to .260. Pennington is a good source for stolen bases. He only has five on the year so far but had 29 last year in his rookie season.

American League:

OE – Endy Chavez (TEX) – News that Julio Bourbon was sent to Triple-A after being activated from the disabled list shows the Texas Rangers are believing in Chavez’s resurgent season. Chavez is currently hitting over .400 with two home runs and six RBI over 15 games and 52 at-bats. Ride Chavez while he is hot. If you have an open roster spot, keep Bourbon although there are now trade rumors since his demotion. I would also grab Craig Gentry who was mentioned a couple of weeks ago in this article for his speed and will be a lefty platoon partner for Chavez.

2B – Cord Phelps (CLEV) – With Orlando Cabrera and Jack Hannahan struggling over the last few weeks, the Indians called up Phelps who will likely play both second and third base. Phelps was hitting .299 with seven home runs and 40 RBI before his promotion from Triple-A.

2B – Jemile Weeks (OAK) – With Mark Ellis on the disabled list the Oakland Athletics called up their 2008 first round pick. Weeks was hitting .321 with three home runs and ten stolen bases in 184 at-bats in Triple A

OF/1B Mike Carp (SEA) – Carp was called up after hitting .350 with 19 home runs and 58 RBI in 56 games in Triple A. With Mike Wilson being sent down, Carp should split time with Carlos Peguro in left field.

National League:

OF – Chris Denorfia (SD) – Denorfia has been leading off for the San Diego Padres over the last couple of weeks and has done well in that role. Denorfia is hitting .300 with four home runs and 19 runs scored in 129 at-bats.

OF – Xavier Paul (PIT) – With Garrett Jones struggling badly this year after a breakout year in 2010, Paul has played his way into a more consistent role with the Pirates. Paul is hitting .290 with six stolen bases in part time duty.

SP – Aaron Cook (COL) – Cook is making his season debut tonight for the Colorado Rockies after missing the first part of the season after fracturing his ring finger in spring training. With few NL pitchers on the waiver wire at this point in the season, Cook is worth checking out.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 10

Posted by Tony Mancini on June 1st, 2011

Who’s hot?  Who’s hurt?  Who should I pick up?  Why is one of the best closers in the game struggling all of a sudden?  Who is filling in while my player is on the disabled list?  The week 10 waiver wire is here to answer all of those questions.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

RP – Aaron Crow (KC) – With Joakim Soria struggling so badly, Crow has been named the interim closer for the Kansas City Royals. Crow has a 1.33 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP in 27 innings with 26 strikeouts and will likely stay in the closer role until Soria is able to straighten himself out.

2B – Eric Young (COL) – Young will be the starting second baseman / outfielder for the Colorado Rockies after being promoted from Triple-A last week. Young has hit safely in all five games since being recalled and already has three stolen bases.

1B – Juan Miranda (AZ) With the Arizona Diamondbacks cutting ties with Russell Branyan, Miranda should see the bulk of the playing time at first base. Miranda has been hot over his last 10 games, raising his batting average by 25 points, hitting three home runs and driving in 10 runs.

American League:

OF - Nolan Reimold (BAL) – Reimold has been on fire since being called up from Triple-A. In nine games this season, Reimold is hitting .306 with three home runs and seven RBI. Ride the bus while he is hot.

SP - Brian Matusz (BAL) – Matsuz made his season debut on Wednesday afternoon, throwing 84 pitches over 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run and recording three strikeouts. Matsuz is worthy of immediately starting in your AL-only  League rotation.

2B – Tsuyoshi Nishioka (MIN) – The opening day second baseman for the Twins was likely dropped in a lot of leagues when he suffered a fractured fibula early in the season. Nishioka is due back in two weeks and is worth stashing away on reserve if he’s available in your league.

National League:

SP – Jordan Lyles (HOU) – Lyles is the Houston Astros top pitching prospect and worked seven innings in his major league debut, allowing one earned run while striking out four. Lyles struggled in Triple-A this year with a 1 – 3 record with a 3.97 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. His next start is against the San Diego Padres and is a good SP to grab with a favorable match-up.

OF – Tyler Colvin (CHC) – Colvin was recalled by the Chicago Cubs when Alfonso Soriano was placed on the disabled list. With Marlon Byrd also on the DL, Colvin should see some steady playing time in the outfield. Colvin hit .250 with the Cubs last year with 20 home runs and was hitting .260  in Triple-A with a home run and eight RBI in 50 at bats.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 9

Posted by Todd Lammi on May 25th, 2011

Several big injuries in the last week have created opportunities for other players with Jorge De La Rosa of the Colorado Rockies scheduled to have Tommy John surgery and first basemen Adam LaRoche out of action for the Washington Nationals with a labrum tear. Here is a look at some possible free agents to target in the week 9 waiver wire.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

OF – Mike Morse (WAS) – Morse was a trendy pick in spring training and then faded once the season started. Now that Adam LaRoche is sidelined with an injury, Morse has been making the most of his opportunity at first base. Morse is hitting .410 in the month of May with three home runs and seven RBI in 39 at bats.

American League:

SP – Andy Oliver (DET) – with Phil Coke going on the disabled list, Oliver has been recalled from Triple-A and will face the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. Oliver had a 3.31 ERA with the Toledo Mud Hens and had struck out 49 hitters in 51 2/3 innings of work.

SP – Josh Outman (OAK) – despite his lack of success in the minor leagues this season, Outman was solid in his first start in the major leagues since 2009, allowing one run in seven innings with three walks and two strikeouts. His stay in the rotation is likely temporary with two A’s starters currently on the disabled list.

National League:

SP – Juan Nicasio (COL) – Nicasio will be making the jump from Double-A to face the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. Though he was old for that level at 24 years of age, Nicasio had a 2.22 ERA through nine starts with 63 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings. Though his stay in the rotation will likely be a short one, all it takes is one impressive start to grab a spot in a rotation sometimes.

2B – Jeff Keppinger (HOU) – If you are in need of a batting average boost in NL only leagues, Keppinger could fit the bill now that he is back from the disabled list. Keppinger will see time around the infield at a variety of positions.

RP – Javy Guerra (LAD) – fantasy baseball teams are always looking for saves in an NL-only league and whenever an option pops up, it is worth looking into. Guerra was on no ones radar until he picked up a save yesterday against the Houston Astros. Guerra had three saves in AA before being recalled, with a 1.06 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 17 innings. With Kenley Jansen and Matt Guerrier also in the bullpen, Guerra is no lock for saves, but with one already, if you have room on your reserve, it would not hurt to claim him.

SP – Rubby de la Rosa (LAD) – the Dodgers recalled De La Rosa from AA where he had been pitching as a starter, but he will now work out of the the bullpen for the time being which limits his fantasy value unless he gets some save opportunities. Rubby had a 2.93 ERA in eight starts for the Chattanooga Lookouts with 52 strikeouts in 40 innings.

OF – Reed Johnson (CHC) – Johnson will get extra at bats in the outfield with Marlon Byrd out of action for another two weeks or so. Johnson is hitting .362 on the season with two home runs and 16 RBI.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 8

Posted by Tony Mancini on May 18th, 2011

If you are short a player or two for your starting lineup, there are several players that are on a hot streak right now that you might be able to plug and play for a few weeks to build up some stats. The Kansas City Royals also called up one of their top pitching prospects who had a mixed debut today against the Texas Rangers. Here is a look at some possible free agents to target in the week 8 waiver wire.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

SS – J.J. Hardy (BAL) – Hardy is hitting over .400 since coming off the disabled list last week with two home runs and seven RBI. Ride the hot streak while it lasts.

SS – Jason Bartlett (SD) Bartlett is another shortstop on a hot streak getting at least one RBI in nine straight games. to go with two stolen bases. He has bumped his batting average up by 42 points during that time. He is a possible fill-in at a middle infield spot if you have someone out with injury or underperforming.

1B – Casey Kotchman (TB) – Kotchman has been hitting seventh in the Rays line-up with Dan Johnson struggling so badly. If you are strong in other offensive categories but need a boost in batting average, Kotchman could provide some help as he is hitting .337  over 92 at bats.

American League:

SS – Elliot Johnson (TB) – Rays manager Joe Madden announced that he is going to give Johnson more playing time at shortstop moving forward. Johnson is 6 for 19 in May with two home runs and stolen bases and is hitting .260 on the season.

RP – Scott Downs (ANA) – Downs has been virtually perfect since coming off the disabled list, pitching ten innings with a 0.00 ERA and a .70 WHIP. With the Angels playing well right now, Downs has a chance to pick up some relief wins.

OF – Craig Gentry (TEX) Gentry is a good source for stolen bases while Julio Bourbon is on the disabled list as he splits time with Endy Chavez in the Rangers outfield.

SP – Danny Duffy (KC) – One of the Kansas City Royals top pitching prospects, Duffy was recalled and got the start against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. Duffy struggled with his control, needing 95 pitches to get through four innings, allowing four hits, six walks, two runs and striking out four hitters.

National League:

1B/OF – Eric Hinske (ATL) – Hinske has played in four straight games, collecting seven hits in 16 at bats. He is hitting .349 for the season over 63 at-bats with four home runs and 12 RBI.

2B – Justin Turner (NYM) – Turner has been hitting well since being called up and platooning with Daniel Murphy at second base. Now with Ike Davis and David Wright hurt, Turner is going to be filling in at the hot corner while he’s hitting so well and will be batting second in the Mets order. He is currently hitting .318 in 44 at bats with ten RBI.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 7

Posted by Tony Mancini on May 11th, 2011

Lots of changes going on in the majors since the beginning of this scoring period with changes to another closer, multiple released players, injuries and a few call ups.  The minor leaguers called up this week are likely available since they are not top 100 prospects but are top 10 prospects for their respective teams. Here is a look at players that may be available in your fantasy baseball league that you can claim in week 7. If these players are not available on your league waiver wire, then they could be possible trade targets as well.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

RP – Mark Melancon (HOU) – Melancon will be the primary closer for the Houston Astros with Brandon Lyon on the disabled list. I wrote about Melancon more here in the week 7 closer report.

C – John Buck (FLA) – If you have a revolving door at your catcher position, John Buck of the Florida Marlins has been hot so far in the month of May, hitting .310 with two home runs and five RBI.

OF – Melky Cabrera (KC) – Cabrera is a capable fourth or fifth outfielder for any fantasy baseball lineup, as he is currently hitting .282 with four home runs, 22 RBI and 23 runs scored.

American League:

OF – Mike Wilson and Carlos Peguero (SEA) – the youth movement is in full effect in Seattle with the designation of Ryan Langerhans and Milton Bradley.  Wilson was hitting .381 in the minors this year  and is likely to see more playing time of the two.  Peguero was hitting .282 with four homers and 13 RBI through 25 games for Tacoma in Triple-A.  Also note that Michael Saunders hasn’t been tearing it up this year either hitting .180, so both guys could see plenty of at bats.

SS – Trevor Plouffe (MIN) – Plouffe was named the starting SS for the Minnesota Twins until Tsuyoshi Nishioka returns from a broken leg with Alexi Casilla moving over to 2B.  Unfortunately, Plouffe has a slighstly pulled hamstring and is hoping to avoid the disabled list.  Once healthy, Plouffe is worth a shot short term for a middle infield position since he is going to play full time.

National League:

RP – Mike Dunn (FLA) – if you have holds as a category in your fantasy baseball league, Dunn is a guy to grab for your team.  Dunn was recently named the primary eighth inning reliever for the Florida Marlins while Clay Hensley is on the disabled list.  Dunn has 1.26 ERA with a .98 WHIP and 17 strikeouts over 14 1/3 innings.

SP – Doug Davis (CHC) – if you are desperate for starting pitching in a NL-only format, Doug Davis is getting called up to start on Saturday for the Chicago Cubs.

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2011 Waiver Wire – Week 6

Posted by Tony Mancini on May 4th, 2011

Here is a look at some players that were recently called up to the major leagues, player getting more playing time due to injury or other players that may be available in your fantasy baseball league that you can claim in week 6. If these players are not available on your league waiver wire, then they could be possible trade targets as well.

Mixed Leagues – 12/15 teams:

3B – Ian Stewart (COL) – Stewart was batting .361 with three home runs and 13 RBI in 32 at bats before being recalled by the Colorado Rockies from Triple-A. Although he struggled early in the season, it looks like he was able to get his swing back on track in the minor leagues. He should see at bats against right-handed pitching with Jose Lopez seeing time against southpaws

C – Yorvit Torrealba (TEX) – When you think of the catcher for the Texas Rangers, most people will say Mike Napoli, however, Torrealba has been splitting time with Napoli and is currently hitting .277 with three home runs and eight RBI. He hasn’t hit for a ton of power but Rangers Ballpark is a hitter’s ballpark so that statistic could change soon.

American League:

2B – Scott Sizemore (DET) – With Will Rhymes struggling badly and Sizemore hitting over .400 in Triple-A, the Detroit Tigers made the switch earlier this week and Sizemore will get the majority of at bats at second base for the foreseeable future. Sizemore was hitting .408 in 76 at bats with two home runs and three steals when he was recalled.

OF – Ben Revere (MIN) – Revere was recalled today by the Minnesota Twins when Jason Repko was placed on the disabled list. With Delmon Young also on the DL for another week, Revere has a chance for playing time this week and beyond if he can show the Twins what he is capable of. He’s been compared to Brett Gardner and has batted .300 or better in four minor league season. Revere was hitting .293 with no hone runs in 92 at bats and seven stolen bases with the Rochester Red Wings.

National League:

OF – Jason Bourgeois (HOU) – With Carlos Lee suffering from a rib injury, Bourgeois has taken advantage of the additional playing time, batting over .500 in his last five games. He has nine stolen bases in just 41 at bats this season so if you are looking for steals in a NL-only league, grab him up.

SP – Vance Worley (PHI) – Worley impressed in his first start with six scoreless innings for the Philadelphia Phillies. Worley is starting while Joe Blanton is on the disabled list and Blanton did not have a good start to the season before his injury. Worley could stick around if he strings together a few more strong outings. He faces the Washington Nationals at home tonight.

RP – Mark Melancon (HOU) – if you have a reserve spot open in your NL-only league, you might want to try and stash Melancon from the Houston Astros. Brandon Lyon blew his fourth save of the year today and is close to being removed from the closer’s role. Melancon could be next in line with his 1.76 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.

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