Here is a look at some potential players to target in your fantasy baseball league that might be out there on the waiver wire in week 14.
American League only:
1B / OF Matt LaPorta – the trade of Russell Branyan allowed Cleveland to install LaPorta at first base and he has responded by homering in three straight games. LaPorta was hitting .362 in 69 at bats in Triple-A with five home runs and 16 RBI.
C – Bengie Molina- just traded to the Texas Rangers, Molina offers a decent option at catcher in AL only leagues. His power numbers are off from last season but that should be no surprise for a 36-year-old catcher. The move to Texas should give him a little boost with the new home ballpark.
C – Jason Varitek – with Victor Martinez on the disabled list, Varitek becomes an AL only option over the next two weeks, although Martinez is expected back the first day he is eligible to come off the disabled list.
3B – Josh Bell - the Baltimore Orioles called up prospect Bell from Triple-A where he was hitting .266 in 286 at bats with 10 home runs and 44 RBI. He still has a lot of work to do on his plate discipline with 18 walks and 75 strikeouts. It sounds like it may be only a short time that Bell spends in the major leagues due to some injuries the Orioles are currently facing, but he is someone to keep an eye on in keeper leagues.
National League only:
SP – Barry Enright – Enright was called up from Double-A by the Arizona Diamondbacks where he was 4-1 with a 2.88 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings. He was holding hitters to a .238 average with nine home runs allowed on the season. Keeper league owners should keep in mind that he is 24 years old and he was repeating Double-A this season after making 27 starts there last year.
SP – Travis Wood – Wood was called up by the Cincinnati Reds and got the start Thursday against the Chicago Cubs and worked seven innings, allowing two hits and two runs with four strikeouts. With Edison Volquez and Homer Bailey close to returning for the Reds, Wood’s stay in the rotation is likely a short one. In Triple-A, Wood had a 3.12 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 98 innings while holding hitters to a .231 average.
1B – Travis Ishikawa – the trade of Bengie Molina to Texas could give Ishikawa some more time at first base with Buster Posey at catcher, although on Thursday, Aubrey Huff got the call at first base and Pat Burrell was out in left field
SS – Wilson Valdez – the injury to Chase Utley opens a spot for Valdez who did a decent job filling in for Jimmy Rollins when he was on the disabled list. Valdez is hitting .261 with four home runs and 20 RBI after going deep on Thursday night.
12/15 Team Mixed League:
2B / OF – Sean Rodriguez – after sporadic playing time the first two months of the season in Tampa Bay, Rodriguez was on fire in June, hitting .295 with four home runs, 17 RBI and six stolen bases.
