Tyler Skaggs (SP, LAA) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues

ANALYSIS: Going into last year, Tyler Skaggs was a Top 20 prospect in all of baseball. Unfortunately Skaggs struggled at AAA and then looked subpar in a brief stint in the majors. In the offseason he was traded to the Angels in the 3-team trade centered around Mark Trumbo. With a new team, something appears to have clicked for Skaggs who is off to a great start early on in 2014. Its not just in the stats either. Skaggs fastball velocity is up from 89.2 MPH in his 7 starts last year to 92.0 MPH this year. The strange part of that adjustment is that it has come with improved control but so far also a great reduction in strikeouts. Skaggs had an 8.38 K/9 with the Diamondbacks last year and was better in the minors. This year with an improved fastball he is down to 5.66 K/9. He is pitching more to contact this year, which isn't such a bad idea with one of MLB's best defenses behind him, and he is getting more groundballs which should limit HR. If thats the cost of better performance, so be it. I'm not totally sold on his ability to continue to be above average with that K rate, but he is absolutely worth an add in deeper leagues.