Austin Barnes (C/2B, LAD) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues

OWNED IN: 36% owned

ANALYSIS: Barnes pushed aside Yasmani Grandal for starts down the stretch last year by rocking an .895 OPS with eight homers and four steals in 262 plate appearances, which led to his also starting over Grandal through much of the postseason. Grandal is no slouch, especially defensively, and he’s also on the last year of his contract. The age-28 Barnes and his “J.T. Realmuto but with more power” needs to be watched like a hawk should he get four or more starts a week, let alone if Grandal goes down or is traded.