Kirby Yates (RP, SDP) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues

OWNED IN: 38% of leagues

ANALYSIS: With Brad Hand shipped off to Cleveland, Kirby Yates figures to be first in line for saves in San Diego. The 31-year-old has been exceptional this year, with sparkling ratios (1.43 ERA, 0.88 WHIP) and 48 strikeouts in 38 innings. Yates had previously shown an ability to miss bats, but his vulnerability to the long ball kept him from breaking into the ranks of the elite. That problem appears to be resolved. The fix was the addition of a splitter, which generates a ton of whiffs but has also essentially flipped Yates' ground ball and fly ball rates from a year ago.

Yates is reportedly drawing significant interest on the trade market himself, so his reign as the Padres closer could be short. Fantasy owners are rightly not waiting around to find out. His ownership rate has doubled in the last 24 hours and figures to keep climbing. Put in a claim before you hit the hay; you likely won't get another shot.