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Welcome to the AL edition of deep league waiver wire adds for week 15. The players in discussion this week are important because of their potential for bounce back second halves, slept-on impact statistics, and one high profile prospect call up.
The All-Star break is a chance for new beginnings for both players, teams, and fantasy baseball managers.
Editor’s Note: To read about even more waiver wire options, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.
Deep League Waiver Pickups
Luis Severino (SP, NYY, owned in 2% of Fleaflicker leagues)
If the NL east leading Yankees are going to make a post season run, they need pitching help, as they currently rank 20th in the majors with a 3.95 team ERA. It is very possible that the Yanks will be calling up this highly touted 21 year old very soon. This year in the minors Severino has a 2.45 ERA, 1.019 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, while allowing only 0.2 HR/9, and 2.5 BB/9. Considering that the Yankees are second in MLB in total runs scored, Severino will have plenty of run support for win potential if he dominates in New York like he has dominated every level of the minor leagues. In a deeper league, Severino is a sneaky prospect grab for a fantasy baseball manager looking for some new life in their rotation.
Joey Butler (OF/DH, TBR, 4% owned)
Butler has gotten off to a bad start in July, which may be why he is barely owned at this point. However, part of his poor month of July can be explained by an extremely low BABIP of .200. In total this season Butler has a .287 BA, six HR, a .772 OPS, a 116 OPS+, and leads all DH in SB with five. Butler is also able to hit both types of pitching, as he posts a .758 OPS vs RHP and a .799 OPS vs LHP. With such a low BABIP in July, it is a good bet that his luck takes a turn for the better and he finds his stroke again. Butler should be added to rosters in deep leagues, especially if managers need steals.
Stephen Drew (2B/SS, NYY, 7% owned)
Stephen Drew is a good candidate for a bounce back second half. Drew currently has a horrific BA of .182 and a below average OPS of .630. However Drew also is second among 2B in HR with a solid 12 hit so far. Why are many of Drew's numbers so atrocious? Drew currently has one of the worst BABIP in MLB at .171. This figure is particularly unlucky considering that Drew has increased his LD% to 25% and has increased his GO/FO ratio to 0.72. These numbers tell a story: Drew has been unluckier than most, as he is hitting a lot of fly balls, with a 25% LD%, and they aren't becoming hits. Since last season Drew has also made improvements in his HR% (1.9% to 4.3%), SO% (23.2% to 16.2%), XBH% (7.1% to 8.3%), and BB% (8.4% to 9.4%). Drew's double eligibility in the infield is a definite bonus, and most of Drew's numbers indicate he will see improvements in his hitting as the season progresses and his luck improves. Throw in the fact that Drew is one of the best power hitting second basemen in baseball with an isolated power of .190 (tied with Jose Abreu), and fantasy baseball managers have a solid AL roster add in deep leagues.
JA Happ (SP, SEA, 8% owned)
Happ has become very comfortable in the pitcher friendly confines of Seattle's Safeco Field, posting a home ERA of 2.66. In 2015, the veteran lefty has a 4.14 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, and a 3.53 FIP that indicates he has been pitching better than his ERA states, while allowing only 0.8 HR/9, and 2.4 BB/9. Since Happ is allowing few HR and doesn't walk many batters, it can be concluded that many of his runs are being allowed through clustered hitting, while Happ's isolated pitching indicates he is performing well. If fantasy baseball managers need a streamer in their rotation, Happ is a great add in deep leagues when pitching at home. If his luck on balls in play improves, so will his ERA and WHIP.
Jed Lowrie (SS, HOU, 12% owned)
In Lowrie's 60 AB in 2015 before he went on the DL, he hit .300 with four homers, a .999 OPS, and a 178 OPS+. These figures put Lowrie among baseball's top power hitting shortstops. Since his injury, Carlos Correa has more than cemented himself as Houston's starting shortstop. However with Luis Valbuena batting only .197 with a .708 OPS, Lowrie will likely see a lot of time at 3B when he returns from his current rehab stint. The month of August has been a hot time for Lowrie throughout his career, as he has a career OPS of .788 in August. Lowrie is also a consistent hitter against both arms of pitching, posting a career OPS of .725 vs RHP and .796 vs LHP. He will be returning to the fourth highest run scoring team in baseball, so if you need a power hitting infielder in a deep league, look no further.
Alejandro De Aza (OF, BOS, 13% owned)
It has (pun unfortunately intended) truly been a tale of two seasons for Alejandro De Aza. He had a horrendous start to the season in Baltimore, but since his move to Boston, he has been fantastic. The journeyman has five triples, three HR, three SB, a .323 BA, a .932 OPS, and a 154 OPS+ in 96 AB for the Red Sox. De Aza has significantly improved his SO% since the move (30.4% to 17.5%) and his XBH% (7.1% to 12.6%). It is for this reason that owners should add De Aza to their rosters in deep leagues.
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