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While the August 1st trade deadline has come and gone, the dust isn't about settle as the ramifications of all the moves as just starting to materialize. What the big ticket waiver wire additions players such as new Rangers additions catcher Jonathan Lucroy and reliever Jeremy Jeffress and starting pitcher Francisco Liriano will impact is rather clear, but what about all the positions vacated by the players traded away? We're about to find out in a rather exciting final two months of the season.
Here's a list of some of the players who are looking to take advantage of new opportunities (and some regular guys too), all owned in 25% or less of Fleaflicker Leagues.
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American League Waiver Wire Targets
Hitters
Gary Sanchez (C/DH, NYY) - 5% Owned
With the trade of designated hitter Carlos Beltran to the Rangers, the Yankees have opened up the position to serve as home for whichever one of their newly-paired catcher tandem of veteran Brian McCann and debuting rookie Gary Sanchez's isn't behind the plate. One of both New York's and the game's top prospects, Sanchez's first call-up is an exciting roster decision that could have large fantasy effects. The young catcher was hitting .285 with 10 home runs, 50 RBI and seven stolen bases in 309 Triple-A at-bats. With this promotion a 2017 job audition, Sanchez could be setting himself up for prime 2017 sleeper status.
J.J. Hardy (SS, BAL) - 4% Owned
Shortstop JJ Hardy has been raking--well, for his current self, at least--since his June return from the disabled list. Over the past month and a half, he's hit .299 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 134 at-bats, raising his season average 31 points to .278 in the process. With the Orioles in the thick of the playoff hunt and the veteran Hardy presumably fresher than normal this late into the season due to his time off, there's enough hope here that he can maintain this pace that he should be picked up by any fantasy owners in need of shortstop or middle infielder help.
Raul Mondesi (2B/SS, KC) - 3% Owned
After an early season promotion to Triple-A did little to cool his bat, rookie shortstop Raul Mondesi made his Major League debut a little over a week ago. Since the Whit Merrifield experiment came to an end a couple weeks ago, the Royals are looking for someone to stabilize second base after Omar Infante and Christian Colon have failed to impress. After 24 at-bats, Mondesi has looked impressive for a 21-year-old, hitting .273 with two RBI and one stolen base. A dynamic player that has both speed and power, Mondesi could be a fantasy game-changer not unlike National League rookie sensation shortstop Aledmys Diaz.
Jorge Polanco (2B/SS, MIN) - 0% Owned
With the Giants taking Eduardo Nunez off the hands of Minnesota during the trade deadline craziness, the Twins are in need of a new backup infielder. Enter rookie Jorge Polanco. During his first full season at Triple-A this season, he was hitting .276 with nine home runs, 39 RBI and five stolen bases in 293 at-bats before the call-up. At the Major League level so far, that's translated into a .275 average with one home run, eight RBI and one stolen base in 40 at-bats. With the Twins playing for next year, Polanco is likely to continue to get additional chances to prove he deserves to be a part of the team's 2017 plans despite no clear path to at-bats.
Andrew Benintendi (OF, BOS) - 2% Owned
Unlike the majority of players to make this week's article, this one has everything to do with what moves his team didn't pull the trigger on. Instead of bringing in an upgrade from outside of the organization, the Red Sox decided to promote one of the game's top prospects, outfielder Andrew Benintendi, instead. He'll make his Major League debut having skipped Triple-A completely, coming from a Double-A slash of .295/.357/.515 with eight home runs and eight stolen bases in 237 at-bats. With the Red Sox committed to giving Benintendi a chance to stick with in the Majors and energize the offensive as they make a playoff push, he could be the biggest fantasy producer from the five names here over the next two months.
Pitchers
Dario Alvarez (RP, TEX) - 1% Owned
Coming over in the Rangers' trade for starter Lucas Harrell, rookie relief pitcher Dario Alvarez brings with him serious strikeout potential. In 15 innings pitched for the Braves prior to the trade, he was 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a bonkers 16.8 K/9. That's an elite-level strikeout rate that puts above relief aces like Dellin Betances (15.8) and Andrew Miller (15.1) this season. The only knock on Alvarez is that his work has been only over a small sample size of 15 innings for a last place team. How well he'll respond to pitching for a first place team playing half of their games in the desert heat has yet to be seen. But with that strikeout rate, it is well worth it for fantasy owners to see where his journey goes next.
Jose Berrios (SP, MIN) - 20% Owned
Tuesday brought with it a glimpse of the Jose Berrios that many fantasy owners like myself have been waiting for since the top prospect made his Major League debut earlier this season. In his first start since his initial cup of coffee, he looked a lot more like the can't-miss prospect that was expected, holding the first-place Indians to three runs over six innings. Most important of all is that he was able to strike out five without walking anyone or giving up a home run after struggling with both his first time up. If Berrios can continue to keep those two things down to a minimum, his future ace-like skills can start to shine at baseball's highest level.
Drew Storen (RP, SEA) - 17% Owned
Relief pitcher Drew Storen failed miserably in Toronto after fantasy owners were hopeful the former lights-out closer could re-find his form. The team decided it had seen enough after half a season and cut him loose, ultimately agreeing to swap bad relievers with the Mariners. He did nothing to make a good impression with his new team, giving up four runs in his first appearance for Seattle, pushing his season ERA up to 6.81. It was only last year that Storen was one of the best closers in all of baseball, there has to still be some of that magic in his arm...right? With the Mariners' turning over the closer role to unproven rookie Edwin Diaz, there's still a chance Drew Storen, if he's able to get right, could be in line for some saves before the season's ends.
Matt Andriese (SP. TB) - 17% Owned
With starting pitcher Matt Moore traded to the Giants, rookie Matt Andriese returns to the rotation after a successful temporary turn as a reliever. He re-enters the rotation with a 6-2 record, 2.75 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 6.8 K/9 over 72 innings and eight starts. Though he doesn't strikeout a ton of batters, his ability to limit home runs and hits this season has helped keep him out of trouble so far this season. Andriese isn't the most electric rookie pitcher out there, but if he can continue to build upon this current success and keep working on improving the weaker parts of his game (as he has so far), there's no reason he can't help out fantasy teams in need of quality innings.
Cam Bedrosian (RP, LAA) - 15% Owned
The Angels had to place fragile closer Huston Street on the disabled list with a knee injury Tuesday, giving way to a closer-by-committee. But as much as manager Mike Scioscia wants to play it cool having just watched obvious choice Joe Smith traded away, he has to be as excited as fantasy owners should be at Bedrosian's potential. After 39 innings pitched so far this season, he's 2-0 with a 0.92 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 11.1 K/9. No one else in the Angels' bullpen comes close to this numbers. Unless he completes falls apart, the closer gig will be his for the remainder of the season.
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