RADIO
The deeper we get into the season, the harder it becomes for a column of this nature to avoid getting repetitive. Guys who are playing well tend to be owned in the majority of leagues, for obvious reasons, but for one reason or another, certain players get ignored. Often it’s a lousy start that obscures their overall stat line, as is the case for the first two entries on this week’s list, both of whom we’ve discussed somewhat recently. Maybe they lack pedigree or track record, causing owners to regard them with suspicion. Whatever the reason, some players linger on the wire even when recent production dictates that they shouldn’t.
Pick ‘em up! Here’s where to start.
Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options for catchers, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily. You can also download our waiver wire iPhone app for free, and easily stay updated.
Week 13 Waiver Wire Adds in the Outfield
Adam Eaton, Chicago White Sox (36 percent owned)
Eaton continues to climb back from the abyss he fell into in April. Though his slash line for the season still sits at a middling .252/.318/.388, he’s posted an .855 OPS in June with three homers and four steals. He’s been the leadoff hitter for Chicago all season, and now that he’s getting on base at an excellent clip, he’s scoring runs like many hoped he would when they drafted him. It’s been a disappointing year on the South Side, but Eaton is doing his part to get the White Sox out of the cellar.
Carlos Beltran, New York Yankees (32 percent owned)
Like Eaton, Beltran stumbled badly out of the gate and the impact of that rough start is still apparent in his overall numbers. However, he’s been a different player since April ended, putting together a .297/.363/.500 line with seven homers. This is roughly the level of production Beltran showed in his last two years with the Cardinals, so it certainly seems like the graybeard has enough left in the tank to be fantasy relevant for the rest of the season. Older players are typically undervalued in fantasy leagues for a variety of reasons. This one can be had free of charge in over two-thirds of Yahoo leagues.
Randal Grichuk, St. Louis Cardinals (22 percent owned)
Grichuk has made the most of his opportunity after Matt Holliday went down with a quad strain. He’s currently hitting .273 with six homers and 42 R+RBI in 44 games, and he’s even chipped in three steals. Grichuk’s 43/7 K/BB ratio isn’t pretty, but it hasn’t kept him from being productive. As long as he continues to hit, the Cardinals can afford to let Holliday take it slow with his rehab. After that, playing time will be difficult to come by for the 23 year old. Until then, though, he’s worth an add.
Kevin Kiermaier, Tampa Rays (9 percent owned)
Apparently I am the unwitting president of the Kiermaier fan club, as this is the third appearance in this space for the slick fielding CF this year. His production fell off a cliff in May, but this month has been a different story. Kiermair boasts an impressive .346/.370/.538 triple slash during June, and has stolen six bases for good measure. As evidenced by his paltry ownership rate, there are probably better options in shallow leagues, but those in deeper and AL-only formats should be showing the kid some more love. If nothing else, ride the hot hand while you can.
Eddie Rosario, Minnesota Twins (3 percent owned)
With uberprospect Byron Buxton sidelined and Oswaldo Arcia apparently banished to the hinterlands of Siberia Triple-A Rochester, Rosario should have no obstacles to consistent playing time. So far this year he’s hitting .266 with four homers and five steals. He doesn’t have an overly impressive track record or pedigree, but that’s the beautiful part of this game of ours. Category juice like that plays no matter what, especially when the player in question also carries eligibility at second base. Rosario isn’t a great long-term bet, but he probably deserves to be rostered in a few more leagues than he is right now.
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