Franchy Cordero (OF, SD) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 15% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Last week, Franchy Cordero had the most Franchy Cordero-esque batting line possible. Three home runs, six runs batted in, a .227/.261/.636 line, a single walk, and a whopping nine strikeouts, good for a 39.1% K rate. If you're a Franchy owner, this is what you're in for. Lots of power, a low average and OBP, and a metric ton of strikeouts. At this point, he's Joey Gallo-lite with some stolen bases thrown in for good measure.

But that has a lot of value in today's game. More importantly perhaps, the exciting youngster with the fun name who is hitting moonshots has a lot of perceived value  If you're in a league that penalizes for strikeouts, Cordero might actually be a really good trade chip as the season progresses. Consider if the possibility that the 23-year-old is invited to the home run derby, which is realistic since tied for 22nd in baseball with 6 homers on the season despite having logged nearly half of the at-bats as his contemporaries. There's no reason a guy like that wouldn't command a hefty trade package, especially in dynasty or keeper leagues. Regardless of your strategy or long-term plans, Cordero should be owned in all leagues.