Junior Lake (OF, CHC) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add In Deeper Mixed Leagues & NL Only Leagues

ANALYSIS: Please don't get your hopes of fantasy baseball glory all wrapped up in Junior Lake. Often described as a guy with a better baseball name than actual baseball tools, this former platoon outfielder has managed to take respectable advantage of the playing time the rebuilding Cubs are offering him. Theo Epstein is most likely either showcasing him for potential trade or just seeing if he has anything viable in the young Dominican. The bottom line is this: he's put up almost the exact same counting stats in 122 plate appearance as he did in 2013 in 254 plate appearances. Either this is linear development at the major league level, or just a small sample size fluke. Regardless of the season-long results, Mr. Lake is raking enough at the current moment to be viable in very deep mixed leagues that use 5 outfielders, and should be universally owned in NL Only leagues as well while he is receiving everyday at bats.