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For owners trapped in deep leagues, these waiver wire articles can be frustrating at times. Oh, I should pick up Michael Conforto in my league? Thanks for the advice! Even for owners in leagues with generally savvy owners, many waiver wire options (even those owned in 40% of leagues or less) are simply not options.
Fortunately for you, there plenty of players poised to make an immediate impact who are dwelling on most waiver wires, even in the deepest of leagues. Of course, there's no one hiding on the wire ready to fill the void left by Dee Gordon's suspension. However, his real life replacement is available and he's been swinging the bat pretty well this year. This week, we'll take a look at five guys who are owned in less than 20% of leagues. These guys will not put your team on their back. Maybe they will help tip the scales in this week's matchup and earn your squad another W.
Week 5 Outfield Targets
Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins
Owned in 19% of Fleaflicker Leagues
No one is here to suggest Marcell Ozuna will repeat his stellar 2014 performance, a campaign in which the Dominican outfielder hit 23 home runs with a .269/.317/.455 slash line. In all likelihood, the real Ozuna is best represented by his disappointing follow-up season in 2015, where his HR and RBI totals were cut in half. Unfortunately, 2016 Ozuna has been even worse, as he is off to a terrible start at the plate along with the rest of Miami's roster. His .227 BA and .292 OBP are both career low points for the month of April and a 23:8 K:BB ratio is less than inspiring.
So, why should we pick this guy up again? Even a struggling Ozuna can be a worthy asset in most league formats. Despite the trouble reaching base, Ozuna has posted a .432 slugging percentage with 38 total bases (including four home runs, two doubles and two triples) across 88 at bats. Both of those figures rank in the top-40 among qualified MLB outfielders. It would be astonishing if his average stays this low. Even with a handful of truly putrid slumps in his young career, Ozuna holds a career .262/.310/.417 line. If he can regress back to those numbers while keeping the power alive (on pace for 29 HR at this rate) Ozuna can be a formidable addition for owners looking to plug the last hole in their outfield lineup.
Michael Saunders, Toronto Blue Jays
Owned in 15% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Michael Saunders is off to a terrific start with the Toronto Blue Jays with a .304/.382/.557 triple slash line along with four homers in just 79 at bats. The reason behind those mere 79 at bats is Saunders' prolific injury history, which has reduced him to 78 games in 2014 and just nine games a year ago. Once you wrap your mind around that, there's little to dislike about Saunders. Well, that's not completely honest either. In 2012 and 2013, the outfielder's last two healthy seasons, Saunders left behind a disappointing .242 BA in 271 games with a 250:97 K:BB ratio. Healthy or not, Saunders does not have a great reputation for consistency.
What do we do with inconsistent sluggers? We pick them up and ride out the hot streak. Apparently, part of the coaching staff's program to keep Saunders injury-free is to hold him from playing on the artificial turf at Toronto's Rogers Centre. Although that should really restrict his playing time, Saunders has started the last five games and his strong play should earn him regular field time, even if it comes at DH. After such a productive April, there is no reason the Canadian outfielder should be so lightly owned. The 29 year-old is top-10 among qualified outfielders in slugging percentage and OPS in 2016. The cost of maintenance is high, as owners will be forced to constantly swap Saunders in and out of starting lineups. So far, he has proven to be worth that price.
Seth Smith, Seattle Mariners
Owned in 8% of Fleaflicker Leagues
This hurts me more than it hurts you. Consistent disappointment and perennial "must-avoid" player Seth Smith has actually been off to a nice start in 2016, signified by his .292/.413/.508 line and his four home runs. Even more surprisingly, Smith has played in all but one of the Mariners games thus far despite initial reports that he would sit out against left-handed pitching. Due mostly to luck, Seattle has only faced a handful of lefties thus far. That's certainly good luck for Smith, who boasts a career .203/.284/.313 line against lefties and has zero hits against them this year. Against righties it's a different story. Smith holds a respectable .275/.358/.479 average in the better half of the platoon. No one is suggesting Smith will light the world on fire this year. When facing right-handed pitching, he can swing with the best of them. No, not the best of them; still, good enough to warrant owning.
Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians
Owned in 7% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Shockingly, a 37 year-old Juan Uribe is not panning out as an everyday third base starter for the Cleveland Indians. That has provided an opening for the 23 year-old Jose Ramirez to earn regular playing time. He had previously been the starting left fielder, but that opening has reverted back to a healthy Michael Brantley. The main appeal of Ramirez is his multi-positional eligibility, as he qualifies as an OF, SS, 2B and 3B. The young utility man has been steadily improving his plate approach through the first few years of his career, as his K% has dropped gradually and his batting average has climbed. At this point in 2016, Ramirez is swatting .295/.328/.410 with a stolen base, a home run and four doubles. His ceiling may not be enormously high, but Ramirez may be able to plug some crucial holes in desperate owners' lineups as he should continue to see playing time throughout the infield if his strong hitting continues.
Derek Dietrich, Miami Marlins
Owned in 5% of Fleaflicker Leagues
In the wake of Dee Gordon's shocking suspension, owners can find a suitable replacement in fourth-year pro Derek Dietrich. Well, he won't come anywhere near replacing a PED-guzzling batting champ. Still, Dietrich has worked towards a strong start to the season, shown by his .325/.426/.650 line to go along with two dingers, three doubles and two triples. Make no mistake, this production cannot be sustained for much longer. Even still, Dietrich has the opportunity to produce some big numbers after being handed the leadoff job in Miami. The only real threats behind him are a 40 year-old Ichiro Suzuki and Miguel Rojas, who may absorb some at bats against lefties. This is Dietrich's job to lose. At just 5% owned, Dietrich should be given a strong look in most league formats. He is eligible at 2B, 3B and OF.
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