RADIO
We have completed another week of MLB action, and we have experienced more injuries, and most teams need more and more replacements. Not just injuries this past week, but one of the craziest trade deadlines we have ever seen. There are even more job opportunities with so many moving parts, and playing time opens up around baseball. The Nationals and Cubs sold their entire teams, which means we could see players like Ian Happ and Victor Robles gaining regular playing time again. Players like Joey Gallo going to the Yankees could impact someone else's playing time. Even the Braves who have traded for four different outfielders in Joc Pederson, Adam Duvall, Eddie Rosario, and Jorge Soler, meaning platoons could be in play. Paying attention to lineups this weekend could be more important than ever, and we will try and get you set up the best we can for the weekend's FAAB action.
Some outfielders would be better suited to stream for a hot bat. Others need to be replaced just because they are no longer on the field (IL). Unfortunately, that is a situation that affects many managers. You can do nothing except finding a suitable replacement as quickly as possible or risk losing valuable counting stats. This week's article will focus more on deeper league adds or even players to take fliers on as we head into the second half of the season. If you have questions about other players, always feel free to ask me on Twitter. This article will discuss waiver wire targets for the outfield in Week 19, August 2 through August 8.
In the first few weeks, rostered percentages can change quickly. So be quick to check your leagues for their availability. When you want to chat it up regarding outfielders, prospects, or dynasty leagues, message me directly on Twitter @bdentrek. Key points - this list will focus on players who are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo! leagues.
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Daulton Varsho, Arizona Diamondbacks
43% Rostered
I wrote about Varsho last week, and I would like to applaud many for adding Varsho and increasing his roster rate by over 30%. That was one of the bigger leaps this season for a lowly rostered player I wrote about. But, it also paid off for those that took that chance, as Varsho has absolutely raked for your teams and the Diamondbacks.
Varsho has hit safely in eight of his last nine games while playing some catcher and center field. He is hitting .400 over that stretch with seven extra-base hits and four home runs. He has a .500 ISO to go with a 1.386 OPS, thanks in large part to an impressive 14.3% walk rate. Varsho is doing a little bit of everything over the last nine games, well, everything but stealing bases.
Varsho has the ability to steal bases, as that was one of the major appeals of Varsho coming into the season. At worse, he will be a really nice four-category contributor for your fantasy teams for the rest of the season. He should continue to play regularly with quality production at the plate, but I have to spread a word of caution. The DBacks did not make many trades weirdly enough, and Ketel Marte was just activated from the IL. If Varsho begins to struggle, the DBacks could do something dumb and mess with Varsho's playing time once again. For now, he will play, and that means you plugin and enjoy Varsho in all your fantasy lineups, especially with that catcher eligibility.
Myles Straw, Cleveland Guardians
35% Rostered
Straw is one of the many players that should benefit from the wild trade deadline. Straw was playing pretty much every day for the Astros, but now a member of the Guardians, Straw should play every day. In his first game with the Guardians, he led off in his first game, increasing Straw's fantasy value in an even bigger way.
Straw was already having a productive season for the Astros, and he heads into Sunday hitting safely in seven of his last nine games. He only hit .250 with no power, but we did not add Straw for his power. He has scored five runs over his last nine games, and that could potentially go up even more as he may be the new leadoff hitter for the Guardians. What you did add Straw for is hit speed, and he has added four stolen bases over this stretch.
Straw is a team-dependent move that any 12-team or deeper league team that needs speed should make. The Guardians will still score their fair share of runs that will help Straw, but he is strictly a steals move. The rest of season projections have him scoring another 25 or so runs and stealing another 10+ bases. That will play nicely for teams the last two months of the season. Move Straw near the top of your lists if you are in major need of speed. Side note, a non-outfield move, but another speed move from the Guardians would be a stash of Andres Gimenez.
LaMonte Wade Jr., San Francisco Giants
16% Rostered
Another word of caution before we get started is the addition of Kris Bryant, and some with players like Brandon Belt returning soon from the IL could mess with Wade's future playing time. Though Wade shall play and has played great for now, there should be quality production for the coming weeks.
Since the all-star break, Wade has only hit safely in nine of 15 games, but when he hits, he HITS. Wade is hitting .286 over the 15 game stretch with 11 extra-base hits, including six home runs. In addition, wade has a .571 ISO to go with a 1.205 OPS. Wade leads off for the Giants and sets the table for one of the best offenses in baseball, bringing insane fantasy value.
Again, Wade's future playing time may be in question as the Giants have an embarrassment of riches for once. For this week, though, Wade is a great addition. The Giants play seven games and face five RHP. Sure Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes are in that five pack, but he will still be playing. Wade is a strong add in deep leagues and even has 12-team viability this week.
Brian Anderson, Miami Marlins
15% Rostered
Stop reading, go to your waiver wire, and add Anderson. That should be the end of this discussion, but I will add more. With most players, I discuss in this weekly column, they are surprise players that have gained playing time and produced. That is not completely the case with Anderson. Anderson was actually drafted in most leagues, especially deeper leagues. That makes him a strong addition for me since the expectations and talent levels were already quite known.
Anderson returned from the IL in recent days and started producing those who trusted him before the season even started. He has hit safely in all six games since he returned from the IL for a .348 average. Anderson has also thrown in two home runs to go with an 11.1% walk rate. Anderson is doing a little bit of everything with his .261 ISO and 1.053 OPS.
Anderson has been hitting in the middle of the lineup since his return, and with the departure of Starling Marte and Garrett Cooper's season-ending early, that should continue. The rest of season predictions show Anderson hitting seven more home runs, helping in runs and RBI while also adding a few steals. He is a must-add in deep leagues for those teams that need a consistent player the rest of the season, whereas other moves may be extremely streaky.
Tyrone Taylor, Milwaukee Brewers
8% Rostered
The Brewers' outfield has begun to get crowded with Lorenzo Cain's return and will worsen whenever Christian Yellich returns from the IL. Regardless it is hard to ignore the production of Taylor, and the Brewers appear to have noticed as well. He continues to play and hit fifth or sixth most days, even with the return of Cain. A lot of that has to do with the disappointment that has been Jackie Bradley Jr's season. Taylor is playing nearly every day, which makes him a nice add in deeper leagues.
Over his last 11 games, he has hit safely in eight games for a .405 average. He has six extra-base hits, including two home runs. He has a .297 ISO with a 1.179 OPS. Taylor's plate discipline has been outstanding, as well as he is walking 11.9% of the time while only striking out 11.9%. Taylor is doing it all, including scoring 11 runs while driving in 10. The only thing Taylor is not helping with is steals.
Taylor is another deep league add for now. Hopefully, the playing time stays strong, but there are bats potentially in the way. For now, it is hard for the Brewers to sit Taylor with his current production, JBJ's lack of production, and the Brewers' playoff push.
More Deeper League Options
Here are a couple of other really nice deep league adds or players to keep an eye on - Gregory Polanco (PIT, 6%), Brent Rooker (MIN, 1%), Rafael Ortega (CHC, 1%). There will be many more as the dust settles after this crazy trade deadline. I will discuss many of these talented fantasy outfielders in the coming weeks. If you have any immediate questions, always feel free to reach out on Twitter.
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