Steve Pearce (1B/2B/OF, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 36% of Fleaflicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: Now with his fifth team over 10 MLB seasons, Steve Pearce is hoping to make Tampa Bay his home. After playing sporadically at first base throughout April, Pearce has somewhat settled in at second base and is receiving more consistent playing time. Perhaps his .321/.403/.537 slash line has something to do with that. In addition, Pearce has eight homers and 21 RBI in 134 AB. Pearce has shown some promising trends by improving his HR/FB% to 15.1%, up from his career 9.8% average, and cutting down his strikeout rate by five points to 14.3%. If he continues to hit at this rate, he will easily eclipse his career high of 21 HR and 49 RBI. Expecting Pearce, a career .254 hitter, to keep up the high average might be asking a bit much though. In all, Pearce represents a good value at three different positions and can be an effective utility player on fantasy benches in leagues of 12 or more teams.