Welcome back to the Outfield Waiver Wire, where we look at the best outfielders available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. Consider this column your recommendations for Week 18 outfield waiver wire pickups.
We're past the halfway point of the season, but there are still plenty of guys who can help you floating around on the waiver wire. Not every move can be a blockbuster. Value is value, wherever you can find it. This column is designed to help you do just that.
Let's get down to business.
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Week 18 Outfield (OF) Waiver Wire Targets
Gerardo Parra, 1B/OF, Colorado Rockies (44% owned)
After a difficult first season in Denver, Parra was supposed to be buried on the depth chart. Instead, he’s hit .354/.376/.531 with eight home runs and 81 R+RBI in 64 games. As you can tell from that low number of games played, Parra hasn’t been an everyday presence in the Rockies lineup to this point. However, with Ian Desmond back on the disabled list, expect Parra to man left field on the daily for a while. He’s also been slotted into the cleanup spot in his last six starts.
Randal Grichuk, OF, St. Louis Cardinals (34%)
Since being recalled from the minors on June 25, Grichuk has hit .264/.302/.593 with nine homers. While his plate approach limits his ceiling as a hitter, Grichuk has shown the ability to rip off a few useful hot streaks every season. Now seems like a good time to grab him, and luckily for you, he’s available for free in two out of every three leagues at the moment. There aren’t many better options for pop on the waiver wire.
Bradley Zimmer, OF, Cleveland Indians (33%)
I’ve said this more than once already this season, but the lack of buzz around Zimmer has been baffling. The kid is hitting .279/.344/.451 with seven homers and 13 stolen bases in 14 attempts. What is he doing on the wire in so many leagues? Especially now that he’s finding himself penciled into the leadoff spot. There’s a lot to like about Zimmer, and it seems like nobody is talking about him. Folks certainly aren’t rostering him as much as they should be.
Manuel Margot, OF, San Diego Padres (19%)
Margot hasn’t been quite as good as Zimmer, but he’s come close. Missing about a month of action probably put a dent in his ownership rate, which is understandable. Still, a guy hitting .281/.321/.431 with eight homers and 11 steals in a little less than half a season’s worth of plate appearances should probably be getting a bit more love. Particularly when he’s been on fire recently. Since returning from the disabled list on June 27, Margot is hitting .320 and has stolen six bases in seven tries. He’s also hit home runs in three of his last five games.
Zack Granite, OF, Minnesota Twins (1%)
This recommendation is aimed strictly at deep and AL-only league owners, but if Granite keeps up his recent hot-hitting ways, he could be worth a look in less challenging formats. After going just 2-for-22 to open his major-league career, Granite had hit safely in nine straight games before an 0-for-5 performance on Sunday. The rookie has no pop in his bat, but he makes a ton of contact, shows a solid plate approach, and has the speed to be a factor on the base paths.
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