Yangervis Solarte (1B / 2B / 3B, SD) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues (Injury Replacement)

OWNED IN: 12% of Fleaflicker leagues

ANALYSIS: The biggest complaint about the Padres' offseason was that they did nothing to improve a terrible infield, with only second sacker Jedd Gyorko showing any upside of the bunch. Gyorko and the Padres have failed, but Yangervis Solarte has been decent with a .266/.318/.416 triple slash line and seven bombs while playing all over the place. Can he do this for the rest of the year?

Yes! Solarte's BABIP is a lowish .286 on the season, so there is nothing unsustainable about his solid average. He also never strikes out (11.3% K rate, 6% SwStr%). His seven bombs (and 10 last year) make him a non-zero in the power categories even if his 6.9% HR/FB isn't great. As a short term fill in, he won't completely ruin your chances of victory - all you can really ask from an emergency pick up.

Used correctly, however, Solarte may be worth more than that as his splits are extremely fantasy friendly. First, he has a stark platoon split of of .280 with six HR against RHP against .212 with one bomb vs. LHP. There are more RHPs in the game, so select only his matchups against them. Next, he has hit all of his bombs on the road with a .279 average, producing just .250 with no power at Petco. He's not the first player stymied by Petco, so start him on the road. You like riding the hot hand? Solarte has a hot hand, producing a .282 average and two bombs in July and a .467 mark in the extremely limited August sample. You believe in clutch? Sabermetrics argue against the existence of a "clutch" skill, but Solarte is hitting .333 with RISP against .233 with no one on. Justin Turner did something similar as a New York Met, and now he's taking the league by storm.

Turner is likely asking too much, but this year's numbers alone yield a plus .280 average and a 15 HR pace if you limit his ABs to road games vs. RHP. Add in a disproportionate number of RBI, and you get a useful piece with a ton of versatility. This season, he has 27 appearances at 1B, 19 at 2B, and 44 at 3B - qualifying for all three spots in most fantasy leagues. Based on your league's criteria, Solarte may also be eligible at SS for appearing in 8 games there last season - a nice bonus. Seven appearances in LF last year are less exciting, but still exist.

Finally, he occupies favorable slots in the batting order more often than not, hitting second 33 times, 5th 32 times, and 1st 16 times. The Padres do not have a great offense, but they score enough that their top two batters can get a fair number of runs scored. Hitting fifth allows Solarte to pad his RBI total nicely. The total package lacks speed (1 SB), but is otherwise must own in NL only and deep mixed leagues. Daily leaguers can make the most of his splits, and he is a capable injury fill in at numerous positions. This guy needs to be owned in more than 12% of leagues.