Waiver Wire Help
zubazpants@fantasybaseballgeeks.com
The following hitters are players who, if available on the waiver wire, could be of some benefit in the short term in mixed leagues. If you are looking for a disabled list replacement or looking to drop one of the many slow starters the following 4 hitters might be what you are looking for.
Ben Zobrist - Icon SMI
Gary Sheffield, OF New York Mets…If you need OF help, don’t forget about the dude with the nasty swing who’s back in NY. Delgado is out for a while (it took A-Rod 2 months to come back from this injury and Delgado is no A-Rod), and it looks like Sheff will be playing LF and probably DH while in AL parks (read: this weekend). He’s batting .380 over his last 7 games.
Mat Gamel, 3B Milwaukee Brewers…For those of you in keeper leagues I’m sure this guy is already butter on someone else’s toast, but if he’s floating out there in your league, he should get lots of playing time now that Weeks is down for the count and also with the Brew Crew headed to AL parks.
Ben Zobrist, SS/OF Tampa Bay Rays…Pat the Bat just went on the DL and this guy has been quite solid filling in all over the diamond. He might wind up with the Ryan Freel deal of eligibility everywhere and he hit 12 homers last year in just under 200 at bats.
Russell Branyan 1B/3B Seattle Mariners…He’s heating up again. Time to plug him in if you need CI help. He could go hot and cold all year like this and wind up as the AL version of Mark Reynolds.
If you play in an NL-only league I’m taking a look at what happens to Angel Pagan, after his 4-hit game Monday night. If Murphy/Church/Reed are going to play 1b, and Sheffield is the primary DH for interleague road games, he has a chance to pick up some PT.
And here are some pitchers who may be available in your leagues…
Rich Hill, SP Baltimore Orioles… With his 6 K debut for the O’s this past Saturday he is someone worth keeping an eye on. He’s got potential, but I’d be hesitant to start him against the tougher teams in the AL. But stash him for now before his next good outing when everyone will want to pick him up.
Andrew Miller, SP Florida Marlins…One of the Marlins highly touted prospects just came back a winner off the DL and could surprise some people as long as he keeps his walks down. I think he’ll play well against teams with a lot of lefties.
Chad Gaudin, SP, San Diego Padres…He had a fever and the only prescription is more Petco. He’s yet to pitch there this year but he can K guys and batters are only hitting .215 off him so far. Again the walks are a killer but if he can limit them, deeper leagues should take notice.
Frank Francisco, RP Texas Rangers…If anyone dropped him because he went on the DL, he should be back by this coming Friday and he was lights out before he got hurt. People might be scared away by the fact he pitches for Texas and that he threw a metal chair into the stands -WWE style- a few years back, but snatch him up if he was dropped.
If you have any waiver wire related questions, or just want to talk fantasy baseball you can email me at zubazpants@fantasybaseballgeeks.com
