RADIO
Getting Settled In
Now that the first few weeks have come and gone, where does your team stand? Need to replace an injured catcher? Looking for a reliable backup?
RotoBaller has you covered with analysis on three catchers who may be free agents in your league who you can target off the waiver wire in week 7 of fantasy baseball.
Editor’s Note: for other waiver wire options, check out RotoBaller’s fantasy baseball waiver wirepickups list. It’s updated every single day. Our awesome writers bring you analysis on hot or emerging NL-only options, and also all other fantasy positions. You can also download our waiver wire iPhone app for free, and easily stay updated.
Waiver Wire Adds for Catchers
Brian McCann, New York Yankees – Owned in 89% of Yahoo, 44% of FleaFlicker Leagues
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Formats
This week starts off with more of a friendly reminder that if some owner in you're league dropped Brian McCann, go get him ASAP. It's understandable that fantasy managers may get frustrated with a player's lack of production, but past performance has to weigh in as well. McCann has hit 20+ HR in eight of the last nine seasons, and still posted 18 in the one outlier. He's also well below his career slash line of .271/.341/.464 and the sabermetrics suggest he's due for improvement.
McCann has four homeruns on the year to go with his 15 runs, 21 RBI, and .237/.290/.398 slash line. So while he may not be producing at the level many expected him to, he is still contributing enough to be owned in all leagues at such a weak position. The New York Yankees are in the top third of nearly every offensive category, so the opportunities should continue to roll in for McCann.
Miguel Montero, Chicago Cubs – Owned in 40% of Yahoo, 23% of FleaFlicker Leagues
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Formats, All Two-Catcher Leagues
Miguel Montero has been an offensive force, hitting .313/.430/.500 with four home runs and 15 RBI in 80 at-bats. He doesn’t get the start when Jon Lester is on the mound, but should get the lion’s share of all other starts. And while the Cubs are hovering in the middle of almost all offensive categories compared to the rest of the league, Montero’s opportunities should continue to arise as all of their prospects come into their own.
According to his career numbers, Montero is a .265 hitter who is good for 10-20 bombs per year to go with his 60+ RBI, but he's on pace to possibly surpass those expectations. He has now hit safely in each of his last seven starts, and accrued two runs, one homerun, two RBI, and seven walks in that span. He's an insanely competitive player on a good, young team, and should finish out the season close to a top 10 catcher.
Francisco Cervelli, Pittsburgh Pirates – Owned in 5% of Yahoo, 6% of FleaFlicker Leagues
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Formats, Most Two-Catcher Leagues
Francisco Cervelli is one of the most underrated fantasy catchers in baseball, which can be a good thing for fantasy managers. If you need a solid backup catcher, or you're struggling at the position, Cervelli is the perfect man. His season slash line now sits at .290/.343/.360 which perfectly illustrates the type of fantasy impact you can expect. He'll hit for solid average, but won't help all that much in counting stats.
Cervelli currently is without a homerun, and has only racked up eight runs, nine RBI, and six walks. The Pirates are in the lower half of all offensive statistics, but batting sixth or seventh the majority of the time doesn't drastically hurt his chances as far as opportunities go. While he may not be a household name, he won't kill your teams batting average as a stop-gap solution or as a backup.
