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The trade deadline has breathed new life into clubs looking to make a push for October and opened up opportunities for some players to let their games shine at a higher level.
Discussed in this article are six players that can be of handy use to fantasy baseball managers who are competing in deep leagues for Week 18 amid the chaos of the trade deadline fallout.
Editor’s Note: For other waiver wire options, check out RotoBaller’s fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups list. It's updated every single day. Our awesome writers bring you analysis on hot or emerging deep league options. You can also download our waiver wire iPhone app for free, and easily stay updated.
Deep League Adds
Brandon Finnegan (SP, CIN) - 1% owned in Fleaflicker leagues
After being sent to Cincinnati in the blockbuster Johnny Cueto deal from Kansas City, the Reds have decided to let Finnegan get his bearings as a starter at Triple-A before adding him to the budding young major league rotation. Brandon Finnegan is a good fit for any major league club. In 31 and one-third IP, Finnegan has a major league career ERA of 2.59, ERA+ of 158, FIP of 3.78, WHIP of 1.149, and K/9 of 8.9. Those numbers are roster worthy in deep leagues as they are, but even more so when it is considered how well Finnegan fits Great American Ballpark. With a career 1.42 GB/FB ratio and a career 2.47 GO/FO ratio, Finnegan is well suited to suppress the homer friendly confines of GABP. When Finnegan inevitably gets called up soon by the Reds, fantasy baseball managers should add him in deep leagues while he finally gets to contribute to more than the middle innings for arguably baseball's best bullpen.
Jeff Francoeur (OF, PHI) - 3% owned
Francoeur's XBH% of 10.2% is the highest it has been since the 2011 season and his HR% of 4.2% is the highest it has been since the 2006 season. In 204 AB so far in 2015, Francoeur has been a pleasant surprise for the woeful Phillies by producing nine HR, a .270 BA, a .772 OPS, and a 112 OPS+. Francoeur has been scorching with the bat lately: In the month of July Francoeur has a .962 OPS, in the last 28 days he has a 1.057 OPS, in the last 14 days he has a 1.395 OPS, and in total so far for the second half of the season Frenchy has a 1.574 OPS. Francoeur is especially producing against righties with a .865 OPS vs RHP. Francoeur is power hitting better than he has in nearly a decade and he is currently on a mad tear at the plate: fantasy baseball managers in deep/very deep leagues can't do better than Francoeur right now.
Justin Bour (1B, MIA) - 6% owned
With 10 doubles, 10 HR, a .260 BA, a .802 OPS, and a 120 OPS+ in the 2015 season, fantasy baseball managers should find Justin anything but Bouring. So why is he so widely available? His month of June probably turned a lot of people off to him, as he hit for only a .515 OPS after having OPS of 1.690 and .992 in April and May. Bour has since recovered by putting up a great OPS of .834 in July. Bour has been able to hit consistently for solid power against RHP this season with a .831 OPS and at home in Miami with a .862 OPS. With Michael Morse departed from the Marlins, the door is open just that much more for Bour to continue slugging with every AB. Bour may have had a rough June, but based on his performance in the surrounding months and in situations in which he appears most frequently (At home, against RHP), fantasy baseball managers in deep leagues should add Bour and wait for him to add to his impressive HR totals.
David Murphy (OF, LAA) - 4% owned
The Angels outfield may be a bit crowded, but that shouldn't keep the recently acquired Murphy from getting his more than fair share of AB and production. While Murphy won't be stealing playing time from Mike Trout or Kole Calhoun anytime soon, he is more than likely to receive playing time over also newly acquired outfielders Shane Victorino and David De Jesus who have total OPS on the season of only .606 and .687. On the season Murphy far out matches his platoon competitors with five HR, a .295 BA, a .775 OPS, a 113 OPS+, and a .825 OPS at home. Murphy also hits the ball off of both paws with a .768 OPS vs RHP and a .875 OPS vs LHP. The move to Anaheim should reward Murhpy's production more than it was rewarded in Cleveland. The Angels currently rank 12th in MLB with 431 runs while the Indians are back at 21st with 395 runs. Fantasy baseball managers in deep/very deep leagues can add Murphy to their rosters now with the confidence that Murphy will start to see more and more AB over Victorino and De Jesus.
Didi Gregorious (SS, NYY) - 7% owned
Gregorious has always been a slow starter and in this first season for the Yankees, he hasn't changed a bit. Gregorious got off to a horrendous start in the Bronx with an April OPS of .499, then stepped it up slowly but surely in May and June with OPS of .641 and .659 before taking a huge leap forward to hit for a .820 OPS in July. Gregorious has really been feeling it in the last couple of weeks: hitting for an OPS of .979 in the last 14 days, and an OPS of 1.328 in the last seven days to contribute to Gregorious's .936 OPS so far for the second half of the season. In deeper leagues, especially at shortstop, it can be a much better option for fantasy baseball managers to ride the hot hand. If Gregorious stays healthy and is able to show what he can do if he has an entire season to build upon himself, he can be a game changer for fantasy baseball managers in deep/very deep leagues.
Kevin Gausman (SP, BAL) - 9% owned
Dylan Bundy may have arguably been baseball's best prospect, but it is Kevin Gausman who is giving the Oriole fans what they want to see. So far in 2015 Gausman has a 4.20 ERA, a 4.04 FIP, a 1.230 WHIP, and 7.5 K/9. Gausman has been downright deadly inside Camden Yards, posting a 1.06 ERA and a 1.118 WHIP in outings at home. Gausman has really turned it up in the second half of the season with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.098 WHIP and in his last start; Gausman went seven and two-thirds IP, allowing zero ER, six hits, one walk, while producing five K. As long as Gausman remains in the Baltimore rotation, Gausman has a good chance to earn wins and receive run support, as the HR-happy Orioles are ninth in MLB with 440 runs in 2015. If fantasy baseball managers in deep/very deep leagues are looking for an up and coming starter with tremendous upside, Kevin Gausman is the guy. At the worst, he is still an obvious streamer play when pitching at home.
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