RADIO
There is a lot going on in the baseball world right now with the second half well underway and the trade deadline swiftly approaching. This year's deadline, scheduled for August 1, is a pivotal and highly anticipated moment in the MLB season.
It marks the final opportunity for teams to make significant roster changes before the postseason race intensifies. During this period, teams assess their strengths and weaknesses, strategizing to acquire the missing pieces that could propel them to playoff contention or even a World Series title.
On the other hand, struggling teams may look to trade away valuable assets in exchange for promising prospects, aiming to build for the future. The trade deadline often sparks frenzied activity as rumors swirl, and fans eagerly await the announcement of blockbuster deals. This deadline day can reshape the landscape of the league, bringing excitement, anticipation, and a sense of urgency for players, fans, and franchises alike. With all of that in mind, here are some first and third-base fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 18 -- July 24 through July 30.
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Waiver Wire Pickups For Shallow Leagues (30-50% rostered)
Jordan Westburg, 2B/3B/SS, Baltimore Orioles (34% rostered)
The start to Jordan Westburg's major league career hasn't been great, but it hasn't been flat-out terrible, either. The 24-year-old prospect has batted a respectable .262 and tallied six extra-base hits in the first 19 games of his rookie campaign with the first-place O's.
He's still looking for his first home run, though. With the upcoming series against the struggling Phillies and Yankees this week, he could be worth an add. Plus, with a lineup as talented as Baltimore's, he's bound to get hot at some point.
Josh Bell, 1B, Cleveland Guardians (36% rostered)
In Week 15 of this column, I listed Josh Bell as a potential pickup. At the time, this add may have seemed a bit perplexing. If you followed through on rostering the 30-year-old switch-hitter, it's started to pay off. Bell has finally begun doing what he does best: hitting homers.
He's slugged .640 and batted .360 across his last seven games for the Guardians. Cleveland will look for a three-game sweep of the Phillies on Sunday, during which Bell has gone 2-for-6 with a double, RBI, and a walk in the series.
Waiver Wire For Deeper Leagues (10-30% rostered)
Wilmer Flores, 1B/2B/3B, San Francisco Giants (26% rostered)
Wilmer Flores has been absolutely mashing for the Giants since the All-Star break. The 31-year-old has posted a whopping 1.506 OPS alongside three doubles, four home runs, and seven RBI in eight games. He's also been limited to just one strikeout in 24 at-bats in that span.
Per Sarah Langs on Twitter, Flores is the first Giants player with 8+ total bases in back-to-back games since Barry Bonds in April 2002. Unfortunately for San Francisco, they've dropped their last four games, but luckily still hold an NL Wild Card spot.
Alex Kirilloff, 1B/OF, Minnesota Twins (23% rostered)
Like Flores, Alex Kirilloff has taken off since the second half has gotten underway. He's slashed .313/.361/.813 with two doubles, a triple, four home runs, and 13 RBI in his last eight games for Minnesota.
The 25-year-old is tied for the league lead in homers since the All-Star break and has an OPS over 1.000 in July. He's helped lead the Twins to finally get above .500 in the NL Central, in which they hold a two-game lead over the Guardians for first place.
Patrick Wisdom, 1B/3B/OF, Chicago Cubs (19% rostered)
After putting up solid numbers in April, Patrick Wisdom was ice-cold in May and June before hitting the injured list on June 17. He returned to the Cubs on July 4 and has since caught fire at the plate. The 31-year-old third baseman has belted three homers, driven in six runs, and walked five times across his last seven games.
Wisdom ranks in the 95th percentile in max exit velocity, 96th in hard-hit%, and 99th in barrel % this season. His 17th homer of the year on July 18 came off the bat at 114.6 mph and traveled 431 feet. Wisdom rediscovering his power stroke could pay dividends for Chicago in the second half.
Deeper Waiver Wire Options to Consider (Under 10%)
Mike Moustakas, 1B/3B, Los Angeles Angels (2% rostered)
Mike Moustakas can't provide you with much at this point in his career, but if there's one thing he's still got, it's power. The veteran has hit three home runs in his last seven games for the Angels. Sure, his batting average and on-base percentage are abysmal, but he's slugging .517 and just may be worth an add while he's blasting homers.
More Players to Consider
- Jake Burger, 3B, Chicago White Sox (23% rostered)
- Triston Casas, 1B, Boston Red Sox (23% rostered)
- Kyle Farmer, 2B/3B/SS, Minnesota Twins (2% rostered)
- Jared Triolo, 3B/SS, Pittsburgh Pirates (1% rostered)
- David Fry, C/1B/OF, Cleveland Guardians (0% rostered)
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