1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 25

September 15, 2019

Kyle Bishop's fantasy baseball first base and third base waiver wire pickups for Week 25. Consider adding and streaming these free agent corner infield options.

With just two weeks remaining in the 2019 season, every move takes on added importance. The finish line is in view. It's quite literally now or never for those with title hopes.

In the final stretch, the waiver wire is your only avenue for reinforcements, and though you'll have fewer rivals to outmaneuver, those that remain are the cream of the crop. This column is designed to help you navigate these shark-infested waters.

As a reminder, our focus is on players who are below 50% owned in Yahoo leagues, and standard 5x5 scoring. Your mileage may vary, in terms of availability or league settings. Using that cutoff point for ownership rate, however, these are your corner infield waiver wire targets and adds for Week 25 of the 2019 fantasy baseball season.

Pickups for Shallow Leagues

Miguel Sano (1B/3B, MIN) — 49% Owned

Sano's ownership rate only just dipped back below 50% in the last day or two, likely in response to him missing the bulk of last week's action with a sore back. He's in the lineup again now, though, ready to continue what's been a resurgent campaign. The 26-year-old has hit 27 home runs and knocked in 61 in only 91 games this season. We know at this point that health issues are part and parcel of the Sano experience, but he's close to a must-own when healthy.

Tommy Edman (2B/3B/SS/OF, STL) — 39% Owned

Edman makes his second straight appearance in this space, because apparently being a major contributor in three categories and playing four positions isn't good enough. The Cardinals' Swiss Army Knife and occasional leadoff hitter has batted .314, scored 22 runs, and swiped five bags in the past month. He hasn't been a total zero in the power department either, having popped three homers in that span as well.

Nick Solak (2B/3B, TEX) — 28% Owned

If Solak had come up in April and hit the way he has, there would be considerably more hype around him. Fortunately for those of us still paying attention, he remains available to add in almost three-quarters of Yahoo leagues. In 23 games, the 24-year-old has hit an absurd .342/.453/.570 with four homers, 33 R+BI, and a stolen base. The best part? The most recent home run came on Thursday - off the pitcher the Rays traded him for. That's my kinda petty!

Pickups for Deeper Leagues

Jon Berti (2B/3B/SS/OF, MIA) — 22% Owned

His batting average has tanked lately, but Berti (a regular 'round these parts in the season's second half) continues to steal bases, score runs in bunches, and occasionally pop a pitch over the fence. That's helped him remain a top-100 player over the last 30 days, despite hitting a miserable .215 in that time.

Wilmer Flores (1B/2B/3B, ARI) — 11% Owned

He continues to be stuck in a rotation, but Flores has definitely produced like an everyday player of late. He's hit .390 with five homers in just 59 at-bats during the past month. Even if volume is your most pressing need, it could well be worth picking up Flores just to keep your competition from extracting the value there.

Albert Pujols (1B, LAA) — 11% Owned

He's a shadow of the fearsome slugger he once was, but Pujols still has a little life left in the bat. He's quietly been quite productive in the second half, hitting .273/.326/.475 with nine homers and 61 R+BI in 46 games. That dog will hunt in most leagues.

For Your Radar

Todd Frazier (3B, NYM) — 6% Owned

Much like with Pujols, just because Frazier is clearly beyond his heyday doesn't mean he can't still turn back the clock every so often. He has three homers and seven RBI in his last four games, and over the past 30 days has been the 124th ranked player in the 5x5 universe.

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