X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 16

Brady Grove's fantasy baseball middle infield targets for Week 16. Second basemen (2B) and shortstops (SS), for fantasy baseball owners to consider adding to their rosters in the midst of the 2019 MLB campaign.

After what seemed like an eternity without regular season play, we have finally returned to business as usual from a memorable All-Star break that saw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Peter Alonso capture the attention of millions around the world and the American League come out on top for the seventh year in a row (and the first game called by a robot umpire in the Atlantic League, if you're into those types of innovations). It's time to forget about all of the fanfare, festivities, and good vibes, because the (unofficial) second half of the 2019 MLB season is upon us, and that means that rosters will be rotating and rearranging at a chaotic pace through trades of all scales and sizes, cunning minor league contracts, and prospect call-ups. With so many changes of considerable impact looming across the league, getting the jump on your competition (who may have lulled themselves to sleep over the past week) could be the difference-maker in your postseason push.

As always, the second base and shortstop positions are notoriously lacking in waiver wire depth and are therefore quite fickle to navigate. Each week of the season, we are going to be taking a look at a slew middle infielders who are worthy of acquisition (or strong consideration at the very least) and are owned in less than 50% of Yahoo Leagues. Staying on top of the injury, roster, and statistical trends regarding the middle infield positions will ensure that your team has robust year-long depth and is ready if a crisis were to arise.

With that, let's have at it and take a look at a fresh batch of second base and shortstop waiver-wire targets for Week 16.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Pickups for Most Leagues

Rougned Odor (2B, TEX)

42% Owned

Rougned Odor has had the privilege of playing for the offensively robust Texas Rangers once again for the 2019 season, but he himself has only recently gotten his act together at the plate. Despite a solid power/speed mix of 13 home runs and seven stolen bases (on an inefficient 13 attempts), Odor has managed an unsightly slash over his 279 total AB this year of .194/.259/.398. That is all in the past though, because he has hit three bombs with a .242/.257/.606 slash over the last two weeks (33 AB). Although "El Tipo" already has a few seasons of serious power-hitting under his belt, he is still just 25 years old, and the numbers suggest that he is worth buying stock in moving forward for the owners that still have the opportunity.

As is blatantly apparent from his recent performance, Odor hasn't been taking many free trips to first base, and he continues to strikeout at a stratospheric clip (32.4% over the first half). The good news is that this hasn't detracted too heavily, because he has improved his hitting for average while sustaining his power-stroke through some fantastic contact on batted balls. He doesn't have a line drive rate ideal for reaching base frequently, but he held an air-heavy GB/FB ratio of 0.78 over the first half of the season, and he has been turning pitches back at a 16.8-degree launch angle.

His hard contact rate has also been on the rise steadily as the season trudges on while keeping soft contact controllable, and he ended the first half with a 41.5% hard contact rate and 14.8% soft contact rate, culminating in a 90.6 MPH exit velocity and 412-foot average home run distance. Even if he doesn't convert on a high percentage of stolen base attempts, he still racks them up with noticeable volume. That, along with an improved BA and his trusty ability to hit for power are solid cornerstones for a successful conclusion to 2019.

 

Freddy Galvis (2B/SS, TOR)

41% Owned

Over the past three seasons with the Phillies, Padres, and now Toronto Blue Jays, Freddy Galvis has been an absolute iron man in the infield, playing in a combined 412 games and taking 1,547 AB since the start of 2017 despite varying results on offense. He has always been pretty good in terms of power for a middle infielder, but he must've taken a liking to the hitter-friendly Rogers Centre, as he has already sent 15 pitches into the stands, stolen four bases in five tries, and hit for a slash of .267/.307/.460 in a team-leading 337 AB. He has kept the spark alive too, going for three home runs, a swiped bag, and a .353/.395/.765 slash over the last 34 AB.

Though he has walked at a better rate in his most recent hot-streak, Galvis has made his living this season despite a relatively low walk rate (5.6%) and high strikeout rate of 22.9%. His soft contact rate reached a peak in the month of June at 18.7%, but he has brought it down to a nearly nonexistent 3.6% so far in July, while his hard contact rate has gone up every month all the way from 32% in April to a concrete 39.3% this month.

His recent approach has been tailored for production across the board, as he has produced a GB/FB ratio of 0.69 so far in July (with 21.4% line drives), and on the year he has produced ideal figures for life in Toronto with a 44.5% pull rate and 14.6-degree launch angle. The Blue Jays have gotten way more than they expected from Freddy Galvis and fellow veteran Eric Sogard in 2019, and they may be looking to flip these two assets in further pursuit of a rebuild at the trade deadline to a squad searching for infield depth. His playing time could take a hit if that happens, but in his current role, don't let a hypothetical future make you miss out on the real results of his current work.

 

Kevin Newman (2B/SS, PIT)

40% Owned

After an uneventful April, Kevin Newman burst onto the scene with a home run, stolen base, and .894 OPS in 74 May AB, and followed it up with an excellent showing in 114 June AB with four homers, four steals, and a .316/.352/.491 slash. In the 33 AB since July kicked off, the pleasantly surprising rookie has slowed down a tad, posting one dinger, one steal, and a power-depleted slash of .303/.324/.394. There is however, a silver lining: Newman has the offensive and defensive characteristics to remain valuable even at times (like the present) of power outages.

Even for a guy who already struggles with hitting for extra bases and is swinging for a lackluster 25.8% hard contact on batted balls this month, Newman still holds a BABIP of .300 through this point in July (which is well below his first-half BABIP of .354). How is this possible, and more importantly, how is it sustainable? For one, his sprinting speed of 28.3 feet per second has allowed him to build up quite a track record of base-path thievery over his professional career (he has six steals in eight attempts this year), and has also assisted him in reaching base safely on batted balls.

In this month of July, he has given himself plenty of opportunities to turn and burn with a 25.8% line drive rate with just 9.8% soft contact being applied to liners on the year. His walk rate has been on the steady decline since the start of the year, but so has his strikeout rate, going from 16% in May to a meager 5.9% so far in July. Even with a high rate of grounders, this level of focus in the strike zone gives Kevin Newman the open window he needs to consistently reach base on hits, and accumulate steals in the process. There may be moving pieces in the Pittsburgh Pirates batting order, but with Newman seeing time at four different positions this season, he reads as a logical investment for the remainder of 2019.

 

Adam Frazier (2B/OF, PIT)

21% Owned

With four home runs, three stolen bases (in five attempts), and a .283/.337/.411 slash in 314 AB this season, Adam Frazier may appear to be balanced, but lacking too greatly in the overall power (31.8% hard contact and .127 ISO) and speed (27.1 feet per second in sprinting speed) departments to be worthy of a meaningful acquisition. That read may warrant another combing over, as Frazier has been absolutely unconscious at the plate since the start of July (34 AB) with eight XBH (one HR, seven doubles), a stolen base, and a dialed-in slash of .529/.556/.824 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has a very similar, and arguably better formula for consistent base-hitting than teammate Kevin Newman despite the differences in speed, and he has a great foundation for maintaining his current rate of doubles produced.

The former Mississippi State Bulldog has given himself a great scope of opportunity to continue and rake with a solid strikeout rate of 11.5% for the season, and though he often finds dirt as evidenced by his high grounder rate of 49.1%, he is finding the open outfield often with a 27.5% line drive rate and a 42.7% hard contact/6.7% soft contact split on liners for 2019.

He may not have an eyebrow-raising level of natural power or speed, but that isn't much to lose sleep over when he is able to avoid walking away from the plate empty handed and routinely blast the ball into the gaps for singles and doubles. There remains some competition for playing time in Pittsburgh, namely Colin Moran and Jung Ho Kang, but Adam Frazier's reliability and propensity for hard-hit line drives makes him a peace of mind asset moving closer to August.

 

For the Sneaky and Savvy

Luis Urias (2B, SD)

13% Owned

There was a minute scare this week when Luis Urias had to exit an AB for Triple-A El Paso due to an apparent injury, but a large breathe of relief can be breathed now that he has returned to the Chihuahuas lineup as of Sunday. Urias came into 2019 generally regarded as a top-30 prospect, and he has backed those accolades up this season by clobbering opposing pitchers at Triple-A to the tune of 18 home runs, seven stolen bases (in nine attempts), and a slash of .316/.400/.595 across 291 AB.

He has definitely struggled in his super brief stint for San Diego, and Ian Kinsler did all that he could to hold on to second base this season, but this call-up borders on inevitable. With the dominance that he is displaying at the highest level of minor league baseball, unless the Padres want to be aggressive deadline buyers, Luis Urias will get the chance to break through over the course of the second half.

 

Bo Bichette (SS, TOR)

12% Owned

As far as up and coming talent is concerned, Bo Bichette is the cream of the crop, and the Toronto Blue Jays seem to be quite eager to test his metal at the big league level. It may seem like a bit of a tight squeeze in the Jays batting order with different young-guns and veterans alike putting up solid offensive figures, but even if they weren't excited and determined to see Bichette in the Rogers Centre soon, they may also be clearing room in the infield with the deadline approaching (as teams have expressed interest in thriving vets Galvis and Sogard).

With his line of five home runs, 12 stolen bases (in 15 tries), and a .302/.364/.491 slash in his first 159 AB for Triple-A Buffalo, Toronto would consider parting the Red Sea for Bo Bichette with not a whole lot to lose or gain in proceeding forward with regular season play. He has had an absolutely golden touch with the bat since entering the professional ranks, and the ability to learn quickly and adapt to his environment could be a nice virtue once he does receive the call.

 

Nick Ahmed (SS, ARI)

6% Owned

With a 2018 Gold Glove distinction and combined defensive WAR of 4.9 over the past two seasons for Arizona, Nick Ahmed has well established himself as one of the top men around the league at the shortstop position. "Slick Nick" is well on his way to the best offensive campaign of his career as well with nine home runs, six stolen bases (in six tries thanks to more careful selection and his sprinting speed of 28 feet per second), and a balanced slash of .265/.315/.429 in 324 AB for the D-Backs.

Though he has produced varying (yet tolerable) figures in the categories of batted ball contact and plate discipline for the year, he has taken it up a notch this far into July with 50% hard contact, a meager 5.6% soft contact rate, a line drive frequency of 22.2%, and a 44.4% pull rate in hitter-friendly Chase Field. This formula has netted a superb .970 OPS with two homers and a steal across the last seven games, and with his glove making him a sure fixture on the field, Nick Ahmed is an astutely reliable and effective (not to mention widely available) option at shortstop proceeding into the final months of the season.

 

Just Checking In...

  • Owners throughout the ecosystem have bought in to what Chris Taylor is selling this season, as he is available in less than half of all leagues, and he has rewarded them for the most part with a consistent power/speed skill set applied in a top-tier batting order. He has however, been mediocre over the past two weeks, and the Dodgers are always strong candidates to bring in late-season help throughout the field. If he is at risk of losing AB, his value could wane down the stretch.
  • If you're still trying to buy stock in Cavan Biggio for the remainder of 2019, the time is running short, with his ownership rate hovering near the 50% point. While his batting average from week to week spans a wide range and the Blue Jays are by no means an elite offense, Biggio has kept the fire stoked with a healthy dose of homers and steals. It is unclear how Toronto is planning on managing the roster moving forward (though Galvis and Sogard are largely considered to be trade deadline commodities), but it is certainly a situation worth keeping an eye on.
  • As disappointed as fantasy baseball managers might be at Jed Lowrie's most recent setback (which means he is far removed from any sort of rehab effort), it probably doesn't touch how disappointed the New York Mets are at all the coin they wasted. Even so, with Lowrie missing the majority of 2019 with no comeback in clear sight, it at least makes the playing time situation less murky for the likely selling squad (although Amed Rosario, Todd Frazier, and especially Jeff McNeil would've erased all of those "difficult decisions" the Mets thought they would face early in the year).

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers


Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Corey Heim

Does Not Qualify for Cup Race at Chicago Street Course
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
Max Scherzer

Cleared to Start on Saturday
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Kodai Senga

Could be "in Play" to Return Before All-Star Break
Ha-Seong Kim

Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim From Injured List
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

a Likely Starter for the Vikings
Jacob Monk

Sees Plenty of Work With Starters
Avonte Maddox

has Impressed Dan Campbell
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Chicago Bears

Ruben Hyppolite Shows Notable Improvement
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Daron Payne

Commanders Coaches Impressed With Daron Payne
Danny Gray

Makes Impression During Offseason Workouts
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

Inks Four-Year Extension with Sabres
NAS

Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
LA

Cody Ceci Moves to Los Angeles
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Lands With Charlotte
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Milwaukee Bucks

Taurean Prince Staying in Milwaukee
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Daniel Suarez

and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
Charles Oliveira

Knocked Out At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF