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Ildemaro Vargas Carries Waiver-Wire Appeal Amidst Red-Hot Start to 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks utility man Ildemaro Vargas has been one of the biggest surprise success stories of the 2026 season so far, hitting .351/.368/.649 with five home runs, 16 RBI, and 15 runs scored across 77 plate appearances. The 34-year-old has worked his way into everyday playing time with Diamondbacks first basemen Pavin Smith (elbow) and Carlos Santana (thigh) both currently on the injured list. Vargas has spent the majority of his MLB career to this point in a utility role, including his 38-game stint with Arizona in 2025. His .350 batting average on balls in play is likely to regress to his career average of .271 over a larger sample, and his 7.6% barrel rate does not support a full-scale power breakout. Still, Vargas is taking advantage of his opportunity with the Diamondbacks and should not be ignored as a potential waiver-wire target for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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