RADIO
In this week's waiver wire installment, I will bring to your attention some young MLB players who have recently walked into some playing time, are making the most of it, and may be sleepers for deeper leagues like AL-Only formats depending on your league depth. It's important for us to constantly be looking to improve our teams off the waiver wire, so let's get to it.
I will also revisit a name that was not on most people's radars back when he earned a rotation spot out of spring training, but is proving to be a durable workhorse that is getting close to a strikeout per inning. I will also take a look at the players I recommended last week and give you an update on each. Good luck RotoBallers.
Liam Hendriks - SP, Blue Jays
Owned: 3% CBS, 1% Yahoo!
Liam Hendriks came over from the Twins in 2014, after having two pretty dismal stints in the Twins rotation in 2012, and 2013. He has been known to give up a lot of hits, but doesn't walk too many guys, and gets an average of four to six Ks per start. He has had some good luck so far in his two starts with the Jays, and has gone 11.2 IP, given up only 6 hits, and has struck out 8 since his call-up. He is pitching with a great defense behind him, and the team is on a roll offensively, so Hendriks could be a cheap source of wins going forward, but if it starts to go bad, he has been known to be a WHIP killer.
He got a nice standing ovation in his first start (see below), and got a gatorade bath from his teammates after the game, so this could be one of those examples of a guy playing above his ability because his relationship with this teammates elevates his play. He has a nice explosive fastball, and attacks the zone, so if he continues to get consistent defense behind him, he could go on a run. He is worth an add in AL only leagues, maybe even in deeper leagues, but hold off in standard leagues, as he is a couple solid starts away from being on the bubble. I will provide more input next week.
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Jesus Aguilar - 1B, Indians
Owned: 5% CBS, 0% Yahoo!
This Venezuelan prospect was among the game's highest rated prospects at first base heading into the season. He had a great winter, and has mashed at every level of the minor leagues. He really let's the ball travel and loves to drive the ball to right center field. He is right in line with many Venezuelan sluggers that take what the pitcher gives them, which should eventually lead to a high average to go along with his power and run producing potential. Terry Francona has been adamant that despite Jesus Aguilar's strong start at AAA (.286, 7 HR, 19 RBI, .889 OPS), he would not be called up unless an injury occurred. Carlos Santana has gone down with a knee injury for at least 15 days, and Aguilar was called up earlier in the week when Nyjer Morgan was also placed on the DL. Aguilar should see everyday at bats for the next couple of weeks while Santana heals.
This may be a year too early for this one dimensional prospect, but his time may have come. I profiled Aguilar in Spring Training here, and my estimate that he would be up by mid May has come true. I believe in his swing, not as much as I believed in Jose Abreu this spring, but I am buying regardless. He will be on all of my rosters this week, and probably next week, and is a no brainer in deep leagues, as well as in AL only leagues. You do not have time to wait, as he may only have 2 weeks of at bats, so go get him now.
C.J. Cron - DH/1B, Angels
Owned: 26% CBS, 5% Yahoo!
CJ Cron has the ability to hit the ball a long way, and is surrounded by elite talent in the Angels lineup. Being able to pick the brain of Albert Pujols since his call-up has paid dividends, as he has progressively gotten better to the point that his stats now look like this: .300, 3 HR, 9 RBI in 60 big league at bats. With injuries hampering owners at first base over the last couple of weeks, this former first round pick is probably hanging out on your waiver wire, and seems primed for everyday at bats for the long haul at DH. If you need an injury replacement in standard leagues, you could do a lot worse than Cron at first base, and in AL only/Deep leagues he should be added today. Take a look at the power he possesses in his first big league home run off of J.A. Happ below:
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Roenis Elias - SP, Mariners
Owned: 43% CBS, 11% Yahoo!
Roenis Elias is refusing to go away, as this guy was not supposed to open the season in the big leagues, but injuries have forced him into the Mariner rotation, and he is making the most of it. Now with "King" Felix Hernandez back to his dominant self, along with the return of Hisashi Iwakuma, the Mariners plan to slide James Paxton and Taijuan Walker into the rotation once they have rehabbed their injuries and that leaves Elias as the probable 5th starter for the rest of the year. His competition should come from Brandon Maurer, as well as Erasmo Ramirez. The Mariners probably figured to slot Ramirez into this backend role, but Elias is forcing their hand, gradually getting better. Through 65 big league innings in 2014, Elias has struck out 57 batters, and has a 4.02 ERA. His ERA was sitting in the mid 3.5's till he ran into the Angels in his last start, a team that is loaded with right handed hitting, and they roughed him up and raised his ERA a full half run.
The Cuban is good for at least 5 strikeouts per start, he has been limiting his walks, and has been getting batters to hit a lot of ground balls. He is a nice cheap source of strikeouts, and has been pitching deep enough into games to factor into decisions all season long. I am excited to watch this guy continue to develop as 2014 heads into the dog days of summer. It will be interesting to see if being around such a talented staff will keep pulling the best out of Elias. His trademark game up to this point was his 10 strikeout night against the Yankees earlier this month where he features a low to mid 90's heater, as well as two different breaking balls and a nice downward plane on his sinking fastball. Highlights below:
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Previous Waiver Wire Picks Update
Trevor Bauer currently sits at 80% CBS 33% Yahoo ownership, so he was dropped a bit after his two start week, and that is still too low. He got tagged as predicted on Sunday vs the Orioles, but still racked up his strikeouts and should be a great source of K's going forward. Scoop him up if available.
Gordon Beckham's ownership spiked to 42% on CBS up 9%, and went up 4% to 12% on Yahoo. Beckham has raised his average to .297, has continued to score runs, scoring 7 in the last 10 games, without Jose Abreu in the lineup. If you have a power packed lineup, with middle of the order types, Beckham could be your hidden gem for runs each week.
Grant Green is hitting close to .400, but is not getting consistent playing time now, as Kole Calhoun has returned, and the Angels are playing good baseball. He will probably play 3 games a week, so it is impossible to own him, but the hitting is for real, and if he starts to play more often, he is still worth an AL only pick up.
