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Deeper Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 17 (American League)

As the August 1st trade deadline approaches, the internet has been abuzz with all the rumors and whispers regarding which players could be on the move. These moves are particularly of interest to single-league owners, where trades potentially bring in new players to the waiver wire. Trades also create new opportunities for different players to receive the lion's share of playing time at a position suddenly empty.

Here are some players to consider claiming after the big ticket prizes are gone, all owned in 25% of Fleaflicker leagues or less.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller offers the best Premium MLB Subscription - only $1.99 per week. All the tools you need to help win your seasonal and daily leagues: Hitter & Pitcher Streamers, Matchup Ratings for every player, Under-the-Radar Surgers for AVG, HR, Ks, plus daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids. 

 

American League Waiver Wire Targets

Hitters

Justin Morneau (1B, CWS) - 1% Owned

In his first action since last year, first baseman Justin Morneau has been decent despite the time off. Back in the American League for the first time since 2013, he's hitting .233 with one home run and four RBI in 30 at-bats for the White Sox. That's not going to light the world on fire, but it's a start. Morneau revived his career in 2014 when he led the National League in batting average with a .319 mark, and was off to a .310 mark before injuries cut short his 2015. With him receiving starter's at-bats in the near future, he's a worthy bench stash investment at the very least.

Jake Smolinski (OF, OAK) - 4% Owned

Outfielder Jake Smolinski might be a bit long in the tooth to have a big breakthrough, but that could be what we are seeing. After failing to make any traction in the Majors in the years prior, he's hitting .317 with six home runs, 22 RBI and one stolen base in 120 at-bats this season. After hitting .248 with three home runs, 15 RBI and six stolen bases in 145 at-bats in Triple-A prior to his call-up, these results are a bit of a surprise. But with a .281 average, 21 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 620 career Triple-A at-bats, maybe Smolinski's just a late bloomer.

Jett Bandy (C, LAA) - 2% Owned

Rookie catcher Jett Bandy is making a case to be the Angels' starting catcher of the future. After following up a successful 2015 at Triple-A with more solid production there this year, he has continued to hit as a member of the big league club. Over 39 at-bats, he's hitting .308 with two home runs and six RBI as he splits time behind the plate with the .221-hitting Carlos Perez. With veteran Geovany Soto due back sometime in August, if Bandy can keep hitting, it won't be him who is shipped back to the minors, giving him serious two-catcher league appeal.

Delino DeShields (OF, TEX) - 13% Owned

After struggling out of the gate this season and getting himself demoted, outfielder Delino DeShields is back for a second try at sticking in the Rangers' outfield. In his first four games back, he's hitting .308 with one home run and one stolen base, which is a far cry from the .217 average he put up his first 30 games. DeShields was fairly useful as a fantasy player last season when he hit .261 with 10 triples, two home runs and 25 stolen bases, and that potential still exists. As one of the few speed options possibly still available to deep leaguers, he is a must-own to see if he returns to form.

Joey Gallo (3B/OF, TEX) - 23% Owned

Rookie Joey Gallo is getting his first taste of action with the Rangers this season as they look to fill the hole left by the recent injuries to Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo. Though he continues to struggle to hit for average, his big-time power keeps showing up right on cue as he leaves Triple-A with a .246 average and 19 home runs in 244 at-bats. After hitting barely hitting above .200 anywhere outside of Double-A last season, the chances of Gallo turning into another Chris Carter or John Singleton is decent. Whether that has value to you or not is negligible, but as one of the name's top prospects, he should be owned in any deep league he's still available in.

 

Pitchers

Matt Boyd (SP, DET) - 3% Owned

Starting pitcher Matt Boyd was a disaster during his first three attempts at sticking with the Tigers this year, going 0-2 with a 6.44 ERA in 29.1 innings. Fourth time though, things have been quite different. Since returning July 9th, the results have been the exact opposite, with him going 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA in 15.1 innings. He's still working on building his pitching count above 80, but if he can keep himself closer to the pitcher who has a 2.25 ERA in 64 Triple-A innings this year, he could help fantasy teams.

Tyler Skaggs (SP, LAA) - 24% Owned

On Tuesday, starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs made his first start since 2014, and did he ever look like the pitcher the Angels were hoping for when they traded for him back then. He held the Royals scoreless over seven innings, allowing only three hits and one walk, striking out five. As great as this outing was, Skaggs hasn't pitched in the Majors in well over a year and was more potential than production when he was injured, so keep expectations tempered. That said, he should provide a boost to pitching-depleted teams as he looks to builds towards a full season next year.

Darren O'Day (RP, BAL) - 19% Owned

Elite relief pitcher Darren O'Day quietly returned from the disabled list Sunday, immediately returning to fantasy gold. He pitched a perfect inning, striking out all three batters he faced to pick up the win. Though his season stats are rather pedestrian for a pitcher who hasn't had an ERA north of 2.00 since 2013, there is little reason to think O'Day won't spend the next two plus months pushing that ERA as low as he can.

Cam Bedrosian (RP, LAA) - 7% Owned

With many a club looking towards the bottom-dwellers for relief help at the trade deadline, Angels' closer Hudson Street has found his name among those floating around in the rumor mill. With those rumblings picking up steam, so have those regarding who would inherit his closer role. While Joe Smith seems like a logical choice based on experience, there is absolutely no denying that reliever Cam Bedrosian is the most deserving based on stats alone. On a team going nowhere, the Angels should look to the future and pass the torch to Bedrosian and his 0.97 ERA and 10.5 K/9 in 37 innings this season.

Dylan Bundy (SP, BAL) - 13% Owned

After making this list recently as a reliever, Dylan Bundy is now in the starting rotation and it was worth the wait. After a rough first start, his second outing was much better, as he gave up zero earned runs on five hits and zero walks over five innings, striking out five as he picked up the win. On Wednesday, he was no-hitting the Rockies for five innings before finally ceding three ER on two hits, while striking out eight. Once a top-three prospect, he has had to overcome injuries and growing pains to get to this point. Though he still has much to prove when it comes to fantasy value, Bundy's current 3-2 record with a 3.30 ERA and 8.0 K/9 are a good start.

 

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




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Neemias Queta

Won't Play Against Cleveland
Alex Caruso

Won't Suit Up Against Portland
Keon Coleman

Active for Week 13
Donovan Clingan

Sidelined on Sunday
Dalton Kincaid

Officially Inactive for Week 13
Kyren Williams

Returns in Week 13 After Injury Scare
Jarrett Allen

Won't Play Against Boston
Kristaps Porzingis

Still Under the Weather
LeBron James

Taking the Night Off on Sunday
Derrick White

Ruled Out on Sunday
Kyren Williams

Suffers Apparent Leg Injury in Week 13, Status Unclear
Woody Marks

Returns in Week 13 After Injury Scare
Sauce Gardner

Colts Rule Out Sauce Gardner With Knee Injury
Woody Marks

Questionable to Return With Foot Injury
Kyler Murray

Not Fully Healthy Yet
Keon Coleman

Expected to Play Against Steelers
Bucky Irving

Officially Back in Week 13
CFB

Lane Kiffin to be Introduced as LSU's Next Head Coach on Monday
Baker Mayfield

Starting on Sunday Against Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Returns in Week 13
Chris Olave

Officially Active for Week 13
Darren Waller

Officially Active on Sunday
Tyler Warren

Suiting Up in Week 13
Aaron Rodgers

Playing Through Multiple Wrist Fractures
Jayden Daniels

has a Chance to Return in Week 14
CFB

Florida Poised to Land Jon Sumrall as Next Head Coach
CFB

Alex Golesh Taking Over Auburn Head-Coaching Job
CFB

Arkansas Expected to Hire Ryan Silverfield as Next Head Coach
Tyler Warren

Expected to Play in Week 13
Jalen McMillan

Cleared to Practice
Aaron Rodgers

Set to Play on Sunday
Joel Hofer

Shuts Out Mammoth
Owen Tippett

Amasses Three Points in Saturday's Win
Stuart Skinner

Bounces Back With Shutout
Brock Nelson

Notches Four Points in Big Win
Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Sustains Upper-Body Injury
Logan Cooley

Hurt in Saturday's Loss
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Expected to Play in Week 13
P.J. Washington

Ruled Out Versus Clippers
Trae Young

"Progressing Well," Will be Re-Evaluated in Two Weeks
Isaiah Hartenstein

Sidelined a Minimum of 10-14 Days
Daniel Gafford

Resting Against Clippers
Jalen Duren

Won't Play Versus Miami
Warren Foegele

Not Ready to Return Saturday
Simon Benoit

Won't Play Saturday
Henri Jokiharju

Lands on Injured Reserve
Anthony Davis

Ruled Out on Saturday
Zack Wheeler

Likely to Return in May
Pavel Zacha

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Ryan Helsley

Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Orioles
David Pastrnak

Out for Second Consecutive Game
William Nylander

Available Saturday
Kyle Palmieri

Out for 6-8 Months With Torn ACL
Neemias Queta

Uncertain for Saturday's Game in Minnesota
Derrick White

Expected to Suit Up Versus Timberwolves
Jaylen Brown

Might Miss Saturday's Game
Jake Walman

Sidelined for Third Consecutive Game
Jack Roslovic

to Miss Two Weeks
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

to Return Saturday
Mattias Samuelsson

in Concussion Protocol
Kyle Palmieri

Sustains Lower-Body Injury
Lukas Dostal

Ruled Out for 2-3 Weeks
Anthony Davis

Available, Will be on a Minutes Restriction
Kyshawn George

Returns to Lineup After One-Game Absence
Paul George

Set To Start Friday Against Nets
Kevin Huerter

Set to Return Against Charlotte
Jarrett Allen

Back in Action on Friday
Kirill Marchenko

Misses Third Straight Game
Jaden Schwartz

to Miss Six Weeks
Dylan Cease

Agrees With Blue Jays on Seven-Year, $210 Million Deal
Anthony Rendon

Angels Could Buy Out Final Year of Anthony Rendon's Contract
Josh Hader

Says his Shoulder is "Back to Normal"
Ketel Marte

Diamondbacks "Actively Listening" on Ketel Marte
J.T. Realmuto

Red Sox Showing Interest in J.T. Realmuto
Sonny Gray

Red Sox Acquire Sonny Gray From the Cardinals
CFB

Jeremiah Smith, Makai Lemon, Skyler Bell Named Biletnikoff Award Finalists
Shohei Ohtani

to Play for Team Japan in 2026 World Baseball Classic

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP