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

Digger Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 19

Read about deeper fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers for AL-Only leagues. Jon Denzler identifies players to target, pickup, or stash for week 19.

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to take advantage of breakouts or impact bats before others sure can.

The primary challenge of playing in an NL or AL-only league is often the lack of options regarding adding and subtracting players when needed. In mixed leagues, the players on the waiver wire are usually starting for an NL-only staff. So then how does one wade through the names of players that even regular fantasy players have never heard of, and that often will not even start for their teams to begin with? That is where this series comes in.

Instead of owners spending time digging the waiver wire for 0% owned players, this article will give owners a player at each position to fill the gap, or at the least, keep an eye on to add or stash. Not all of these players will replace that injury, but offer the best option off the scrap heap. Often the players advocated for here are long shots due to the nature of shallow leagues. No quick fixes, but some upside that could turn into much more. Now, onto the AL version of the Island of Misfit Fantasy Toys. Note, all FAAB recommendations are based on a $1000 budget.

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

 

C - Martin Maldonado (C, HOU)

1% owned, FAAB $8

As the dust had settled on deadline day, Maldonado was back in a familiar place. After being added to the roster for the playoff push last year, Maldonado is now back on a team that values his defense. At least, they had better, with a career .219 career batting line. Still, with Robinson Chirinos being a bit of an issue behind the plate at times this year, it would not be a surprise to see Maldonado earn the starting role. With the rest of the team able to carry the bat, defense will lead to playing time behind the plate.

The direct fantasy value from Maldonado comes with his run-scoring rate. Even with a .291 OBP this year, the backstop has scored 32 runs. Right now this has him 14th at the position and the best line of those without a firm starting role. The thing to consider is that most of his runs and opportunities to create runs came as a member of the Royals. This means that when Houston is one of the better teams, and he has been playable on a struggling team, the floor will only move up. Expect the batting line to stay the same, or improve as he sees more pitches, but the value comes from scoring runs.

 

1B - Mike Ford (1B, NYY)

1% owned, FAAB $11

The first of a few Yankees to make the list this week, Ford is one of the emerging options for the team this year. While not listed as one of the top prospects in the system, Ford has been able to take advantage of injuries to earn playing time at first. With Greg Bird, Luke Voit, and Edwin Encarnacion all expected to miss substantial time; Ford will be the biggest beneficiary. While listed on Roster Resource as the DH, expect him to play most of the time in the field with an average glove. Even more, with the polish of playing in the minors for a while, Ford is not expected to need much time to ramp up to his floor.

While up due to the roster crunch, Ford was also enjoying his best professional season at the plate. In 79 games at Triple-A, Ford was slashing .303/.401/.605 with 23 homers. The most significant improvement has come in terms of his walk rate. Last year, Ford only walked 9% of the time. This year that number is up to 14%. When the power has never been in question, and Ford is adding to his batter’s eye, the profile will only be on the rise with the injuries that are killing this team. At the very least, Yankee Stadium will give me a good floor for homers.

 

2B - Breyvic Valera (2B, NYY)

0% owned, FAAB $4

It seems that every time the Yankees are playing on my TV some player is getting carted off the field or pulled due to an injury. With a staggering $120+ million in contract value on the Injured List at points this year, New York has somehow found a way to stick in this race. With the emergence of Giovanni Urshela and Mike Tauchman, this team has found pieces to plug-in. While Valera is not in that class, and is not an offensive force, with the run of injuries continuing, his role on the team in clear.

With four starts in the past week, Valera has been the primary replacement for Gleyber Torres at second. While only eligible there this week in fantasy, in the past, he has played all around the infield. This means that owners can expect him to add short or second by the end of the year as well. A career .220 hitter, Valera has pushed his line up to .235 in a small sample since joining New York this year. With an xBA of .240, owners should be buying low while they can, and expect the rate to at least trend up. With one more injury, or if Torres has to miss extended time, Valera is the starting second baseman on one of the better offensive teams in the game. That at the very least, makes him an upside MI in mixed leagues.

 

3B - Harold Castro (2B/3B/OF, DET)

1% owned, FAAB $17 

After playing in a total of six games for the Tiger last year, Castro has appeared in 55 already this campaign. While listed as an infielder and outfielder on the depth chart, Casto has played most of his time at first and third. This means that Castro might lose third base entering 2020, but he still fits there for the rest of 2019. Still, Castro has been hitting in the middle of the order, and is young enough to have a place on this team when they are competitive in future campaigns. For now, expect him to fall to the long side of a platoon, but still, get four or five games a week.

The production at the plate has also been there for Castro this year. In his 55 games, Castro is slashing .282/.299/.374 with two homers and three steals. While the counting stats are down from a starting role, with the platoon, expect to see more power. Castro slugs .419 when facing righties, and this drops to .171 versus same-handed pitchers. He also has a much higher strikeout rate when not in the platoon, so the current role fits best for him. While not a starter every day, the playing time is there, and with the platoon splits, a daily loves league is perfect for Castro.

 

SS - Ryan Mountcastle (SS, BAL)

0% owned, FAAB $18

Entering the year as the fourth-best prospect in the Orioles’ system, Mountcastle is one of the future building blocks for this team. While he might not get the call until rosters expand, with his year so far there is nothing left for him to prove. Through 103 games, Mountcastle is slashing .315/.343/.516 with 19 homers and two steals. While the power numbers are up across the level, Mounstaclse has shown a 15-homer year to be his floor. While the power pump is passing him a bit, there is still enough to count on some upside in the Majors.

The other reason to add Mouncastle sooner rather than later is the success of his move to short. Listed as a corner bat most of his career, the fact that Mountcastle has adapted to the harder position speaks to his athleticism. Secondly, Richie Martin will be on the team the rest of the way due to his Rule-5 status, but with a sub-.200 batting line, there is no reason to starter him with relevant alternatives. All upside with this pick and owners might have to wait for the impact, but this is the name to add before others find out.

 

OF - Travis Demeritte (OF, DET)

1% owned, FAAB $14

Added to the Tiger’s system in the Shane Greene deal, Demeritte appeared on out Triple-A lists two weeks ago. At the time, he was having one of the best offensive seasons of any Atlanta prospect, and now with a move, has no blocks for playing time. Since the move, Demeritte was immediately called up to Detroit and has split time in left and right field. Batting sixth or seventh shows what the team thinks of his power, and the numbers support an emerging fantasy star.

In 96 games at Triple-A, Demeritte had been slashing .287/.387/.558 with 20 homers and four steals. While, like others on this list, the power numbers are a bit inflated, the same ball should allow for some success this year as well. In his first 30 plate appearances with the Tigers, Demeritte recorded five hits, but also stole two bags. Sprint speed numbers put him in the top 20% of the league, so there is a fantasy bump that can come with extra chances to run. While the impact might be limited this year, as he seeks to adjust while playing for a lousy team, the skills are there for a great run into the offseason.

 

OF - Tyler Naquin (OF, CLE)

3% owned, FAAB $14 

With the additions of Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes, there is a bit of a squeeze in the Cleveland outfield. And yet, with Jordan Luplow headed to the Injured List, and Greg Allen recalled, Naquin is the clear starter in left for now. While there will be platoon moves that could limit full starting time, Naquin has played well enough that the team has plugged him into the roster when they could. Even more, with an improving glove, and the ability to play in left as well, Naquin is critical for the team to build match-ups in their favor.

In 71 games, Naquin is slashing .284/.315/.482 with nine homers and four steals. Not only is this an across-the-board improvement on his career lines, but this is also coming without protection from lefties. In fact, Naquin is batting .280 versus left-handed pitchers, up 100 from his career average. Even more, Naquin has always hit the ball hard, but this year he has doubled his launch angle. All signs point to regular playing time and a hitter who can flat hit.

 

OF - Derek Fisher (OF, TOR)

1% owned, FAAB $9

While the player he was traded for will appear below, Fisher’s move to Toronto might end up being the most impactful of those at the deadline. Always considered a good outfield prospect, there was no room for Fischer on a crowded Astros roster. The minor league numbers have been great, with a .279/.374/.486 slash over 505 total games. And yet, his production with Houston was not there. Over 11 games, he has only managed to hit .200 when up in the Bigs.

Fantasy owners can look past the early returns, and look to the direct playing time opportunity that he has. While listed on the bench, Fisher has played in four games this past week and played in every outfield spot. If he can emerge as an OF4 for this team, based on the sound defensive metrics, then the park will help push up his power numbers. When Rogers Center is the best place for home runs this year, and this is the piece that Fisher has yet to find in the Bigs, owners can throw this dart and hope for a quick return.

 

SP - Zack Godley (SP, TOR)

13% owned, FAAB $19

While the 13% ownership rate is a bit high for the list, this does not appear to be an accurate number. For one, when there has not been a steep drop after his DFAing, there might be some lag in terms of drops processing. At the very least, with the year he has been having, there is no way that 13% of owners have held him for this long. Even more, assuming that Goldey is just now being added to Al-only formats, there is no reason to think he has been held to this point in those leagues. Whatever the case, Godley is back on a team, and looks to at least have an audition for next year.

The red flags that will scare most owners away are all tied to the park factors. So far in 2019, Godley has allowed 12 homers in 76 innings, which puts him near the top of the league. And yet, the issue for Godley has not been homers, but instead, runners on base. With a walk rate that is three points higher than his 2017 breakout year, Godley is allowing more runners to score via the long ball. When looking to walk numbers, Chase Field has a .980 factor, and Rogers Center has a .943 mark. While Godley will still give up homers, as will every starter, the key will be minimizing damage. If that is the case, Godley is a definite add, with a chance to return to form in a better environment for his skills.

 

RP - Joe Biagini (RP, HOU)

3% owned, FAAB $12 

While not the most significant addition in the deal between Houston and Toronto last week, Biagini will only see his fantasy value climb after this move. For one, the team offers him a real chance to earn some wins in late-inning roles, and also, will have a better context around him to support underlying value. To begin his career in Houston, Biagini has been used in a middle-relief role, but also seem to be the first arm that will turn to in crucial innings. In this role, spelling starters earlier in games, and even with longer outings later in the game, Biagini is primed for wins and holds galore.

To date, in 52 games and 53 innings, Biagini has an ERA of 3.74. While he has already walked as many batters as he did all of last year, Biagini has also seen his WHIP drop from 1.43 to 1.38. While not a steep decline, this does show that there have been fewer hits for Biagini to deal with this year. No path to saves from the start but holds and ratios are the key plays with Biagini. With more than a strikeout per innings, the counting lines will also be there, and make Biagini the best option on the wire.

 

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

Will Smith

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contract Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Brock Bowers

Officially Questionable for Monday Night
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Players Roster Kyle Busch At Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. too Risky to Consider Rostering At Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Consistent Enough to Advance in Playoffs, but Probably Won't Factor for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12 but Might Be Able to Do It
Ross Chastain

Has Never Led at Bristol, but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
Ryan Preece

Seems Slower on Concrete Than on Asphalt
NASCAR

Legacy Motor Club's Short Track Speed Will Likely Hold John H. Nemechek Back
Erik Jones

Definitely Faster This Year, but Short Tracks Still a Liability
Daniel Suarez

Despite Poor Qualifying Run, Daniel Suarez Might Not Be a Great Choice for Place Differential Points
Noah Gragson

Unlikely to Be Fast at Bristol but Still Might Be Worth Considering for DFS
Tarik Skubal

Avoids Serious Injury, Expected to Make Next Start
Xavier Worthy

Officially Ruled Out for Week 2
Austin Ekeler

Suffers Torn Achilles
Quinshon Judkins

Expected to Play Against Ravens
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
Kyle Larson

Can Kyle Larson Dominate at Bristol Again?
Denny Hamlin

One of the Best at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

All Eyes on Ryan Blaney at Bristol
Chase Briscoe

Whiffs in Qualifying, Will Start 31st in Bristol Night Race
Ty Gibbs

Could Contend at Bristol
Tanner Bibee

Fans 10 in Two-Hit Shutout
Zach Neto

Dealing With Wrist Soreness
Masyn Winn

Shut Down for Rest of Season
Tarik Skubal

to Undergo Imaging on Saturday
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RapSheet: Jacory Croskey-Merritt Expected to Be Lead Back Moving Forward
Tyler Soderstrom

Scratched on Friday With Groin Tightness
Tarik Skubal

Exits with Side Tightness
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
Ketel Marte

Scratched From Friday's Lineup
Brock Purdy

Officially Ruled Out Against Saints
Jauan Jennings

Given Questionable Tag for Week 2
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Dallas Goedert

Officially Ruled Out for Week 2
Xavier Worthy

Listed as Doubtful to Play in Week 2
Jayden Reed

Hopes to Return in November Following Surgery
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Kyle Tucker

"Unlikely" to Return When Eligible on Tuesday
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Ketel Marte

Expected to Return on Friday
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Quinshon Judkins

Questionable to Make NFL Debut in Week 2
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Alexander Hernandez

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Quang Le

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Card Opener
Santiago Luna

Set For His Debut At Noche UFC 3
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Won't Play Against Georgia
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
CFB

Dylan Edwards Slated to Return on Friday
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Sees Little Usage in Week 2, Outlook Still Trending Upwards?
Deebo Samuel Sr.

Leads Commanders in Catches, Scores Touchdown Again
Tucker Kraft

Posts Huge Performance on Thursday
Joe Mixon

Lack of Joe Mixon Injury Updates Sparking Concern for Fantasy Managers?
Jayden Reed

Fractures Collarbone, Headed for Injured Reserve
Austin Ekeler

Commanders Fear Austin Ekeler Tore his Achilles
Jesús Luzardo

Jesus Luzardo Strikes Out 10 in Win
Aaron Judge

Matches Yankees Legend with Two-Homer Game
Austin Ekeler

Injured, Carried Off Field with Non-Contact Injury
Jayden Reed

Ruled Out with Shoulder Injury
Quinshon Judkins

Browns Insider Expects NFL to "Come Down Heavy" on a Quinshon Judkins Suspension
Jayden Reed

Questionable to Return on TNF With Shoulder Injury
Anthony Volpe

Playing Through Partially Torn Labrum in his Shoulder
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
Charles Oliveira

Not Eyeing Retirement
CFB

Ryan Williams Expected to Play Against Wisconsin
CFB

Billy Edwards Jr. Unlikely to Play on Saturday
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Questionable to Make Debut Against Georgia
Lauri Markkanen

Big at Both Ends as Finland Books Place in EuroBasket Semis
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Notches 39 Points in Losing Effort
NBA

Cam Reddish Expected to Move to Europe
NBA

Trey Lyles Joins Real Madrid
Charles Bassey

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Hawks
Sacramento Kings

Terence Davis Waived by Kings
Will Smith

Scratched With Hand Soreness on Wednesday
Ketel Marte

has Foot Contusion, Expected to Play Friday
Shohei Ohtani

Won't Pitch This Weekend
MacKenzie Gore

to Start on Thursday
Ketel Marte

Exits Early on Wednesday
Matthew Knies

Ready for Bigger Role With Maple Leafs
Jack Eichel

Unbothered by Lack of Extension
Sidney Crosby

Not Thinking About Leaving Pittsburgh
SJ

Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
Rutger McGroarty

Nursing an Injury
Anthony Rizzo

Retires
Cameron Champ

the Ultimate Wild Card at Procore
Cameron Young

Looks to Extend Momentum in Napa
Davis Thompson

Searching for a Spark at Procore
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Reignite Form at Procore
Mackenzie Hughes

Aims for Another Strong Showing at Procore
Luke Clanton

Brings Ball-Striking Upside to Napa
Seamus Power

Looking to Overcome Poor Course History at Procore
Joe Highsmith

Hoping to Find Form in Napa
Masyn Winn

Will Require Offseason Knee Surgery
Kristaps Porzingis

Reportedly Still Not Completely Healthy
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Reportedly on the Trade Block
Andre Drummond

Future in Philadelphia in Doubt
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Helps Greece Reach Semis at EuroBasket
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Posts Historic Triple-Double
Joel Dahmen

Finishes Tied For 15 at Wyndham Championship
Bud Cauley

Finishes Tied for 33rd at BMW Championship
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied for Seventh at Tour Championship
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied for 25th at Tour Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied for 19th at Tour Championship
Keith Mitchell

Misses Cut at Wyndham Championship
Ben Griffin

Finishes Tied for 10th at Tour Championship
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied for Second at Tour Championship
Gary Woodland

Could Hang Around at Procore Championship
Karl Vilips

Ready for Napa Valley This Weekend
Taylor Montgomery

Heating Up at the Right Time
Jackson Koivun

May Be a Little Rusty at Procore Championship
Doug Ghim

Looking to Rise Up at Napa Valley
Josh Giddey

Re-Signs With Bulls for Four Years
Shakir Mukhamadullin

Joins Informal Skate
William Eklund

Skates With Sharks
Owen Power

Back at 100 Percent
Tyler Seguin

Cleared for Action
Mathew Barzal

Good to Go for Season Opener
Dustin Wolf

Signs Seven-Year Extension
NBA

Mason Jones Takes His Talents to Australia
NBA

Talen Horton-Tucker Joins Reigning EuroLeague Champions
Malcolm Brogdon

on Knicks' Radar
Andrew Wiggins

Attracting Interest From Lakers
Miami Heat

Heat Interested in Reunion With Precious Achiuwa
New York Knicks

Ben Simmons Reportedly Declined Knicks' Contract Offer
Caio Borralho

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Nassourdine Imavov

Extends Win Streak
Mauricio Ruffy

Gets Submitted
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Taps Out Mauricio Ruffy
Paul Craig

Retires After UFC Paris Loss
Modestas Bukauskas

Scores First-Round Knockout
Bolaji Oki

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Mason Jones

Scores Comeback Win

RANKINGS

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