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

AL-Only Leagues: Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 2

Source: Ed Zurga/Getty Images North America

Dan Sausville recommends some fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for AL Only leagues. These super deep pickups should be targets for your fantasy team.

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups - AL-Only Leagues

Each week I will be treading through the murky waiver wire in the American League to try to find you some hidden gems that could pay off exponentially.  These players should be owned in AL Only leagues and some will even be rosterable in deep mixed league formats.  This is the first installment. All ownership percentages from Yahoo!.

 

1. Abraham Almonte - OF, SEA

Source: Ed Zurga/Getty Images North AmericaAlmonte was an afterthought when he came over from the Yankees before the 2013 season, but he propelled himself to the big leagues last September after a strong 2013 minor league season (.314 BA .401 OBP 20 SB 11 HR). After injuries depleted the Mariners outfield in the offseason, Almonte was given the first crack at the center field job this spring. He did not hit the ball all that well, but he still showed a patient eye, and the Mariners trusted him with the opening day leadoff spot in their lineup. In his first week in 2014 he hit .286 with a homer and a steal. Almonte could be a 15/25 HR/SB guy in 2014 and will hit leadoff in a pretty potent lineup. He is currently owned in 11% of CBS leagues, and only 5% of Yahoo leagues. His ownership should be higher, and now would be the time to do it. I am bold on Almonte's outlook for the future, but obviously you would have to revisit him in a few months once he has been around the league a few times.

Check out this majestic bomb Almonte hit on Saturday vs the A's:

[iframe width="100%" height="220" src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=31849687&topic_id=52448062"]
 

2. David Lough - OF, BAL

Lough came over from the Royals in the offseason, after playing in 96 big league games in 2013. The Royals did not have a spot for Lough, and he had already conquered the triple-a level after hitting .275 there in 2012 with 26 SB and 10 HR. He batted leadoff a couple times at the end of the week replacing Nick Markakis who moved down to the 5 spot for the Orioles, so the organization is showing faith in this 28 year old in his first season with the team. Sure Lough has Delmon Young lurking over his shoulder for at bats, but it seems like the Orioles know Nelson Cruz needs to DH more than he plays outfield, and Young has never been a great defender, so Lough is currently safely parked in the leadoff spot playing left field. At worst he will always play against righty's, and at best he turns Delmon Young into a utility outfielder that gives guys days off and is injury insurance. He stole bags in the past 2 games, and also hit 2 triples, so now seems like the time to pounce. A .270/15 HR/20 SB line is within reach. Lough is 2% owned on CBS and 1% owned on Yahoo.

Check out this video of Lough taking 2013 AL Cy Young Award Winner Max Scherzer out of the yard:

[iframe width="100%" height="220" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6C1oPDOMyII"]

 

3. Jarred Cosart - SP, HOU

This former 38th round pick of the Phillies, was brought over in the Hunter Pence trade 2 years ago, and made his major league debut in 2013. He made 10 stars, and finished with a sub 2 ERA. His peripherals were ugly, but he worked his way out of trouble and showed enough promise to have the front office predicting 15 wins for him this year. In his first outing, he beat the Yankees, by going 5 innings, giving up 4 hits, no runs and striking out 3. Of utmost importance, Cosart did not issue a walk, and after an offseason in which he spoke repeatedly about cleaning up his mechanics and trying to throw more strikes, he delivered. He made a subtle adjustment in his delivery, dropping his hands down to his waist on takeoff, so his arm should be better equipped to "catch up" which will stop him from missing on his arm slot like he did in 2013. If those walks stay low, this could be a steal. Cosart is currently owned in 7% of Yahoo leagues, and 28% of CBS leagues. I doubt he will be a helper in strikeouts, but the whip and the era, as well as wins is where this young hurler will help your fantasy team. Grab him and ride it out, if he starts to pile up walks, cut bait, but his potential is too great to leave him sitting on the waiver wire.

Check out some video of Cosart's 2014 debut against the Yankees:

[iframe width="100%" height="220" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_xFS9mfZ4nQ"]

 

4. Conor Gillaspie - 3B. CHW - 1% Owned

Gillaspie, a former Wichita St. standout, and first round pick of the Giants got his first taste of steady big league at bats in 2013 under Robin Ventura. He did not set the world on fire, but showed enough progress at bat to at bat to give Ventura the confidence to put him smack in the middle of the lineup to open 2014, and he has delivered hitting .400 in his first week. Gillaspie is not going to be a high home run guy, but he can be a very cheap option for BA and RBI with the potential to hit 15 HR. There is a lot of value in the White Sox lineup right now, and this guy is at the forefront. Hitting behind Jose Abreu should be prove to fruitful as the year goes on, but waiting too long on him could cost you your chance. Don't hang on to the guys you had to reach for on draft night, you didn't want them then, and you still don't. Grab Gillaspie now if third base is a problem spot for you, or if you are searching for a solid and safe backup for your roster. He is currently 1% owned on Yahoo, and 2% owned on CBS, but that will change if he hits .400 again this week. Don't take the chance, make the move now!

Check out this clutch extra inning home run Gillaspie hit last year against the Royals:

[iframe width="100%" height="220" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jSvFXrs-9Ss"]

 

5. Robbie Ross - RP/SP, TEX

This could be the biggest boom or bust guy on this list. Ross was a starter all the way through the minor leagues, but broke camp with the team in 2012 as a reliever. The team had World Series aspirations, but did not have a quality bullpen, so Ross won a spot. The team decided to take a chance with his development in order to help the big club, but finally in 2014, because of injuries, the opportunity for Ross to start again has presented itself. He had a tremendous spring, and had a very nice first start in the regular season going 5 innings, striking out 7 and giving up 2 earned runs. Ross was always a pretty high strikeout guy in the minors, and has proven time and again that he has what it takes to get big league guys out due to his sub 3 era over his first 125 appearances as a reliever. Ross could potentially lose this spot to someone like Neftali Feliz, but the other Rangers starters have struggled, so Ross's job appears safer than theirs do currently. He will make another start this week, and the team will probably make a decision on his future after that. He is currently owned in 20% of CBS leagues, and only 3% of Yahoo leagues. This is the one guy on this list I think could be an integral piece of winning your league, Ross could end up being the #2 starter on a playoff team in 2014. Buy now, sort it out later, or else you will regret it if he has another stellar outing this week.

Check out footage from his first major league start last week:

[iframe width="100%" height="220" src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=31774255&topic_id=6479266"]
 
 




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

Nolan Arenado

Ready for Second Half
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Back in Action to Begin Second Half
Yordan Alvarez

Resumes Swinging -- Return Imminent?
Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
Levi Onwuzurike

to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
Max Holloway

Set For Main Event
Brandon Lowe

Back From 10-Day Injured List
Dustin Poirier

Set For His Final UFC Fight
Roman Kopylov

Set For Co-Main Event
Paulo Costa

Returns At UFC 318
Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
Dan Ige

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF