RADIO
Hunting for values on the waiver wire is one of the most fun, and most challenging, parts of any fantasy season. This can be especially true at the infield corners, an area where the stars are readily scooped up and finding a low cost alternative can be often difficult. Here at RotoBaller, we're always looking for ways to help our readers succeed in all aspects of the game. With that aim in mind, each week I'll be bringing you my recommendations for which corner infielders should be on your radar as you peruse the waiver wire. Let's get started for the best pickups for week 5.
Editor’s Note: To read about even more waiver wire options for first base and third base, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.
Top 1st Base Waiver Wire Option
Adam Lind (1B, MIL)
ESPN: 45.6% owned; Yahoo: 51% owned
For what feels like the 50th time already this season, I recommended fantasy owners pick up the hot hitting first baseman from Milwaukee last week. Lind rewarded my confidence by going on to hit .313 with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored over the past six days. Amazingly, that performance actually lowered his overall batting average so that it now sits at a robust .329. To be fair, he did “drop off” a bit compared to the previous week. That week he hit .346 with two home runs, four RBI, and three runs scored. Such is the life of a hitter on a hot streak.
Going forward, Lind's production is only expected to increase thanks to the return of Carlos Gomez. Batting cleanup behind him, Jean Segura, and Ryan Braun is an enviable position for any hitter. It also helps that Lind is about to begin a 10 game home-stretch in the very hitter-friendly Miller Park. Granted, Lind's issues against left-handed pitching remain, but the simple truth is that when a hitter is this hot, you can afford the occasional off day when Clayton Kershaw takes the mound. This is even more true for owners in leagues which allow daily moves and lineup adjustments.
Eventually Lind is going to come back down to Earth. Don't let yourself be among those who missed out on all the fun when he does. Go grab the guy already.
Other 1B Notables
Mark Canha (1B/OF, OAK)
ESPN: 8.6% owned; Yahoo: 13% owned
Let's get one thing straight right off the bat: Canha's power is legit. He mashed 20 home runs last year in Triple-A with a .303/.384/.505 slash line, impressing the A's brass enough to snag him from the Marlins in the Rule 5 draft. Thanks to the rules of that draft, the A's are now forced to carry Canha on their 25-man roster all season long. This makes his floor for playing time much higher than a lot of untested rookies. That might not matter to owners in shallow leagues looking to stream Canha on a week-by-week basis, but in deep leagues playing time assurances can be worth their weight in gold.
Hot bats are always a target on the waiver wire. It's a bit too early to put Canha in that category, but he's certainly looked locked in over the last few days. Canha has six hits and two home runs in just three games and played a key role in the A's victory over the Rangers on Friday. Hopefully, his heroics will be enough to catch his manager's eye, because this is a batter with 20 home run power. If Canha starts getting regular playing time, you could start to see his ownership numbers begin to rise very quickly through the next few days.
Top 3rd Base Waiver Wire Option
Yangervis Solarte (2B/3B, SD)
ESPN: 11.1% owned; Yahoo: 10% owned
Solarte is a reminder that talent isn't everything. While arguably the least physically gifted of any of the Padres' staple players, Solarte has made the most of the opportunities he's been given this season. Starting off the year as a bench player, he forced his way into the starting lineup with a hot start and has swiftly become manager Bud Black's go-to choice for the number two spot in the lineup. Despite not getting regular at-bats through the first half month of the season, Solarte has already accumulated an impressive 16 RBI. I suppose that's what happens when you hit .328 with a bit of pop.
If Solarte continues batting at the top of the Padres lineup, he could be an exceedingly cheap source of Runs during this hot streak. Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Derek Norris are all quality hitters who should have no trouble driving in the often on-base Solarte. There's no telling how long this will last, but I recommend you enjoy it while it does.
Other 3B Notables
David Freese (3B, LAA)
ESPN: 10.5% owned; Yahoo: 16% owned
What do Miguel Cabrera, Jose Bautista, Joey Votto, and Matt Kemp all have in common? They all have less RBI than David Freese. The fact that Freese is the only player among the top 30 RBI producers that is less than 100% owned should tell you something about the kind of value he offers.
There's no denying Freese is a flawed hitter. He'll struggle in batting average even if he's not as bad in this department as his stat line so far would suggest. He also brings no speed to the game whatsoever. What he does do, however, is bat behind Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and Kole Calhoun. Freese has managed to knock in 18 runners despite only hitting .226 this season. Imagine what he could do once his batting average starts to pick up.
Brett Lawrie (2B/3B, OAK)
ESPN: 23.9% owned; Yahoo: 49% owned
Full admission: this is a bit of a stash pick. Your standard league owner probably won't have room for Lawrie in his lineup. Not with the way the A's 3rd baseman has been hitting so far this season at least. If you need immediate lineup help, Solarte is your man. If you have some flexibility with your bench and are the type to stash a player while you wait for a rebound, however, Lawrie might just be your guy. Behind the slow start there's a lot to like about the skillset here.
Last year, Lawrie hit 12 home runs in only 70 games for the Jays. He hit 11 the year before that in only 107. He was 23 years old at the time. No matter what you think of the Jays home park, you can't deny Lawrie has power. While he's no Billy Hamilton, Lawrie complements this power with a healthy dose of speed. He's never approached the 30 stolen base season he had as a minor leaguer in 2010, but there's no reason to think 10-15 stolen bases is outside of his reach. The biggest questions surrounding Lawrie have always been health, not ability. Well...he's healthy right now. As long as he continues to be so, I have to think a 25 year old player with his kind of ability is going to turn it around at some point. He may have already started to do so. Over the last seven days. Lawrie has hit .318 with nine RBI, five Runs scored, and a home run. While it's not a likely scenario, there's real potential for a 25/20 season out of Lawrie some day. There's a reason the A's moved Josh Donaldson to acquire him, after all.
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