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Keith Hernandez profiles Diamondbacks infielder/outfielder Ketel Marte as a waiver wire pickup and add in Week 1 of the 2019 MLB season.
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ team leagues
OWNED IN: 20% of leagues
ANALYSIS: At first glance, Marte's 2018 season as a whole wouldn't really excite anyone. He did hit a league-high 12 triples and career-high 14 home runs, but he had a pedestrian .260/.332/.437 slash line, 59 RBI and only six stolen bases in 153 games for the D-Backs. On the bright side, Marte had 104 wRC+ overall and squared the ball up much more in the second half to post an .841 OPS. The switch-hitting middle infielder is still only 25 years old, too, so there is hope for improvement in 2019.
When A.J. Pollock signed with the Dodgers as a free agent in the offseason, it opened up a hole in center field. Jarrod Dyson should see time patrolling center, but Arizona also wants Marte to play there plenty this year. The season-ending knee injury to Steven Souza Jr. should assure Marte of regular outfield duty. The Dominican will continue to be a lineup fixture and is even more attractive in deep mixed leagues now that he'll have outfield eligibility along with middle-infield eligibility.
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