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Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds: Week 2

Less than two weeks into the regular season, fantasy owners are already champing at the bit for hitters with some reliable upside. If you're still looking for a fantasy relevant middle infielder, well, join the club. Fortunately, there is a wealth of Major League outfielders to create some intriguing waiver wire situations for the sport's deepest position. Unfortunately, there are not many players in the prime of a prolific career hovering around on the waiver wire. Most of the (worthwhile) names you'll see on your league's wire are either rookies, fresh to the Big League or older gentlemen whom most believe have nothing left in the tank.

This week, we'll look at three rookies studs who will be surefire Hall-of-Famers if they continue their impossibly fierce pace and two veterans who may be more fleet footed than their age suggests. Some of these guys may have been scooped up long ago, depending on the savviness of your competition. Odds still say that, at the very least, one of these choices will be available in even the deepest of formats.

Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily. Prefer using your phone? Our free waiver wire app is available for download in the Apple & Android Stores.

 

Week 2 Outfield Targets

Nomar Mazara, Texas Rangers

Owned in 62% of Yahoo Leagues, 49.5% of ESPN Leagues

If you watch SportsCenter, or any daytime ESPN programming, Nomar Mazara has crossed your screen over the past few days. The 21 year-old rookie has been permeating the highlight reels with fantastic play at the plate and in right field. Unfortunately, memorable fielding doesn't count for much in fantasy, but it sure helps a rookie stay consistently in an MLB lineup. Mazara didn't make his Big League debut until this week, so the sample size is still small. In the first few days of the week, the young outfielder went 6-for-13 with a home run and a pair of RBI. Of course, there's no way to know if this success will persist. For what it's worth, Mazara was the top prospect in the Rangers system. Between Double-A and Triple-A last year, he posted a .296/.366/.443 line with 14 HR and 69 RBI in just 490 at bats. The counting stats aren't exactly eye-popping, especially for an outfielder. However, with all the hype surrounding him right now (most added player in ESPN Leagues this week) Mazara could make a strong sell-high candidate if his strong play continues for another week or two.

Jeremy Hazelbaker, St. Louis Cardinals

Owned in 58% of Yahoo Leagues, 38.2% of ESPN Leagues

Here we go again. The Cardinals have miraculously found another out-of-nowhere outfielder who can produce at an incomprehensible level. After the appearances of Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty in 2015, Jeremy Hazelbaker has coalesced from the abyss to become the strongest hitter in the Cardinals lineup. By some metrics, he's been the most productive outfielder in fantasy baseball over the first two weeks of the season. In 21 plate appearances, the rookie has gone 10-for-19 with two home runs, two stolen bases, five RBI and five runs scored. That's what I call a hot start. Hazelbaker must be owned in all league formats. Naturally, he will regress at some point, unless you honestly believe he can maintain a 1.053 slugging percentage. In the minors last year, Hazelbaker struck out 22.7% of the time. That will come back to haunt him sooner or later. Even still, his OPS was .916 in that same campaign. This guy could be the real deal.

Joey Rickard, Baltimore Orioles

Owned in 16% of Yahoo Leagues, 21.9% of ESPN Leagues

The Orioles Rule 5 pickup from Tampa Bay continues to surprise fans and onlookers alike. After an impressive spring earned him an unexpected roster spot, Rickard has delivered for the undefeated Birds. An atypical leadoff man, Rickard has gone 10-for-27 with a home run and three RBI. Known more for his speed than his power, Rickard is a sneaky candidate for stolen bases this year. Among three different Minor League levels last year in the Rays system, Rickard accrued 23 steals compared to two home runs alongside a .321/.427/.447 line. That OBP sure is tantalizing, especially amongst a loaded Orioles lineup. Batting in front of Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo, Rickard will amass a boatload of runs scored. If the rookie can stay in the lineup and keep that OBP in the .400 range, he will be a strong candidate to lead the league in trips across the plate.

Angel Pagan, San Francisco Giants

Owned in 28% of Yahoo Leagues, 32.4% of ESPN Leagues

Angel Pagan is healthy and hot, in a platonic sense. The oft-injured outfielder finds himself in the undesirable role of batting ninth in a National League roster, severely limiting RBI potential. Somehow, the nine spot has been kind to Pagan, as he leads all MLB outfielders with 10 runs scored through eight games. Pagan is perpetually one of those guys dwelling near the top of waiver wires. Aside from his tendency to find himself on the DL, the Puerto Rico native is simply a streaky hitter. When he's seeing the ball well, he must be owned. Counting stats are a natural byproduct of being a member of the San Francisco Giants. Plus, there's a good chance Pagan will occupy the leadoff spot in the future. It's basically an endurance contest; who will be injured first, Pagan or new acquisition Denard Span? Span lived on the DL with the Nationals in 2015 with a laundry list of ailments. If Pagan can stay healthy longer, his value will continue to increase.

Coco Crisp, Oakland Athletics

Owned in 2% of Yahoo Leagues, 1.6% of ESPN Leagues

Last year seemed like the writing on the wall for the career of Coco Crisp, who was limited to just 44 games due to seriously troubling neck and elbow issues. Regardless of the depth of your league, it is doubtful that anyone had the audacity to draft the wily veteran. According to ESPN, he was owned in only 0.5% of leagues at the season's start. Contrary to expectations, Crisp has looked spry in his 15th MLB season and has been swinging the bat like it's still 2011. He's swatting .250/.308/.500 with a home run, three stolen bases and three runs scored. Despite the solid production, the general concensus on Crisp is that he's still too risky to bother owning. Injury tendencies aside, Crisp is the odd man out in a crowded outfield with Josh Reddick, Billy Burns and Khris Davis. Here's the thing -- Davis has been awful thus far, leading the MLB with 14 strikeouts. As a result, Crisp has started five of the last six games, batting either first or second in each contest. Don't fool yourself -- Crisp is still very much a platoon player right now. Consistent play could earn him more at bats as the season continues. Of course, this is all contingent on him staying healthy. At roughly 2% owned, he's certainly worth keeping an eye on.

 

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




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