Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 2

April 7, 2019

Ellis Canady's fantasy baseball outfielders who are potential waiver wire pickups for Week 2. Consider adding and streaming these free agent outfield options.

Managers continue to dig through the waiver wire at alarming rates for a season that just begun. Try not to overreact and make rash decisions. Trust in your draft strategy and the players you drafted. Give them time to get into a groove, which should be more than a single week.

While there hasn’t been enough time to bring judgment on some outfielders, there are others that need to be replaced simply because they are no longer on the field. That is a situation that is affecting many owners, and there is nothing you can do except find a decent replacement as quickly as possible or risk losing valuable counting stats. If you’re merely looking for the latest hot item to own or flip (trade) for increased value, a couple of these outfielders will fit that description as well.

Even in the first couple of weeks, ownership can change quickly. Be quick to check your leagues for their availability. Key points - this list will focus on players who are owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. When you want to chat it up regarding outfielders, prospects, or dynasty leagues, message me directly on Twitter @EllisCan2.

Outfield (OF) Waiver Wire Options

Ramon Laureano (OF, OAK) — 38% Owned

Ramon Laureano has made headlines for mostly his defense thus far. He had a rough start to the season with only two hits in the first four games. However, he turned it around with two homers and a stolen base in the last six games. It culminated in a 4-for-4 performance on Friday. Laureano is a constant source of power and speed, even hitting in the eighth spot of the order. If he can rebuild the team’s confidence in him, Laureano could very well find himself back in the leadoff spot, where his skills are even more beneficial to fantasy managers.

Laureano will play in very favorable venues this week and also will benefit from a full schedule as well. Although it is a week on the road, he has a four-game series in Baltimore before traveling south to face the Rangers, both in hitter-friendly parks. He’s currently scheduled to face at least five right-handed pitchers this week, which is particularly beneficial as he has a career average of .296 against them.

Randal Grichuk (OF, TOR) — 45% Owned

Grichuk is a happy man and has recently signed a five-year contract. The contract, combined with the trade of Kevin Pillar, ensures Grichuk will receive consistent playing time. Thus far, he has followed his historical trend; he provides power with a mediocre batting average. In the last three years, Grichuk has hit at least 22 homers and had a batting average that sat around .242. In 29 at-bats, he has five hits to start the 2019 season; three of those have been homers.

Unfortunately, he only has five games this week, with two games in Boston before returning home to face the Rays. Currently, he is scheduled to face two left-handers and righty. The Rays will also use their opener strategy for a couple of games as well. However, the pitching matchups shouldn’t matter as he is batting .243 and .248 against southpaws and righties, respectively. Grichuk is primarily an option when you must have power regardless of the consequences.

Jorge Soler (OF, KC) — 33% Owned

Soler is flying under the radar to start the year. He has been considered a bust since the Cubs traded him as part of a deal to Kansas City in exchange for Wade Davis. Unfortunately, the injury bug was partly the culprit as he broke his toe in June 2018 and never returned. Now fully healthy, Soler is on a mission to finally realize some of the potential bestowed upon him as a prospect.

Soler and the Royals have a full week at home starting with a four-game series against the Mariners and then hosting the Indians for three games. He will face off against five right-handed pitchers and two lefties. Though he has a .248 career average against righties, he has done well against them this season with a .313 batting average. With Adalberto Mondesi and Whit Merrifield batting ahead of him, Soler will have plenty of RBI opportunities from the cleanup spot.

Hunter Renfroe (OF, SD) — 37% Owned

Renfroe continues to be a victim of his circumstances. That is the only reason why a player that hits three homers with a .333 batting average in the last week would have such low ownership. Wil Myers owns the left field job. Renfroe’s primary competition for the other two spots (Manuel Margot, Franchy Cordero, and Franmil Reyes) are a combined 11-for-51 without a single home run. It should be obvious that he has performed well enough to earn more playing time. Renfroe has the hottest bat amongst the group and is ranked fourth in the league in barrels per plate appearance (18.8%). San Diego will play a full schedule this week in venues that generally hinder power. However, Renfroe's power should not have any difficulty overcoming Chase Field and Oracle Park. As was the question last week, the issue currently comes down to playing time. He’s definitely worth the addition for the games he is on the field, which should be a majority this week.

Kevin Kiermaier (OF, TB) — 10% Owned

Kiermaier has always had the ability to achieve a 20-homer, 20-stolen base season but injuries continue to hamper his career. We can start this year with the hope that it will be different from the past. Kiermaier had a rough start to the season but justifiably so when you’re facing the Astros and their band of brothers aces. However, in the last week, he has two home runs with a stolen base and a .278 batting average. The Rays are an exciting young club, but their offense hasn’t started clicking well. Maybe a trip to face the White Sox and then a stroll even further north to Toronto might help ignite the bats. Kiermaier might enjoy the trip as well since he’s templated to face five right-handed pitchers, against which he is batting .263 for his career.

Grab For The Future

Gregory Polanco (OF, PIT) — 44% Owned

Polanco was covered last week as a future add, but the future is closer than we thought as he is finally ready to retake the field. Polanco is recovering from labrum surgery and is scheduled to start Sunday in a rehabilitation assignment at High-A Bradenton. As such, we should expect him to return to the Pirates by the end of the month. If you’ve got a roster spot to stash him for a few weeks, the time to grab him is now. Once he starts producing in his rehab starts, his ownership level will rise drastically, especially with the power and speed upside he brings.

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