RADIO
There really aren't any new sleepers on this week's list of waiver wire pickups and the corner infield spots, but there are several familiar faces that I have mentioned throughout the year that continue to make a case to be owned in a variety of fantasy formats. Granted, we are getting to the point in the year where it is really tough to find a player on waivers that can make a significant impact across the board, but on the plus side, we are also getting to the point where it is easier to determine whether or not a player's production is really legit or merely the product of a few solid weeks. With that in mind, here is a closer look at a few third basemen and first basemen that may be worth targeting for your fantasy team.
Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Josh Harrison (2B/3B/OF, PIT)
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues
46% Owned in Yahoo, 17% Owned in Fleaflicker
Harrison has become a regular starter for the Pirates, and with a recent five-game hitting streak, he has shown no signs of losing his grip on the gig. Perhaps more importantly, he has been hitting between Gregory Polanco and Andrew McCutchen in the lineup so he should continue to get pitches to hit and score his share of runs. For the year, Harrison is hitting .296 with 33 runs scored, 5 homers and 25 RBIs, and he has also added 9 steals. The guy is a Swiss army knife, providing a little bit of production in all five offensive categories and doing so with eligibility at three positions. Harrison is currently owned in 46 percent of Yahoo! leagues, but he can be a great complementary piece in deeper formats.
Brock Holt (1B/3B/OF, BOS)
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues
45% Owned in Yahoo, 16% Owned in Fleaflicker
Although Boston's offense hasn't been the juggernaut it was last season, Holt has still been the beneficiary of a spot atop the lineup. In his last 10 games, he has banged out 11 hits and scored six runs. For the year, he is hitting .311 with 32 runs scored and 6 steals. Holt has shown every indication of hitting around the .300 mark the rest of the way, and he should continue to be a steady source of runs as long as he is the leadoff man for the Red Sox. Holt isn't the flashiest pickup, but he can be a steady contributor in the batting average and runs scored departments. The fact that he is eligible at three positions only adds to his value.
Casey McGehee (1B/3B, MIA)
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Formats
56% Owned in Yahoo, 29% Owned in Fleaflicker
I touted McGehee a lot this season, and while the 31-year-old continues to fly under the radar, he just keeps producing. He has hit safely in his last 13 games, delivering seven multi-hit games during the stretch. His average now sits at .320 and, he has driven in 54 runs despite just a single homer all year. It’s worth noting that McGehee’s average is good enough to tie him with Robinson Cano for the ninth best in baseball, and he is one of only five players currently hitting at least .320 with at least 50 RBIs. Even with his lack of power, he is a viable option in all formats at this point. There is no reason he should be available in half of Yahoo! leagues.
First Base Waiver Wire Pickups
C.J. Cron (1B, LAA)
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Formats
23% Owned in Yahoo, 8% Owned in Fleaflicker
Cron blasted a 3-run homer over the weekend and is now hitting .288 with 9 home runs and 27 RBIs in just 153 at-bats this year. More importantly, his long-term upside is excellent. Cron has the DH gig to himself now that Raul Ibanez was cut loose, and he is batting behind guys like Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols in the Angels’ lineup. Cron is showcasing the power at the plate that made him a first-round pick in 2011, and the RBI opportunities are going to be there. Basically, Cron is becoming exactly what Mark Trumbo was when he was with the Angels, and while Trumbo is owned in 88 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Cron is only rostered in 23 percent. He is worth a grab in any league, especially if you need power stats.
Steve Pearce (1B/OF BAL)
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues
54% Owned in Yahoo, 24% Owned in Fleaflicker
The 31-year-old has been surprisingly productive since being thrown in the lineup on a regular basis, and he is coming off a week when he belted 3 home runs and added 9 RBIs. For the year, he is hitting .326 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs in 172 at-bats. I’ve mentioned Pearce before as a possible pickup option, and while I still remain a little skeptical that he has suddenly become an offensive force this late in his career, there is nothing wrong with playing the hot hand. He is currently available in 49 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and although he is likely a better fit for deeper leagues over the long run, he can help out in any format during his current hot streak.
