RADIO
After an offseason that somehow felt even more interminable than usual, the 2019 season is underway. Teams have only played a few games, of course, so you certainly shouldn't be making any drastic decisions just yet. For example, one of my rosters in a keeper league contains a slew of elite bats and is sitting at the bottom of the league in virtually all offensive categories.
With that established, it's perfectly fine to already be tinkering around the edges and considering what's available on the waiver wire versus what you've currently got at the back end of your roster. That's what we're here to do today, as we look at the best corner infield waiver wire options.
As a reminder, this column focuses on players who are below 50% owned in Yahoo leagues, and standard 5x5 scoring. Your mileage may vary, in terms of availability or league settings. Using that cutoff point for ownership rate, however, these are your corner infield waiver wire targets and adds for Week 1 of the 2019 fantasy baseball season.
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Corner Infield (1B/3B) Waiver Wire Options
Ryan McMahon (1B/2B/3B, COL) — 45% Owned
Daniel Murphy's fractured finger is bad news for him, his team, and a lot of fantasy owners. It could, however, be good news for McMahon. While he appears to have beaten out Garrett Hampson for the starting job at second base (he's started every game thus far), the Rockies will likely want to get Hampson his at-bats as well. With Murphy sidelined, McMahon now only needs to share time with Mark Reynolds on any days where he's not slotted in at the keystone. The 24-year-old has reached safely in all four games to start the year, with five hits in 14 at-bats.
Maikel Franco (3B, PHI) — 38% Owned
Franco has come out of the gate hot with three-run homers in each of the Phillies' first two games. Hitting eighth in the lineup may just suit him. That lowly spot in the order will limit his volume and run production, but if he keeps swinging a hot bat, he could easily move up to sixth in the newly stacked Philadelphia lineup. The 26-year-old's combination of pop and contact ability makes him an intriguing breakout candidate.
Jung Ho Kang (3B, PIT) — 32% Owned
Spring training stats may be more noise than signal, but extreme performances are still worth noting. Jung Ho Kang's work in camp certainly qualified, as he led all hitters with seven home runs in just 45 plate appearances. Two of his other three hits were doubles, giving him an MLB-best .548 isolated power (slugging percentage minus batting average) during tune-up games. He also struck out in 40 percent of his trips to the plate, so bear that in mind. Still, it's an impressive display of power from a guy who missed all but three games in the last two seasons due to injury and an inability to quit getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while intoxicated. That penchant for reckless behavior resulted in legal troubles and visa issues that kept Kang away from the majors, but he has a career .837 OPS and smashed 21 homers in just 370 PA back in 2016.
Ryon Healy (1B, SEA) — 21% Owned
With Kyle Seager on the shelf, Healy will be the everyday third baseman in the Emerald City through at least the end of May. He's collected at least one hit, one run, and one RBI in each of Seattle's first six games, and all but one of those hits went for extra bases (five doubles, two homers). Healy and his teammates aren't likely to continue the torrid pace they've set thus far, but the 27-year-old has 25 HR power and has previously demonstrated the ability to hit for a higher average than he did last season.
Yandy Diaz (1B/3B, TAM) — 9% Owned
Diaz is well-known for his crazy-muscular arms. If he ever figures out how to start hitting more balls in the air (carer 55.6 GB%), those arms could do some serious damage. He hits the ball hard, makes a lot of contact, and can take a walk, so all the ingredients are there for success. Thus far this season, he's hit safely in all four games and launched a home run. The Rays have a ton of infield depth, but Diaz can hold his own at either corner and he's hit either first, fourth, or fifth in the Tampa batting order to open the year.
Three More For Your Radar
Willians Astudillo (C/3B, MIN) — 20% Owned
Made his season debut on Sunday and went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI despite hitting eighth. Both of those hits were doubles. #FreeWillians
Jay Bruce (1B/OF, SEA) — 11% Owned
Sure, he was awful last season, but he launched 30 or more home runs in the prior two seasons and is hitting in the middle of the Mariners' lineup.
Jeimer Candelario (3B, DET) — 6% Owned
Got moved from the cleanup spot to leadoff on Sunday and responded with a five-hit game. He's got 20 - 25 HR power and based on his MiLB track record, should hit for a much better average than he did as a rookie.
