Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups: First Base (1B) & Third Base (3B)

June 5, 2014

Brian Polking analyzes week 10 fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers at first base (1B) & third base (3B) for AL Only, NL Only & Mixed Leagues.

While this week's waiver wire pickups at the corner infield spots include some familiar faces that continue to produce and remain widely available, there are also two sleepers on the list that have yet to have play in a game in 2014. Fresh options are usually hard to come by at this point in the season especially in NL-Only and AL-Only leagues, so if you have already missed out on a couple of chances to upgrade at the first base or third base position, this is your lucky day.

Third Base Waiver Wire Options

Casey McGehee (3B / 1B, MIA)

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues

ANALYSIS: With six more RBIs over the past week, McGehee has boosted his season total to 36. He currently ranks fourth among players that are third-base eligible in Yahoo! leagues, and of the top four, his .292 batting average is second only to Miguel Cabrera's .325 mark.

Yes, McGehee has just a single homer this season and doesn't score many runs, but he has been an RBI machine while protecting Giancarlo Stanton in Miami's lineup. Plain and simple, there is no reason a player that ranks in the top five in RBIs at his position should only be owned in 29 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Unless your biggest need is power, McGehee is worth grabbing.

Lonnie Chisenhall (3B, CLE)

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues

ANALYSIS: Chisenhall continues to see regular playing time while Carlos Santana recovers from a concussion, and he continues scorch the ball. His .360 average is the best among third-base-eligible players that have had at least 125 at-bats this year, and more importantly, he is starting to drive in runs. In fact, Chisenhall has 8 RBIs over his past four games. He is currently owned in just 41 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and as long as Santana is out, he deserves an immediate add in most formats. Even when Santana returns, Chisenhall should still see plenty of playing time if he maintains anything that resembles his current pace. Considering he is just 25 years old and a former first-round pick, I'd say there is a good chance that his strong start to the season could be a sign of things to come rather than just a fluky hot stretch.

Mark Reynolds (3B / 1B, MIL)

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues, NL-Only Leagues

ANALYSIS: If you're in need of some pop in your lineup and can afford taking a hit in the average department, Reynolds is a quick fix. He is currently owned in just 29 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and while his .208 average is atrocious, his 13 home runs rank third in the majors among third basemen and third in the National League overall. With home games in a hitter-friendly park and a proven track record of hitting homers, Reynolds should coast to 30-plus homers in 2014. Power can be hard to find, especially in NL-Only formats. It is a lot easier to justify Reynolds' horrible average when he can significantly help you out in the power department.

First Base Waiver Wire Options

Adam Lind (1B, TOR)

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues, AL-Only Leagues

ANALYSIS: Investing in a platoon player like Lind requires some extra leg work, but if you are willing to adjust your roster on a daily basis, he can make an impact. After all, he is destroying right-handed pitching this year, hitting .407 with a 1.145 OPS in 81 at-bats against righties.

Meanwhile, all 3 of his home runs and all 15 RBIs have come against right-handers. Not to mention that when he does play, he is hitting in a Toronto lineup that ranks in the top 3 in just about every offensive category so RBIs and runs should be easy for him to come by. Lind is currently owned in 39 percent of Yahoo! leagues and can help out in four offensive categories if you take the time to utilize him properly.

Jon Singleton (1B, HOU)

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues

ANALYSIS: Houston inked Singleton to a five-year, $10 million deal and promoted him to the majors this weekend, and his ownership has already climbed to 44 percent in Yahoo! leagues. The rookie was a top-100 prospect by all accounts, and his power potential should have fantasy owners salivating. In 54 games in Triple-A this year, he had 14 home runs and 43 RBIs to go along with a .941 OPS. It may take a week or so for Singleton to find his rhythm against the increased competition, but if you wait until after he gets got to try to add him, it will be too late.

Kendrys Morales (1B, Free Agent)

BALLER MOVE: Continue Scouting

ANALYSIS: Morales and his agent made a power play in the offseason, opting out of the final year of Morales' contract with Seattle in the hopes of signing a bigger deal. Well, the plan backfired a bit as Morales has spent the start of the season as a free agent with teams reluctant to give up the first-round pick that would be required in order to sign him. However, he is set to become a true free agent on June 5, and you can rest assured a team will waste no time scooping him up. In fact, the Yankees and Royals have already been contacting him, according to reports. Wherever he lands, it is a safe that bet he will make an impact at the plate and add a little pop to any fantasy lineup. Over the past two years, Morales has averaged 22.5 home runs, 76.5 RBIs and a .275 batting average despite playing in a pitcher-friendly home park in 2013. He is currently owned in 20 percent of Yahoo! leagues, but that number is going to jump dramatically once he has a home. Be ready to act.