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As the baseball season nears the halfway point, many fantasy owners start to drift off. The dog days are in August, but often it’s during the All-Star break when baseball loses a little luster for some people. Don’t be one of them. In fact, take advantage of those types. With the trade deadline looming, now is a prime time to grab players that can have a real impact on your fantasy team. Doug Anderson steps in for Tommy Landry to cover this week’s waiver wire picks.
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Date: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 10:00 PM
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Cc:
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Subject: Re: Your recent visits To whom it may concern, We have greatly appreciated your recent visits. We hope that you have enjoyed your time in beautiful Tampa Bay. We do apologize if we haven’t been as accommodating as in previous years. Though some of your players haven’t expressed their gratitude in appropriate ways (Yes you, Mr. Crisp), we do hope you understand our recent change in policy. We hope that you’ll visit again in the near future. Unfortunately, those of you in New York may have to wait until 2009 for any meaningful opportunities to enjoy our great city. Best Regards,
Tampa Bay Rays With that little bit of homerism out of the way, let’s move on to some waiver wire talk. Success on the waiver wire for many is like throwing darts in the dark. Once in a while, you hit something of value, but most of the time the dart just gets stuck in the wall. The key to getting players that can really help your fantasy team is to identify those players of value before your fellow owners do. While I recommend Tampa Bay’s Dan Wheeler as a solid pick-up, so will every other site out there. Wheeler’s opportunity is blatantly obvious and is already in place. Successful owners will identify a possible change in opportunity before it happens. If you listened to RotoExperts' own Tommy Landry last week, you could be sitting pretty with Damaso Marte and Grant Balfour, two pitchers whose values are on the upswing. The trade deadline offers clever owners the opportunity to target waiver wire pick-ups with a higher degree of success than their counterparts. For every player traded, there is an opportunity for another player to step up. With an eye toward the trade deadline, here are some players that could seize those new opportunities. [All statistics current through Thursday, July 3]  |
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| Armed with a nasty slider, Dan is the Man these days in Tampa. Photo Credit: Icon SMI |
NOW THAT SPELLS RELIEF
Take a look at the top prospects to deliver value as closers, setup men, and long relievers at this point of the season. Dan Wheeler, RP, TB
With Troy Percival headed to the DL, both Wheeler and Balfour have notched a save. Though Balfour may get his shots, Wheeler is the main option for saves in the Tampa bullpen. With an ERA under 2.00 and a WHIP under 1.00, he is the safer pick here. Taylor Buchholz, SP/RP, COL
Brian Fuentes will be dealt. The question then is who takes over closer duties in Colorado. Manuel Corpas has the experience and has pitched better as of late. Buchholz, though, has been quietly dominant this year. This failed Astros starter has an incredible WHIP of 0.76. That is not smoke and mirrors, boys. Strike now before Fuentes hits the road, and you’ll look like a genius in a few weeks. Better yet, if you have the roster space, grab Corpas as well, and you’ve guaranteed yourself a closer. Tyler Yates, RP, PIT
Last week Tommy Landry correctly identified Marte as a player to watch. If you listened you are happy right now. Matt Capps is now out for two months. The problem is that Marte is himself a prime trade target. If Marte is dealt, the Pirates have to turn to someone to close it out. Yates is not a stud by any means, but he looks more like a closer than anyone else in the Pittsburgh pen. CALL TO ARMS
Get your starting pitchers here! … Maybe… Targeting starting pitchers on the waiver wire is a dangerous practice, but here are a few who might have something to offer. Ricky Nolasco, SP, FLA
Nolasco has quietly picked up nine wins already. In shallower mixed leagues, he might still be available. He’s been less hittable this year than in the past and has kept his WHIP down to a respectable 1.25. Collin Balester, SP, WAS
Balester had a nice debut against the Marlins, allowing a lone hit in five innings. With that being said, his numbers in the minors were far from dominant. He may be able to help those of you in NL-only leagues, but his lack of Ks and the fact that he plays for the Nats certainly limits his upside. Mark Redman, Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, COL
Just seeing if you’re paying attention with the Redman stuff, unless of course you’re trying to lock up the first pick in next year’s draft. Jimenez was roughed up earlier in the year, and he was probably dropped in many leagues. He’s quietly put up a 3.30 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP in his last seven starts. You could do worse. SWINGING FOR THE FENCES
Lacking home runs? Stuck with a dearth of stolen bases? Here are some ideas to better shore up your offense. Chad Tracy, 1B/3B, AZ
With Eric Byrnes possibly out for the season and Conor Jackson headed to LF, Tracy is likely to see regular playing time. Tracy hasn’t exactly lit it up since his return from the DL, but he has shown the ability to produce in the past. If he’s available in your league, Chad is a safe pick who won’t hurt you and could pay real dividends. Brett Gardner, OF, NYY
Reports on the status of Hideki Matsui range from him being out a just few weeks to him missing the rest of the season. Gardner has one real tool: SPEED. Yes that’s capitalized for a reason. The guy can fly. His OBP skills may not translate to the majors, but his speed will. He should see the bulk of playing time in LF until Matsui returns. Chris Duncan, OF/1B, STL
The Ryan Ludwick train might be coming off the tracks. Duncan has struggled all year, but let’s not forget that this is the same guy who clubbed 22 HR in just 280 ABs a year ago. With Ludwick’s struggles and Skip Schumaker not exactly striking fear in the hearts of opponents, a Duncan hot streak could have him back in the lineup very quickly. Andre Ethier, OF, LAD
Ethier is a player in the mold of Chad Tracy. He doesn’t do anything exceptionally well, but he can add a little in all categories. Juan Pierre is going to be out four to six weeks, so even with Andruw Jones on the way back, Ethier still looks to get fairly regular playing time. Billy Butler, 1B/DH, KC
Butler is the one offensive player who is likely available in most mixed leagues and could explode. He has shown the ability to be a dominant hitter in the minor leagues. It’s going to happen sooner or later in the bigs. The Royals line-up is in a constant state of flux, but if Butler hits like he can, he will play. Definitely pick him up in AL-only leagues, and if you’ve got the room, grab him in mixed leagues as well. Steven Pearce, OF, PIT
Pearce has spent most of the year trying to lose his elite prospect status. Despite his struggles, the kid is still highly regarded. Why would the Pirates call him up with Jason Bay and Xavier Nady both healthy? Is a trade imminent? Was Bert really abducted by aliens (gratuitous and very obscure “Soap” reference)? This is the Pirates we’re talking about, but be ready to pounce if something happens. Definitely scoop him up if you’re in a keeper league. Doug Anderson, a.k.a. Rotodaddy, is an Aries who enjoys quiet times at area minor league games, as well as a night on the town at the Trop. Turn-ons include low WHIP starters, deep mono-leagues, and five category hitters. Turn-offs are high priced mediocre pitching, shallow mixed leagues, and one-dimensional base stealers. If you share these interests or just want to talk fantasy baseball drop him an email at
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