Rookie hitters highlight this week's fantasy waiver wire
As this point in the season, fantasy owners' free agent budgets are pretty much tapped out. Yet there continue to be useful players popping up every week on the free agent wire.
The headliners this week are a Cuban defector, a No. 1 overall draft pick who made the majors in 14 months and another former first-rounder who took four years.
Suggested Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) bids are based on a season-long cap of $100. If your team has a specific positional need, feel free to bid even higher.
DOUBLE CHECK: Last week's waiver wire suggestions
(Statistics through Thursday’s games except where noted.)
BEST BETS
NEW: 3B Yulieski Gurriel, Houston Astros
(AL: $30; Mixed: $18)
The 32-year-old former member of the Cuban national team signed with the Astros last month, bringing his extensive international experience with him. In 15 seasons in Cuba (plus part of one season in Japan), Gurriel hit .335 with 250 homers and a .997 OPS. He's been a bit less successful during his 15-game crash course in the minors (.250/.262/.429), but he'll make his MLB debut on Sunday. If he hits, he has the inside track to being the Astros starting third baseman the rest of the way.
SS Dansby Swanson, Atlanta Braves
(NL: $25; Mixed: $15)
Selected first in last year's draft by the Diamondbacks, Swanson was traded to his hometown team in the offseason and has risen quickly through the ranks. When a spot opened up on the major league roster, he skipped Class AAA altogether and ripped a pair of hits in his MLB debut. Don't expect a ton of power, but he makes solid contact and should get regular playing time.
OF Mitch Haniger, Arizona Diamondbacks
(NL: $20; Mixed: $10)
The D'backs may have made out a little better in the trade that netted them Haniger from Milwaukee for veteran outfielder Gerardo Parra. The 38th overall pick in the 2012 finally reached Class AAA in June and dominated. He hit .351/.437/.697 with 19 homers in 228 at-bats at Reno. After getting the call to the majors, the 25-year-old continued his hot streak with six hits in his first 13 at-bats (.462), two doubles, a triple and five RBI.
SP Chad Green, New York Yankees
(AL: $14: Mixed: $5)
Here's yet another rookie -- although he didn't make his MLB debut this week. What puts him on the fantasy radar is his six shutout innings against the Toronto Blue Jays with 11 strikeouts and no walks. Another product of the new Yankee youth movement? Well, Green did have an ERA of 4.94 in 27 1/3 innings heading into that start, but why ruin the narrative? He should remain in the rotation the rest of the way and shouldn't have to worry about an innings cap. Consider him a worthwhile streamer.
REPLACEMENTS
SP Reynaldo Lopez, Washington Nationals
(NL: $10; Mixed: $5)
Speaking of 11-strikeout performances by a rookie ... Lopez did that Thursday at Atlanta in his fourth major league start. He has a fastball that averages in the upper 90s and he averaged over 10 K's per nine innings in the minors. After wins in back-to-back wins against the lowly Braves, he's scheduled to pitch twice in Week 21: at Baltimore and at home vs. Colorado.
SP David Phelps, Miami Marlins
(NL: $8; Mixed: $4)
After a successful season in the bullpen (2.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP), Phelps has transitioned into a starter to help out an injury-depleted rotation. He picked up his first win in his new role on Monday and will look to go six innings for the first time Friday against the Padres. While we'd expect him to be a bit less effective in longer stretches (he averaged 11.4 K/9 as a reliever), he did strike out eight Reds in 5 1/3 innings last time out.
SS Erick Aybar, Detroit Tigers
(AL: $6; Mixed: $2)
Yes, he's been awful this season with a .611 OPS that ranks 155th out of 157 qualified MLB hitters. However ... he's in a new league on a better offensive team and (statheads will love this) batting second -- ahead of Miguel Cabrera -- since the Tigers acquired him from Atlanta. Though he has stolen as many as 30 bases in a season (2011), he has just three (in eight attempts) this year. Aybar is better than taking a zero at shortstop for the week ... but just barely.
NEW: RP Enrique Burgos, Arizona Diamondbacks
(NL: $5; Mixed: $2)
With Jake Barrett struggling, Burgos got a a save opportunity and converted it Saturday night, tossing a scoreless ninth against the Padres. Burgos doesn't have stellar skills, with a 3.07 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, but he apparently has the job. Although he has 31 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings, he also has 15 walks in that span.
RP Fernando Salas, Los Angeles Angels
(AL: $5; Mixed: $2)
The 31-year-old veteran is only closing while Huston Street and Cam Bedrosian are on the disabled list -- and the Angels just snapped an 11-game losing streak on Tuesday -- but saves are saves. Salas did have 24 of them for the Cardinals in 2011 so he does have that all-important "ninth-inning experience," but with Street and Bedrosian possibly back as soon as next week, Salas may have precious few save chances remaining.
SPECULATIVE PICKUP
UPDATE: SP Jeff Hoffman, Colorado Rockies
The usual caveats about Rockies pitchers still apply, even with their top pitching prospect, who made his MLB debut Saturday at home and allowed six earned runs in four innings against the Cubs. He should be familiar enough pitching in hitter-friendly environments after pitching this season for Class AAA Albuquerque, where he posted a 4.02 ERA and struck out 124 hitters in 118 2/3 innings. A member of the U.S. team at the All-Star Futures Game, the 23-year-old right-hander is more of a stash for the future.