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Welcome back to another fun-filled season of fantasy baseball here at RotoBaller. We've got wall-to-wall content to help dominate your fantasy league(s). I'll be your guide up the middle, focusing on second basemen and shortstops to add off waivers that could provide that winning edge.
It may be early in the season, but that won't stop us from scouring the waiver wire despite the small sample size of MLB games from Opening Weekend. In fact, now is the best time to hit waivers as players who were overlooked during draft season are still plentiful, and the pick-ups we make now have a longer time frame to make an impact in fantasy.
As a reminder, we'll be looking at pickups for shallow leagues (30-49% rostered) and deeper formats (10-29%), as well as highlighting players in the single digits who deserve a spot on your watch list at the very least. These are your second base and shortstop fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 2 – April 3rd through April 9th.
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Waiver Wire Pickups for Shallow Leagues
Bryson Stott, 2B/SS, Philadelphia Phillies (43% rostered)
Stott's numbers from last season look pedestrian as he only batted .230, but a look under the hood reveals a tale of two seasons. The former top prospect in the Phillies' system got off to a miserable start to his MLB career and was sent back to Triple-A with a batting average of .130.
He continued to tear up minor-league pitching and upon his return to Philadelphia, he looked like a completely different player. From June 1 on, Stott batted a respectable .257 with all 10 of his homers while chipping in 12 stolen bases.
Stott was a .300-plus hitter at both Double-A and Triple-A, so he should be an asset in batting average. Throw in sneaky power and great speed, and the starting 2B in Philly is a candidate to post a 20-homer, 20-steal season.
Jorge Mateo, SS, Baltimore Orioles (26% rostered)
If you've watched five minutes of baseball this season, there's a good chance you've heard about the rule changes in MLB. Bigger bases, limited pickoff throws, and lots of fresh new ideas designed to increase action on the base paths were the dominant talking point of Opening Weekend games.
Jorge Mateo is a player who should benefit from the rule changes as much as anyone making it baffling that he's available in three-quarters of all fantasy leagues. The reigning AL-stolen base champ stole two bags on Opening Day and should score plenty of runs in an improved Orioles lineup.
Waiver Wire Pickups for Deeper Leagues
Michael Massey, 2B, Kansas City Royals (22% rostered)
Like Stott above, Massey underwhelmed a tad in his first taste of Big League action last season. However, this is still a top prospect who mashed to the tune of a .325 batting average and .595 slugging percentage in Triple-A last year.
Yes, it was just 33 games, but Massey also hit 21 homers and slugged .531 in 99 games at Double-A. This is a kid who simply needs time to adjust to a higher level of baseball and his track record suggests he'll figure it out. Massey is worth a look in deeper leagues in case he breaks out in his age-25 campaign.
Aledmys Diaz, 1B/2B/SS/3B/OF, Oakland Athletics (9% rostered)
Over the past four seasons, Diaz has been a handy utility man on the juggernaut known as the Houston Astros. Diaz never got everyday at-bats but produced when called upon while playing all over the field.
Now, he's got tons of eligibility in fantasy, a World Series ring, and a brand-new $14.5 million dollar contract with the Oakland A's. Most importantly, he'll get the chance to play every day for a rebuilding squad making Diaz an intriguing fantasy asset, particularly in daily-lineup leagues where he can fill in almost anywhere on the diamond.
Waiver Wire Watch List
Royce Lewis, SS, Minnesota Twins (8% rostered)
He's on the 60-day injured list after knee surgery, but all indications are that Lewis is on the mend and could return in May. He's been cleared to run the bases and hopes to play in minor league games by the end of April, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic.
Lewis flashed in 12 MLB games last season popping two homers, driving in five RBI, and scoring five runs. While IL spots in fantasy can be at a premium, Lewis is worth a stash as he could be a difference maker for the final two-thirds of the season.
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