Welcome back to Week 3 of middle-infield waiver wire options, and Happy Easter to all who celebrate. We've got over a full week of baseball in the rear-view mirror and we're starting to get some clarity on playing-time situations around the league.
In the first couple of series, most managers like to get their whole roster into game action. By now though, we've seen enough to know who won those position battles in the spring, who sits versus a lefty, and where guys will generally be in the batting order. Without further ado, let's hit the waiver wire.
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 3 – April 10th through April 16th.
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Waiver Wire Pickups for Shallow Leagues
Orlando Arcia, 2B/SS, Atlanta Braves (36% rostered)
Orlando Arcia hasn't been a useful fantasy option over the past few years, but perhaps it's time to look at him differently now that he's back in an everyday role.
The 28-year-old has spent the past couple of seasons in a utility role, but the Braves let Dansby Swanson leave in free agency and optioned Vaughn Grissom to Triple-A, leaving the starting shortstop role all for Arcia. Last Thursday, Arcia went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and a walk-off single as he continues to mash the ball all over the field.
Bryson Stott, 2B/SS, Philadelphia Phillies (45% rostered)
Stott was the cover boy in this piece last week but will continue to be here as long as his roster rate sits below 50%.
The 25-year-old has gotten off to a weird start this season; he's hitting .419 and slugging .526, but is yet to score a run and didn't have an RBI until his walk-off hit on Saturday. That will obviously change as the season progresses, and fantasy managers can still get in on the ground floor for Stott's breakout season.
Waiver Wire Pickups for Deeper Leagues
Brice Turang, SS, Milwaukee Brewers (27% rostered)
The Brewers' playing time situation was one of the most muddled entering the season. One thing that's been established, Brice Turang is here to stay. The former first-rounder earned the starting shortstop job and has hit the ground running as he's slashing .316/.435/.526 early in the season.
Yes, it's still a small sample, but Turang was a highly-regarded prospect and is coming off a season where he stole 34 bases in Triple-A with great plate discipline numbers. Turang is the real deal and should be more highly-rostered in fantasy.
Oswaldo Cabrera, 2B/SS/OF, New York Yankees (18% rostered)
In the intro, we talked about how playing time questions have largely been answered in the first week of the season. One player who raised his stock thus far is Oswaldo Cabrera who has started seven games in the first eight for the Yankees.
He's mostly played left field, but he's got triple-eligibility in fantasy and showed enough power and speed last season between MLB and Triple-A to be an intriguing fantasy asset.
Waiver Wire Watch List
Oswald Peraza, SS, New York Yankees (7% rostered)
We're going to double up on Yankee prospects this week. Baby bombers Anthony Volpe and Cabrera are already in the Majors playing every day, but keep an eye on Oswald Peraza, who could get the call to New York with Josh Donaldson (hamstring) heading to the injured list.
Last season in Triple-A, Peraza swiped 33 bases, hit 19 homers, and put up 107 runs-plus RBI in only 99 games. If he can squeeze his way into the Yankee lineup, then Peraza immediately has fantasy value in deeper formats.
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