RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Target ~215
CURRENT ADP: ~253
ANALYSIS: Neil Walker should feel downright disrespected these days. Once considered a top 10 second baseman who won a Silver Slugger award in Pittsburgh, his value took a sharp downward turn after one season in New York. Not that Walker was that much less effective, but injuries limited him to 113 games and soured fantasy owners on the now 30-year-old. He still managed to launch 23 home runs, tying his career high from 2014, and posted the second best average of his career at .282. His improved walk rate (9.2%) is a good sign that he isn't losing his eye for the ball. We shouldn't expect 30 homers translated over a full season, however, as his 12.4% HR/FB was five points over his career average and is likely to dip again.
Age and injury concerns are to blame for Walker's low ADP. He's never taken 600 at-bats in a season, only coming close once. Then again, he has never finished a season with less than 400 at-bats either. Clearly he isn't built for the grind and can't be relied on as an everyday starting second baseman in fantasy leagues, but he is an ideal MI who can deliver 20+ HR and 70-80 RBI at a discount. He is being selected after the likes of Brandon Drury and Starlin Castro, neither of whom are probable to approach those power numbers. Walker's ceiling surpasses all other 2B in his draft range, making him a target to keep in mind.
Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!
