Brett Gardner (OF, NYY) - Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 29% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Of all of the amazingly talented and highly sought-after pieces that grace the New York Yankees batting order, very few people probably expected 35-year-old Brett Gardner to be as valuable as he has been at the plate in 2019. In 310 AB, the veteran outfielder has posted a very strong 15 home runs, eight stolen bases in ten tries, and a surprisingly power-heavy slash of .245/.326/.465. Even with spotty figures on batted balls, Gardner has continually found success for a first-place, high-octane offense with consistent plate-discipline and the ability to sustain a high BABIP with elite speed on the base-paths (closing in on 40 and sprinting at 29.0 feet per second).

Over the last 47 AB throughout the month of July, the former All-Star and Gold Glove winner has clubbed three homers, stolen two bags, and produced a slash of .298/.365/.596. He has walked at a stout clip all season, and he has continued that scheme with a 9.6% rate so far this month to effectively counter-balance his ascending strikeout rate. His soft/hard contact rates on batted balls have frighteningly dwindled to 22.9% each this month, but with his increased frequency of line drives (up to 20.6%) and his lightning speed, his season-high BABIP figure of .344 seems like a welcomed exchange. With power, speed, and volume on the field for the New York Yankees, Brett Gardner is a potent piece of a potentially deep-digging squad. At such seasoned age among a slew of young stars, it seems almost unfair that he is playing in pinstripes.