RADIO
Here we are, just a few short days into the season. The injury bug has already bitten and the hot stove has decided to burn past winter's end (see: Kimbrel, Craig). It's exciting stuff, so long as none of it has decimated your roster.
You may have a few slots to fill already. That's okay. I'm not here to point and laugh - just to help to you sort through the clutter and find some players with potential value in the deep waiver wire of the National League in April.
As a general rule of thumb, I'll try to keep my waiver wire recommendations to players who are owned in fewer than roughly 10 percent of leagues. Ideally, the vast majority will be owned in fewer than 5 percent. In addition, I'll do my best to suggest only those players who can at least help in two offensive categories.
Odubel Herrera, SS/OF, Philadelphia Phillies
Listen, I'm as shocked as you are that we're leading off with a Phillie. In all seriousness, though, Herrera has a chance to score some runs and steal a few bags, especially when manager Ryne Sandberg slots him at the top of the order. Just 23 years old, Herrera was only the second Phillies player in the last 45 years to make his major league debut as an Opening Day starter. It was quite the underwhelming debut, as he went 0-for-4, but early signs point to Herrera sticking with the big league club.
His bat will be tough to project since he's never actually played above the Double-A level. Plus, he played less than 200 games there over the last two seasons. In other words, he's sort of a wait-and-see guy at the major league level. That said, he hit .321 last season and makes a lot of contact, with excellent bat speed supporting his high BABIP. He's worth a flier as a contributor in runs and stolen bases - and he may just surprise us by hitting for a decent average, too. As a bonus, he could see enough time to qualify at shortstop, where he played for six seasons in the minors before moving to center field. Herrera is a little banged up right now after fouling a ball off his foot, but should be back in the lineup shortly.
Jace Peterson, 2B, Atlanta Braves
Peterson, acquired by the Braves in the deal that sent Justin Upton to the Padres, was probably a lock to be the starting second baseman since day one of Spring Training. Not one to leave things to chance, he made sure his performance in the Grapefruit League erased any doubt Fredi Gonzalez may have had about the situation. Peterson hit .321 over 68 at-bats with five doubles and also swiped three bags in four attempts.
His spring numbers were a nice showing for a kid who hit close to .300 in the minor leagues in each of the last three seasons, but struggled mightily in 27 games with the Padres last season, hitting .113 without a single extra base hit. Still, the super-athletic 24 year old should be able to show us the type of skills he flashed throughout the minors. His plate discipline and ability to draw walks nearly as often as he strikes out have helped him maintain a high on-base percentage. If he stays at the top of the lineup this season, he'll have even more value hitting in front of Freddie Freeman.
Jake Lamb, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks
A combination of the Arizona lineup needing some pop and Yasmany Tomas' inability to stick defensively at third base landed Jake Lamb on the opening day roster. Unlike Peterson, Lamb was far from a lock to make the cut. Luckily for those of us that could use a home run threat, Lamb should get a good chunk of at-bats, at least in the early going. If he's able to hold down the hot corner defensively, the Tomas experiment there might just be put on permanent hiatus.
Lamb is off to a hot start, with a homer and seven RBI in his first 10 at-bats. It's a real small sample size, but the earlier he's able to impress Chip Hale, the more potential he has to garner the plate appearances he needs to be a 15+ HR guy. Lamb's inability to be showcase his power in his rookie season last year was probably due in large part to the high strikeout rate that has followed him throughout his career. Interestingly,those whiffs never kept him from hitting for a high batting average in the minors - his lowest mark was .294 in 2012. If Lamb can cut down on the Ks even a little, he could easily become a mainstay on your roster in NL only formats.
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