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Welcome to yet another edition of the Deeper League Waiver Wire: NL Edition. My goal as always, is to help identify some fantasy baseball players who can be viable waiver wire pickups and sleepers for deeper leagues, including NL-Only formats.
Today I have an every day infielder, a late-inning reliever, and a guy (currently at the AA level) that could be with his major league club by mid-summer. The AA guy has the ability to be an immediate impact guy and would definitely be "keeper worthy" in NL-only formats.
Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.
Ben Paulsen - 1B/OF - Rockies
It looks as if Rockies' manager Walt Weiss has found his every day guy to help replace the losses of Corey Dickerson and Justin Morneau to the disabled list. The 27-year-old lefty bat has provided the Rockies with a boost so far, and has the ability to play first base or either corner outfield position. Through 56 plate appearances, Paulsen is hitting .333 with four home runs, nine runs scored and nine driven in with an impressive .647 slugging percentage. He's got a ridiculously high BABIP right now, but it's nearly right in line with his career average between minor league ball and the majors. He boasts a super impressive 31 percent line drive rate and shouldn't have too much trouble finding gaps for doubles and triples in the spacious outfield at Coors. Paulsen has likely played his way into a nearly every day role, even after Morneau and Dickerson return from injury. Anytime you have the chance to add a guy like Paulsen - who has multi-position eligibility, solid power, and plays half of his games in the thin air of the Rockie Mountains - you have to do it.
Kyle Schwarber - C/OF - Tennessee Smokies (Cubs' AA Team)
The power-hitting lefty bat, fresh off his Cubs' Minor League Player of the Month award for May, continues to terrorize pitchers at an incredible rate. The fourth overall pick of the 2014 draft out of Indiana University was selected as a catcher, but his ultimate role may be a corner outfield position - and sooner than anyone could have predicted. So far in 2015 in 161 at-bats, Schwarber is hitting .323 with a .445 OBP and a .602 slugging percentage that includes 12 home runs. His strikeout rate is nearly matched by his walk rate - something we haven't seen from a power hitting minor leaguer since some guy named Kris Bryant. I know grabbing a guy at the AA level may seem like a stretch, but consider the following. Once he reaches the major league level, he's a keeper worthy guy in NL-Only formats (and perhaps someday in mixed leagues). And, more importantly for those needing 2015 help, he could be called up as soon as July, as many believe he's the Cubs' best option in left field in terms of potential offensive production.
Hunter Strickland - RP - Giants
It looks as though the flame-throwing Strickland has assumed the eighth-inning job, at least for the time being. He's recorded three holds since May 27th, and even if your NL-only league doesn't count holds, I think he's worth stashing for two reasons. One, the Giants have had trouble closing the door this season and two, Strickland has the make-up of an eventual closer. The 26-year-old has an incredible fastball with a high whiff rate and his K/9 is over 10 this season. Perhaps more importantly, he's found a way to limit home runs and walks - two things that plagued him previously. It can be incredibly difficult to come across a closer on the waiver wire this time of year, so your best bet is grabbing a late inning guy like Strickland that has the pitching repertoire to shut the door in the ninth when he's eventually called upon for that role.
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