Just a month or so left until the playoffs, for those of you who play in the head-to-head format. Are you on the bubble? Looking to add reinforcements to hold off a hard-charging opponent? In pole position and engaging in some good old fashioned gamesmanship? Whatever your situation, RotoBaller’s ongoing waiver wire coverage can give you the tools you need to succeed.
Today we’re looking at waiver options in the outfield. All five of the players we’ll discuss are available in at least 60 percent of Yahoo leagues. It’s time to play the music; it’s time to light the lights.
Editor’s Note: To read about even more waiver wire options for the outfield, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.
Outfield Waiver Wire for Week 19
Rusney Castillo, Boston Red Sox (36 percent)
Castillo was a tremendous disappointment in his first stint in the majors this season. However, since being recalled two weeks ago, He’s hit .333/.375/.444 with a homer and two steals. There’s still a wealth of potential here. Though Castillo figures to split time with Alejandro de Aza for now, the veteran is a strong candidate for an August trade. And with Boston out of contention, there’s no reason for them not to run Castillo out there every day to see what they have.
Nori Aoki, San Francisco Giants (32 percent)
Aoki sustained a small fracture of his right fibula and missed a month. He’s looked a bit rusty at the plate since his return, but was having an excellent season prior to the injury. Batting primarily in the leadoff spot, Aoki has posted a .304/.370/.389 line with a dozen steals. The veteran should be a steady three-cat contributor for the remainder of the season, assuming the leg injury didn’t rob him of any speed. He gets a boost in value if your league includes strikeouts for hitters – his 5.5 K% is the lowest of any hitter with at least 300 plate appearances. [Editor's note: Aoki left Sunday's game against the Cubs after being hit in the head by a pitch. He was able to walk off the field under his own power but will be evaluated for concussion symptoms.]
Odubel Herrera, Philadelphia Phillies (22 percent)
The rookie got off to a sizzling start to his major league career before slumping badly in May and June. However, he’s red hot again and deserves consideration in deeper formats. Since July 1, Herrera is hitting .375/.413/.587 with four homers. Ride him while he’s hot and hope that his two steals on Saturday night were a sign that he'll start running again. Bonus: He’s eligible at shortstop on all platforms, and also carries 2B eligibility in the Yahoo game.
Michael Taylor, Washington Nationals (9 percent)
Thanks to a bevy of injuries in the nation’s capital, Taylor has gotten a lot more playing time than anticipated this year. His rate stats aren’t terribly impressive with just a .237/.282/.371 triple slash to his name, but he does have 10 homers and 14 steals. He’s also tallied 77 R+RBI. Given that category juice, it’s a bit surprising that he’s available in over 90 percent of Y! leagues. Denard Span is set to begin a rehab assignment within the next week and will push Taylor to the bench when he returns, but Taylor’s worth a pickup in the interim.
Eddie Rosario, Minnesota Twins (6 percent)
Rosario is a flawed player – if he’s unable to maintain a high BABIP, his lousy plate discipline makes him a below-average offensive player. That said, he’s got some pop and some speed with which to help those owners in deep leagues. In just under half a season’s worth of plate appearances, he’s hit six homers and stolen nine bags to go along with a solid .275 batting average. And he did show a tendency to post high BABIPs in the minors. Though he’s logged all his time with the Twins in the outfield, he retains eligibility at second base.
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