With time running short, it makes sense for us to dig a little deeper than earlier in the year. We're less concerned with the big picture and just looking for any foothold that might give us a boost. If only you'd started reading this feature earlier!
You might have landed Gerardo Parra, Cameron Maybin, Curtis Granderson, or Randal Grichuk and no longer need help. Fortunately, there are still bargains to be had. The options we'll discuss today are all available in at least 75 percent of Yahoo leagues.
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 20
Carlos Beltran, New York Yankees (25 percent owned)
He hasn't recaptured his youth in the way that teammates Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira have, but Beltran has bounced back from an awful 2014. While the aging vet looks like a solid bet to steal no bases (or even log an attempt) for the first time in his career, he does have a solid .267/.328/.459 line to his credit. He's been locked in since the break, with a .964 OPS, four homers and more walks (11) than strikeouts (eight). The Bombers need all the help they can get to stave off the Blue Jays' blitzkrieg. Beltran's doing what he can to provide it.
Delino DeShields Jr., Texas Rangers (17 percent)
DeShields, who celebrates his 23rd birthday today, got himself an early gift with his first major league homer on Friday. Though big flies will likely be few and far between for the light-hitting center fielder, his true value lies in his speed and plate discipline. These attributes have led to him being installed as the leadoff hitter for the Rangers, making him an asset in runs as well. Despite logging only three innings at the position this season, DeShields is also 2B-eligible. His numbers compare favorably to Billy Burns, who's owned in nearly three times as many leagues and doesn't offer the same positional flexibility.
Colby Rasmus, Houston Astros (5 percent)
There are 27 outfielders with at least 15 homers this season. Rasmus is the only one of them not owned in at least a third of Yahoo leagues, and just three others are under 50 percent owned. He's a bit of a BA drag, currently hovering around his mediocre .245 career mark thanks to his typically hacktastic ways. Cheap power is tough to come by this time of year, though, and that's what you'll get here. Rasmus has been largely ignored by fantasy owners all season, but he deserves a bit more attention.
Jackie Bradley Jr., Boston Red Sox (4 percent)
JBJ's ownership rate figures to shoot up after an absolutely mammoth day at the dish on Saturday (five extra-base hits in six at-bats, including two homers, and 7 RBI). But that was just the cherry on top of a huge week for the former top prospect. Bradley has posted an unconscious .520/.556/1.200 line with four homers and 24 R+RBI in his last five games. In the process, he's raised his OPS from a putrid .426 to a healthy .840. We have an entire season's worth of plate appearances to weigh against Bradley's fireworks display that suggest he's kind of terrible. But given his pedigree there's the possibility, however remote, that something's clicked. If you need a miracle, he might be your man.
Abraham Almonte, Cleveland Indians (2 percent)
Almonte's not having quite as otherworldly a week as Bradley, but he went deep in consecutive games after being recalled last weekend and hit safely in his first half-dozen games with the Indians. With Cleveland throwing in the towel this year and Michael Bourn shipped out of town, Almonte seems to be the guy in center field. He flashed solid plate discipline and speed in the minors, so there's some potential value here in deep formats.
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