I want to put Ichiro Suzuki on this list so badly. After most critics thought it would be a race with retirement to reach 3,000 MLB hits, Ichiro is batting .350 this year in a backup role with the Marlins. At the ripe age of 42, he's still a menace on the basepaths. Though he's reach base just 20 times in June, he's crossed home plate nine times and has stolen four bases. Just two days ago, the legendary outfielder assembled a 3-for-4 effort with two walks, three runs scored and an RBI in San Diego.
If you have a completely free bench spot lying around, the veteran may be worth holding and starting whenever he's in the lineup. But the Marlins outfield is stacked and Ichiro's chances will be limited in the future. Too bad. Here's a few guys who play more often and should be more realistic options than a 42 year-old slap hitter.
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Week 11 Outfield Targets
Brandon Moss, St. Louis Cardinals
Owned in 29% of Fleaflicker Leagues
In many ways, Brandon Moss is matching the pace of his 2014 All-Star campaign with the Oakland Athletics. In other ways, he is far surpassing any previous production in his career. His .579 slugging percentage and .258 BA would be his best marks since 2012, a season in which Moss hit 21 HR in 84 games. The hard-hitting outfielder already has 14 homers on the season, putting him on pace for 40 by the end of the year. Though Moss did clobber 76 long balls from 2012-14, he has fallen off steeply since his days in Oakland and hasn't been considered among the league's elite for a while now. His 14 homers thus far have finally earned him a place in that elite company, as has his .921 OPS. Both figures are top-20 among all MLB hitters this year. That kind of power and consistency should not be left on the waiver wire much longer.
Chris Young, Boston Red Sox
Owned in 9% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Forever doomed to live in the shadow of Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts, Chris Young has quietly been having a very nice June. In fact, he's been much better than both Betts and Bradley over the past two weeks. Initially a temporary fill-in for an injured Brock Holt, Young has gone 12-for-36 in the starting role with five dingers and a 1.190 OPS. Young is far removed from his 27 HR, 28 SB output of 2010 and likely won't sustain this pace for long swaths of time. However, he is seeing the ball well right now and is making a good case to retain the job once Holt comes back from the DL. He should see plenty of RBI opportunities hitting out of the six-spot for the high-powered Red Sox, where he's been hitting for the past week. With nine RBI in his past 13 games, the placement is already paying dividends.
Peter O'Brien, Arizona Diamondbacks
Owned in 4% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Since being called up last week, Peter O'Brien has gone 1-for-10 with five strikeouts. Obviously that's not incredibly reassuring. There is good news. His one hit was a three-run homer and his minor league numbers have been stellar this year. In 51 games with Triple-A Reno this year, O'Brien has posted a ridiculous .330/.356/.670 line with 17 home runs. The strikeout rate is alarming, but not out of character for a young slugger entering the league. If the batting average can translate to success against Major League pitching, O'Brien could be one of the most worthwhile adds in the outfield this year. The Diamondbacks intend to use him mostly against lefties, which gives him limited value at first. Still, he is well worth the stash for the next few weeks to see if the talent can pan out. We should know very soon whether or not the kid from Hialeah is ready for the Bigs.
Tyler Naquin, Cleveland Indians
Owned in 5% of Fleaflicker Leagues
While O'Brien may be the most anticipated outfield prospect of 2016, Tyler Naquin has mostly flown under the radar. The 25 year-old flashed signs of consistent hitting with Triple-A Columbus, evidenced by an admirable .286/.354/.400 line in 17 games this year. With Michael Brantley quickly heading to the DL in early April, Naquin earned an early promotion for the Tribe. After a year-long PED suspension was handed to Marlon Byrd, Naquin eanred another promotion on June 1 and it appears as if he's here to stay this time. With Rajai Davis solidifying the only everyday role in Cleveland's outfield, there is plenty of room for Naquin if he can perform well. Thus far, he's done just that. He's gone .312/.354/.516 in 99 plate appearances with four homers, three doubles and two triples. That's far better than anything Lonnie Chisenhall has been able to produce this year. Naquin should be a regular starter moving forward with slight upside.
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