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Welcome back to the Outfield Waiver Wire, where we look at the best outfielders available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. Consider this column your recommendations for Week 21 outfield waiver wire pickups.
We're entering the stretch run, but there are still plenty of guys who can help you floating around on the waiver wire. Not every move can be a blockbuster. Value is value, wherever you can find it. This column is designed to help you do just that.
Let's get down to business.
Week 21 Outfield (OF) Waiver Wire Targets
Byron Buxton, OF, Minnesota Twins (47% owned)
While it might seem like you’ve been hearing Buxton’s name forever, he’s still just 23 years old. It would be foolish to declare him a bust already, as some have done. Whatever your long-term view of the kid, his recent production can’t be overlooked. The Twins’ center fielder has hit a blistering .356/.410/.567 with four home runs and nine stolen bases in just 29 games since the end of June (he missed the back half of July with an injury). He may not deliver on my preseason prediction, but Buxton has earned a spot on fantasy rosters for the stretch run.
Keon Broxton, OF, Milwaukee Brewers (36%)
Broxton was demoted to the minors after collecting just three hits in 15 July contests. Since returning to the big leagues on August 1, Broxton has hit .296/.371/.667 with six homers, 22 R+RBI, and two steals in 18 games. Expecting the batting average to persist would be folly, but Broxton is one stolen base shy of being the only 20/20 player in baseball and in the midst of a hot streak. You can find room on your team for a guy like that.
Ian Happ, 2B/OF, Chicago Cubs (23%)
Happ, like most rookies, has had his ups and down this season. Still, he’s contributed a .249-41-18-44-7 line in half a season’s worth of plate appearances, so it’s surprising to see him available for nothing in so many leagues. That’s particularly true when you consider that he’s smacked four home runs in the past week. Happ just turned 23 this month, so the best is likely yet to come. What he’s doing now is still pretty good, though.
Nick Delmonico, OF, Chicago White Sox (11%)
I have my doubts as to what Nick Delmonico’s true talent level might be. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure he even exists. Maybe I’ve just been playing too much OOTP (I definitely have), but doesn’t that name sound like it came from a random generator? Anyway, Delmonico is allegedly a guy who is hitting .361/.451/.639 with five homers, a stolen base, and 23 R+RBI in his first 17 games at the big-league level. He wasn’t a well-known prospect and his minor league track record doesn’t jump off the page, but we’re not concerned about anything beyond accumulating numbers at this point. Nicky Ribeye, come on down.
Delino DeShields, OF, Texas Rangers (5%)
With Carlos Gomez hitting the disabled list earlier this week, DeShields has been playing every day and leading off to boot. He hasn’t wasted the opportunity, logging four multi-hit games and stealing five bases in his last eight games. In less than a half-season’s worth of plate appearances, DeShields has hit .286 with 49 runs and 22 steals. Anyone in need of a boost in those categories would do well to roster him for as long as he’s got a full-time role.
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