RADIO
Corner Store is open! It is only week six and long-term DL stints and under-performing players are affecting many rosters. Therefore, it is important that you are fluid and dynamic in your ability to fill the voids and get positive results. Therefore, do not grow roots with the first player you drafted or get off the waiver wire. It might be better to go with the hot hand. In some cases, that might include players that are in time-shares and don't have everyday jobs. If your leagues are deep enough, these players will definitely give you the edge. Otherwise, I've included players that have been covered in the past at the bottom that have consistent playing time and production, yet are still available in too many leagues.
Again, you will not find a commensurate replacement for the corner infielder that you lost or is still having a sluggish start. When looking for a replacement or upgrade, identify the needs of your roster and how a player would fit in to improve your roster as a whole, or boost a certain category at the very least. First base and third base are generally the best spots to look to improve your team’s power. From the waiver wire, those individuals will usually come with a poor batting average. The main alternative is players that give you average production across the board. Choose wisely.
Key points - the primary focus of this list is on players who are owned in less than 50% of yahoo leagues. Below are some names that might be available. Check your leagues for availability.
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Week 6 Corner Infield (CI) Waiver Wire Targets
Ryon Healy (1B/3B, SEA) - 23% owned
Healy was acquired in the offseason to take over the first base job. However, an ankle injury slowed him down and gave the job to Dan Vogelbach. He returned from the disabled list to re-occupy his first base job and excelled thus far. In the last seven days, Healy has seven runs, four homers, nine RBI, .370 AVG, and a 1.245 OPS. Underlying stats can support this performance but there are also key points that will cause some to avoid him.
Supporters will look towards his hard hit rate (37.2%) and his slightly above average fly ball rate (39.5%) as signs that this can be maintained. Naysayers will point toward his 3.2 BB% and a .246 AVG as indicators that this performance is just a hot streak. However, with a BABIP of .244, we can expect a positive regression of the batting average to someone more in line with his career average of .279. Healy has never been one to draw many walks so if that is a category in your league, you’ll have to take that into consideration. Otherwise, I would expect more league owners to acquire Healy’s services for the near-term, at the very least.
Value Without Everyday Job
Mitch Moreland (1B, BOS) - 13% owned
Full disclosure, Moreland is currently a part time player. However, he has been performing better than many other waiver wire options available to you. He is primarily brought in to face right-handed pitchers. Thankfully, the fantasy world is stocked full of right-handers, specifically five of the Red Sox opponents this week are righties so Moreland should get his share of the playing time.
So, now let's determine if Moreland has maximized the playing time given to him. To start, he has a slash line of .347/.407/.653 in 81 inconsistent plate appearances this year. Moreland has six runs, three homers, and six RBI to go with a .500 AVG in 20 at-bats over the last week. He also has solid plate discipline with a 9.9 BB% and only a 14.8 K% to give you confidence even in OBP leagues.
If you have the roster space to carry an extra corner infielder, he should definitely be owned. Even if you don’t make an effort to get him on your roster for the days he starts.
Matt Adams (1B/OF, WAS) - 45% owned
Adams is the benefactor to Ryan Zimmerman’s sudden fall-off with his .194 batting average. Adams has started the last seven days, which were all against right-handed pitchers. In the last week, he is hitting .360 with eight runs, five homers, and eight RBI. With a BABIP of only .302, it shows that his average is not luck induced.
Adams has changed how he approaches his at-bats. His walk rate (14.8) is double his normal average and his strikeout rate (23.5) is slightly above average. Adams is also keeping the ball off the dirt with a paltry 29.2% ground ball rate. He is showing more restraint, only swinging at 32.2% of pitches outside the strike zone, but when he hits it, it is hit hard (39.6%). All of this shows promise for future at-bats and productions from the 29-year-old. However, keep in mind that all of this production is strictly against right-handed pitching. He is still looking for his first hit in seven at-bats against lefties.
So, if you’re going to use Adams in the near future, you’ll have to be selective. Unfortunately, there are only four right-handers on the schedule this week, three of which are in Arizona. He is best positioned to give you solid production from a corner-infielder spot.
Jesús Aguilar (1B/3B, MIL) - 3% owned
Aguilar is getting an opportunity for playing time while Eric Thames is out with a thumb injury that could cost him roughly two months. Currently Aguilar is splitting time with Ryan Braun and has started four of the last five games.
In 2017, Aguilar hit 16 homers in 279 at-bats, but it came with a 30.2% strikeout rate. 2018 has been a different story; he has drastically improved his strikeout rate (19.2%), fly ball percentage to 41.7, and elevated his OBP to .412. In the last week, Aguilar has a .275 average with one homer, three runs and two RBI.
Aguilar is hitting well against both righties and lefties; he just needs the consistent playing time. In his short appearances thus far, he has shown an improved plate discipline and potential for average power that could benefit your fantasy roster. Aguilar has challenging starts this week against Cleveland but then is rewarded with four games in Colorado. If you have roster maneuverability to make adjustments daily, Aguilar could be a timely contributor.
Performance of Other Corner-Infielder Options
Logan Morrison (1B, MIN) - 18% owned
Last 14 days: eight runs, three HR, nine RBI, .275 AVG
Jeimer Candelario (3B, DET) - 35% owned
Last 14 days: four runs, zero HR, three RBI, .321 AVG
C.J. Cron (1B, TB) - 37% owned
Last 14 days: nine runs, three HR, nine RBI, .245 AVG
Yonder Alonso (1B/OF, CLE) - 40% owned
Last 14 days: six runs, four HR, 11 RBI, .214 AVG
Daniel Robertson (3B, TB) - 34% owned
Last 14 days: four runs, one HR, three RBI, .342 AVG
