Time for our weekly feet-first jump from the waiver wire into the free agent pool below. It’s a week into June, and injuries (whether short- or long-term) continue to add up, making upside value as important as ever.
Times like these make you wonder if the boneyard of waiver wire players has been completely picked clean. It isn’t, but players are harder to find now without new breakout performances that slap you in the face. It’s also time to start keeping one eye on returning players. Many might already be spoken for, but their owners will have to drop someone in order to activate them from an IL slot. Be sure check out the recent transactions daily.
Now let’s scour the barrel for some lesser-owned names that could impact your lineups. You can find our most recent entries into the weekly waiver wire adds here.
***All ownership percentages from Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball***
Upside Adds
Lucas Sims (RP – CIN) 23% owned
This is an interesting name, as it seems like teams are always looking at entrenched closers. Look no further than righty Sims, who has a firm hold on the closing situation in Cincinnati.
Early in the season, that role belonged to Amir Garrett before he completely melted down. Following that, concern abounded that Tejay Antone might have a shot at the role. Both of those players are situational pitchers at this point, and in save situations, Sims is the guy. The Reds are very up-and-down, and Sims’ 4.91 ERA does little to excite. However, if you need a closer, here’s one on a silver platter that is available in three-fourths of leagues. Sims has three wins and five saves to go with 33 Ks in 22 IP.
Miguel Andujar (3B, OF – NYY) 10% owned
Andujar was left for dead after a season-ending torn labrum in 2019 followed by poor play in 2020, which landed him in the minors. This all came after a .297, 27-homer, 97 RBI breakout in 2018. Talent like that doesn’t just completely disappear and after an underwhelming start to 2021, he seems to be picking it back up. Andujar has three home runs this season, and all three have come in the last five games. His slash of .238/.238/.363 is unimpressive, but he may be turning that corner and should be rostered at the very least as a stash an any 12-plus team leagues.
Joey Votto (1B – CIN) 15% owned
The second Reds player on the list is due to return from a thumb fracture in the next week, depending on how he feels. In his first rehab assignment at Triple-A, he finished just a home run short of the cycle. More importantly, he played the field as opposed to simply being the DH. Of course, his return hinges on his pain tolerance but Votto seems to want to get back to the big-league club quickly.
With the Cincinnati offense clicking, the veteran first baseman is intriguing as he’s likely to find himself with scoring or RBI opportunities right off the bat (pardon the pun). Although scuffling just before the injury, in just 29 games Votto was sitting on .226/.305/.425 with five dingers and 17 RBI. Those numbers were not attractive then, but with all the injuries since, they might be now.
Ryan Yarbrough (SP – TB) 36% owned
The 6’5” southpaw had a few stinkers early in the season, causing a hefty drop in ownership as managers shuffled their rosters with fancy new toys. Regardless, on the season Yarbrough carries a 3.95 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with three victories. In his last 30 days, it’s 3.14/0.87 and credit the 29-year-old with a complete game victory over Gerrit Cole and the Yankees.
At the very least, Yarbrough should be rostered in over 36% of leagues as a tail-end starter to your fantasy rotation. He’ll remain a good play against good teams and a must-start against anyone average or less, including his next start which will come against the toothless Nationals or the hapless Orioles.
Roster if Available
Because of their higher ownership percentage, these guys aren’t listed above. However, they are must-adds if available in leagues with 12 teams or more:
Jonathan Schoop (1B, 2B – DET) 42% owned
Avisail Garcia (OF – MIL) 53% owned
Tony Gonsolin (SP – LAD) 53% owned
Keem ‘Em Stashed
The waiting game should be almost over for these players:
Vidal Brujan (2B, OF – TB) 20% owned
Wander Franco (SS – TB) 56% owned
Luis Severino (SP – NYY) 52% owned
Best of luck with all of your bids and pickups this week. Keep an eye on that transaction list, and keep looking for the upside.
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @ptsportstalk
Follow Sam Schneider on Twitter @BuyAndSellYou
Main Image Credit:
Embed from Getty Images
