2013 MLB Fantasy Baseball Waivers for Late July
Carlos Quentin, SD OF
Something tells me that Zach Greinke wouldn’t hesitate to disagree that outfielder Carlos Quentin has earned himself some fantasy value within the past couple of weeks. The two players got into a scuffle earlier in the season after Greinke plunked Quentin with a fastball, which resulted in Greinke’s collarbone being broken. Quentin now owns a respectable .275 average on the season, and has quietly managed to spank 13 big-flies to go along with 43 RBI and a .364 OBP so far. At 30-years-old, the right-handed hitting slugger has been considered “the guy” in San Diego, especially with the disappointing season that his struggling teammate Chase Headley is having. Always known for being a power threat, Carlos has clobbered an impressive 150 homers in his seven-year Major League career. Although Petco Park is one of the least hitter-friendly ballparks in the league, the 240-pound Quentin shouldn’t have much trouble going yard there as long as he can remain healthy.
Given his reputation for continuously finding ways to injure himself, Quentin’s fantasy owners probably shouldn’t rely on him as a permanent solution to their daily lineup woes. He has little, to no protection hitting behind him, not to mention the lack of RBI opportunities that his team continues to present him with. With that being said, his recent production certainly makes him worth a second look, as he has driven in eight runs over the past week. If in desperate need of a replacement outfielder, Quentin seems to be one of the best options that the waiver wire has to offer at this point in the season.
Junior Lake, ChC SS/OF
With the recent trade of Alfonso Soriano, the Cubs have made it clear that for the time being, 23-year-old Junior Lake will take over as their everyday center fielder. The speedy Dominican made his major league debut on July 19th, and has been on a delightful tear since then. Lake notched 15 hits in his first 43 at-bats (.349), including two homeruns and five RBI during his first week of Major League action. He seems comfortable batting at the top of the Cubs’ mediocre lineup, and even though he has cooled down a bit within the past few days, the rookie’s Minor League numbers prove that he isn’t just a fluke. Lake was hitting .295 in Triple-A this season before his promotion.
On the flip side, Cubs manager Dale Sveum did mention that Lake will see less playing time once David DeJesus returns from the disabled list. Even though he may have reached his peak in fantasy value, make sure you squeeze out what productivity is left in him while there is still time. I see a great deal of potential in this up-and-coming player, and with the recent struggles of Starlin Castro, I have a feeling that we will be hearing Lakes’ name quite often in the near future.
Christian Yelich, Mia 1B/OF
At 21-years-old, the two-time Minor League Player of the Year led the Florida State League in slugging, while finishing second in both batting average and on-base percentage. You could say the kid has a promising future and the Marlins feel that the future is now. Yelich made his Major League debut last week, and has managed to hit around .300 in his first 25 at-bats in the Show. He doesn’t seem overmatched at the plate, and should be able to hold his own at baseball’s highest level as long as the Marlins continue to believe in him.
In 302 career Minor League games, Yelich managed to post a .313/.387/.499 slash line, showing that he has the ability to be consistent if healthy. He went straight from Double-A to the Big Leagues and the remainder of the season will be an indication of what kind of player he can be. It may be a little early, but this future star is bound to shine, especially on such a small stage.
A.J. Pierzynski, Tex C
Surprisingly, veteran backstop A.J. Pierzynski hasn’t let Texas’ devastating summer heat get the best of him…at least not yet. The 36-year-old catcher is spending his 15th season handling Ron Washington’s young, but talented pitching staff, while contributing as much as he can at the plate. He is hitting .274 with 10 homeruns and 36 RBI in 2013 and will look to survive the second half of the season as one of the league’s oldest catchers.
Pierzynski, a .283 career hitter, won a World Series with the Chicago White Sox back in 2005. He definitely has the experience to finish the season with descent numbers and the Rangers seem to be committed to him as they chase the Oakland A’s for the division lead. Age will factor in from time to time, so expect ‘Wash’ to give him an occasional day off, while going with his backup Geovany Soto if necessary. A.J. is ranked inside the top-10 amongst catchers in most leagues and is owned in 53% of ESPN Leagues.
Chad Gaudin, SF SP
Right-hander Chad Gaudin has been very helpful for the defending champions this year, flourishing in a fill in role for the injured Ryan Vogelsong. Gaudin holds a 4-2 record, and continues to impress pitching coach Dave Righetti with his sparkling 2.77 ERA and 1.18 WHIP for 2013. The Giants are playing bad baseball right now with poor fielding and hitting, so I wouldn’t expect much run support for their frustrated pitching staff. But as long as Gaudin’s numbers continue to be solid, he will remain a safe option to help out your fantasy squad.
The 30-year-old has pitched for an astonishing 11 teams in 10 years as a big leaguer, being used as both a starter and reliever during the span of his career. His arsenal consists of four pitches, which includes a four-seam fastball that drifts from the low to mid 90s, a two-seamer, a slider, and a masterful changeup. Now that Gaudin is working with Righetti, expect his success on the mound to continue under who I believe is one of the best pitching coaches of all time. He is just 11% owned, and remains under the radar screen as far as fantasy baseball is concerned.
