Sunday (April 5) will mark the first waiver period for a vast majority of leagues. For some out there, this is the first time they've taken an in-depth look at their squad since they wrapped up the draft three or four weeks ago. In that time, it's a given that some of the undrafted are now sought after.
Each week throughout the upcoming season, I'll spotlight the names that you should consider. Remember, that often your specific needs and roster issues (ineffectiveness, injuries, games played that week, where they're played that week, etc.) say more about who to go after than the actual player does. Many of these players are pockmarked with faults. A good deal may only be of use for a short time. Others, though, are emerging and winning over their manager and future fantasy owners.
To make the list, I'll apply a loose definition that says you have to likely be unowned in a vast majority of 12-team mixed leagues. At the end of each player note, I'll also provide a suggested bid for those that use FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget) for their waiver process. Understand that this is only a suggestion ... if you just lost you're a starting outfielder to injury and you have an immediate need or gaping hole in your lineup, you will find it necessary to bid more in order to get that week's top available outfielder.
Hitters
Evereth Cabrera, SS, Baltimore
J.J. Hardy will be M.I.A. for at least a week with a shoulder injury. Do not be surprised if his recovery goes slower than is publically expected. For the first half of April, this gives Cabrera a chance to re-ignite his career. He gives fantasy owners a source of steals and he provides the Orioles with an option in case of more struggles by Hardy (a fall from 25 HRs in '13 to nine in '14) or a dovetail from second baseman, Jonathan Schoop. Cabrera is not washed up (just 28) and has a decent shot to re-emerge as a 20 steal, .260 hitter with the O's this year.
Suggested FAAB bid - $4
C.J. Cron, 1B, LA Angels
Cron saw his opening and took it in spring camp. With Josh Hamilton sidelined, the Angels will have more at-bats than originally expected in the DH spot. Cron owned most of March by posting a .429 batting average in 70 ABs. He collected double-digit runs (11), double-digit doubles (10), double-digit RBIs (15) and he avoided double-digit whiffs (just nine). Of course, he had a similar in-season run in the middle of last season before scuffling to the finish line. He's well-worth a one-month flier, though, because his power is legit and if you snag him at the start of a hot streak, you've got a winner.
Suggested FAAB bid - $5
Odubel Herrera, INF/OF, Philadelphia
Herrera was a Rule 5 selection out of the Texas organization this past offseason. He has 'won' the Phillies centerfield job, but that's mostly because the Phillies possess a shell of a roster entering 2015. Herrera did the most of a competing crew that lacked much upside. There's little to project on his lumber despite the fact that he's spent six seasons hustling around the minor leagues. He has yet to play a game above Double-A, but we know he owns speed and we know he should be hitting in the 2-spot for the Phils. He's a decent bench grab if you have the space.
Suggested FAAB bid - $1
Jake Marisnick, OF, Houston
When the Astros made the decision to start Jon Singleton in the minors this year, the dominoes started to fall into place and that left Marisnick with a starting spot in centerfield. He'll be just another Astro who swings and swings and swings (K'ing in almost 30% of his at-bats a season ago), but unlike his more Paul Bunyun-esque teammates, Marisnick brings some athleticism and base-stealing to the party. His average may not crack .250 this year, but he can post mid-teens' HRs with a shot at 20 thefts.
Suggested FAAB bid - $4
Will Middlebrooks, 3B, San Diego
Boston's reject may have gotten the message. Middlebrooks arrived at camp in a 'competition' with Yangervis Solarte. The Padres yearned for their offseason import to win the post at third and he did pull that off thanks to a .353 average and a slugging percentage near .570. Still, we've seen enough of Middlebrooks to realize that he has a litany of holes in his swing. NL pitchers will find those spots and we'll end up with another flame-out season from the former prospect.
Suggested FAAB bid - $2
Jace Peterson, 2B, Atlanta
Peterson has turned a lot of heads in March. Those heads must have not been paying attention to his cup of coffee with San Diego last year when he turned in six hits over the course of 53 at-bats. In the spring, he's nearly quadrupled that total (up to 22) with just 15 more at-bats. Seventeen of those 22 were singles. And, if he wasn't making contact he was slowly headed back to the dugout after one of his 16 spring game whiffs. That's much too high a total for a guy with little-to-zero power. Sure, he can get you SBs, but he can't get those without getting on base. I think he'll struggle.
Suggested FAAB bid - $3
Michael Taylor, OF, Washington
Injuries have plagued the Nationals throughout the past month. Taylor is in the right place at the right time and will get a load of chances while filling in for the injured Denard Span (who figures to be out until close to mid-May). Taylor has the five-tools that many of us crave, but like so many other youngsters, making consistent contact has been a chore. He has the ability to reach low-double digit round-trippers and looks to post an even higher total of thefts. Still, I detect a distinct Jackie Bradley scent here. Taylor is the future in D.C., but the immediate timeframe could offer many fits for fantasy owners.
Suggested FAAB bid - $3
Eric Young, Jr., OF, NY Mets
Much like Taylor, an injury has opened up the gate for Young, Jr., to start in Atlanta. And, I do realize that the Braves' brass would never admit to this, but I think that Young could actually do enough to make Melvin Upton little more than a defensive replacement when he comes back next month. Seriously, if Young is hitting .250 with eight steals and over 15 runs after a month of play, how can you make a non-salary argument in favor of Upton? Young is little more than a sparkplug, but as we have seen in previous years, that sparkplug can fire for well-over a month.
Suggested FAAB bid - $5
Pitchers
Archie Bradley, Arizona
The Diamondbacks flipped Trevor Cahill over to Atlanta earlier this week, thus carving out a spot for their top pitching prospect. Bradley battled numerous issues last season (an elbow injury, sudden ineffectiveness at the Double-A level, fleeting control) and it did damage his 'future star' potential in the eyes of some. He's a true horse on the hill (standing 6'4" and over 225 pounds) and still has a fastball/curveball combo that can lead to greatness. His park will do him few favors, but this is a frontline talent that you should always take a shot on.
Suggested FAAB bid - $7
Josh Collmenter, Arizona
Collmenter will take to the hump when the D'Backs open their season on Monday versus San Francisco. Shouldn't an 'ace' be owned? Not necessarily, although Collmenter is a sneaky grab to start the season for those in weekly lineup leagues. He'll get a pair of chances in this first week and unlike so many of the other 'ace' 2-start guys this week, there's little cost to throw a dart. After all, even if he gets beat-up by San Francisco or Los Angeles (his 2nd start opponent), you've got the entire season to recover from it. For those who can't necessarily take advantage of the two-start go-around, keep an eye on his first week efforts.
Suggested FAAB bid for weekly leaguers - $4
Kendall Graveman, Oakland
Here's your great-control/ground-ball maestro hurler. That approach can absolutely work at the MLB-level, but it offers little bonus to fantasy owners. Graveman has the A's 5th spot in the rotation, but will be held on an innings limit all season. Plus, Oakland has a pair of slingers coming back from injury (A.J. Griffin, Jarrod Parker) that should be in line to push Gravemen to the 'pen, the bench, or the minors by mid-summer.
Suggested FAAB bid - $3
T.J. House, Cleveland
As I've discussed on this site at other points in the spring, House is of interest. One question was answered ... he grappled and held the Tribe's final rotation spot. His numbers from his March work won't cause a commotion, but that just makes him a cheaper buy in your bidding. His slider is a definite power pitch. His fastball needs to be refined, but his change-up took a step up last season. He gave a major push at the end of last season (a 2.50-ish ERA with a WHIP of 1.16 in 10 starts) and that makes him a good spot-start candidate, depending on the matchup, to begin this season.
Suggested FAAB bid - $6
Edward Mujica, RP, Boston
Koji Uehara is out with a hamstring injury and does anyone think such an issue heals well for a guy pushing 40? I don't. Uehara is injury-prone, as is, so Mujica was always a possibility to show up on radars at the first sign of any Uehara wear and tear. Mujica doesn't have the profile of a closer, but he has the job and, as the saying goes, possession is nine-tenths of the decision, right?? He also pulled off the act in 2013 with St. Louis, notching a 'Did He Really?' 37 saves. We'll see at least a half-dozen relievers become the pick du jour at some point in April. Mujica is the first one. If you got shut-out on draft day when it came to owning saves, make the 'Did I Really?' bid here.
Suggested FAAB bid - $8
Daniel Norris, Toronto
Norris' back story is a journalists' dream. His on-hill work is just enticing, for now. In 24.2 innings of work down in Dunedin, Norris punched out 29 batters, while walking just five. It was too tough for Toronto to ignore, so he will open the season as a part of their 5-man. His downfall would be an inability to command his arsenal. He has lightening stuff, but it can end up in a variety of places. There could be a fine line with some scintillating starts beside some ugly three or four inning implosions. Still, a big arm is always of interest.
Suggested FAAB bid - $6
Adam Ottavino, RP, Colorado
Holding the title of this years 'Latroy Hawkins Successor ... No Really,' is Ottavino. Rex Brothers was a dreadful mess in this spot 12 months ago. It wouldn't surprise if Ottavino goes the same route. His career was comatose, if not dead before going off in the Rockies bullpen over the previous two years (over a K-per-inning with a respectable Coors'-factored ERA of just over 3). Still, for now, Colorado is more than willing to take another joy ride with the 'Hawkins Experience.' If the journey proves extra rough, Ottavino would get a chance, but it's worth noting that lefties eat him up (.338 average last year) and he's never been 'The Guy' before.
Suggested FAAB bid - $4
You can hear Kyle each weeknight on 'The SiriusXM Fantasy Drive' from 7-10 ET, Sirius 210, XM 87.
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