He can help. No really....he can!
Mid-August is upon us and most trading deadlines have now come and gone. But for those of you that can still make waiver pick-ups from now through the end of the season, fear not. This column will continue through the end of the season. There’s plenty to be had on the scrap heap still, so while your competition is fizzling out and their interest in pick-ups is waning, you should keep tabs on several players and make sure that you’re not resting on your laurels and still fielding the strongest lineup possible. Here’s a few names that I’m looking at in some of my leagues…
3 Up
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL — That Colorado outfielder just gets crazier and crazier each week. Gonzalez filled in nicely while Dexter Fowler was banged up and now he seems pretty set on claiming the starting left field job from Seth Smith now. Over the last 2 weeks, Gonzalez has hit .350 with 4 HR and 9 RBI with each of those dingers coming in his last 6 games. He’s always been a highly touted prospect (came over from Oakland in the Matt Holliday deal last year) and could be a nice addition to your late season squad if he continues to hol donto the majority of the PT.
Jayson Nix, 2B CHW — While owners of Chris Getz are lamenting over his injury, those that grabbed Nix have been very happy as of late. His .258 average over the last 2 weeks might be a bit rough, but his 3 HR, 9 RBI and 2 SB are definitely helping. Getz won’t be eligible to come off the DL until August 27th and it looks like Nix should be getting the bulk of the time over Brent Lillibridge. If you’re looking for a band-aid for your middle infield, Nix is worth a look.
Tommy Hunter, SP TEX — Still pretty surprised to see this kid’s name on the free agent list. He’s 6-2 on the season so far with a 2.64 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP and is pushing that glass ceiling so many Texas pitchers have had trouble breaking. His last start against the Twins was just average, but prior to that he’s looked solid. I’d pick him up and continue to play the matchups as he’s been a force on the road so far going 2-0 with a 0.87 ERA.
3 Down
Francisco Liriano, SP MIN — I never usually like to put players here that have gone down due to injury, but since I used Liriano as my sleeper pick in this week’s Pitching Report, I had to step up with a bit of a mea culpa. I knew Liriano had been up and down, but now he’s on the DL with dead arm issues. It’s time to give up. I’m sure plenty have already cut bait, but if you were holding out hope still, now is the time to say goodbye. Track his offseason progress to see where he stands for next season.
Joba Chamberlain, SP NYY — We all heard the rumblings back in the spring. The Yankees were going to keep Chamberlain on a relatively short leash this season and limit his innings so not to hurt the arm. Well, that time is now as Joba will be skipped in the rotation this week and not make a start. Maybe we’ll see him throw one of those mid game side sessions, but he’s not going to be worth much unless he’s starting regularly. Time to find a more reliable starter down the stretch. We’re going to see a lot less of the big Nebraskan until the playoffs come.
Buster Posey, C SF — The official announcement came today that the Giants will not be bringing up their uber-prospect in September when rosters expand. Those of you that had him stashed away with the hopes of adding a solid late season bat can now abandon all hope. It’s not gonna happen. He’s still a great hold-over in most keeper leagues and all dynasty leagues, but for this year, he’s virtually useless.
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