The season is now more than a quarter over and we’re fast approaching Memorial Day, which is a popular benchmark to start making some legitimate moves to improve your team. It is often helpful to have a roster spot or two available for streaming and riding hot streaks, but the players below could be worth a long-term look.
Waiver-Wire Targets:
Oakland Athletics OF Esteury Ruiz — Just four players in baseball can say they are in the 98th percentile or higher in sprint speed and have an on-base percentage better than .300: Trea Turner (.308 OBP), Fernando Tatis Jr. (.313), Corbin Carroll (.363) and Ruiz (.340). The result, for Ruiz, is a league-high 20 stolen bases, six more than anybody not named Ronald Acuña, Jr. While that number alone warrants a look in fantasy, he’s hitting well enough too, scoring 19 runs and driving in 22 while hitting safely in 13 of 16 May games. Ruiz is locked in as Oakland’s everyday center fielder and should continue to find opportunities to run.
Chicago Cubs 2B/OF Christopher Morel — I rostered Morel for a chunk of last season but a lackluster final three months put a sour taste in my mouth. For that reason, I shied away from him last week when he was recalled from Triple-A. Shame on me, as Morel has hit safely in all eight games since his return and homered five times already, and that’s after tearing up Iowa for the first month of the season. He has struck out in nearly 40 percent of his plate appearances but is hitting well enough to make up for it. I’m interested to see if Morel can keep it up into the dog days of summer this time around.
Chicago Cubs LHP Drew Smyly — The North Side southpaw has not allowed more than two runs in a start since his first of the year and has walked more than two just once. He’s behind only Zac Gallen on the National League WHIP leaderboard with his 0.93 mark on the season. That number is boosted by a low .237 opponents’ BABIP, though that number is thanks to Smyly’s exceptional ability to limit good contact. His ERA is currently 2.86 and he’ll be in search of his third consecutive quality start at home against the Mets.
Boston Red Sox LHP James Paxton — Paxton was off my radar almost entirely, having not pitched in a major league game in over two calendar years. He was excellent in his Red Sox debut, striking out nine in five innings and allowing just two runs with one walk. He hardly looked rusty, as his fastball averaged 96.3 mph and he recorded 10 whiffs on 28 swings with that pitch. After a long layoff, Paxton certainly has the capability to be a helpful part of your fantasy rotation down the stretch.
Honorable Mention:
Cincinnati Reds OF Jake Fraley
Colorado Rockies OF Brenton Doyle
Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Tony Gonsolin
St. Louis Cardinals LHP Matthew Liberatore