Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 20

Approaching the actual mid-point of August, here are five waiver wire additions to consider in your fantasy baseball league this week.

5. Brian Goodwin, OF, Washington Nationals

Injuries in the Nationals’ outfield have opened up playing time for Goodwin, and he’s 7-for-18 (.389) with six runs scored over his last four games entering Sunday. Overall this season (entering Sunday) he has a .247/.310/.498 slash-line, 13 home runs and 30 RBI over 73 games (247 at-bats)

Bryce Harper may miss a month with a knee injury, so even with the corresponding activation of Michael Taylor from the disabled list Goodwin should still be playing plenty.

There;s obviously no replacing Harper, but Goodwin is in position to be a productive regular in Washington’s lineup as the season winds down. He is worth adding in NL-only leagues.
ESPN Ownership: 9.3%

4. Paul DeJong, IF, St. Louis Cardinals

I’ve been ignoring DeJong for a while, thinking he’d come back to Earth. But it hasn’t happened, with five multi-hit games in last seven to push his average to .291 to go with 17 home runs. He is eligible at shortstop (43) and second base (20 games), and he also has eligibility at third base in ESPN leagues.

DeJong should probably be owned more than he is, as it appears most fantasy owners have shared my sentiment. But I’m starting to shift course, however tentatively, and doubtful fantasy owner should too.
ESPN Ownership: 58.9%

3. Tim Beckham, SS, Baltimore Orioles

During the month of August, coinciding with the trade that sent him from the Rays to the Orioles, Beckham has been on fire at the plate. Entering Sunday’s game, he is 26-for-49 (.531) with 12 extra base hits (three home runs) and nine RBI this month. That kind of run is not sustainable, but if Beckham can keep his average hovering in the .290-.300 range with solid power (15 home runs this season) he’s a fantasy asset down the stretch.

Beckham’s ownership rate is rising, and may continue to do so. But there’s still an opportunity to add him, and those in need of a middle infielder in mixed leagues need to go get Beckham.
ESPN Ownership: 50%

2. Manuel Margot, OF, San Diego Padres

Over 16 starts from late-July to last week, Margot hit .309 with a .917 OPS, three home runs and 11 RBI. After a day off last Thursday, he returned to the Padres’ lineup and hit two home runs on Friday.

Now’s the time to see Margot as someone to add in mixed leagues, with a .271 average, 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases this season. He strikes out a lot (71 times in 332 at-bats entering Sunday), but power, speed and a spot in the every day lineup combined to make Margot a viable waiver wire addition.
ESPN Ownership: 32.9%

1. Amed Rosario, SS, New York Mets

Rosario has started slowly since finally being called up, with a .237/.256/.447 slash-line in 11 games. But he has four hits in his last two games, including his first major league home run, with a hit in three of his last four games going into Sunday.

Rosario could make himself into a multi-category contributor over the rest of this season, as he starts to figure things out and keeps a spot in the every day lineup. But anyone in a keeper league has to have him on their radar, and in that format Rosario is a must-add.
ESPN Ownership: 28.6%

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