Opening Day is in the books, and teams are starting their 162-game campaign. With MLB kicking off, fantasy baseball players need to start mining their waiver wires for the next breakout candidate. With MLB being a game-to-game, day-to-day proposition, we’ll keep you on top of potential waiver wire pickups that might be under your radar. Today we look at three first baseman owned in 50% or fewer of Yahoo! leagues (with one at fewer than 10%) worth consideration. It’s the first week of the season, so you shouldn’t be desperate enough to rush out and get any of these guys right away. Instead, consider these more names to keep an eye on.
[Jeff]
Tommy Joseph, Philadelphia (42% owned)
Joseph was the centerpiece of the long-ago Hunter Pence trade, and he seemingly has found fantasy baseball relevance. He had a massive power breakout campaign in 2015 in limited time. Joseph went for 21 home runs, 47 runs and 47 RBI in just 347 plate appearances. Concussions kept Joseph from having any sort of consistency before last year, but he has an aggressive approach at the plate and sells out for power. He had a torrid Spring Training that he hopes to pull into his 2016 campaign. He’s a monitor, not an add.
Travis Shaw, Milwaukee (32% owned)
By the time you read this, it might be too late. Shaw has started the season off with a bang, and is going to be on all the must add lists this time next week. He’s a big power guy in a great hitter’s park in Milwaukee. So far this season he already is 4/8 with three RBI. All four hits are doubles. He has legit power and it’s only a matter of time before he starts putting a ton of balls on the other side of the fence. He’s also third base eligible, letting him work double duty for your fantasy baseball squad.
Mark Reynolds, Colorado (7% owned)
Once upon a time, Reynolds was an all-power, no average fantasy baseball prospect. While those days are far in the past, Reynolds will man first every day for the Rockies. The man has never had single-digit home runs in a season, and never had the benefit of playing half his games in Coors Field. He’s on the clock, however. He turns back into a pumpkin the moment Desmond returns. Still, he’s already returning some pop, going 4/9 with a dinger thus far in this young season.