In the second week of MLB action, we’ve looked at free agent fantasy baseball catchers, first basemen and second baseman. Now we turn our attention to the hot corner. Below are three free agent third basemen who could be worth scooping up off your waiver wire. As always, we explore options for your league available in 50% or more of Yahoo! leagues. One of the three has availability in 90% or more.
[Jeff]
Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati (49% owned)
Suarez squeaked in just under the wire for this piece. On the year he has a .375 average, 2 HR, 1 SB, 5 RBI and 9 R… and this was before going 3/4 with three RBI on Thursday in Pittsburgh. Suarez is hitting as hot as anyone right now, and you should ride that hot hand. Suarez’s .389 BABIP screams average regression but doesn’t tell the whole story. Suarez has cut his strikeout rate nearly in half (24% to 13.3%), which could be a statistical fluke or could be the result of changing his approach at the plate. Suarez is no stranger to hot starts, as he has a career .870 OPS in March and April… and a career .586 in May. Ride the Suarez Train now, but try to make him the kicker in a deal to a less savvy owner.
Chase Headley, Yankees (21% owned)
Fantasy baseball’s #7 3B rolls on, as he rocks a .393/.485/.643 through the first eight games of the Yanks’ season. He changed his approach at the plate to beat the shift, so if teams start playing him straight up, look out. The best days for Headley could be ahead as he takes advantage of the short right-field porch in New Yankees Stadium. He has five multi-hit games on the year and three zero hit games; there’s no in-between with him so far. Unfortunately, Headley 2.0 may not recapture his home run hitting form from San Diego. His launch angle is exactly 7% higher than league average, but his below-average exit velocity mean he’s not taking full advantage of that angle.
Joey Gallo, Texas (10% owned)
The Rangers announced that Adrian Beltre’s injury is a Grade 1 calf strain, and he is expected to miss at least the rest of April as he recovers from his injury. The 23 year old is has some of the best raw power of any prospect in baseball, though he already carries a rough .174 average. Gallo also struggled in a cup of coffee last year, but consistent playing time while Beltre recovers and the prospect of that power is an alluring mix. Don’t expect a ton of power, but it’s worth stashing Gallo for the power prospect alone. If he puts it all together, he could turn around a fledgling deep league roster.