Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Report: Manuel Margot Worth Adding From Red-Hot Rays (Week 9)
Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images. Pictured: Manuel Margot is mobbed by his teammates.
- The Tampa Bay Rays have been red-hot and Manuel Margot is hitting in the middle of their lineup.
- Jeff Hicks explains below why Margot should be atop your waiver wire priority list.
The 2021 has seen a fair number of the best hitters in baseball miss time with injuries. Sadly, the most recent appears to be Trevor Story. He left Game 2 of the Rockies doubleheader against the Mets with arm tightness. It was not announced as forearm tightness, but I never like hearing a player has an arm injury. Story had been hitting well the past few weeks after a slow start.
The good news comes from the west coast, where Cody Bellinger could return to action as soon as this weekend as he continues his rehab assignment. The Dodgers' loaded offense is about to get better as the team continues to get healthy.
Pick Them Up
Manuel Margot – OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 48%
Margot has back-to-back weeks with four-plus RBI and at least one stolen base. He also has hits in 10 of his last 11 games for the surging Rays. His walk and strikeout rates have dropped each of the past two seasons, which is good and bad because he did not walk a lot to being with. If he continues to hit in the middle of Tampa’s lineup, he is worth adding.
Adam Frazier – 2B/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Yahoo: 66%, ESPN: 92%
ESPN players get it with Frazier. He is a roster stash because of his position eligibility and his inflated batting average. He owns a .368 BABIP and his average will dip, but your roster can never have enough players who hit for average. There is only a two-percent difference in his walk and strikeout rates. Getting on base is getting on base.
Tyler O’Neill – OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 19%
O'Neill will easily set career-highs in every offensive stat now that he is seeing regular playing time for the first time in four seasons. He returned from the 10-day IL with a massive home run and will be tough to take out of the Cardinals' lineup because of his above-average defense. He is an easy addition if your team needs a power boost.
Brad Miller – 1B/2B/3B/OF, Philadelphia Phillies
Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 11%
Miller’s return to Philly has been prosperous to say the least. This success will not be maintained (.407 BABIP), but I believe he sticks in the lineup for at least another 4-6 weeks. Miller had a higher OPS during his 2019 Phillies stint than he does now, so even with an expected dip, he likes playing and hitting in Philly.
Worth A Look
Andrew Benintendi – OF, Kansas City Royals
Yahoo: 64%, ESPN: 78%
I have rarely rostered the 26-year old, but even though the production is spotty it is difficult to pass on his average and 2:1 KK/B ratio. The Royals as a team have a recent history of contact-based offense, and Benintendi is fitting in.
Jurickson Profar – 2B/OF, San Diego Padres
Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 40%
His batting average is on the rise and so is his stolen base total. Profar has as many walks as strikeouts the past two weeks (five) and has 11 runs scored. The Padres' offense has found its stride.
Jose Iglesias – SS, Los Angeles Angels
Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 9%
His recent RBI streak is well and good but I want him because he is hitting in the middle of the Angels' lineup. I do not know how productive Iglesias will be without Mike Trout hitting ahead of him for the next month-plus and he is day-to-day because of a tight hamstring. Monitor his status this weekend and add him once he is back in the lineup.
Short-Term Solutions
Max Kepler – OF, Minnesota Twins
Yahoo: 55%, ESPN: 75%
More than half of Max Kepler’s hits have gone for extra bases and he has an inviting upcoming schedule. Kansas City and Baltimore are on the docket as May turns to June. Kepler is a streaky hitter and better at home for his career (108 wRC+).
Kyle Schwarber – OF, Washington Nationals
Yahoo: 64%, ESPN: 76%
He has been rostered because of his name value, but Schwarber has seen a marked increase in power and production in May. His slugging and OPS are still at or near career-lows, but the positive month is worth a look.
Pavin Smith – 1B/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 30%
Two straight weeks with multiple RBI, albeit coming in two games. Smith has a seven-game hitting streak that includes his first home run since May 2. He also has three consecutive multi-hit games for Arizona.
I Am Skeptical
Justin Upton – OF, Los Angeles Angels
Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 19%
The longtime left fielder has six solo home runs hitting in the meat of the Angels' lineup. That is an issue when adding a power source who also has 53 strikeouts on the season. His .432 slugging is the highest it has been since 2018, but still the third-lowest of his career.
Michael A. Taylor – OF, Kansas City Royals
Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 19%
He put together his best week in a month which allowed him to match his home run and RBI totals from 2020 in 50 more at-bats. Taylor inadvertently exchanged 50 points from his 2020 slugging and added it to his 2021 batting average. His OPS has increased .001 year-over-year.
Enrique Hernández – 2B/SS/OF, Boston Red Sox
Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 38%
The former Dodger is the definition of vanilla and is boosted by leading off for Boston. Having a 6:1 K/BB ratio atop the order for one of the best offenses this season. In his defense, he has zero hits in eight at-bats elsewhere in the Red Sox lineup.
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