Waiver Wire: American and National League

Since there have only been a few games played since our last Waiver Wire and limited activity, this week’s Waiver Wire will be much shorter than usual.

Lastings Milledge | NYM | OF – Milledge will play full-time until Moises Alou gets back, and if he plays well, could take Shawn Green’s starting spot when Alou returns. His 12% walk rate was nice in Triple-A last year, and his 81% contact and 18% line drive rates weren’t bad. He hasn’t shown much power, though, limiting his value. He could swipe a few bags, but I wouldn’t expect too much fantasy value out of Milledge this year.
Recommendation – Should be owned only in very deep mixed leagues. Should be considered in 10 and owned in 12 and 14-team NL-only leagues.

Carlos Marmol | CHC | RP – Bob Howry is still getting the save chances, but if Ryan Dempster tries to move to the rotation, Marmol could be picking up saves by the end of the year.
Recommendation – Should be owned in 14-team mixed leagues. Should be owned in 10, 12, and 14-team NL-only leagues.

Dan Wheeler | HOU | RP – Brad Lidge is back, but he is a candidate to be traded in the next couple of weeks. If he is, Wheeler would have great job security the rest of the season. Should be owned at least until the trade deadline passes.
Recommendation – Should be owned in all but shallow leagues, for now.

Manny Corpas | COL | RP – Brian Fuentes was placed on the DL today but is eligible to return on Thursday. Still, Corpas—like Wheeler—needs to be owned at least until the trade deadline passes.
Recommendation – Should be owned in all leagues, for now.

Curt Schilling | BOS | SP – If he was dropped in your league, he should be picked up. Numbers weren’t fantastic to start the year, but he still has a chance to be a top 20 pitcher in the second half. Threw well today, and might make a rehab start next Friday. On track to return at the end of July or beginning of August.
Recommendation – Should be owned in all leagues.

Mark Hendrickson | LAD | SP – Came in at No. 22 on our LIPS leaders list, even if some of his numbers came as a reliever. There has been precedent for his control, but his strikeouts are the highest of his career. His move to the National League surely didn’t hurt. Watch carefully, especially since he is 33. Ride out this wave while it lasts.
Recommendation – Should be owned in all leagues, for now.

Tim Lincecum | SF | SP – Even with somewhat poor control and inconsistent play this year, Lincecum cracked the top 20 LIPS leaders. If the control improves, Lincecum will make a fine second half guy. He is owned in 64% of ESPN leagues, but with a LIPS like he has 100% is where that number should be.
Recommendation – Should be owned in all leagues.

Akinori Otsuka | TEX | SP – A mainstay on this list for several weeks now, the time for Otsuka is coming. With a little over two weeks until the deadline, Eric Gagne figures to be traded shortly. Otsuka will take over as the closer when this happens, assuming it does.
Recommendation – Should be owned in all leagues.

Adam Jones | SEA | OF – Rumor had it Jones was getting called up yesterday, but that didn’t happen. He doesn’t need to be owned in shallow leagues, now. Just monitor him.
Recommendation – Should be owned only in very deep mixed leagues. Should be owned in 12 and 14-team AL-only leagues.

Bill Hall | MIL | SS/OF – Hopes to come off the DL next weekend, so it’s time to pick him up.
Recommendation – Should be owned in 10, 12, and 14-team mixed leagues. Should be owned in all NL-only leagues.

Ryan Freel | CIN | 2B/3B/OF – Came back as a part-time player, but with Josh Hamilton hitting the DL, Freel will get a chance to play every day. Hopefully, in that time, the Reds will see that he deserves to play fulltime. Even if they don’t have 100% confidence in him, someone could get traded within the next couple of weeks. That would free up a starting spot for Freel.
Recommendation – Should be owned in all but shallow leagues.

Zack Greinke | KC | RP – With the possibility of an Octavio Dotel trade, Greinke is probably next in line for saves. His 3.28 K/BB is very nice, so if he does take the job he could prove quite useful. Watch very carefully.
Recommendation – Should be owned in 12 and 14-team mixed leagues. Should be owned in all AL-only leagues.


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