Waiver Wire: American League

With the regular season (and fantasy season!) ending after next weekend, this will be the last set of Waiver Wires for the year. I hope they helped you throughout the year, and I hope you look to them next year for some insight.

Orioles Closer | BAL | CL – Well, Danys Baez is done for the year, meaning that the O’s will have someone else pitching the ninth. Who it is, is not as clear. The three candidates appear to be Jamie Walker, Chad Bradford, and Fernando Cabrera. When Baez was oringinally inserted into the role, manager Dave Trembley said that he liked Bradford and Walker in pre-9th inning roles, but that might change with a little over a week left in the season.

Walker got a save a week ago, and Cabrera got one in an extra innings game the other day, but it was after Walker and Bradford had already been used and blew the game. Difficult situation to read, but I’d go Walker, Bradford, Cabrera in terms of save potential. It might depend on the match-up whether Walker or Bradford pitches.
Recommendations –
Jamie Walker – Should be owned in all leagues.
Chad Bradford – Should be owned in deep mixed leagues. Should be owned in all but shallow AL-only leagues.
Fernando Cabrera – Should be avoided in mixed leagues. Should be owned in deep 12 and 14-team AL-only leagues.

C.J. Wilson | TEX | RP – Joaquin Benoit looks like the firm option in Texas now. Wilson can be dropped by those hoping for saves and held onto in deeper leagues where middle relievers have value.
Recommendation – Can be dropped in mixed leagues. Should be owned in 14-team AL-only leagues.

Zack Greinke | KC | SP – In his 6 starts since rejoining the rotation, Greinke has a 7.75 K/9 and 2.48 BB/9. That’s pretty good, and given that he has the White Sox the next time out he makes a pretty good pickup in any league.
Recommendation – Should be owned in all leagues.

Clay Buchholz | BOS | RP – Buchholz got a spot start this week to accommodate Daisuke Matsuzaka, but I don’t think he’ll get another this season. He’s only been used out of the bullpen once so far, but he might get more action soon as the Sox will likely have him in the bullpen for the playoffs. Probably not a risk worth taking on though. There are likely talented relievers with more stable playing time available in your league.
Recommendation – Should be avoided in all but the deepest leagues.

Jose Contreras | CHW | SP – I’ve had a couple people ask if he’s worth starting against the Twins, but I just can’t recommend a guy with a 1.80 K/BB in mixed leagues, or even shallow AL-only leagues.
Recommendation – Should be avoided in mixed leagues. Should be owned in 14-team AL-only leagues.

Juan Rivera | LAA | OF – I would have liked him coming into the season had he not been injured. Nice looking HitTracker chart last year. Has hit two homers since he’s been back, and one went 428 true feet. Might be worth a pickup if he was getting more playing time. Without it, he’s nothing more than a deep league guy. If you’re really desperate for power in a mixed league, there are worse options.
Recommendation – Should be avoided in mixed leagues. Should be considered in deep 12 and owned in 14-team AL-only leagues.

Vernon Wells | TOR | OF – Done for the year.
Recommendation – Can safely be dropped in all redraft leagues.

Adam Lind | TOR | OF – With Vernon Wells done for the year, Lind should pick up some at-bats. Has shown deceptive power in the majors this year with 6 of 8 homers HitTracker has data on going further than 400 true feet, the furthest going 453. 19% line drive rate indicates his .259 BABIP is too low, but he still probably won’t be a very good batting average contributor. Batted sixth and seventh (twice) the past three games, so his RBI and run production likely won’t be great. Probably a better power bet than Juan Rivera.
Recommendation – Should be considered in 14-team mixed leagues. Should be strongly considered in 10 and owned in 12 and 14-team AL-only leagues.