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Welcome back to baseball! Each morning here at the Fantasy Baseball Today blog, we'll be posting the top waiver-wire fliers for each day, based on the latest news and biggest performances from the past few days.
Obviously, there aren't any big performances to write about today, unless you were really impressed by Chris Coghlan's almost-home run Sunday night. However, the end of spring training still leaves us plenty of roster moves and lineup decisions to analyze, especially after the Braves shocked the baseball world by moving All-Universe closer to San Diego. Which leads us to our first waiver-wire conundrum of the season…
1. Jim Johnson/Jason Grilli, RP, Braves
(10/33 percent owned)
Neither one of these guys should get your blood pumping too much, however we're always on the lookout for potential sleepers at the closer position early in the season, and these are our first options on the waiver wire. Grilli has the better track record of recent performance, posting an ERA below 3.00 in three of the last four seasons, while saving 48 of 58 attempts in that span. He has developed into a premiere strikeout artists, ranking 13th among relievers with a 31.4 K-percentage from 2011-2014.
Johnson is the younger of the two and recorded 101 saves over a two year span in 2012 and 2013, but that seems like a decade ago when you look at what a disaster his 2014 was. Johnson blew just one save last season, mostly because he was so bad he didn't get many chances. Johnson was never the elite reliever his gaudy save totals indicated, so his best chance of getting the Braves job is hoping the team weighs his former pedigree highly -- or is looking to potentially capitalize on a hot start in the trade market. Grilli is the guy to target, as long as we are speculating.
2. Archie Bradley , SP, Diamondbacks
(60 percent owned)
Archie Bradley's run as a top prospect has been marked by consistent inconsistency, as he has rated as Baseball America's No. 25 prospect in three of the last four years despite serious, persistent control issues. The former No. 7 overall pick maintained his lofty status in the rankings coming into this season despite a 2014 that saw him allow 39 runs in 79 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, with only 22 more strikeouts (69) than walks. He walked just six in 22 1/3 innings in spring en route to earning a spot in the rotation, and Bradley has the type of upside that makes him worth a flier in any league, given his strikeout potential. However, his control issues and the ensuing WHIP inflation that could cause is reason for concern, making him anything but a safe bet.
3. Devon Travis, 2B, Blue Jays
(43 percent owned)
In the realm of middle infielders, second base isn't quite as shallow as shortstop, but it still isn't brimming with high-upside talent. Travis may not have been on a ton of prospect radars in the past (just one appearance on Baseball America's Top-100, an 84th-place finish in 2014), but his minor-league numbers indicate he has a good chance to be a solid contributor. He was a career .323/.388/487 hitter in the minors, but might profile as more of a H2H option, with his low strikeout numbers and solid gap power. He finished last season with 10 home runs and 16 stolen bases in Double-A Erie, however, and could end up providing 10-20 upside with a good batting average and the chance to score a lot of runs in a potent Blue Jays offense if he can move up in the lineup.
4. Jesse Hahn, SP, Athletics
(58 percent owned)
If Hahn can stay healthy… That has been the caveat with Hahn throughout his professional career, but he finally managed to do it last season. He posted a 1.91 ERA in 42 1/3 innings at Double-A before getting the call, wherein he settled into the Padres rotation and proved to be a reliable option. He had a 3.07 ERA in 73 1/3 innings and showed a combination of groundball and strikeout tendencies that should continue to play well in Oakland. He is a two-start pitcher for Week 1, and should be worth streaming in any league he might be available in.
5. Eric Young/Cameron Maybin, OF, Braves
(20/4 percent owned)
At this point in their respective careers, neither of these guys looks particularly appealing. Maybin has the former top prospect pedigree and a bit more youth on his side, but that doesn't mean all that much in 2015. He has all of one solid season under his belt in the majors, and that came all the way back in 2011; he is hitting .235/.297/336 with 34 stolen bases and 10 home runs in 256 games since, while dealing with a series of injuries.
Young might actually have a bit more upside than Maybin, with one elite tool in his belt. He stole 30 bases in 100 games a year ago, after leading the majors with 46 in 2013. He doesn't get on base much or hit for much average, but you should be hoping Young can at least get a big enough share of playing time to swipe some bags. Young is the definition of a specialist, but there's value in that if he gets the plate appearances he needs.
