Ottoneu Waiver Wire: September 2016

Ottoneu owners have less than 12 hours (or possibly 36) to add players via 48 hour auctions before the regular season ends, so the title of this post more accurately should have been “Ottoneu Waiver Wire: The Final Countdown”. Obviously any pickups made at this point won’t contribute in 2016 but are purely speculative with an eye towards next year, so let’s take a look at some players owned in less than 50% of ottoneu that might offer some keeper potential:

1B Trey Mancini (17.7% owned)- The Orioles rookie has acquitted himself well in a very tiny sample (15 PA, .592 wOBA) and is a favorite of KATOH

2B Dilson Herrera (35.5%)- Herrera is still awfully young (22), and probably has a better chance of breaking camp in 2017 with the Reds than he did with the Mets

SS Nick Franklin (28.6%)- Franklin is SS-eligible for 2017, and he’s worth taking a chance on given his small sample results this year (.339 wOBA)

3B David Wright (43.8%)- He might not ever play baseball again, but if he does he’s basically freely available and a good bet to have value

OF Alex Dickerson (43.8%)- Dickerson is somewhat quietly having a productive season with the Padres (.337 wOBA) and at 26 still has room for growth

OF Alex Verdugo (42.9%)- Verdugo is only 20, but he played all of 2016 at AA and is a very good bet to see the majors next year. Another KATOH darling

OF Robbie Grossman (39.9%)- Robbie mashes left handed pitching (.430 wOBA vs LHP, .365 wOBA overall) and is still 27

OF Christin Stewart (13.8%)- I will avoid making a Twilight joke, and Stewart strikes out too much, but the patience and power are intriguing from this 2015 first round draft pick of the Tigers

OF Stephen Cardullo (5.4%)- Cardullo hasn’t struggled a bit in his first taste of MLB (.292 wOBA), but has an optimistic Steamer projection (.335) that suggests he could be worth a few dollars next year in Colorado

SP Brandon McCarthy (43.8%)- McCarthy has struggled with injuries the past two seasons, but when he has pitched he’s shown flashes. I wouldn’t want to own him for more than $1 or $2, but he’s a high-upside and high-risk flyer

SP A.J. Puk (29.6%)- Puk was the 6th overall pick in the 2016 draft, and will turn 22 next April. I think he moves quickly through the A’s minor league system and gets a cup of coffee in 2017.

SP Cal Quantrill (11.3%)- Like Puk, Quantrill was drafted high in the 2016 draft (8th by the Padres), and will also be 22 next season. He struggled in his two start stint in A ball, but was excellent in Rookie Ball and A-.

SP Triston McKenzie (4.9%)- McKenzie just turned 19, so he’s a bit further away than Puk or Quantrill, but he was excellent this year at the A- and A ball levels and landed at #37 on John Sickels’ end of season Top 100 list

SP Eric Lauer (3.9%)- Yet another 2016 first round draftee, Lauer will be cheaper to acquire than Puk or Quantrill, but I think offers just as much upside

RP Derek Law (39.9%)- You have to be careful investing in RP keepers since roles are so vital to ottoneu value and can fluctuate, but Law did get a late season look at closer for the Giants and figures to be in the mix in 2017

RP Grant Dayton (26.6%)- As long as Kenley Jansen is pitching for the Dodgers Dayton won’t have a chance at closing games, but setup guys can still have value in ottoneu points leagues, especially if they throw as well as Dayton has in 2016 (13.5 K/9 and a 2.69 xFIP)