Waiver Wire: April 6th

It’s a tough time of year to find fantasy gold on your waiver wire as your competition is picking through players just as intently as you.  But you might want to build your bench depth by taking a chance on some overlooked guys like a veteran infielder who has had batting average issues or a formerly hyped prospect who just needed a little extra time to break out.

Jhonny Peralta |SS, 3B|   Ownership:  ESPN – 48.4%  Yahoo – 28%

If you can handle a slight hit in batting average and/or OBP and are looking for a little more pop from your middle infield, then  Peralta just might be a decent pickup for you.  He’s better used as a shortstop, but the dual eligibility with 3B is a nice added bonus for leagues with daily roster moves.  The potential for 15-20 HR is there based on his slightly above average ISO and he should see plenty of RBI opportunities hitting behind Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, and the tandem of Brennan Boesch and Ryan Raburn.  Last season he dropped his K% down to a very respectable 18.7% while bringing his LD% back up to 22.3% and dramatically reducing his GB%.  If his .275 BABIP regresses back to the norm and he maintains these hitting trends, Peralta could turn into an even better option.  He’s started off 5 for 15 right now with a pair of runs scored and one RBI and has only struck out once in 16 plate appearances thus far.

Cameron Maybin |OF|  Ownership:  ESPN – 23.1%   Yahoo – 17%

The big question surrounding Maybin is whether all that 5 tool player hype we heard was actually true or is he just another one of those Quadruple-A ball players?  As a bue chip prospect, he was the centerpiece of the package the Tigers sent in the Cabrera trade but has yet to deliver on the potential.  In fact, he had looked completely over-matched in the batter’s box during his stint with the Marlins, each year seeing his K% increase while his average and OBP took a nosedive.    Strikeouts have always been his undoing (31.4 K% in the majors) and while he’s got 4 Ks in 12 AB this season, it’s refreshing to see that he’s not up there hacking outside the zone (19.1 O-Swing%) as he has in the past.

Sometimes all a guy needs is a change of scenery.  The expectations were unbelievably high in Florida having been the guy accepted in return for the popular and talented Cabrera, so maybe the move to low key San Diego is just what Maybin needs to thrive.  The pressure of lighting it up at the top of the order is gone as he regularly bats 7th now, and while Petco, like Sun Life Stadium, will hinder the power totals, I could see him living up to the 20+ SB potential if he get get on base at a decent clip.  He may still be a bit of a work in progress, but if it clicks for him soon, he could have himself a breakout year.  With his potential, I think he’s worth a stash on your bench.