Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Top 10 Pickups for Week 14

The MLB All-Star break remains a week away, but most teams have already hit or passed their season's halfway mark.

With around 80 or so games concluded, basketball or hockey would now turn the page to the playoffs. Fantasy baseball gamers, however, have another three months left to monitor their fake squads. While some can't handle the long stretch, others need all the time they can get to climb the standings.

Although this is the time of year everyone ramps up their trade efforts, some marginal gains are available for free on the waiver wire. From post-hype prospects to journeymen and rebounding veterans, Week 14 offers a wide array of available talent.

The following players are all unowned in more than half of Yahoo Sports leagues. For some, it might not stay that way much longer.

Honorable Mentions

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J.J. Hardy, SS, Baltimore Orioles (29 Percent Owned)

Jedd Gyorko, 2B, San Diego Padres (13 Percent Owned)

Jake Marisnick, OF, Houston Astros (8 Percent Owned)

Scooter Gennett, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers (4 Percent Owned)

Clint Robinson, 1B/OF, Washington Nationals (2 Percent Owned)

Matt Moore, SP, Tampa Bay Rays (31 Percent Owned)

Kendall Graveman, SP/RP, Oakland Athletics (20 Percent Owned)

Cody Anderson, SP, Cleveland Indians (18 Percent Owned)

Patrick Corbin, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks (15 Percent Owned)

Manny Banuelos, RP, Atlanta Braves (5 Percent Owned)

10. Jason Motte, RP, Chicago Cubs (15 Percent Owned)

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So... Jason Motte is apparently the Chicago Cubs' closer now. The 33-year-old notched his fourth save of the season on Sunday, and Hector Rendon hasn't recorded one since June 20.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon, a tactician who has made a living defying common convention, may decide not to give fantasy owners the satisfaction of one set closer. Yet he offered a surprisingly archaic assessment of Motte to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.

"I like him in the ninth inning based on his experience," Maddon said. "He's unflappable. I know one thing—he has been there before and he has been very calm in that moment."

Rondon never did anything to lose the job. He is carrying a 2.10 ERA this season, last allowing a run on May 22. Motte, on the other hand, has a 3.88 fielding independent pitching (FIP) to go along with his 2.84 ERA and mediocre 6.25 strikeouts per nine innings.

An endorsement for the former St. Louis Cardinals stopper is merely a search for saves. This is a neutered version of the guy who dominated three years ago, but if his ninth-inning experience dubiously gives him more chances, so be it. 

9. Alejandro De Aza, OF, Boston Red Sox (16 Percent Owned)

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Change can do someone a world of good. In 26 games with the Boston Red Sox, Alejando De Aza is hitting .317/.364/.602 with three homers and a stolen base.

A simple hot streak? You bet. In a similar situation last year, he batted .293/.341/.537 for the Baltimore Orioles through 20 games after getting jettisoned by the Chicago White Sox. Call them wake-up calls, or chalk it up to simple variance. Either way, the power especially doesn't jive with his career norms.

But before completely dismissing his resurgence, De Aza enjoyed a 17/20 campaign two years ago and swiped 17 bags last season. The 31-year-old should trade some power for speed going forward, and this surge has earned him a steady gig with Boston for the time being.

8. Kevin Gausman, SP/RP, Baltimore Orioles (10 Percent Owned)

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Full disclaimer: This is coming from someone who has twice predicted Kevin Gausman finishing the season as the Baltimore Orioles' best fantasy starting pitcher. Due to a baffling lack of opportunity, he has never sniffed the lofty prophecy.

After starting the season in another unnecessary bullpen stint, the 2012 first-round draftee has allowed two runs in two tough starts against the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers. In the latter outing against Texas, he registered seven strikeouts through 6.1 shutout innings.

Common sense is finally prevailing. Baltimore is demoting Bud Norris and his 6.63 ERA to the bullpen, keeping Gausman in the rotation. 

“We are trying to run our best five starters out there and right now we think Kevin is one of them," manager Buck Showalter told the Baltimore Sun's Eduardo A. Encina. "[We] wanted him to get a consistent routine.”

Better late than never. Last season, Gausman improved his strikeouts and walks per nine innings in every passing month. During September, he submitted a 8.33 K/9, 2.59 BB/9 and 2.97 FIP. Still 24 years old, the righty harbors enough upside to warrant a flier over a short-term streaker such as Kendall Graveman.

7. Justin Bour, 1B, Miami Marlins (9 Percent Owned)

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Justin Bour has done his best Giancarlo Stanton impersonation over the past week, homering in four consecutive games shortly after the Miami Marlins sidelined their star slugger.

Through 159 plate appearances, the 27-year-old is hitting .262/.344/.503 with 10 homers and a 133 weighted runs created plus (wRC+). Everyone would drool over a 23-year-old prospect doing that during his first starting opportunity, but the late bloomer's boom has gone relatively unnoticed.

Bour never looked like a 30-homer behemoth, but he shone in Triple-A last year (.306/.372/.517) before his power tumbled in the big leagues. A 27.0 home run-fly-ball percentage has certainly helped his cause, but nobody needs him to sustain his torrid pace.

A hard-hitting lefty with a keen batting eye, Bour is a cheaper version of Lucas Duda sitting in storage. Take him out for a spin, especially in leagues counting on-base percentage or OPS.  

6. Gerardo Parra, OF, Milwaukee Brewers (24 Percent Owned)

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Throughout his tenure with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Gerardo Parra flashed solid power and speed. Following two 15-steal seasons in 2011 and 2012, he offered a 10-10 campaign the following year and nine homers and steals apiece last season.

None of those numbers pop off the page, and that's why the 28-year-old outfielder remains available in three-fourths of Yahoo leagues. A boring player to own over a grueling 162-game schedule, he quietly accumulates value for deeper gamers.

At the moment, he's worth riding in all formats. Parra is hitting .308/.345/.477 with six homers, six steals and 38 runs. Since June 15, he has gone 30-for-80 (.375) with two long balls and five steals. 

His sizzling stretch has earned him a spot atop a Milwaukee Brewers batting order hitting its stride after a sluggish start. Don't expect a career .277 hitter to keep batting above .300, but he'll pull his weight beyond standard and shallow mixed leagues.

5. Cesar Hernandez, 2B/3B/SS, Philadelphia Phillies (35 Percent Owned)

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How do you go from a sporadic starter on baseball's worst team to an intriguing add in all formats? Stealing four bases in four games is a good start.

Cesar Hernandez did just that to close out June, giving him eight steals that month and 11 for the season after swiping another pair on Sunday. Taking over for the injured Chase Utley at second base, the 25-year-old is hitting .299/.385/.385 with Yahoo eligibility at second base, third base and shortstop.

Unlike many one-category speedsters, Hernandez exhibits tremendous plate discipline with an 11.4 walk percentage. If he keeps reaching base with such regularity, Philadelphia will have to find a spot for him when Utley returns, perhaps in its barren outfield.

Either way, the veteran second baseman isn't expected to return until late July, and the Phillies have no reason to rush back someone hitting .175/.257/.275 this year. Anyone hurting in the stolen-base department should snatch up Hernandez.

4. Nathan Karns, SP, Tampa Bay Rays (24 Percent Owned)

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Every week, Nathan Karns draws a gander and some brief consideration, but he never passed the final screening. After striking out 10 New York Yankees on Saturday, he finally makes the cut.

The 27-year-old righty has relinquished six runs over his past five starts, collecting 34 punchouts through 30.1 innings. Joining a long lineage of successful Tampa Bay Rays hurlers, he has quietly accrued a 3.21 ERA and 1.24 WHIP this season.

His 3.49 BB/9 rate remains a tad low, but Karns has made progress after spitting out 14 free passes over his first four starts. With the help of one of baseball's premier defenses, Karns has also limited opponents to a .226 batting average.

It's getting harder to remain skeptical with each passing start. After slaying the Bronx Bombers at Yankee Stadium, he finally deserves everyone's attention.  

3. Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers (41 Percent Owned)

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It'd be a shame if Aramis Ramirez's long, fruitful career ended with him stuck on the waiver wire. Thanks to a recent hot streak, that fate shouldn't befall the departing third baseman.

Over his last 20 games, the 37-year-old is hitting .314 (22-70) with three homers and nine doubles. That brings his season slash line up to just .244/.286/.438, but the power remains on display with 10 homers. It's a matter of improving that average, a realistic request for a career .284 hitter enduring a .244 batting average on balls in play (BABIP). 

Never known for his plate discipline, Ramirez's walk rate has waned over his final years. Yet his strikeouts have stayed steady, so five-by-five gamers won't keep paying the price. If Ramirez remains healthy, he should deliver corner-infield value during his swan song.

2. Ervin Santana, SP, Minnesota Twins (45 Percent Owned)

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Forget about Ervin Santana? After completing an 80-game suspension, the 32-year-old hurler finally made his Minnesota Twins debut on Sunday afternoon. Facing his old team, the Kansas City Royals, he allowed three hits and two runs through eight innings, compiling eight strikeouts against a squad that rarely whiffs.

Most managers who drafted Santana didn't bother stashing him after he tested positive for Stanozolol. Now that he's back, he's definitely worth owning in all formats. Last year, he recorded a 3.39 FIP, 179 strikeouts and 11.8 swinging-strike percentage for the Atlanta Braves. 

He quickly quelled any fears of rust with a strong return, largely thanks to a loophole allowing him to pitch in the minors during his suspension. Back for the second half, he can round out any rotation.

1. Marlon Byrd, OF, Cincinnati Reds (38 Percent Owned)

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Marlon Byrd clobbered 49 homers over the past two seasons, tying Adrian Gonzalez and Adrian Beltre for No. 19 during that stretch. In 61 games this year, he has resumed business with 14 more dingers. Such a steady power source shouldn't remain up for grabs.

A short trip to the disabled list led to his low ownership rate. When the Cincinnati Reds sidelined him with a wrist fracture, managers saw no reason to keep an outfielder hitting .213, even though he recorded eight homers in May.

Since returning on June 19, Byrd is hitting .333 (20-for-60) with four homers. While projecting his rest-of-season batting average, locate a happy medium between both extremes. If the 37-year-old can accompany a dozen more blasts with a .265 average, that makes him a great play in five-outfielder leagues.

Note: Advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted. 

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