Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Top 10 Pickups for Week 17

Whether a hot prospect or returning veteran, it's always exciting to see someone different.

Yet another rookie arrived and immediately contributed, but he's not the only one working his way into an MLB lineup. A breakout pitcher from 2013 reminded everyone of his existence with a stellar start. A younger hurler is looking to stick in the show during his second call-up, and two injured hitters are fighting their way back from injuries.

One player would benefit from a deadline deal, and when has a list not featured at least one post-hype prospect? All owned in under half of Yahoo Sports fantasy leagues, these players deserve more recognition.

Honorable Mentions

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Ender Inciarte, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks (19 Percent Owned)

Delino DeShields Jr., 2B/OF, Texas Rangers (16 Percent Owned)

Kelly Johnson, 1B/3B/OF, New York Mets (11 Percent Owned)

Chris Coghlan, OF, Chicago Cubs (4 Percent Owned)

Chris Tillman, SP, Baltimore Orioles (40 Percent Owned)

Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks (6 Percent Owned)

Brandon Finnegan, RP, Cincinnati Reds (1 Percent)

Fernando Rodriguez, RP, Oakland Athletics (0 Percent Owned)

10. Mike Leake, SP, Cincinnati Reds (39 Percent Owned)

John Minchillo/Associated Press

In most mixed leagues, Mike Leake is a streamer at best. His 3.78 ERA and 1.18 WHIP make him a serviceable starter, but not much in the fantasy department when adding a mediocre 6.09 strikeouts per nine innings.

Hold up. Don't click to the next slide just yet. Getting traded from the Cincinnati Reds, where he has spent the entirety of his six-year career, would bolster his stock. The 27-year-old righty has a career 3.48 ERA away from Great American Ball Park. His splits are even more defined this season, posting a 4.93 home ERA and 2.57 mark on the road.

In his claustrophobic home park, Leake has surrendered 1.24 homers per nine innings. Away from Cincinnati, that rate deflates to 0.98. While moving to the American League would mitigate some of those gains, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs represent feasible National League landing spots. 

At the least, Leake is a better streaming candidate away from the Reds, who started clearing house by dealing Johnny Cueto on Sunday. It also helps that he limited his last three opponents to two combined runs, amassing 18 strikeouts to three walks.

9. Joe Ross, SP, Washington Nationals (19 Percent Owned)

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

The last time Joe Ross dazzled, his recommendation revolving around "How can the Washington Nationals possibly send him back down now?" was promptly followed by a demotion. When Stephen Strasburg returns from the disabled list, the rookie starting pitcher will likely once again become the odd man out.

Let's worry about that when the time comes. Through five highly impressive outings, Ross has assembled a 3.03 ERA with 34 strikeouts and three walks through 32.2 innings. Armed with a nasty slider on par with his brother, Tyson, he's a better short- and long-term option than Doug Fister. Washington, however, won't replace its expensive veteran despite his 4.50 ERA and 4.62 K/9.

Strasburg is scheduled to make his first rehab start this week, which buys the 22-year-old at least one or two more turns in the rotation. The next one is slated against the New York Mets, who remain a vulnerable opponent despite adding Michael Conforto, Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe.

Even if it's only for two starts, ride Ross before Strasburg kicks him out of the spotlight. In keeper and dynasty leagues, don't let go.

8. Preston Tucker, OF, Houston Astros (9 Percent Owned)

Pat Sullivan/Associated Press

Never projected as more than a fourth outfielder before the season, Preston Tucker has obliterated everything in sight. The 25-year-old rookie has clobbered four homers over his last seven games, giving him a .467 slugging percentage on the season.

He now has nine long balls for the Houston Astros alongside 10 dingers through 25 Triple-A games. Always brandishing tremendous raw power, he belted 24 homers between Double-A and Triple-A last season.

For now, he's no more than a hot hand to ride in mixed leagues. All his damage comes against righties, but he has a .226 slugging percentage against southpaws. Managers must monitor his matchups, which is more work than many want from a waiver-wire add.

But as long as Tucker keeps demolishing righties, he's worth a look in all leagues, particularly for anyone lagging behind in home runs.

7. Carlos Rodon, SP, Chicago White Sox (26 Percent Owned)

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

A top-flight prospect, Carlos Rodon has retained a low ownership rate due to his bloated 5.14 walks per nine innings. But a dominating Sunday display will change the passiveness around the 22-year-old neophyte. 

Against the Cleveland Indians, the lefty threw 6.2 scoreless innings, collecting nine strikeouts. More impressively, he didn't issue a single walk, avoiding any free passes for the second time in 13 starts.

Along with a 4.09 ERA, Rodon has recorded a 3.62 fielding independent pitching (FIP) and 9.70 K/9. It's the 1.58 WHIP that will scare gamers away. He'll need to harness better command, but a dip in his .349 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) will also help contain an ugly rate.

While he's far too erratic to trust on a regular basis, he boasts too much upside to ignore. 

6. Jayson Werth, OF, Washington Nationals (38 Percent Owned)

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

The first of two hitters returning from his second injury, Jayson Werth is working his way back to Washington. Continuing to undergo a lengthy rehab stint, the veteran outfielder should eventually travel to the nation's capital.

"Jayson took some time to get back," Nationals manager Matt Williams told the Washington Post's James Wagner. "He was in splint. It takes time. But he’s feeling good, too. We’ll see where we’re headed after Sunday’s game and go from then.”

In 27 dismal games with Washington, Werth did nothing to support owners stashing him. Hitting a meager .208/.294/.287 with two homers, no steals and a 21.0 strikeout percentage, most managers cut their losses and dumped the 36-year-old outfielder.

In shallow leagues, that was the right move. But with his return imminent, it's worth grabbing a career .274/.368/.465 hitter. When right, he's a massive difference-maker with ample power and a side of speed.

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

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Not everyone returns strong from Tommy John surgery. Just ask Matt Moore. In his first taste of action since 2013, however. Patrick Corbin has returned to relevancy.

Easing back into action with three unspectacular starts, he dominated the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, registering 10 strikeouts with one run allowed through seven innings. The 26-year-old southpaw now has 23 punchouts and three walks during 22 frames.

Velocity is usually a concern coming off a major arm injury, but Corbin is throwing slightly harder than his previous two seasons. He has also limited opponents to a microscopic 13.3 line-drive percentage.

It seems like ages ago he burst onto the scene with a 3.41 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 178 strikeouts in 2013. Don't expect many more 10-strikeout gems, but he's a solid pitcher capable of rounding out most starting staffs. 

4. Michael Conforto, OF, New York Mets (16 Percent Owned)

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

Michael Conforto is not a savior. This warning applies to fantasy owners and the New York Mets, but both might as well see what the rookie can do.

Deemed the most polished hitter of 2014's draft class, the 22-year-old outfielder forced his way to the majors by hitting .312/.396/.503 in Double-A. The Mets waited weeks to sideline an injured Michael Cuddyer when they could have called up Conforto, who went 4-for-4 with four runs and a walk during his second MLB game.

While already a capable hitter, he is not Kris Bryant or Carlos Correa. With 15 career homers and four steals, he's unlikely to offer much power or speed from the start. Per ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin, one scout compared last year's first-round pick to Yonder Alonso, who has never reached double-digit dingers in a single season.

At least Conforto doesn't play in Petco Park, and ESPN Insider Keith Law spoke more optimistically about him having "an excellent chance at .400-OBP, 20-homer seasons when he peaks." Those in shallow, redraft mixed leagues don't need to grab him, but he'll provide solid immediate dividends in five-outfielder formats.

3. Travis d'Arnaud, C, New York Mets (31 Percent Owned)

Kathy Kmonicek/Associated Press

Would it be lazy to copy and paste the blurb from the last time Travis d'Arnaud was set to return from the disabled list this year? 

After suffering his second fluke injury of the year—a home-plate collision with A.J. Pierzynski after getting hit in the hand with a pitch in April—the promising young catcher again went right back on the shelf. He began a rehab assignment twice postponed due to rain on Saturday night, inching him closer to a return this week.

During 19 healthy games, d'Arnaud batted .296/.338/.535 with four homers and 17 RBI. Over that condensed sample size, his 144 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) ranks third among catchers behind Yasmani Grandal and Buster Posey. 

While he was tarnished with the injury-prone label before 2015, these two separate events amounted to being at the wrong place at the wrong time. If he can avoid a third injury, d'Arnaud will finally stick around as a top-10 fantasy catcher.

2. Nick Castellanos, 3B, Detroit Tigers (18 Percent Owned)

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

Nick Castellanos is only 23 years old. Remember that when judging his career .695 OPS. The former top prospect is finally heating up for the Detroit Tigers, requiring all fantasy managers to take notice.

Touted as a second-half breakout candidate at the All-Star break, the third baseman has belted four homers in nine games since the Midsummer Classic. Entering July with four long balls, he has six this month while hitting .312 since June 25. 

"I'm seeing it well right now," Castellanos told MLive.com's Chris Iott. "That's really all I can say."

A batch of bright rookies have spoiled everyone this year, but most players don't turn into studs overnight. It's also possible he's simply enjoying a hot streak, but don't assume the young gun will cool down.

1. Steven Souza, OF, Tampa Bay Rays (46 Percent Owned)

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

Steven Souza has major contact issues. A .203 batting average won't get substantially better as long as he keeps striking out in 35.7 percent of his plate appearances.

He also, however, has tallied 15 homers and 10 stolen bases through 84 games. While drafters hoped he'd at least salvage a .240 average, the 26-year-old rookie has largely performed as advertised.

For two months, he provided a passable .238 average with 10 homers and seven steals to boot. Dating back to June 1, however, he's hitting .165 despite displaying alarming strikeout tendencies throughout the season. 

Since average often fluctuates wildly, a poor one isn't enough to expel someone with elite power and speed. Considering Mike Trout, Todd Frazier, Paul Goldschmidt, Manny Machado, Anthony Rizzo, Ryan Braun and Justin Upton are the only other 15/10 players, Souza's skills are too valuable to waste on the waiver wire.

Note: All advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs. 

Follow me on Twitter for more fantasy baseball analysis:

Follow @AndrewGould4