Fantasy Baseball: Where's the Love for Miguel Olivo?
In the past 30 days, Miguel Olivo is hitting .320. He has scored 13 runs, hit five long balls, drove in another 16 runs and even swiped a couple of bases.
If you look at the past 15 days, he’s even better hitting .378 with 10 runs, four HRs, 13 RBI and two SBs.
Among catchers, he ranks second with 26 runs scored, tied for sixth with seven home runs and tied for seventh with 26 RBI.
As hot as he’s been, he’s only owned in 17 percent of Yahoo! and 8.5 percent of ESPN leagues. With Buster Posey lost for the year and Joe Mauer’s return still uncertain, there is certainly a need for production out of the catcher position.
He’s owned in fewer leagues than Geovany Soto, Kurt Suzuki, Jorge Posada, Carlos Ruiz, Chris Iannetta and John Buck, who not only have been less productive and have a worst batting average. Carlos Santana would also qualify, but he has more upside.
The other six though are just like Olivo—veteran catchers that aren’t going to suddenly develop into Buster Posey.
It’s also not like Olivo is playing over his head. He’s averaged 16.2 home runs and 56.4 RBI over the past five years.
He will likely start getting scooped up by more fantasy owners thanks to a three-game home run streak. Don’t drop Alex Avila, Jonathon Lucroy, J.P. Arencibia or Yadier Molina for him, but if you’re holding onto Jorge Posada for sentimental reasons while Olivo is floating in the free agent pool, I say cut bait and give Miguel a shot.
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