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Waiver Wire Claims for Your Fantasy Baseball League

By Jim Turvey

Mar 24, 2017; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Mitch Haniger (17) hits an RBI double against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning at Peoria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Mitch Haniger (17) hits an RBI double against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning at Peoria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /

1B Justin Bour – 19.9%

You can thank a sprained ankle in 2016 for throwing Bour off people’s scent in 2017. Bour was a hot commodity just a year before, as he hit 23 home runs in 129 games in 2015 for the Marlins. He was just as productive in 2016 (15 home runs in 90 games), but the injury seems to have allowed Bour to fly under the radar, surprising for a player who was considered by many a breakout candidate before last season.

How quickly we forgot, but Bour is healthy coming into 2017, and is a strong candidate for 30 home runs if he stays healthy in 2017. Power is certainly in more abundance around than league than almost ever before, but even still, 30 home runs is nothing to sneeze at. Bour also has excellent plate discipline (11.4 percent walk rate; 17.8 percent strikeout rate in 2016), and as such, his .264 batting average from last season is right in line with what to expect in 2017. The potential injury risk (which is a bit overstated) is the reason he didn’t get drafted, but there’s no reason to leave him off your roster while he’s healthy.

3B Joey Gallo – 4.7%

Here’s your lottery ticket. A little bit of the shine has worn off Gallo since his peak as the number six prospect in all of baseball after the 2014 season, but he still has mammoth power and will be starting the season with the big-league club in 2017. With a prospect like Gallo, he’s not going to just be sitting the pine at the major league level, so he should see plenty of at bats and get a legitimate shot to prove his worth.

Gallo has looked quite exploitable in his limited time at the major league level so far, sporting a .173 batting average and a 49.7 percent strikeout rate. That being said, Gallo has posted a .195 ISO in his 53 major league games, so the power certainly is there. If he can finally close up the holes in his swing, he could immediately be the hottest pick up in your league. If you’re in a deep enough league (or in a keeper league) he’s worth a stash on your bench while we see whether he’s got what it takes or not.

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