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Deep League Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets for Week 9

By Todd Hedberg
Alec Burleson Deep League Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers

As most fantasy managers have learned, the first couple months of the season offer much opportunity to fill key roster slots. Determining which surging player performances are legit or not becomes an important exercise. Realistically, the aim should be to successfully add one key piece from the waiver wire each month. For fantasy managers who haven’t done so yet in May there’s good news. Fortunately, this last week of May offers many viable waiver wire targets for teams in deep fantasy baseball leagues.

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Deep League Waiver Wire Targets for Week 9

15-Team Mixed League Targets

1. Jake Meyers, OF, Astros

Around this time last season the fantasy community started to take notice of Chas McCormick who was providing steady contributions for the Astros. Now, a new Astros outfielder is emerging in Jake Meyers, putting up similar production as McCormick did last season. So far this season he is batting .301 with five home runs and 18 RBI in just 103 at bats. Much of that production has come in the last fifteen days where he is hitting .380! It seems the only thing that may slow down Meyers is the potential for lost playing time in the near future. With Abreu and McCormick returning from injuries, it’s yet to be determined what his role may end up. It’s still a smart bet in deep leagues to add him to your roster in the hopes he keeps his everyday role.

2. Alec Burleson, OF, Cardinals

Another surging hitter as of late is Alec Burleson on the Cardinals. With Victor Scott and Jordan Walker’s demotions already this season it finally gave proper playing time opportunity for Burleson. With the regular playing time in place, it’s clear everything has started to come together for him. Just in the last week, Burleson is batting .448 with two home runs and two stolen bases. This has raised his season average to around the .300 mark. With a proven minor league track record, this recent surge could be the start of a season-long breakout for Alec Burleson.

3. Garret Cleavinger, SP/RP, Rays

If there’s one certainty with the Rays roster it’s high probability of a new dominant reliever emerging every year. Much like Pete Fairbanks and Jason Adam in previous years, it’s now Garrett Cleavinger that’s turning heads with dominant pitching ratios. In the first two months of the season, Cleavinger has a 1.37 ERA with 20 strikeouts in just 10.1 innings pitched. Given the injury volatility of Fairbanks, he’s already secured three saves on the season along with multiple holds. While the likelihood of steady saves moving forward is low, it’s looking certain that Cleavinger will provide an immense boost to key pitching ratios and help fantasy managers in holds leagues.

AL-Only League Targets

1. Luke Weaver, SP/RP, Yankees

Nearly a decade ago Luke Weaver was a highly touted starting pitcher prospect that was living up to expectations in his first few years in the majors. However, like many other breakout pitching prospects, he fell victim to injuries in both his elbow and shoulder. Now, as a converted reliever for the Yankees, Weaver is finally thriving again. Across his 30 innings pitched this year, he has a 2.37 ERA and a miniscule .659 WHIP. With more than a strikeout per inning, it’s looking as if Weaver is an emerging candidate for long-term set-up duties in the Yankees bullpen.

2. Paul DeJong, SS, White Sox

In the late 2010’s Paul DeJong was one of the most valuable middle infield options in fantasy baseball. In 2017 he batted .283 with 25 home runs. he increased his power production with 30 home runs in 2019. It’s been said that DeJong was one of the biggest benefactors of the juiced ball era, since his power output cratered along with his batting average. The latter fell below the .200 mark in 2021 and 2022. Though, with a fresh start in Chicago, DeJong has started to show his peak form again with seven home runs already. The batting average has returned to near league average levels again as well, at .248 to date. This version of DeJong provides a viable middle infield option again for AL-only leagues.

NL-Only League Targets

1. Marco Luciano, SS, Giants

Just a couple of years ago Marco Luciano was a consensus top 25 prospect as a teenager, due to his 65-grade power potential. However, recurring injuries and high strikeout rates led to his future star status evaporating. In his debut last season, Luciano did little to prove the doubters wrong in batting .231 and striking out at a near 44% clip! His performance so far this season has been significantly better. In his first six games, he already has six hits, two of which were extra-base hits, and a .333 batting average. More encouraging is his early strikeout rate of just 22%, cutting last year’s rate in half. It seems he has put his power potential on hold for now to prove his mettle as a consistent hitter, but that power will come. If he can keep the strikeout rates low it looks like Luciano could reclaim his future star status once again.

2. Masyn Winn, SS, Cardinals

Another recent top prospect in the Cardinals system on the rise is Masyn Winn. Mostly known for his incredible arm strength and speed as a defender, Winn has shown flashes of his upside as a hitter throughout his time in the minors. Now he is back up with the Cardinals and delivering on both sides of the plate. So far in 139 at-bats this season, he has a .295 batting average with two home runs and seven steals. The last seven games, in particular, are where he has gone from an average to an above-average hitter. In that time period, he has both of his two home runs, six RBI, and a .346 batting average. If he can continue hitting around .300 with decent power his roster rate will rise quickly, so grab him early while you can.

Got a few deep league waiver wire targets of your own? Don’t be greedy! Drop some names in the comments below.

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