Fantasy Baseball 2012: Waiver Wire Watch

Welcome back to the Waiver Wire Watch!  Hope everyone had a good All-Star break and is ready to see some exciting baseball during the homestretch of the 2012 campaign.  Here are some possible fantasy options to help out your team during that time.

Format for waiver wire watch:

• 50-75% Owned- Player qualifies for 10-team league
• 25-49% Owned- Player qualifies for 12-team league
• Less than 25% Owned- Player qualifies for 14-team league

Again, these percentages are found on Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball.

10-team league hitter to watch 

Colby Rasmus, OF, TOR

Colby Rasmus is quietly putting together a solid campaign for the Blue Jays.  After hitting only 6 HR during the first two months of the season, he has hit 11 HR in June and July, giving him 17 for the season.  He also has 33 RBI over the past two months as well.  Rasmus has done a good job with runners on base too, with an AVG of .342 with RISP and .333 with RISP and 2 outs.  These numbers favor Rasmus continuing to build upon his RBI total.

10-team league pitcher to watch

Trevor Cahill, SP, ARI

Though fantasy owners have yet to take notice, Trevor Cahill has been very consistent for Arizona this season.  He has posted an ERA under 4.00 in three out of four months this season, and he has been able to eat up innings as well (114 IP).  He has a solid 1.28 WHIP on the season, and he has been equally effective versus left-handed and right-handed batters.  Righties have a .244 BAA, while lefties have a .243 BAA.  Cahill is a solid mid-rotation option.

12-team league hitter to watch

Delmon Young, OF, DET

Delmon Young might be starting to hit his stride.  So far in July, Young has a .293 AVG and 4 HR already this month, which is more HR than he has hit in any other month this season.  Young can be considered a pretty streaky hitter, which means you will want to have him on your radar.  He is the type of player that can carry a team’s offense (fantasy or real life) when things are going well for him.  Especially keep an eye on Young whenever the Tigers are facing left-handed pitching.  Young has a .297 AVG vs. lefties this season, with 5 of his 10 HR in just 101 AB.  He is certainly someone to keep on your watch list for the stretch run.

12-team league pitcher to watch

Ricky Nolasco, SP, MIA

After a couple rocky months in May and June, Ricky Nolasco has been sharp in July, which is good news for fantasy owners.  He has a 2.95 ERA for the month and has two wins this month as well.  Nolasco has pitched at least six innings in eight out of his last 10 starts.  Even in his latest loss, Nolasco pitched four no-hit innings before he lost command in the 5th.

14-team league hitter to watch 

Garrett Jones, 1B/OF, PIT

Garrett Jones has been known to be a pretty streaky hitter over the course of his career; however, Jones has actually been on a hot streak for quite some time now.  Jones has an AVG of at least .300 in each of the past two months and has belted 7 HR and has 22 RBI in that time frame.  Especially keep an eye on Jones when he is facing a right-handed pitcher, as all of his 12 HR on the season have come against righties.  He often hits behind Andrew McCutchen which is good potential for future RBI possibilities.

14-team league pitcher to watch 

Bartolo Colon, SP, OAK

Who would have ever thought Bartolo Colon would have made this list?  The former fireballer has been a pleasant surprise for the Athletics.  He’s been extremely consistent on the season having had only one month in which he sported an ERA over 3.50.  In July he has a 1.23 ERA to go along with a 0.89 WHIP and .214 BAA.  He might not be able to get you the strikeouts that he once could, but at least he is a viable option that many fantasy owners have yet to take note of.

---

---