Deep League Waiver Wire: Three Players Owned In Less Than 5% Of Leagues (Cordoba & More)

by Eric Stashin (aka The Rotoprofessor)

For those who play in the deepest of formats, hitting the waiver wire is never easy.  Who is available in less than 5% of CBS Sports leagues who could help your fantasy squad?  Let’s take a look:

Allen Cordoba – San Diego Padres – Shortstop/Outfielder
CBS Sports – 1%

A Rule 5 selection, Cordoba had never played above Rookie Ball and has been thrust into Major League action.  While the Padres have protected him a bit, with Manual Margot on the DL Cordoba is getting an opportunity to show what he can do.  While you’d think that given his lack of experience he’d be overmatched, his 21.3% strikeout rate over 83 AB isn’t unreasonable.  He also has been able to make relatively consistent contact against all types of pitches (Whiff%):

• Hard – 8.12%
• Breaking – 15.32%
• Offspeed – 10.00%

At the time of his selection MLB.com described him by saying:

“A gifted hitter who controls the strike zone and has solid speed and defensive skills at a premium position, he’s the most talented player taken in this year’s Rule 5 Draft — but also one of the least equipped to survive in the Majors at this point of his career.”

Considering what he’s done thus far, albeit in a limited number of AB, there’s reason to start believing that he can handle the highest level.  Even when Margot returns, it’s easy to imagine Cordoba sliding to shortstop (currently being manned by Erick Aybar).  While there’s obviously risk, now would be the time to take the gamble.

Whit Merrifield – Kansas City Royals – Second Baseman
CBS Sports – 5%

Merrifield made a splash in ’16, before disappearing back into oblivion.  Will he follow the same path in ’17?  He’s certainly hit the ground running once again, hitting .272 with 5 HR and 4 SB over 126 PA, so the question is if he can actually maintain it deep into the season.

Thus far there’s nothing unrealistic in his metrics, with a .286 BABIP courtesy of a 20.4% line drive rate.  Is his 14.7% HR/FB better than we’ve seen as he worked his way up the minors?  Sure, but it’s not unreasonable and even a regression isn’t going to cripple his production.  He’s also continued to show a strong ability to make consistent contact, with an 8.0% SwStr% leading to a 15.1% strikeout rate.

Couple all that with the ability to steal bases, and there’s reason to believe.  He’s already shown he can do it, the problem was simply maintaining it.  Hopefully last years’ experience helped him learn and mature, meaning there’s reason to believe he can continue to produce.

Tim Adleman – Cincinnati Reds – Starting Pitcher
CBS Sports – 4%

We all know that the Reds’ rotation is a bit of a moving target, with a slew of young pitchers all getting an opportunity.  That said Adleman has an opportunity to emerge as one of the mainstays, not just in ’17 but moving forward.

Granted he does own a 4.95 ERA over 40.0 IP, but he’s showing some strikeout upside (10.9% SwStr%) courtesy of a pair of swing and miss pitches (Whiff% of 15.29% on his changeup and 17.24% on his curveball).  He’s always had solid control (2.7 BB/9 in the minors), so the big key is going to be limiting the home runs (1.58 HR/9).

It’s no guarantee that he can do it, but for those in deeper formats there’s enough intrigue to roll the dice and find out.

Sources – Fangraphs, Brooks Baseball, MLB.com, Baseball Reference

Make sure to check out all of our updated rankings: