Hot Wire: 10 men to grab off fantasy waivers

Alonso, Broxton among widely available players to add now

May 10th, 2017

Could your fantasy team use more power? What about steals? Runs, RBIs or wins?
Regardless of your holes, the fantasy waiver wire has a plug or a long-term fix to pick up today. Check on the availability of the following 10 men -- all sitting on waivers in many leagues, and all ready to help you win.
, first baseman, A's
Alonso has dramatically changed his batting profile this season, abandoning his previous ground-ball-heavy ways and producing career-high marks in hard-hit rate (41.1 percent) and fly-ball rate (50.7 percent). Buoyed by his new approach, the 30-year-old has already surpassed his previous single-season best for homers with 11 while logging a .309 batting average that is well-supported by a .301 Expected Batting Average (according to Statcast™).
Consider in: 10-team mixed leagues
Danny Valencia, 1B/3B/OF, Mariners
Before hitting .181 in April and temporarily losing his grip on the Mariners' first-base role, Valencia had entered the season as a deep-league sleeper on the strength of his .288/.346/.477 slash line over 2015-16. The slugger has turned things around in May (two homers, .310 average across 29 at-bats), and he should find his name on the lineup card most days now that prospect Daniel Vogelbach has been sent back to Triple-A.
Consider in: 15-team mixed leagues

, outfielder, Nationals
On the merits of his strong start to the season, Werth was tabbed to replace injured outfielder in the two-hole of Washington's productive lineup. The veteran could produce a sizable number of RBIs and runs scored by maintaining his .288/.378/.471 slash line while remaining flanked by a trio of fantasy superstars -- , and .
Consider in: 12-team mixed leagues
, outfielder, Brewers
A popular 2017 sleeper pick, Broxton was cast aside in many mixed leagues as he produced an unimpressive .191/.276/.324 slash line during April. But wise owners will notice that the outfielder has turned things around in May (.476/.542/.952 slash line) and ranks among the few waiver-wire options with game-changing speed (32 steals across 346 career plate appearances).
Consider in: 10-team mixed leagues

, outfielder, Blue Jays
Pillar has been one of the few bright spots in the Blue Jays' lineup, hitting .304 with four homers and four steals across 146 plate appearances. By earning regular work out of the leadoff spot, the speedster -- who compiled 39 stolen bases across 2015-16 -- could be set to score runs at a great rate when superstar slugger Josh Donaldson returns to his customary No. 2 lineup spot in the coming days.
Consider in: 10-team mixed leagues
Alex Wood, starter, Dodgers
Wood has been one of the most valuable pieces on an injury-plagued Dodgers staff, going 3-0 with a 2.73 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP across seven appearances (five starts). Owners who are reluctant to add the lefty due to his inconsistent role would be wise to take a leap of faith based on his stellar 1.90 FIP and 11.5 K/9 rate.
Consider in: 10-team mixed leagues
Zach Eflin, starter, Phillies
Eflin has bounced back from an inconsistent rookie season (5.54 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) to log an impressive 2.42 ERA and 0.85 WHIP across four starts with the Phillies this year. The right-hander lacks the swing-and-miss skills (lifetime 4.3 K/9 rate) to dent shallow-league lineups, but he deserves consideration in many mixed formats due to his identical lifetime 2.0 BB/9 rate in the Minors and Majors.
Consider in: 12-team mixed leagues

Chris Tillman, starter, Orioles
Tillman returned in strong fashion from a season-opening stint on the disabled list, tossing five scoreless innings against the White Sox on May 7. The right-hander lacks the upside to join shallow-league lineups, but he has pitched well enough since the outset of '12 (66-33 record, 3.79 ERA, 1.25 WHIP) to become a part of many mixed-league teams.
Consider in: 12-team mixed leagues
, SP/RP, Padres
Cahill is quickly becoming a reliable part of mixed-league rotations, having posted a 3.06 ERA (2.79 FIP), a 1.16 WHIP and a 44-to-16 K/BB ratio across 35 1/3 innings. The right-hander can remain successful by maintaining the swing-and-miss skills he's used to produce at least six strikeouts during each of his six outings this year.
Consider in: 12-team mixed leagues
, reliever, Tigers
Most mixed-league owners should feel safe to drop displaced closer -- who posted a marginal 3.83 FIP last season before running into significant troubles this year -- and head to the waiver wire to add Wilson. Having posted a 1.23 ERA, a 0.55 WHIP and a 14.1 K/9 rate this season, the southpaw is consistently demonstrating the elite skill set that translates to ninth-inning success. Wilson has also produced balanced splits throughout his career, proving that he is capable of being more than a specialist against same-sided batters.
Consider in: 10-team mixed leagues