The second half of the MLB season can be tricky for fantasy baseball owners. The trade deadline is just a few days away, and most are focused on players whose names are being bandied around by real-life GMs and the potential minor league call-ups destined to fill in the roster gaps created by a flurry of trades.
Though much of those players’ values are steeped in speculation, too many fantasy owners are forgetting about some of the proven talent just working its way back into the good graces of the fantasy community. Whether it was an injury or just a rough first half, overlooked veteran talent succeeding right now is your ticket to a championship.
When was the last time you gave Padres outfielder Manny Margot a look? Expectations of him playing center field and batting leadoff for the Padres were high coming into the season but a slow start to April, coupled with the need to start Wil Myers and the power displays of Franmil Reyes and Hunter Renfroe kept him out of the lineup.
It took the Padres far too long to realize Myers wasn’t the player they hoped he would be, and suddenly Margot was a thing again, though no one really took notice. Now — after a late-June surge and a July that yielded a .278 average with three home runs, 14 runs scored and five stolen bases — Margot has a full-time job and should continue to produce with both power and speed.
For another power/speed blend, take a look at Pirates outfielder Starling Marte. Fantasy owners have been down on him after a first-half yield of just 12 home runs and 13 stolen bases. The numbers weren’t awful, but for the price people paid on draft day, he has been considered a disappointment. Those who stuck with him have now benefited from a .340-5-15 second-half start, and though he has yet to steal a base since the All-Star break, the speed will come. Opportunities are to be had with a second-half .368 on-base percentage.
And who could forget Dodgers outfielder A.J. Pollock? Oh yeah … everyone. Injuries have ravaged Pollock’s career, and he continuously heads up fantasy busts lists each year. But that doesn’t mean he can’t help you right now. The Dodgers are looking to solidify their roster as they approach the playoffs, and Pollock batting .350 with four home runs, 12 RBI and two stolen bases is exactly what they need. So do fantasy owners. Stop worrying about what he hasn’t done all year and focus on what he’s doing right now.
The MLB player pool is vast, and it is easy to overlook players who have fallen out of favor early in the year. But when it comes to solidifying your roster for a title run, you need a short memory. Searching for Mr. Right is what you do in the preseason, but Mr. Right Now is who you need today.
Howard Bender is the VP of operations and head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 4-6 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy sports advice, MLB lineups and DFS weather updates.
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