This week’s Waiver Flavor is headlined by a slew of young players including the top prospect in baseball who is getting another shot at the show after tearing up Triple-A.  With that being said let’s take a look at the rest of the guys who are likely floating around the waiver wire in your league and can make an impact on your roster going forward.

Catcher

J.T. Realmuto, MIA - Realmuto finds himself owned in just under 60 percent of standard leagues despite being ranked among the top ten catchers in fantasy according to most sites.  He is hitting .300 with 17 runs, two home runs, 13 RBI and two stolen bases on the season and over the last week he finds himself hitting .333 with three runs and an OPS of .735.  Realmuto was a popular sleeper candidate heading into this season after his impressive rookie campaign and through eight weeks he has lived up to the hype.  There is little reason Realmuto is unowned so check your waiver wire as he should be owned in all fantasy formats.

Russell Martin, TOR - After a terribly slow start to the 2016 season Martin is turning things around, hitting .320 with six runs, three home runs and six RBI over the last seven days. He is currently owned in just over 50 percent of standard leagues and if he is indeed turning things around he should be added in the majority of fantasy leagues ranging from all AL-Only to 12+ team standard mixed leagues.

Matt Wieters, BAL – Wieters is hitting .381 with four runs, two home runs, six RBI and an OPS of 1.024 over the past few weeks for the Orioles.  Prior to having Tommy John surgery Wieters was one of the league’s top offensive catchers and he looks to be more comfortable at the plate which makes him worth owning in all fantasy formats.  He is currently owned in just over 60 percent of standard leagues and is already a top 10 fantasy catcher so if you see him on the waiver wire then snatch him up.

First Base

Matt Adams, STL- Adams is owned in just over 20 percent of standard leagues despite performing at a level that has him ranking near the top 10 first basemen in fantasy this season.  Over the past week Adams is hitting .389 with two runs, home run, six RBI and an OPS of 1.178.  Overall on the season Adams is hitting .315 with 15 runs, six home runs and 25 RBI and while the Cardinals still have him split time with Brandon Moss at first base on occasions when in the lineup he has produced for his owners.

Mike Napoli, CLE - The batting average with Napoli will never really impress however he continues to launch home runs at an impressive rate.  Over the past week Napoli is hitting .227 but with six runs, three home runs, six RBI and an OPS of .928.  He is owned in just over 30 percent of standard leagues and hits in the middle of the Indians lineup.  If you can live with his low batting average there is 30 home run upside here as he already has hit 11 home runs through eight weeks this season.

Joe Mauer, MIN - Joe Mauer the power hitter returned over the past week as he managed to hit .375 with six runs, three home runs, five RBI and an OPS of 1.194.  The Twins offense is still nothing too special however Mauer is still a good hitter and if he can find his power stroke once again there is definite fantasy value here.  Mauer is hitting .284 with 18 runs, six home runs and 18 RBI on the season at with his ownership sitting around 40 percent in standard leagues he is worth a flier if you need help at first base.

Second Base

Devon Travis, TOR – Travis was activated last week and collected hits in five of his first six games on the year.  Travis saw his rookie season cut short due to injury but before the injury he was hitting .304 with 38 runs, eight home runs, 35 RBI and three stolen bases over 217 at-bats.  He is currently owned in just over 35 percent of standard leagues and should be added in all league formats given his upside at a position that is relatively shallow.

Aaron Hill, MIL – After a bad 2015 season Hill is redeeming himself in 2016 and becoming fantasy relevant once again.  His ownership level sits at just under 15 percent so it’s more than likely that he is floating around your leagues waiver wire.  Over the last week he is hitting .409 with five runs, two home runs, three RBI and an OPS of 1.246 and on the year he is hitting .275 with 18 runs, six home runs, 20 RBI and three stolen bases which has him ranking among the top 15 second basemen in fantasy.

Chris Owings, ARI – Owings continues to excel as the Diamondbacks primary center fielder and while he does not hit for any real power he has already stolen seven bases on the year. I consider Owings more of an NL-only play than standard league but given his ability to play multiple positions I can certainly see his appeal in mixed league formats as well.  Overall on the year Owings is hitting .288 with 20 runs, two home runs, 17 RBI and seven stolen bases.

Third Base

Jake Lamb, ARI – Lamb is starting to heat up again for the Diamondbacks, hitting .350 with four runs, two home runs, five RBI and an OPS of 1.108 over the last week.  He is currently owned in just under 40 percent of standard leagues and should be 100 percent owned in all NL-only formats.  Lamb does not play against southpaws but overall on the year he is hitting .284 with 25 runs, eight home runs, 28 RBI and three stolen bases which makes him worthy of being owned in all formats.

Eduardo Nunez, MIN - I continue to be amazed at the ownership levels of Nunez as he is available in over 50 percent of standard leagues despite hitting .340 with 22 runs, five home runs, 20 RBI and nine stolen bases on the year.  Over the past week Nunez is hitting a ridiculous .519 with six runs, two home runs, three RBI and one stolen base.  Nunez is also eligible at shortstop which only adds to his fantasy value.  He is well on his way to reaching double-digit home runs and 20-plus stolen bases so do yourself a favor and grab him if you see him on your waiver wire.

Danny Valencia, OAK - Valencia continues to rake at the dish this season and over the last week he is hitting .429 with eight runs, two home runs and four RBI.  Valencia has been a notorious lefty killer during his career but this season he also hitting .319 with an .807 OPS against right-handed pitching which has helped stabilize his fantasy value.  Valencia should be owned in all league formats but he finds himself owned in just under 65 percent of standard leagues so check your waiver wire and make the roster move to get him on your team.

Shortstop

Jonathan Villar, MIL - While it’s great to see Villar’s ownership levels rising he is still available in nearly 30 percent of standard leagues which is just mind boggling as he is hitting .308 with 27 runs, two home runs, 19 RBI and 19 stolen bases.  Over the last week he has been even better, hitting .440 with eight runs, one home run, six RBI and four stolen bases.  Villar is considered the second ranked shortstop in fantasy this season so check your wire and add him to your team because he is locked into a starting job for the season and could finish the year as the league leader in stolen bases.

Jose Ramirez, CLE - Ramirez is a unique fantasy player seeing as he is eligible to play nearly every position on the field except catcher and first base.  Ramirez is owned in just under 60 percent of fantasy leagues and on the year is hitting .310 with 24 runs, three home runs, 19 RBI and four stolen bases.  As long as he continues to see every day playing time he appears to be a lock four double-digit home runs and stolen bases which only adds to his fantasy appeal.

Alcides Escobar, KC- The Royals are starting to heat up which means good things for their leadoff hitter in Escobar who over the last week is hitting .333 with four runs and one RBI.  Escobar has already swiped 10 bases this season which should allow for him to threaten the 30 stolen base plateau as long as he continues to get the green light.  Escobar is not going to excite you in any one category but in deeper mixed leagues and AL-only leagues he is certainly worth a roster spot.  Currently Escobar is owned in 40 percent of standard leagues so check your waiver wire if you are looking for an upgrade at shortstop or middle infield.

Outfield

Adam Duvall, CIN - In case you have been living under a rock for the past month Adam Duvall put on a power display during the month of May which saw him hit .289 with 19 runs, 11 home runs and 24 RBI.  He finds himself owned in just over 40 percent of standard leagues which is a bit surprising given his power surge.  Duvall should be owned in all NL-only leagues and is worth considerations in mixed leagues formats as the power with this guy is for real.

Nomar Mazara, TEX - I was shocked to see that Mazara is available in nearly 30 percent of standard leagues given his upside and the fact that he is hitting .302 with 22 runs, nine home runs and 24 RBI so far this season.  He is likely only available in 10 team standard leagues but check your waiver wire as Mazara has the ability to be one of the leagues better outfielders this fantasy season given his power potential and home ball park.

Byron Buxton, MIN – Buxton is getting another shot at the major league level this season after being recalled by the Twins on Tuesday.  At Triple-A this season he was hitting .336 with 26 runs, six home runs, 14 RBI and four stolen bases over 29 games which shows the talent that has made him the No. 1 or No. 2 prospect in baseball over the past few years.  Buxton really struggled during his first stint with the Twins this season, hitting just .163 over 17 games but if he is able to make necessary adjustments he has the upside to be a game changer in fantasy this season.

Pitchers

Nathan Eovaldi, NYY– Eovaldi has impressed over his last five starts, going 5-0 with a 2.03 ERA while striking out 26 over 31 innings. What’s more important is that he walked just seven over that span as control has long plagued Eovaldi and often lead to some unnecessary big innings against him.  His next start will come against the strikeout prone Baltimore Orioles which can offer some upside as long as he limits the free passes.  Eovaldi is currently owned in just under 50 percent of standard leagues so if you find yourself in need of a spot start you could do much worse than him.

Steven Wright, BOS – I understand the hesitation with a knuckleballer but Wright is off to a fantastic start to the year and finds himself owned in just 65 percent of standard leagues.  Wright has thrown a quality start in 9-of-10 starts this season and is tied for the league lead with three complete games.  His next start will come on Saturday against a Blue Jays team that he has held to three earned runs over 12.2 innings while registering 11 strikeouts.

Jeremy Hellickson, PHI - Hellickson has been solid over his last three starts, earning three quality starts while allowing just six earned runs and striking out 19 over 20 innings.  Overall on the year Hellickson is 4-3 with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP but is ranked among the top 35 starters in fantasy in most leagues.  His next start will come on Saturday at home against the strikeout prone Brewers.  Hellickson is owned in just under 25 percent of standard leagues so he is likely floating around your waiver wire if you are in need of a spot start.

Luke Gregerson, HOU - Gregerson struggled a bit earlier this month but he has since registered four straight saves while allowing just one earned run over his last seven innings while striking out 12.  On the year Gregerson has saved 13 games for the Astros and with Ken Giles still struggling out of the bullpen he is in no danger of losing his starting job.  Gregerson is owned in just over 60 percent of standard leagues so if you find yourself in need of saves help there is a good chance Gregerson is available in your league.