Free Agent Frenzy: In the midnight hour, they cry "Moore, Matt Moore!"
Please, tell me you got the headline. Or am I completely dating myself with a 1983 Billy Idol lyric?
Here's this season's 12th edition of Free Agent Frenzy. Please note that, as in past seasons, no player will be mentioned in this space more than once in a four-week span, because we don't want to beat you over the head all year long about the same players. Also, we'll limit our discussions to players owned in fewer than 50 percent of FOXSports.com leagues. Let's get going!
(Note: All stats are through Wednesday unless otherwise noted.)
Catcher: Dioner Navarro, Blue Jays (owned in 2.8 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
Navarro gets a couple of starts each week behind the plate, DHs sometimes, and pinch hits, too. He had 47 at bats in June, which is plenty for a catcher with his type of bat â especially if he bats fifth in the Jays' loaded lineup. If you're still looking for a Travis d'Arnaud replacement, you could do worse than Navarro.
Digging deeper: Cameron Rupp (0.1 percent owned) is basically sharing time with Carlos Ruiz, and though his high K rate will lead to a low BA, he's crushed lefties in a small sample (.482 wOBA in 29 PA). Keep an eye on that in deep daily lineup leagues.
First base: Mitch Moreland, Rangers (owned in 27.2 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
Moreland has always had decent pop, but not enough to get close to the elite tier of fantasy first basemen. After hitting a very impressive 14 homers in 59 games, he's still not at that tier, but he's certainly worthy of a free pickup in any format.
Digging deeper: Jon Singleton (0.8 percent owned) didn't get promoted until Saturday, so he might still be available in your AL-only league. Singleton was killing it (17 HR, .940 OPS) at Triple A, and probably has a firmer grasp on playing time now that George Springer is headed to the DL. Remember that the big first baseman is only 23 years old, so we shouldn't hold his previous flops against him too much.
Second base: Johnny Giavotella, Angels (owned in 1.2 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
Whatever happened with the DiPoto/Scioscia battle royale, they probably agreed that Johnny G is a solid fantasy second baseman. After shuttling between Triple A and Kansas City approximately 983 times over the past few seasons, Giavotella has found a home as the Angels' new leadoff man. It would be nice if he started running more often, but he's hitting and scoring enough runs to be useful if you need a short-term replacement for, say, Anthony Rendon or Chase Utley.
Digging deeper: Hernan Perez (0.4 percent owned) is playing second base against most lefties for the Brewers, and filling in at third base when Aramis Ramirez gets a day off. The only fantasy skill Perez brings to the table is speed, but that's OK in NL-only leagues.
Third base: Miguel Sano, Twins (owned in 6 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
Sano is a blue-chipper who was batting .274 with 15 home runs and a .918 OPS at Double A before getting called up on Thursday. He might struggle, but he has light-tower power and probably won't whiff nearly as much as Joey Gallo did. Sano is rosterable in all leagues, and preferable to this year's crop of mediocre fantasy third basemen (Freese, Longoria, etc.).
Digging deeper: Giovany Urshela (0.3 percent owned) has modest power and plays when the Indians face a southpaw. He's basically a warm body, but sometimes AL-only owners need those.
Shortstop: J.J. Hardy, Orioles (owned in 26.5 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
With two homers in his last six games, is Hardy's bat finally perking up? Maybe, maybe not. He did go deep seven times from July onward last season, and that's pretty good for a shortstop.
Digging deeper: Kike Hernandez (0.0 percent owned) hit 14 homers between the minors and majors last season, which is decent power for a middle infielder (he has OF eligibility, too). He's mainly a platoon player against southpaws, and has batted leadoff in three of his last four appearances.
Outfield: David Peralta, Diamondbacks (owned in 2 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
Peralta's ownership percentage is oddly low for a guy with his stats (.266 BA, 7 HR, 30 RBI, 33 R, 4 SB, .793 OPS). He's not close to an impact player, but everyone doesn't have to be. Peralta can help you a little in a lot of areas.
Digging deeper: Ichiro Suzuki (1.3 percent owned) stands to get regular playing time while Giancarlo Stanton is on the DL. Ichiro looks every bit of his 41 years at this point, but he can still run a little and his BA (.261) isn't terrible. Since he's been a part-timer for much of the season, you might be able to get him in an NL-only league.
Starting pitcher: Matt Moore, Rays (owned in 25.4 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
Moore (Tommy John surgery) made his first start of the season on Thursday, and was tagged for four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings while allowing six hits, striking out four and walking two. Moore had control issues before his injury, so we should assume they'll remain part of the package. Still, he's whiffed nearly a batter per inning in his career, and is the type of pitcher that can make an impact in the season's second half if things go well. Don't sell out to get Moore, but in a league with no-risk pickups, he's an interesting target.
Digging deeper: Braves rookie Manny Banuelos (0.0 percent owned) was scheduled to make his first big-start on Thursday against the Nationals. Banuelos was once a much-ballyhooed Yankee prospect who underwent Tommy John surgery and is now finally getting his chance at age 24. The lefty's Triple-A numbers (2.29 ERA, 69K/38BB in 82 IP) are a mixed bag, but he's certainly worth an NL-only look.
Relief pitcher: Jason Motte, Cubs (owned in 1 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
I don't trust Joe Maddon's bullpen plans any more than you do, but Motte got his second save in nine days on Tuesday. Two saves doesn't mean Motte has become Mariano Rivera, but he has two more saves than his colleagues over that time, and that's good enough if you're hunting for help in the category.
Digging deeper: Marlins setup man Carter Capps (0.6 percent owned) sometimes hits 100 mph on the radar gun. That's not always good by itself, but the 24-year-old has a 0.87 ERA this season, and has whiffed 38 batters while walking just four in 20 2/3 innings. You know who has a higher K/9 rate among pitchers with more than 10 innings pitched? NOBODY.
NL-only owners: Is it a stretch to think Capps might still be available in some leagues? Those in deeper mixed leagues should find Capps useful, too.
