MLB waiver wire report
It's a long season; let us guide you through all of the potential names on the wire who can help your team.For more fantasy analysis, check out Sandlot Shrink.com.
Hank Blalock, Tampa Bay Rays -- Blalock, 29, was hitting .349 with four homers at AAA and will plug into the DH spot. Grab him if you need some punch but beware low batting average. He hit .234 with 25 homers in 462 at-bats for the Rangers last season. Grade C+
Francisco Cervelli, New York Yankees -- Cervelli, 24, will start until Jorge Posada returns in 3-4 weeks. The switch-hitter batted .298 in 94 at bats with the Yanks last year but is viewed more as a defensive player. He makes contact but has little power. He is batting .373 in 56 at bats as of Wednesday. He missed most of 2008 with a broken wrist and most of 2007 with a knee injury. Grade C+
Jason Donald, Cleveland Indians -- Donald, 25, will play if he produces, at least until Asdrubal Cabrera comes back. He batted just .239 last year while missing six weeks after left knee surgery but hit .307 in AA the year before. He has a little pop and a little speed. Grade C+
Andres Galarraga, Detroit Tigers -- Galarraga, 28, rejoins the rotation after posting a 3.92 ERA in seven starts for Toledo. He has decent sinker-slider stuff but needs more work on command. If he maintains it, as he did in AAA this year, he could have a little value in AL-only leagues. He was 6-10 with a 5.64 ERA for the Tigers last season. Grade C
Eric Hinske, Atlanta Braves -- Hinske, 33, will platoon in left field as long as he stays hot at the plate. He can play both corner infield positions as well as the outfield. He hit 20 homers two years ago for the Rays but is not a high average hitter. Grade C+
Jeff Keppinger, Houston Astros -- Keppinger, 30, filled in well for injuries the last two years and will play second base for now. He is a career .279 hitter and will pop one occasionally but has no speed. Grab him on reserve for his bat and 2B-3B eligibility. Grade C+
Manny Parra, Milwaukee Brewers -- Parra, 27, is filling in for Doug Davis for now but could stay in the rotation if he proves reliable. He throws in the low-90s with a curve, change and command. He can be wild at times so he needs to work on that and smooth out his secondary pitches and mechanics. He pitched in pain part of last season and had his AC joint cleaned out in the fall. He has some of the best stuff on the staff. Grade C+
Drew Storen, Washington Nationals -- Storen, 22, was recalled to help out in the bullpen and is considered their closer of the future. He has a 1.08 ERA in 16 2/3 innings, while striking out 15 at AA and AAA this year. He throws in the mid-90s with a curve, slider and changeup. Grab him for the future. Grade B+
Andres Torres, San Francisco Giants -- With Mark DeRosa probably headed to the DL, Torres, 32, will be given regular playing time in left field for now. Torres, a switch hitter who is stronger from the right side, has become a more patient hitter of late. He batted .270 with six homers in 152 at bats last year. Grade C+
Carlos Villanueva, Milwaukee Brewers -- Villanueva, 26, has a 3.05 ERA and 1.06 WHIP while averaging more than a strikeout per inning so far but he has been inconsistent in the past. Trevor Hoffman might not last much longer as the closer so Villanueva would be next in line. Grade B
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