We are at the halfway point in the season and waiver wire keeps chugging along.  This week, we lost a number of closers and while there isn’t an obvious backfill in each situation, there are a lot of intriguing options.

Enjoy the list and please click on the baseball card to visit our partner amazon.com to explore additional information on each player. 

Franklin Barreto, SS, OAK (CBS: 16% owned): Unlike his first promotion back in May, the A’s have given Barreto playing time and have been handsomely rewarded. The 22-year-old has hit three homers this week, including a two-homer outing against the White Sox. Matt Chapman could be returning as soon as this coming weekend, but at some point, one would think the A’s will find a permanent roster spot for Barreto.

Chris Davis,1B, BAL (CBS: 14% owned): It’s a small sample size, but after taking nearly two weeks off to work on his swing and approach, Davis returned Friday and promptly drove one out of the park. In his second game, he went 1-for-4 and drove in three runs. The price to acquire Davis will be cheap and the power potential worthy of the gamble.

Derek Dietrich, 3B/OF, MIA (CBS: 37% owned): He’s now up to ten homers on the season with a solid .291 BA. The average is most likely not sustainable – the power is.

Wilmer Font, SP, TB (CBS: 1% owned): Font intrigues me. The year-to-date ERA is dreadful (6.46), but in his past two outings, both against the vaunted Yankee offense, he’s limited the Bronx Bombers to only one earned run over 4 2/3 and 5 1/3 IP. The Rays are stretching him out so as to help with the injury-depleted rotation, and if his past two outings are any indication, better days could be ahead.

Avisail Garcia, OF, CWS (CBS: 35% owned): Moderate power combined with solid RBI and BA potential, should encourage one to see if Garcia was dropped during his last DL stint.

Dakota Hudson, SP, STL (CBS: 5% owned): A month ago, we were wondering how the Cards would find room in their rotation for all those arms. This week, Michael Wacha (oblique strain) joins Adam Wainwright and Alex Reyes on the 10-day DL. All of a sudden Dakota Hudson should be on the radar. In 13 starts at Triple-A Memphis, he has amassed a 9-2 won/loss record while posting a stellar 2.13 ERA. Find a home for him now and beat the rush.

Jon Jay, OF, ARZ (CBS: 38% owned): I know, it’s Jon Jay, but in 2018 we’re witnessing a very different Jon Jay. He’s currently up to 93 hits on the season, good for a tie for fifth in all of baseball. Toss in the 44 runs scored and a.312 BA and Jay has become Fantasy relevant. Who would have thunk it?

Kevin McCarthy, RP, KC (CBS: 7% owned): The Royals did what we thought they’d do and moved Kelvin Herrera to the Gnats for a package of prospects at the beginning of last week. Brandon Maurer isn’t looking like the best of options, allowing runs in two of his first four appearances since being recalled June 16. It’s time for a reminder that even mediocre teams will generate save opportunities, and right now Kevin McCarthy looks to be in the driver’s seat for the ninth inning gig in KC.

Adalberto Mondesi, 2B, KC (CBS: 9% owned): It would appear that the Royals are finally moving forward and will be giving Mondesi regular at-bats, to the tune of four-to-five games a week. He was a perfect 10-for-10 stealing bases at Triple-A Omaha, and in his first week since being recalled has two for the Royals. A small bid could net some solid returns in a highly sought after commodity.

Kendrys Morales, DH, TOR (CBS: 12% owned): We mentioned that Kendrys Morales was starting to heat up back in Week 11 of the Waiver Wire. He has gone from worthy of a look, to part with some FAAB and get him active.

Chris Paddack, SP, SD (CBS: 5% owned): The California League, namely the Lake Elsinore Storm, is home to a youngster that should be capturing the attention of Dynasty league owners. His name is Chris Paddack and in 42 1/3 IP he has struck out 70 batters while allowing only three walks. No, that’s not a typo. A promotion to Double-A can’t be that far off for the 22-year-old righty.

Hernan Perez, 2B/3B/OF, MIL (CBS: 8% owned): Perez is starting to find his way into a few more at-bats and has now stolen three bases in June. Travis Shaw has been dealing with a sore wrist, and departed early today. Don’t be surprised if Perez sees an uptick in his at-bats and the opportunity to build on those stolen base totals in the next couple of weeks.

Kevan Smith, C, CWS (CBS: 3% owned): Smith got the call on June 5 and very quietly has been solid, going 17-for-45 at the dish. He’s doing exactly what you want from a second catcher in a two-catcher format. He’s not hurting you.

Tony Watson, RP, SF (CBS: 15% owned): Bruce Bochy named Sam Dyson as his replacement for Hunter Strickland, who decided to prove that his fist was stronger than a door and is now lost to the Giants for upwards of two months for being proven wrong. Dyson has now been hit hard in back-to-back outings since being handed the ninth inning gig, allowing a total of seven hits in 1 2/3 IP with three earned runs. On the other hand, Tony Watson has put together a string of 12 consecutive scoreless appearances. I’ll bet “steak and liquor” that Watson earns more saves than Dyson over the next three months. Do I have any takers?

Dan Winkler, RP, ATL (CBS: 13% owned): Arodys Vizcaino finds his way to the 10-day DL with right shoulder inflammation. A.J. Minter has been touted as the closer-in-waiting, but right now it’s more than likely a committee scenario and I’ll go with the matchup game and the righty Winkler over the lefty Minter.