Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Nick Gonzales, Mitchell Parker, DJ LeMahieu (Week 11)

Is it almost June already? Do you all remember that Yogi Berra line about it “getting late early out there?” I know by now all savvy fantasy managers are looking at their league’s standings regularly. Maybe even looking at the live updates during games on their phones. It’s probably too early to fret like that, but it’s time to see where fantasy teams are deficient or are plenty heavy in any category. Looking at everyone with Elly De La Cruz and all those stolen bases.

Make trade offers to fix those imbalances. Anyone who somehow has a surplus of starting pitching — all two of you — make sure to drive a hard bargain when looking for some hitting. That pitching is so valuable, especially this year with all the injuries. In 2001, in my main home league, Barry Bonds was traded for Randy Johnson. Yes, Bonds, in his 73-homer season was traded. Well, that was also the year the Big Unit went 21-6, struck out 372 hitters and sported a pristine 2.13 ERA with a 1.009 WHIP to win his third straight National League Cy Young Award. The team getting Johnson won the league. That’s right, pitching rules. At least elite starting pitching.

That’s just a quick lesson on getting good value in any trade. The goal is to always get the best player in the deal or to make sure it’s equal and I’m filling a need and trading from strength.

Enough with the lessons. Let’s jump into some fantasy baseball deep waiver wire sleepers.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 11

Nick Gonzales (2B, SS – PIT): 15%

Considered one of the best college-hitting prospects coming out of New Mexico State in 2020, Nick Gonzales sputtered in his first taste of the big leagues last year, hitting just .209. Already he’s acquitted himself very well in the big leagues this season, hitting .313 with a .922 OPS while taking over everyday duties for the Pirates at second base.

Since May 13, Gonzales has been hitting .333 with a .987 OPS, banging three home runs and driving in 14 runs in 15 games. He’s pretty locked in the lineup hitting in the heart of the Pittsburgh order.

Mitchell Parker (SP – WAS): 14%

Fresh off two straight victories, Mitchell Parker has yet to allow more than three earned runs in any of his eight starts since coming up on April 15. Striking out 150 batters in 124 innings in the minors last year, Parker has good stuff. However, keep in mind he had a 4.72 ERA and 1.44 WHIP, so he’s a work in progress.

The lefty is backing up budding ace MacKenzie Gore in the Washington rotation and already has victories over the Braves, Dodgers and Astros on his ledger. He’s up against Cleveland next, so another victory won’t come easy.

DJ LeMahieu (1B, 2B, 3B – NYY): 14%

The thought of DJ LeMahieu hitting ahead of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge went out the door when Anthony Volpe took the leadoff spot and ran with it, hitting .288 with a .357 OBP and 11 steals in 56 games for the Yankees.

LeMahieu still has plenty of value hitting anywhere in that New York lineup, rising to the sixth spot in the order on May 30 in Anaheim. Picking up the multi-position player is a move to fill counting stats like runs and RBI, and maybe batting average. LeMahieu has little power and hasn’t stolen more than four bases in the last three seasons.