You've probably read or heard about some roster expansion-related callups this week. All September arrivals are not created equal, but we'll recommend a few of them here.
Here's this season's 22nd 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. Let's get going!
(Note: All stats are through Wednesday.)
Catcher: Yasmani Grandal, Padres (owned in 1.8 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
Grandal has 11 home runs in 310 at bats, and has been shuttling between catcher and first base. Such a rotation probably keeps him in the lineup more than most catchers, and therefore enhances his value. Yes, Grandal is batting .210, but if you need the power ...
Digging deeper: With Brandon Belt's return uncertain in San Francisco, and Mike Morse's oblique bothering him, we could see a lot of Buster Posey at first base this month. That means plenty of time behind the plate for rookie Andrew Susac (0.1 percent owned), who has three home runs in 20 games with the Giants this season, and 13 in 83 games between the minors and majors. Susac appears to be a decent hitter, and is worthy of your consideration in deep mixed leagues.
First base: Ryan Howard, Phillies (owned in 35.8 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
Again? Yep. The guy is fading, and I wouldn't want to be paying him $25 million per year in real life, but he still has 20 home runs for the season, and hit four in August. I think he's borderline horrible, but 'horrible" is a relative term when one extra home run might earn you a fantasy title.
Digging deeper: With Anthony Rizzo apparently done for the season, Chris Valaika (0.1 percent owned) is in line to get many of the first-base at bats for the Cubs. Valaika is a 29-year-old non-prospect, but he has 13 home runs between the minors and majors, batted .278 with a .767 OPS at Triple A this year, and carries 1B/2B fantasy eligibility. NL-only owners that have lost important players (like Rizzo) can consider Valaika.
Second base: Arismendy Alcantara, Cubs (owned in 4.2 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
Another week, another Cubs' youngster in Free Agent Frenzy. Alcantara has been here before, and his .216 BA/.274 OBP are horrendous. But, with eight home runs and seven stolen bases in 51 games, he's worth a look in any league.
Digging deeper: Cory Spangenberg (0.1 percent owned) was called up by the Padres earlier this week, and has received starts at third base and second base so far. He figures to play quite a bit this month, and though he doesn't have any power to speak of, he can run a little (14 stolen bases in 66 Triple-A games this season).
Third base: Brock Holt, Red Sox (owned in 26.7 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
I've received one comment about the usual BROCK HOLT! reference here and in the Fantasy Baseball Buzz blog. Come on, folks. I'm trying to entertain you, for crying out loud!
Holt has 2B/3B/SS/OF eligibility, and he plays pretty much every day. His versatility is probably as useful as his actual performance, but he's not bad, with a .282 BA, 66 runs scored and 11 stolen bases in 104 games. If you need a jack-of-all-trades for your daily lineup changes - September can be a tricky month - Holt is a nice option.
Digging deeper: Danny Valencia (0.3 percent owned) is best cast as a lefty masher, but with the Jays' roster somewhat depleted (Brett Lawrie is done for the season), he's been getting regular playing time at the hot corner. Valencia might be available in AL-onlys, but even in some deep mixed formats, his everyday at bats and modest pop are worth a look.
Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox (owned in 35.2 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
Small sample size? Pffffft. Bogaerts has seven hits in his last four games, and I say it's been a long time coming. He's too talented to stay as bad as he's been for most of the season, and because of that, he's got a decent chance to show more improvement over the next few weeks. This is probably more gut feeling than logic, so my fellow saber-nerds can throw tomatoes at my face when they see me.
Digging deeper: Jonathan Villar (11.5 percent owned) was banished to Triple A in late June due to a combination of mental lapses, shaky fielding and tons of strikeouts. Now he's back, and the Astros will probably play him more often than not. Villar has nine home runs and 38 stolen bases between the minors and majors this season, and can be grabbed in some AL-only leagues where he was dropped earlier this summer. His speed can help in some mixed formats, too.
Outfield: Dexter Fowler, Astros (owned in 37.1 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
Hey, it's another Astro! Since coming off the DL on August 13, Fowler is batting .305 with two homers, 10 runs scored and two steals in 20 games. Over a full season, those numbers work out to about 16 homers, 16 steals and 80 runs. You'd take that on draft day, right?
Digging deeper: Joc Pederson (0.9 percent owned) wasn't slated to play much after getting called up from Triple A, but Don Mattingly really likes his defense, so he could face righties more often than we thought (Pederson got starts in center field on Tuesday and Wednesday). Pederson probably won't play EVERY day, so his value is limited to NL-only leagues. Even in the Pacific Coast League, his .303 BA with 33 homers and 30 steals made for a very strong year.
Starting pitcher: Danny Salazar, Indians (owned in 24.1 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
Salazar was slated to be in this spot even before he threw a complete-game shutout with NO walks on Thursday. He's walked five batters in 29 innings over his last five starts, with 28 strikeouts over that span. Remember when Salazar was on everyone's breakout list in the spring? Better five months late than never, I always say.
Digging deeper: Vidal Nuno (1.4 percent owned) has been pretty good since getting traded to the Diamondbacks, posting a 3.23 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP and 49 strikeouts against 12 walks in 61 1/3 innings over 10 starts. His ownership percentage suggests availability in many deeper mixed leagues, so go get him if you can. Nuno will start Friday night against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Relief pitcher: Kevin Quackenbush, Padres (owned in 1.4 percent of FOXSports.com leagues)
Joaquin Benoit has been shut down since August 26 with a sore shoulder, and will reportedly miss another week or so. Quackenbush is the man during Benoit's absence, and while you might be late to the party here, check your wire for his availability. At some point, won't the Padres be likely to just let Benoit take the rest of the year off?
Digging deeper: The Red Sox have said they want to limit closer Koji Uehara's innings for the rest of the season. Ed Mujica (2.3 percent owned) should be next in line, and could get you a couple of cheap saves in an AL-only league.
