Well it’s here, at last fantasy baseball season has arrived.  With its arrival comes the first edition of Waiver Flavor.  For those of you not familiar with the Waiver Flavor articles, let me give you a brief introduction.

At the beginning of each week the first Waiver Flavor article will take a look at the players who are coming off strong weeks and are trending up in the player ranks. Toward the end of the week, there will be the Flavor of the Week article which will recap the players that have been the most added and are worth picking up for the week ahead. This article is written for you; so, please do not be shy about leaving comments as I will do my best to answer each question daily.  If there is something that you would like to see added in future articles, feel free to leave your suggestion, and I will see what I can do about working it into the following week's edition. With the season just a mere two days old, this first article will focus on some players that may have slipped through the cracks during your fantasy drafts and should be among the top players worth adding off of the waiver wire, should you find yourself with an open roster spot or unhappy with a selection you made.  

Disclaimer: Please note that these suggestions are primarily for standard leagues and while I will do my best to add some deeper players, it’s impossible to tailor each article to your individual league so I apologize in advance if you’re in a deep rostered league and you see guys who are not in your free-agent pool.

Without further ado, let’s get started!

Catchers

Chris Iannetta, SEA (0.6 percent owned) - Catcher is a terribly volatile position with the majority of starting catchers providing very similar production once you get past the top tier, which typically consists of 15-20 home runs with a batting average anywhere between .230 and .260.  While Iannetta is coming off a year where he hit a loathsome .188, he also managed to launch 10 home runs over 272 at-bats.  Iannetta has a .756 career OPS which is not too shabby, and while he certainly benefited from playing in Coors early in his career, he posted three straight seasons of an OPS above .730 for the Angels before last year’s meltdown.  Ianetta is slated to be the starting catcher in Seattle, which should lead to him seeing the most playing time of his career with just Steve Clevenger to back him up.

Robinson Chirinos, TEX (1.7 percent owned) - Chirinos has legitimate double-digit home run power, having hit 23 home runs over the last two seasons in 529 at-bats.  In 2015, he appeared in just 78 games due to various ailments but still managed to hit 10 home runs while owning a solid .763 OPS.  Chirinos is entering the season healthy and is once again slated to be the Rangers' starting catcher with just newly acquired Bryan Holaday as his backup.  Chirinos likely found himself undrafted in most leagues due to the fact that he is a career .232 hitter, but with better health in 2016 he could find himself being one of the more productive offensive catchers.

James McCann, DET (7.0 percent owned) - McCann is coming off a rookie season where he hit .264 with 32 runs, seven home runs, and 41 RBI over 401 at-bats while owning a .296/.385/.681 triple-slash.  While those numbers are relatively underwhelming on a whole, McCann enters 2016 as a popular sleeper candidate at the position and he added fuel to those predictions during spring training which saw him hit .348 with four home runs and an impressive 1.071 OPS.  Now, I know that spring stats are far from a fair measuring stick, but it should be noted that McCann is going to be the everyday catcher in a lineup that should be near the top of the league in runs scored which should create plenty of opportunity for McCann to be a productive offensive catcher while owning a relatively solid batting average for his position.

First Base

Mitch Moreland, TEX (30.0 percent owned) - Moreland is coming off a season where he tied his career high with 23 home runs while reaching new career marks in RBI (85), average (.278) and OPS (.812). The starting first base job is Moreland’s to open the year but he finds himself likely being sat against lefties after hitting just .245 with an OPS of .680 against southpaws last season. Against righties, however, Moreland is much improved with a .294 average and an OPS of .876 last year, which makes for a great stream play this fantasy season.  Given his position in the lineup, the roster around him and his home ballpark there is little reason another 20-homer campaign is not in Moreland’s future in 2016.

Travis Shaw, BOS (22.8 percent owned) - Shaw actually won the Red Sox third base job this spring training, supplanting Pablo Sandoval, but to start the season he will be eligible at only first base which is why he is making the list here.  Shaw is coming off an impressive rookie season which saw him hit .274 with 31 runs, 13 home runs and 36 RBI over 226 at-bats while owning an OPS of .822.  Shaw’s production was fueled by his love for Fenway Park, where he hit .329 with a .975 OPS compared to road venues, where he hit .243 with a .736 OPS.  Shaw will get the at-bats to start the season and his ability to play both corner infield positions should keep him on the field barring a massive slump.  Some scouts have recently compared his MLB talent to that of Adam LaRoche, who during his prime years was a lock for 20-plus home runs and 80-plus RBI which should be more than doable for Shaw this season.

Chris Carter, MIL (17.2 percent owned) - You know the story with Carter, he is going to hit you 25-plus home runs while contending for the strikeout record and struggling to reach a .230 batting average. But in deep leagues, you are going to snag a guy who just two years ago hit 37 home runs and is worth the batting average crush.  Carter was actually worse than usual in 2015 as he hit just .199 with 50 runs, 24 home runs and 64 RBI over 391 at-bats, but there is some reason for optimism as Carter actually was a bit unlucky last year, owning a .244 BABIP (batting average balls in play) which is below his career mark of .275.  The Brewers do not have many options to replace Carter at first base and they are hitting him in the middle of the order which could lead to some decent RBI totals if he continues to hit for power and gets better luck on the balls that do not leave the yard.

Second Base

Brock Holt, BOS (16.3 percent owned) - Holt is one of the more unique players in fantasy baseball due to his eligibility at multiple positions.  Holt is primarily a second basemen but actually won a starting outfield spot this spring training. Holt is far from a flashy offensive player as he offers marginal power, but he has gone 20-for-23 in stolen base attempts over the last two seasons. Another positive offensive quality Holt has is that over the past two seasons he has hit .281 and .280 while owning OBP’s of .331 and .349, which are certainly useful in some leagues. Holt is slated to hit in the bottom half of the Red Sox lineup, which could actually lead to more stolen base attempts and given his success rate he may be able to approach the 20 stolen base plateau. However, that is likely his ceiling unless the Red Sox decide to get really aggressive on the base paths this season.  In most standard leagues Holt is not worth starting. However, his ability to play upwards of five positions in some leagues makes him worthy of a bench spot.

Chase Utley, LAD (2.6 percent owned) - With Howie Kendrick sidelined with a calf injury, the Dodgers will turn to Utley to start the season at second base. The veteran infielder had the worst season of his career in 2015 as he hit just .212 between the Dodgers and Phillies with a .629 OPS.  While injuries and age are certainly beginning to catch up with Utley, it was surprising to see such a sharp drop off in production given that in 2014 he played in 155 games while hitting .270 with a .746 OPS.  Kendrick is expected to be back in a few weeks despite the Dodgers not giving an official timetable so for the time being Utley will get a shot to show he is still capable of being a productive player in a lineup that should score its fair share of runs.  For what it’s worth, Utley hit leadoff and went 3-for-5 with two RBI and run scored on Opening Day against the Padres.

Scooter Gennett, MIL (2.4 percent owned) - Gennett found himself unable to match the production from his breakout 2014 season last year as he struggled, hitting .264 with a .294 OPB and a .675 OPS.  The reason for optimism comes from the fact that Gennett actually had a strong second half in 2015, hitting .282 after the All-Star break compared to .239 before the All-Star break.  Gennett is the Brewers' Opening Day second basemen and actually homered off Madison Bumgarner to kick off his 2016 season.  If Scooter can return to his 2014 form he is definitely worth rostering given how shallow the position is.

Third Base

Trevor Plouffe, MIN (22.4 percent owned) - Plouffe is coming off his second straight season where he drove in at least 80 RBI while reaching the 20-plus home run plateau for the second time in his career as well.  Plouffe is slated to hit cleanup for the Twins this year and has locked down an everyday job at third base.  The batting average for Plouffe will hover around .250 for the season but seeing as he is just 20 percent owned and has the ability to hit .250 with 20-plus home runs and 80-plus+ RBI he should be at the top of most watch lists as that production is not much different than that of somebody like Evan Longoria who is 94.5 percent owned despite averaging 21.5 home runs, 82 RBI and a .262 average over the last two seasons.

Yunel Escobar, LAA (7.7 percent owned) - Escobar finds himself with the Angels in 2016 after hitting a career best .314 with the Nationals last season. Escobar is slated to be the Angels' everyday third basemen and on Opening Day he was hitting leadoff which should immediately boost his value given the run scoring production he should have while at the top of the lineup.  On a whole, Escobar is a rather unexciting player to own as he has only hit double-digit home runs three times over his nine-year career and has never stolen more than six bases in any season but given the position he plays and his spot in the batting order there are worse guys taking up a bench spot on your fantasy roster.

Yangervis Solarte, SD (15.9 percent owned) - Solarte is the Padres' starting third basemen to open the year and on Opening Day against the Dodgers they had him batting sixth in the lineup.  2015 was Solarte’s first full season in San Diego and he turned in a solid effort, hitting a career best .270 with 63 runs, 14 home runs and 63 RBI while owning an OPS of .748.  Solarte’s ability to reach double-digit home run totals in his first two major league seasons should make him a lock to make it three straight in 2016 and his position in the lineup should present enough chances to drive in runs.  While Solarte is not worth starting in most standard leagues he does have dual position eligibility which helps his value and makes him worthy of a bench spot.

Shortstop

Jimmy Rollins, CWS (6.0 percent owned) - Rollins signed a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training with the White Sox this offseason, but earned the starting gig due to an impressive spring training.  On Opening Day, the White Sox hit Rollins in the two spot behind Adam Eaton and in front of Jose Abreu which should lead to plenty of run scoring opportunities as well as some RBI chances if he can stay healthy and make consistent contact.  Rollins struggled in 2015, hitting .224 with 71 runs, 13 home runs, 41 RBI and 12 stolen bases while owning an OPS of .643.  While the batting average and OPS are career worsts his ability to reach double-figures in both home runs and stolen bases should give him some fantasy appeal in 2016 now that he is the starting short stop.  Rollins should be one of the first players picked off the waiver wire and at the very least should be on your watch list.

Eugenio Suarez, CIN (11.9 percent owned) - Suarez currently has shortstop eligibility but is actually going to be the everyday third basemen for the Reds this season so his eventual dual eligibility at two relatively shallow positions should immediately increase his fantasy appeal.  In 2015, Suarez appeared in 97 games for the Reds, hitting .280 with 42 runs, 13 home runs, 48 RBI and four stolen bases while owning an OPS of .761.  Suarez was hitting second on Opening Day in front of Joey Votto which should lead to teams giving Suarez more to hit in an effort to get him out before having to face Votto with men on base.  Given his home ballpark, Suarez should have little trouble once again reaching double-figures in home runs while adding a handful of stolen bases, which will certainly make him useful in most leagues should you find yourself needing depth at shortstop or third base.

Jonathan Villar, MIL (16.4 percent owned) - Villar opens the season as the Brewers' starting shortstop but many figure he is just a placeholder until top prospect Orlando Arcia is ready to get called up and take over the position.  Villar’s calling card is his ability to swipe a bag, having stolen 42 bases over 198 career games.  On Opening Day, Villar actually went deep off Madison Bumgarner and while he did hit seven home runs in 263 at-bats back in 2014 he does not figure to hit many more.  The Brewers are willing to let Villar prove he is worthy of holding onto his starting gig and if that does happen he is worth adding as a guy who can get you steals in a pinch off your bench.

Outfield

Jarrod Dyson, KC (17.4 percent owned) - With Dyson, fantasy owners are getting an absolute burner on the base paths and a player who even in the most limited at-bats has the ability to win you the stolen base category.  Over the past four seasons, Dyson is averaging 31.5 stolen bases despite seeing an average of 241 at-bats per year.  Dyson is starting 2016 on the DL due to an oblique strain but is expected to rejoin the Royals no later than mid-April where he figures to be the team’s starting right fielder due to his defense and stolen base ability.  Even if Dyson finds himself platooned he should be in for the most at-bats he has seen in a season, which should put him in the mix to lead the league in steals.

Michael Taylor, WSH (4.2 percent owned) - Taylor is coming off an impressive rookie season which saw him hit .229 with 49 runs, 14 home runs, 63 RBI and 16 stolen bases over 472 at-bats.  Of course, the issue with Taylor is the fact that he struck out in 30.9 percent of his at-bats last season, which caused his depleted batting average.  Taylor certainly has the power and speed ability to be a great fantasy player which makes him worth owning given that only light hitting Ben Revere and often injured Jayson Werth are standing in his way of an everyday gig and on Opening Day he find himself getting a few at bats after replacing Revere in the later innings of the game.

Cameron Maybin, DET (4.0 percent owned) - Maybin suffered a fractured wrist early in spring training which will force him to miss most if not all of April but the fact remains that once he returns from the DL he will be hitting leadoff for a lineup that includes Justin Upton, J.D. Martinez, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez all waiting to drive in runs.  Only Anthony Gose stands in Maybin’s way of everyday playing time and seeing as Gose is not much of an offensive player the Tigers will likely give Maybin the majority of the at bats.  In 2015 Maybin hit .267 with a career best 10 home runs, 65 runs, 59 RBI and 23 stolen bases.  Maybin’s ability to steal bases, hit for some pop and score runs makes him a great DL stash in leagues that allow you to do so.

Starting Pitchers

Matt Moore, TB (24.8 percent owned) - On the whole, Moore was atrocious in his return from Tommy John surgery in 2015, going 3-4 with a 5.43 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP over 12 starts.  If you do dig a bit deeper, however, you will see that Moore actually enjoyed some solid success over his final six starts, going 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA over 36.1 innings while striking out 29 and walking 10.  Control has always been an issue for Moore but this spring he walked just three over 13.1 innings, and many will tell you that after having Tommy John surgery it’s your command that is the last to return.  Moore is certainly worth a look in leagues where you can stream starters and if you can live with a WHIP around 1.30 you could find yourself with a solid middle of the rotation starter with solid upside.  Moore does face Toronto in his first start who notoriously crushes lefties so you may want to sit him out of that one if you do add him as a flier.

Aaron Sanchez, TOR (22.1 percent owned) - Sanchez was named the Blue Jays' fifth starter coming out of spring training after also being considered for a bullpen role given his live arm.  Fortunately for fantasy owners, the Blue Jays are going to give Sanchez another crack in the starting rotation after he went 5-4 with a 3.55 ERA over 11 starts last season before being moved into the bullpen where he was even better, going 2-2 with a 2.49 ERA over 30 games.  The biggest concern for Sanchez heading into the year is his walk rate as he owned a 1.44 WHIP as a starter compared to a 0.87 WHIP out of the bullpen.  There is some obvious risk here, but the 23-year-old has the stuff that made him the 27th ranked prospect by Baseball America heading into 2015.

Robbie Ray, ARI (5.7 percent owned) - Ray made 23 starts for the Diamondbacks in 2015, going 5-12 with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP while striking out 119 over 127.2 innings. Ray was named the Diamondbacks' No. 5 starter coming out of spring training but given his success last season, including his 8.4K/9, he is worth a look in deeper leagues as there is solid strikeout potential from the 24-year-old lefty.  His first start is slated to come on Friday against the Cubs who as a team struck out a league-high 1,518 times last season.

Closers

Luke Gregerson, HOU (28.5 percent owned) - Gregerson was surprisingly named the Astros closer after a previous report had manager AJ Hinch stating Ken Giles was going to get the closing nod heading out of spring training. Unfortunately many likely drafted Giles over Gregerson because of this news and as a result Gregerson is owned in under 30 percent of leagues.  After saving 31 games last season for the Astros with a 3.10 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP while striking out 59 over 61.0 innings Gregerson should immediately be added if he is available in your league.

Arodys Vizcaino, ATL (34.7 percent owned) - The Braves are going with Jason Grilli to start the season at closer, but Grilli went and blew the save on Opening Day while Vizcaino pitched a scoreless inning of relief.  Grilli struggled during spring training and many expect Vizcaino to eventually take over the closers job.  If you own Grilli and Vizcaino is a free agent in your league I would grab him now before somebody else handcuffs you.