Fantasy Baseball 2008

This week’s most recommended Waiver Wire pickups from the best fantasy sources on the web.

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Look for Gio Gonzalez to have an instant impact on your fantasy staff.

Gio Gonzalez | SP | Oakland Athletics | AL

• It appears to be only a matter of time until Gonzalez is called up and inserted into the A’s rotation. The lefty possesses a mid-90s fastball and a plus curveball. He will be able to provide fantasy staffs with solid strikeout numbers the rest of the way and other than Francisco Liriano might be the best AL pitcher called up the rest of the season. Monitor the SportsOverdose A’s page for the latest information on Gonzalez from the local Oakland papers.
• The team hasn’t announced an official replacement for Joe Blanton, but the speculation seems to be that Gonzalez will be recalled. His 11.1 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, and 52% ground ball rate in Double-A last year was very good, but he’s fallen off a little at Triple-A this year: 9.6 K/9, 4.3 BB/9, 41% ground ball rate. He’s got potential, and in his last 10 games, he has posted a 10.7 K/9 and 3.96 BB/9. The Hardball Times

Jonathan Broxton | RP | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL

• Takashi Saito is out into September and could miss the whole year. Assuming they don’t make a trade, Broxton could be one of the top 10 or 15 closers the rest of the way. -The Hardball Times
• The Dodgers placed veteran closer Takashi Saito on the 15-day DL with a right elbow sprain that will keep him out 6-to-8 weeks but it is very likely that the 38 year old will miss then rest of 2008. In steps fireballer Jonathan Broxton, who has the electric arsenal of pitches to finish the season as a top 10 or 15 closers for a team fighting for a playoff spot. -FFToolbox.com

Joel Hanrahan | RP | Washington Nationals | NL

• Joel Hanrahan is the first option to replace departed Jon Rauch as closer for the Washington Nationals. The skill set is evident in the fact that Hanrahan possesses a mid- to upper 90s fastball (65 K’s in 59 1/3 innings). Hanrahan holds a 3.94 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 9.9 K/9 rate on the year, but walks have been a problem (4.9 BB/9). -FFToolbox.com
• He’s expected to get the lion’s share of the Nats’ save opportunities moving forward, as he’s the best of an uninspiring group that also includes Saul Rivera and Luis Ayala. The 26-year-old has his good (.222 BAA, 9.9 K/9) and his bad (4.9 BB/9, 1.33 WHIP) points, so don’t expect a perfectly seamless transition. Still, saves are saves. Yahoo! Sports.

Francisco Liriano | SP | Minnesota Twins | AL

• Although his early-season struggles were well documented, Liriano has looked like his old self over his last five starts with Triple-A Rochester. During that span, the 24-year-old southpaw has allowed just one run in 35 innings of work while striking out 42! -Yahoo! Sports
• In Liriano’s last ten minor league starts, he has posted a 9.56 K/9 and a 1.54 BB/9 in 64 IP. It’s absurd that he hasn’t been recalled yet, and his agent is talking about filing a grievance. I expect he’ll be called up soon, and when he is, he could easily be one of the second-half’s most dominant pitchers. -The Hardball Times

Willie Harris | 2B, 3B, OF | Washington Nationals | NL

• Harris has provided a spark at the top of the Nationals’ lineup in the wake of Elijah Dukes’ injury. He’s batted .500 (14 for 28) over the past eight games, with 10 runs, three home runs, 10 runs batted in and a 7:1 BB:K ratio. -Yahoo! Sports
• Harris has been the savior in center field for the Nationals since Lastings Milledge went on the DL. His glove has been a real asset to Washington, but his bat has also come around. Harris has hit safely in seven of his last eight games. Milledge is on the rehab trail and should be back in the majors shortly. Harris will then likely move to left field as long as he is still swinging a hot bat. -CBS Sports