10 waiver options in Yahoo fantasy leagues

Baseball season may be only nearly a week old, but it's never too early to start upgrading your fantasy roster. Whether you're looking for an injury replacement or someone to stash on your bench, the fantasy waiver wire has a plug or long-term fix to pick up today.
Check out the following 10 players -- all sitting on waivers in many leagues, and all ready to help your team in Yahoo Sports Fantasy Baseball, the Official Commissioner Game of MLB. All ownership percentages are as of Tuesday.
Hunter Strickland, reliever, Giants (73% owned)
With Mark Melancon opening the year on the disabled list, Strickland has stepped in as the Giants' primary closer. Although he entered the season with just five career saves under his belt, Strickland has been a steady presence in San Francisco's bullpen over the past several years, posting a 2.64 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP and an 8.7 K/9 rate since debuting in 2014. Melancon doesn't have a clear timetable for his return, meaning Strickland will likely remain in the ninth-inning role for the foreseeable future and should be owned in all leagues.
Consider in: 10-team mixed leagues

Brandon Belt, first baseman, Giants (45% owned)
After years of supplying solid-but-unspectacular power numbers for a first baseman, Belt showed signs of a power breakout last season by posting a personal-best .228 ISO and matching his career high in homers with 18 in 104 games. Health is always a concern for Belt, but if the 29-year-old stays on the field he could reach 20 homers for the first time. And though last year's .241 average was his lowest since his rookie season in 2011, he should bounce back in that department if his BABIP (.284 in '17) rebounds toward his career .334 mark.
Consider in: 10-team mixed leagues
Shin-Soo Choo, outfielder, Rangers (43% owned)
Choo is still available in more than half of leagues despite delivering valuable across-the-board production last year with 22 home runs, 12 steals, 96 runs, 78 RBIs and a .261/.357/.423 line. The 35-year-old is aging gracefully, and spending more time at designated hitter should help him stay in the lineup. Playing in one of baseball's friendliest hitting environments gives him a high floor, and he'll likely bat leadoff as long as Delino DeShields is out (likely into May), boosting his value in the short run.
Consider in: 10-team mixed leagues
Lewis Brinson, outfielder, Marlins (36% owned)
Brinson begins the year with a healthy amount of upside as the Marlins' leadoff man and starting center fielder. The 23-year-old was a first-round choice (No. 29 overall) in the 2012 Draft and has ranked among MLB.com's Top 30 prospects every year since '16. Although he lacks a strong supporting cast in Miami, he's capable of providing double-digit homers and stolen bases over a full season while accumulating a solid runs-scored total from atop of the lineup.
Consider in: 12-team mixed leagues

Joe Panik, second baseman, Giants (26% owned)
Panik drew considerable attention by slugging game-winning homers in the Giants' first two games of the season (both 1-0 wins), but he can still be had in the majority of leagues. While he's probably not going to keep clearing the fences with regularity, the career .283 hitter has the potential to reach double-digit homers for the third straight season. The 27-year-old should also score plenty of runs while setting the table for Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, and Evan Longoria.
Consider in: 12-team mixed leagues
Scott Schebler, outfielder, Reds (21% owned)
If you're light on power, Schebler can help and is still widely available. After a strong finish to his rookie campaign in 2016, the Reds outfielder secured an everyday role last year and blasted 30 homers with a .252 ISO and a 39.4 percent hard-hit rate. Schebler mashed at all levels in the Minors and plays in a homer-friendly ballpark, so he could deliver similar thump in 2018. He's also likely to see last year's .233 batting average improve after being hampered by a .248 BABIP.
Consider in: 12-team mixed leagues
Iván Nova, starter, Pirates (20% owned)
The 2017 season was a tale of two halves for Nova, who pitched like an All-Star through the end of June with a 3.08 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP and a 4.62 K/BB ratio. He seemed to wear down during the summer months, however, posting a 5.58 ERA with a 1.51 WHIP and a 3.09 K/BB ratio after the calendar flipped to July. If the Pirates limit his workload a bit, he may be able to avoid fatigue down the stretch and put together a more complete campaign in 2018.
Consider in: 12-team mixed leagues

Carlos Gómez, outfielder, Rays (8% owned)
Injuries have prevented Gomez from playing more than 118 games since 2014, but he's remained a solid source of power and speed by tallying at least 12 home runs and 12 stolen bases in six straight seasons -- including 17 long balls and 13 steals in 105 games last year. Last season's career-high 39 percent hard-hit rate shows the veteran's bat hasn't slowed, and the Rays will need to be aggressive on the bases to score runs. Gomez has 20/20 potential if he stays healthy, and he should generate useful run-production numbers batting third in Tampa Bay's lineup.
Consider in: 12-team mixed leagues
Mike Minor, starter, Rangers (6% owned)
Minor has had an up-and-down career, going 38-36 with a 4.10 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP with the Braves from 2010-14, missing all of '15 and '16 with arm troubles and then making a comeback as a reliever with the Royals last year. Although he flourished out of the bullpen -- averaging over 94 mph on his fastball while setting personal bests in ERA (2.55), WHIP (1.02), and K/9 rate (10.2) -- the lefty is set to transition back to the rotation after signing with the Rangers in the offseason. Texas isn't the easiest place to pitch, but if the 30-year-old stays healthy, he may prove to be a solid starter.
Consider in: 15-team mixed leagues
Chad Kuhl, starter, Pirates (2% owned)
Kuhl displayed considerable growth during his sophomore season last year by increasing his average fastball velocity from 93.2 mph to 95.5 mph and adding a curveball to his repertoire. While his 4.35 ERA and 1.47 WHIP were inflated by a rocky first half, he quietly emerged as one of the National League's better pitchers down the stretch. From July 1 onward, Kuhl compiled a 3.38 ERA with an 8.5 K/9 rate while limiting opponents to a .245 batting average. The 25-year-old still needs to polish his control, but if he trims last year's 4.1 BB/9 rate he could be primed for a breakout.
Consider in: 15-team mixed leagues