Justin Morneau is the next in a long line of DL list members about to be added Friday with a concussion he sustained nearly a week ago.
Morneau said he “still felt woozy” after the initial knock on the noggin according to Joe Christensen on Twitter.
Michael Cuddyer will fill in.
So far this year, Cuddyer has done an admirable job in the Twins' lineup batting .334/.432/.766 with 9 HR and 40 RBI in 322 AB and walks almost as much as he strikes out (49/33 K/BB ratio), but Cuddyer might not be easy to get your hands on, so let's see what's out there.
One option out of Minnesota is DH Jim Thome, who is hitting .255/.377/.522 with 10 HR and 29 RBI.
While Thome has an average 5% ownership in most leagues, he could provide some support for your team if you own Morneau, since the waiver wire is getting very thin and the Twins will inevitably give the big bat a little more playing time.
Jason Kubel is another intriguing option who has an average ownership in Yahoo leagues of 53%.
Kubel is hitting .264/.345/.442 with 11 HR and 49 RBI in 276 AB. In 2009 Kubel found himself in a similar situation before earning more time and finished with a batting line of .300/.369/.539 with 28 HR, and 103 RBI.
After the initial series against the red hot White Sox, the Twins face the Indians, Orioles, Royals, and Mariners before August hits, which are all prime hitter friendly situations for anyone to take advantage of.
Looking to kick the tires on some players that don’t wear a Twins jersey? Here are a couple of players who are just heating up.
Chase Headley – 3B/OF – Padres: Headley continues to be a noodle scratcher waiver gem hitting .275 with 7 HR and 32 RBI alongside 11 SB. But what’s better is Headley is hitting .355 with two dingers and 5 ribbies in his last seven games. Headley is sporting a low 45% ownership in most Yahoo leagues.
Fred Lewis – OF – Blue Jays: Lewis’ numbers for the season seem a bit low (.279 AVG, 5 HR, 25 RBI, and 10 SB) but you have to remember he wasn’t seeing regular playing time especially when Edwin Encarnacion was on the field (279 AB in 2010). Well Encarnacion has been sent to Triple-A Las Vegas, and Lewis is speculated to see more playing time.
Lewis has been heating up hitting .296 with a solo moon shot and 5 RBI as well as three SB in the last seven days, and is virtually un-owned at 5%.
A.J.Pierzynski – C – White Sox: Mention a Catcher as a replacement for an outfielder? No, it’s not time for me to pee in the little cup, and yes, I am mentioning Pierzynski for several reasons.
Pierzynski, and the entire White Sox team mind you, have been the hottest team in the AL right now and the White Sox have a very favorable schedule all the way up until their show down with the Yankees beginning August 27th.
Pierzynski is already a member of a position that is slim at best, but most of you have a Utility spot on your roster, which means you can move guys around and entertain picking up a hot bat at a position other than the one you are lacking.
Outfielders are easier to come by than catchers are, and inevitably Morneau will be healthy again, so Pierzynski is a nice temporary option. The crazy one has hit .292 with 2 HR and 5 RBI over the past seven days.
Remember utilizing your waiver wire and your roster spots is the key to dealing with major injuries.
