The words play ball were spoken this past week and the entire fantasy baseball world stood and cheered. There are several people saying that they did not get involved in the fantasy realm last season as baseball only played 60 games. There is no such worry in the 2021 season and everyone is onboard. Now that the game is back on the field and draft day has come and gone, managers have to decide if and when to pick up players from the waiver wire. Having trouble deciding? We are here to help! Let’s dive right in and see who should get picked up with this baseball waivers week one edition.

Matthew Boyd, SP, Detroit Tigers, 39% Owned

Matthew Boyd was highlighted as a pitcher that could rebound in 2021. After one start, that looks like a very good prediction. On Opening Day against Cleveland, Boyd looked every bit like an ace. He shut out the Indians over 5.2 innings, allowing three hits and coming away with the victory. He struck out just two and walked four and he will have to reverse that for any season long success.

Fantasy managers are well aware of the risks when adding Boyd, who has never had a strong season. After all, he has not had an ERA below 4.39 in his career. Boyd has also had only one winning season. However, we also know that he can strike hitters out in bunches, as his 238 in 2019 indicates. For at least for one start, Boyd has demonstrated he deserves to be on a fantasy roster. Add him before someone else does. When he implodes, send him back to the wire.

David Dahl, OF, Texas Rangers, 6% Owned

Speaking of great season debuts, that is a fitting description for David Dahl as well. Dahl doubled in his first at bat of the season and went on to have three hits and scored two runs against Kansas City. It is clear right out of the gate the Rangers are going to need all of the offense they can get to have a chance to win. Dahl has the ability to swing the bat. He just needs to stay healthy, which has been difficult for him to do.

Dahl has yet to play more than 100 games in his career. However, he is healthy now and hitting second in the Rangers’ lineup. He will certainly help that Dahl hits in front of Joey Gallo. Dahl should have no issues besting his personal highs of 16 homers and 61 RBIs in 2021. He certainly won’t be available in six percent of leagues for long. The smart bet is to add him now and enjoy the fruits of that decision all season long. Dahl clearly belongs on this baseball waivers week one edition.

Adam Frazier, 2B/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, 21.9% Owned

It is certainly true that there aren’t many Pittsburgh Pirate players that will be featured in waiver pickup articles this season. However, Adam Frazier is one of them. Frazier showed over the weekend against the Cubs what he is capable of. He had three hits, including a double, walked twice, stole a base, had two RBIs and scored a run. True, Frazier struggled in 2020, hitting .230 with a sorry OBP of just .297.

Fortunately for fantasy managers looking to pick him up, Frazier has a track record of success. In 2019, he appeared in 152 games, with a .278 average, a .336 OBP and a .753 OPS. Those stats are right in line with his career norms. Frazier will be in the lineup every day and the fact that he qualifies at both second and the outfield is a definite plus. It would be even better if he had quality teammates around him, but he is a quality pickup none the less.

Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants, 30.9% Owned

Of the players listed here, Buster Posey has as many questions surrounding him entering this season as anyone. He is an aging catcher that didn’t play during the mini 2020 season. His 2018 and 2019 seasons don’t add much spice to his resume, either. In those two years, Posey hit just 12 homers, with a high of 114 games played. The question, obviously, is why include him on this baseball waivers week one edition?

The answer is that there are precious few catchers really worth owning in fantasy baseball. However, every team has to have at least one. Before 2018, Posey was a good a catcher as there was in the game. He hit over .300 in five of eight seasons. He also appeared in over 140 games in six straight years. To begin 2021, Posey started the first two Giant games and homered in both of them. If there is even the remotest chance that Posey can play like he did prior to 2018, he is worth an investment. Any fantasy manager not happy with the catcher on their roster should pull the trigger.

Garrett Hampson, 2B/OF, Colorado Rockies, 28.5% Owned

In the season opening series against the Dodgers, Garrett Hampson had to deal with the Dodgers’ outstanding pitchers. Even so, he came away with three hits against them, including two doubles. He also walked twice, leading to a .357 OBP. Hampson only has a high of 105 games played in a season during his career, but he looks to easily break that plateau in 2021. Expect that Hampson will be in the lineup every day this season. He has 13 home runs in 186 games played and there is every reason to believe Hampson will bypass that total this year with regular playing time.

Of course, Hampson is a player that benefits from playing in Denver. Just almost any Colorado hitter, Hampson should be on fantasy rosters, especially when the Rockies are at home. In large leagues where the pickings are probably slim at best, even at the beginning of the season, Hampson can help. Just like Frazier, the fact he can play second and the outfield only increases his value. At the very least, stream him when the Rockies are playing in Colorado.

Tyler O’Neill, OF, St. Louis Cardinals, 14.2% Owned

The Cardinals’ Tyler O’Neill is a young player that is looking for his first full time season in his short career. The fact that he is on the St. Louis opening roster may come as a surprise to some. O’Neill had a frustrating 2020 and that is putting it mildly. He played in 50 games and hit a nearly invisible .173 with a .261 OBP. O’Neill showed he has some power with seven homers, but that was about it.

Fast forward to spring training, O’Neill forced his way onto the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster by hitting .356 in Arizona. Three games into the regular season, O’Neill is off and running with a homer and a double. One of the biggest problems that O’Neill has is a lack of patience at the plate as he rarely walks. If he ever were to master that part of his offense, the sky is the limit. In the meantime, pick up O’Neill and prepare for steady production this summer.

Asdrubal Cabrera, 1B/3B, Arizona Diamondbacks, 4.8% Owned

There were many people, including this one, that thought Asdrubal Cabrera was at the end of the line in 2019. When he left Texas for the Nationals, Cabrera was hitting just .235. Cabrera proved us all wrong, however, as he was one of the leading forces behind Washington winning the World Series. He hit .323-6-40 in just 38 games. The Nationals were glad to keep him going into 2020. That didn’t end on a high note as the entire Nationals team underachieved.

Cabrera he hit .242 and signed with Arizona in the offseason. He swung the bat well in the spring, hitting .326 and belting three home runs. Cabrera earned a place in the Diamondbacks’ starting lineup and has a homer and three RBIs in the first three games. He is a veteran that can help the entire Arizona team and should be in the lineup a lot. Cabrera can also help a fantasy team with his versatility, as he qualifies at both first and third base. At 4.8 percent owned, he is widely available. Pick him up today.

Thanks all for joining me for this fantasy baseball waivers week one edition! As always, I welcome input and suggestions from all of my readers. Let me know of others players that should be included on this list. Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea, and be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports and Picks for all the latest MLB and sports news!