Chase Headley is finally here! He could make a major impact on the fantasy game this season.

Baseball has another week of interleague games ahead, then a stretch of two weeks or so, before the All Star Game and the break in the action. At this point in the season, you should be getting your team ready for the second half, and a run at a title in your fantasy league if you’re fortunate enough. These players can all make a major impact on your team if the need is there. So don’t hesitate to grab them if you need a little help on your team. Without further ado, here are this week’s Waiver Wire Wonders.

Mixed League Options

Kelly Shoppach – Catcher – Cleveland Indians – With Victor Martinez on the shelf until at least the first week of August after surgery to remove bone chips and debris from his elbow, Shoppach takes over the reigns as the every day catcher. Since going full-time, Shoppach has batted .286 with 3 home runs, 8 RBI, and 6 runs scored. He’s always had good power, especially when he plays every day. He last played full time in the minors back in ’05 and ’06 and had 22 and 26 home runs respectively in those years. His average probably won’t top .250, but he should produce decent power numbers hitting in the Cleveland lineup every day. At the very least he’s a great sub for the short term in deep mixed leagues.

Chase Headley – Third Baseman/Outfielder – San Diego Padres – Now that Headley is finally here, all I can say is, what in the heck were the Padres waiting for? Headley was expected to make the team out of spring training, but the Padres decided that they were better off with him starting the season in the minors. Perhaps they were right in that Headley’s first month or so was fairly unproductive. But once May rolled around, Headley began to rake like mad, and by the time he left for the majors he was batting .305 with 13 homers and 40 RBI. He’s got nothing left to prove in the minors, so he is likely here to stay. The Padres will use him in left field, and he will occasionally play third base as well. If by some miracle nobody in your league is on to him, grab him immediately, as he is likely to make a strong impact in fantasy power production this season.

Mike Gonzalez - Relief Pitcher – Atlanta Braves – In 2006, Mike Gonzalez was one of the best closers in baseball in that he was perfect in converting all 24 save opportunities that season, with an ERA of 2.17 and 64 strikeouts in 54 innings of work. The Pirates responded by trading him away that winter to the Braves, for whom he pitched just 18 innings before he needed Tommy John surgery on his elbow. Fast forward to the present, and Gonzalez is set to return to action for a Braves team that is desperate for pitching, any pitching, but especially a quality closer. While he may not step right into the closer’s role, there is a good chance he will end up there if he is anywhere near as effective as he once was. Go and get him now, before the rest of the world knows he is back.