Aaron Rowand is like a miniature version of Jim Edmonds, but with less power and fewer injuries.

A couple of weeks ago there were some startling injury numbers that came out originally in Rick Wilton’s Baseball Injury Report and summarized on the web pages of The Hardball Times. The gist of the article was that this April set a record for the number of players placed on the disabled list, with 180 players being injured in April, a 6.6% increase over the same period last season. Speaking of last season, a record was set then as well, with a total of 404 players spending time on the DL during the course of the season. If the current pace continues there will be 416 players spending time on the DL this season. The reason I tell you this depressing news is that it is more important than ever to keep an eye on your waiver wire this season, because players are dropping like flies on a regular basis. The likelihood that you will need a player off the waiver wire to replace someone on your fantasy team is very high. With that in mind, let us take a look at some players that are available on waiver wires in many leagues to see if there is someone there that you may need to help replace an injured player on your team, or perhaps supplant an under-performing slacker.

Mixed League Options

Greg Smith – Starting Pitcher – Oakland A’s – Smith was one of the players Billy Beane acquired from the Diamondbacks in the Dan Haren trade over the winter. He has been a pleasant surprise for the A’s thus far, as they have won 5 of the 7 games he has started this season, although his record currently stands at 2-2. Smith has been victimized by poor run support, especially in his last three starts when he has pitched well enough to win but has watched his team get shut down by the opposition. He has 35 strikeouts in 45 innings and has walked just 15, showing excellent control. In general, if a team does not get to him early in the game, he is capable of shutting them down altogether. The fact that 8 of the 17 runs he has given up this season came in the first inning illustrates that point. Smith has anchored his place in the A’s rotation, and should continue to post decent K totals and ratios, and is worth a flier in mixed leagues in need of a starter for the back of their rotation.

Luke Scott – Outfielder – Baltimore Orioles – Scott was buried in the depth charts while a member of the Houston Astros organization, but was shipped to Baltimore in the blockbuster deal for Miguel Tejada over the winter. Now Scott is getting the chance to play every day, and has acquitted himself well for his new team, batting .271 with 2 home runs and 13 RBI. Scott is a somewhat streaky hitter, especially when it comes to power. He can go weeks without a homer, then mash 5 or 6 over a 10 game stretch. He makes a fine fourth or fifth outfielder that should maintain a decent average and provide occasional bursts of power. Keep an eye out for his hot streaks and ride them when they occur.

Aaron Rowand – Outfielder – San Francisco Giants – Rowand went to the Giants as a free agent after a couple of seasons with the Phillies and White Sox in which he gained a reputation as a hard nosed type of player who plays the game with incredible intensity and reckless abandon in the mold of a young Jim Edmonds. He had a career year in his final season with the Phillies, batting .309 with 27 home runs, 89 RBI, and 105 runs scored, mostly hitting in either the two hole or sometimes fifth or sixth. The Giants signed Rowand to bring a breath of fresh air into Pac Bell Park after the departure of their marquee left fielder, and to have a veteran presence among their mostly very young team. So far, Rowand has led by example, batting .331, with 5 home runs and 18 RBI, usually hitting fifth in the lineup. Many touts expected a major dropoff in production from Rowand due to the change of ballpark, and the dreadful team around him, but he has proven them wrong so far. Rowand is roster-worthy in mixed leagues as a fourth or fifth outfielder. He probably will not reach 27 homers this season, but 20 is certainly within reach, along with decent RBI and run totals, making him worth a flier if you need another decent outfielder.

Kevin Youkilis – First base/Third Base – Boston Red Sox – The rap on Kevin Youkilis has always been that he does not have the power numbers that one usually expects of a corner infielder for fantasy purposes. However, this season Youkilis is exhibiting some serious growth in his power. He is now 29 years old, in the heart of his peak production years, and 2008 is his third full season in the major leagues. He has increased his power numbers in each full season, and appears poised to have his best year yet. Youkilis is currently batting .318, with 8 home runs, 30 RBI, and 27 runs scored, all of which puts him on a pace to mash more than 30 homers and 120 RBI. That puts him right up there with the better corner infielders around, and makes Youkilis a strong play in mixed leagues this season. If he is not available on waivers, make a trade for him.