Waiver Wire: Add Kouzmanoff, Laffey

NATIONAL LEAGUE

KEVIN KOUZMANOFF, 3B, PADRES

If you were a Kouz believer last year, you probably suffered through the first month with him, only to pull the parachute after his average dropped to .108 on May 7. Funny, how it's hard to get that taste out of your mouth.

But all Kouzmanoff did after the All-Star break was hit .317 with 11 HR and 37 RBI, hitting mostly in the 6th and 7th positions in the lineup.

And when you check out his last 162 games, the Padres 3B is not only hitting over .300, but has impressive totals of 25 HR, 88 RBI and 77 runs, which make him ownable in just about any format.

Last week's NL Player of the Week has 5 home runs and 8 RBI while hitting .380 in his past 7 games.

Even though he plays in spacious Petco Park, it's time to click on this post-hype breakout candidate into the hot days of summer.



AMERICAN LEAGUE

AARON LAFFEY, SP, INDIANS

The numbers are so good, they're almost laughable. Over 6 starts, Laffey has a 1.59 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP in 39.2 IP.

Primarily two things have kept Laffey's ownership lower a Hawaiian limbo contest: 1). His strikeout rate is about .5 per IP and 2). Jake Westbrook's imminent return.

But something happened on Laffey's way back to AAA. Fausto Carmona injured his hip over the weekend and will reportedly be out a month. This gives Laffey extra time to prove he belongs in the rotation to stay. And if he can't win his way into the rotation, another injury to an Indians starter would keep him afloat in the bigs.

It's not a lot to go on, but 4-6 more starts from Laffey is worth the risk of cutting your weakest link. Especially in all 4x4 leagues.

And deep down, we all want to get the last Laffey.