Are you wondering why you always end up near the bottom of the standings in your fantasy league? Or why you always come up short of first place? Every year, you have your best draft yet but you can never reach the Promised Land. If this describes you, then you probably haven’t been doing all you can with the waiver wire.

Adding and dropping players throughout the year will make the difference in your league. It is one of only three ways you can adjust your team. After an hour and a half of crucial draft day decisions, you are left with only the occasional (if any) trade and the waiver wire to alter your team.

Now is a particularly important time to replace the busts from your draft with hot rookies and surprising veterans. Playing catch up in fantasy baseball is a daunting task and the longer you wait to improve your team, the harder it is to make up ground. Here are some key guys who are likely to be available in your league. Take action before somebody else does!

Hitters

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Morgan Ensberg – 3B, Houston Astros. I’ll start with the guy who is least likely to be available. After showing incredible promise last season with 25 HR and 60 RBI in only 385 AB, he became a mid to late round steal in most drafts. But after a dismal start, some impatient owners cut him loose early. If this is the case in your league, grab him while you can. He has already gotten his average back up to near .300 and while his power has yet to reemerge, it should be expected to after last season’s impressive showing.

Laynce Nix – OF, Texas Rangers. Another player who you might have trouble finding available is Laynce Nix. Owners are beginning to take notice of this promising youngster who already has 8 HR after 100 AB this season. While the speed isn’t there, a .320 average to go along with his power should be enough to land him on your team. I was surprised to still see him available in a couple of my leagues. Check yours.

Pedro Feliz – 3B, 1B, SF Giants. If you’re looking for some pop and have a hole at third, Feliz may be your man. His impressive play has forced Giants manager Felipe Alou to keep him in the lineup. While he is currently eligible for 3B, he has been Alou’s choice of late at SS and will be eligible for this position soon. He has also been filling in for the injured J.T. Snow at 1B. If he stays full time, he should end up with 25-30 HR and an average around .300.

Jack Wilson – SS, Pittsburgh Pirates. While his power numbers are pretty average for a SS, his .344 average should raise a few eyebrows. He also has 20+ steal potential. If you’re trying to wait out an injury, Wilson’s hot bat and quick feet should tide you over. And if his average is no fluke, we may be looking at a future star at a position that needs some replenishment.

Eric Byrnes – OF, Oakland Athletics. When leading off this year, Byrnes is hitting .433 for Oakland. Overall, he can hit 20 HR, stay around .300 and has definite 30+ steal potential. This combo of speed, power, and average is rare and should not be ignored. If you’re falling behind in the stolen bases category, Byrnes can help you without hurting your other offensive numbers.

Jeff DaVannon – OF, Anaheim Angels. A star studded disabled list has given a few players a chance to break through and DaVannon is one of them. He hit 12 HR and stole 17 bases in 330 AB last season and has decent numbers thus far this year. If he stays in the lineup, you can expect a 25/25 season.

Pitchers

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Due to a lesser supply and stronger demand, it is much tougher to find a valuable pitcher available in your league than it is a hitter. These guys are your best bet.

Scott Schoeneweis – SP, Chicago White Sox. A reliever the last two seasons, Schoeneweis returned to the rotation this year and hasn’t disappointed. He wont strike out many, but his 3.33 ERA is probably the lowest you’ll find on the wire. And if the offense does its job, 15 wins should come easy for Schoenweis.

Zack Greinke - SP, KC Royals. There is a lot of buzz around Greinke after only one major league start. He pitched 5 strong innings in his debut, earning a win. Though it’s way too early to tell, this 1st round pick may be worth the risk seeing how there isn’t much else out there at the moment. With a large upside, his value is greater in keeper leagues. Some are comparing him to Greg Maddux. His low WHIP and excellent K/BB ratio in the minors have many in the KC organization excited. Stay tuned.

Curtis Leskanic – RP, KC Royals. Sure his numbers are scary (9.53 ERA and 2.12 WHIP), but he’ll be getting most of the save opportunities in KC with MacDougal out. Available closers in any form hold value. Leskanic’s strong performance during the last couple of seasons leads me to believe that his ERA and WHIP will drop considerably.

Jeff Weaver photos from $5.99

Jeff Weaver – SP, LA Dodgers. Don’t laugh just yet. Remember, beggars can’t be choosers. At times, Weaver has been sensational. Other times he’s been the pitcher that got booed out of NY. The potential is still there. If you need K’s, there is really no one else available who can get you more. Pick him up if you are desperate and hope the Weaver from Detroit eventually shows up.

Chris Carpenter – SP, St. Louis Cardinals. After a consistent stint in Toronto, Carpenter has given stability to the Cardinals rotation this season. He is 5-1 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. If your team needs some stability in starting pitching, Carpenter is a good option.