AL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

This is our weekly look at American League free agents. We have two goals for this article:
 

1. Identify likely free agents and discuss their strengths and weaknesses.

2. Estimate how much of your $100 starting free-agent budget you should bid on them.
 

We've incorporated grids into the FAAB articles, so users can easily see at a glance how certain players stack up against others and how much they should command in a variety of formats.
 

The grids, which are sortable by column (click on the header), include a very basic "player grade" column. This serves as a reflection of a player's skills and role on an A-E scale. Shohei Ohtani would have been an "A" grade player last year – that mark will be reserved for similarly high-impact prospects stepping into an everyday role.
 

As always, if there is a player that was not discussed in the article that you would like to know about, feel free to ask about the player in the comments.
 

AL FAAB | NL FAAB

Starting Pitcher

Tyler Alexander, Tigers: The 25-year-old southpaw is putting together a strong finish to the campaign with a 2.95 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 19:1 K:BB over his last 21.1 innings, and Alexander's performance even convinced Detroit to pull the plug on Edwin Jackson. His final start of the season will come Friday in a doubleheader against the White Sox, and Alexander's current form makes him a worthy target if you're scrounging for every last quality inning you can find. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Yonny Chirinos, Rays: Out since early August, Chirinos returned to action Saturday and gave up a solo home run while striking out two in an inning of relief. He's had a strong season, working mainly as a starter or primary pitcher, but he'll finish things out in the bullpen and the Rays' starting pitching depth could squeeze him out of the 2020 rotation as well, limiting his appeal as a keeper stash. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Randy Dobnak, Twins: The 24-year-old pitched across four levels this season and didn't skip a beat when he got the majors in August, and the Twins finally settled on Dobnak as Michael Pineda's replacement in their rotation. He got his first MLB win in his most recent start, and with his last outing of the regular season coming Thursday in Detroit, he's got a strong shot at collecting No. 2 as well. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Danny Duffy, Royals: Duffy's on a roll, delivering four quality starts in four September outings with a 1.78 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB in 25.1 innings. His final start will come at home Tuesday against an Atlanta squad that's already locked up the NL East and could be focused more on keeping everyone healthy than winning – combined with his current form, that makes Duffy arguably the most appealing final pitching add in the entire American League. Don't be afraid to blow your remaining budget if you need to. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: Owned

Frankie Montas, Athletics: Montas' PED suspension ends this week and he's eligible to return Wednesday. Since he's not eligible for the postseason roster, the A's don't have any particular incentive to give him a chance to shake off the rust, but if they want to set up their rotation for the wild-card game, the right-hander could still get one final start, or slot in as a primary pitcher. Given that Oakland wraps up the regular season against the Angels and Mariners, Montas' win probability would actually be reasonably high if he does take the mound in such a scenario, and he's stretched out enough to take advantage. In keeper and dynasty formats, of course, he's absolutely worth targeting given the breakout campaign he was having before getting busted. Redraft – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5 / Keeper – 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $13

Joe Palumbo, Rangers: The 24-year-old flashed his upside in the high minors this year, but Palumbo's big-league performance has mostly been rough so far. He'll get one final chance to make an impression Friday, but he's on the road facing the Yankees (who could hit five homers without even trying, especially with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton looking to round into form) so he'll carry a lot of risk in redraft formats. His value as a keeper stash is also shaky, as there's no guarantee Palumbo opens 2020 in the rotation. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Chandler Shepherd, Orioles: I nearly just used this gif here and moved on, but Shepherd isn't entirely without interest. The right-hander stalled out at Triple-A Pawtucket in the Red Sox system, but after getting DFA'ed in May and bouncing briefly through the Cubs' organization, he wound up at Triple-A Norfolk and put together a solid 73:23 K:BB through 72.1 innings. Shepherd will get a start in Toronto on Tuesday, and while who knows what the young guns on the Jays will do any given night, it's not the worst possible matchup. Shepherd's long-term future is probably fifth starter/primary pitcher/swing man, though. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2
 

Other two-start options, Mon-Sun (12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $1)

Homer Bailey, Athletics (at LAA, at SEA)

Clay Buchholz, Blue Jays (vs. BAL, vs. TB)

Dylan Bundy, Orioles (at TOR, at BOS)

Ross Detwiler, White Sox (vs. CLE, vs. DET)

Justin Dunn, Mariners (vs. HOU, vs. OAK)

Dillon Peters, Angels (vs. OAK, vs. HOU)

Spencer Turnbull, Tigers (vs. MIN, at CHW)
 

Relief Pitcher

Luke Bard, Angels: If you're more concerned about protecting your ratios than chasing wins, there are a passel of relief arms available instead of spending your remaining bucks on SPs. Bard can run hot or cold, but he's got a 1.88 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB through 14.1 innings since recovering from a biceps strain in late August, getting used in a multi-inning relief role that's also allowed to vulture wins in his last two appearances. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland: Brad Hand is back from his tired arm but isn't being used as Cleveland's closer yet, which allowed Carrasco to scoop a save Friday. He may not get another one, but he's been pitching decently since a couple of shaky appearances after coming off IL, putting together a 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB over his last eight innings. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Chad Green, Yankees: Green's been seeing a lot of work as an opener lately, but he's been effective no mater his role has been. The right-hander's struck out multiple batters in nine of his last 10 appearances, posting a 1.02 ERA, 0.62 ERA and massive 29:5 K:BB over 17.2 innings during that stretch. With the Yankees trying to set up a patchwork rotation for the postseason, Green figures to see at least a couple of outings over the last week, and his cumulative numbers could be much better than the SP4 you've been rolling out by rote in the second half. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Jonathan Loaisiga, Yankees: Part of that patchwork solution has been Loaisiga. Since being called back up at the end of August, the right-hander has a 2.61 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB through 10.1 frames. He could give you some useful innings. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Brad Peacock, Astros: Peacock could be activated for Sunday's game, giving him a little time to get back in a groove before the playoffs. There's no way to tell how Houston will set up its staff for the final week – they're in a fight with the Yankees for the best record in the league and home-field advantage in October, and neither Gerrit Cole nor Justin Verlander are going to want to give up a start with a Cy Young Award potentially on the line – but Peacock should still find his way into a few innings. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Yusmeiro Petit, Athletics: Petit's been almost untouchable since late August, posting a 0.63 ERA, 0.28 WHIP (!!!) and 18:2 K:BB over his last 14.1 innings with two wins and four holds. This is the guy to target if you're in a dogfight in ERA and WHIP. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Ryan Pressly, Astros: Pressly's returned Friday from a month-long absence due to a knee injury and fanned two batters in a perfect inning, so I guess he's healthy. He's a more important part of the Houston bullpen than Peacock, and the team will make it a bigger priority to get him right before the playoffs, giving him a better floor in terms of workload. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Erik Swanson, Mariners: Swanson's snuck away with a couple of extra-inning saves in his last two appearances, and while that doesn't mean he's Seattle's new closer, it doesn't not mean that, either. The team has little to lose by seeing if he can do the job in the ninth as well, and it's not like Matt Magill or Anthony Bass have locked down the role. Swanson is a worthy dart if you're looking for some last-minute saves. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5
 

Catcher

Tim Federowicz, Rangers: With Jeff Mathis not 100 percent, Texas shuffled Joey Gallo to the 60-man roster and added Federowicz and his career .574 OPS for depth behind the plate. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1
 

Second Base

Shed Long, Mariners: It's like someone just reminded Shed that his last name could be a reference to hitting homers. Long's gone long 14 times in 91 games across three levels this year, but three of those home runs have come in his last 11 games for Seattle, a stretch during which he's slashing .349/.391/.605 while playing almost every day. The M's won't be getting Mitch Haniger back and have outfield ABs available, and the 24-year-old only needs to stay hot for one more week. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $13

Brandon Lowe, Rays: Out since early July, it looked like Lowe would be done for the season when he had some setbacks in his recovery from a quad strain, but he rallied over the last couple of weeks and made it back for the last part of Tampa's playoff push. It's not clear how close he is to being in game shape – he didn't get any kind of rehab assignment, instead playing sim games at the team's spring training complex – and the roster has plenty of other infield options, but Lowe could always see a couple starts at DH if he's not ready for a full workload. His strikeouts make him a batting average risk, but he proves his power potential in the first half, so while the upside is real, make sure his strengths match up with where you need help before throwing a bid his way. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15
 

Third Base

Kaleb Cowart, Angels: September roster depth and emergency pitcher only. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1
 

Shortstop

Marwin Gonzalez, Twins: The veteran utility player returned from a three-week absence Monday and has gone 5-for-21 with a double and four RBI in five games since rejoining the Twins lineup. With the team down two starting outfielders and still looking to lock up the AL Central, Gonzalez should see steady playing time down the stretch in a potent lineup. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: Owned

Andrew Velazquez, Cleveland: The 25-year-old started two of five games after his late promotion to replace Jason Kipnis, but with Jose Ramirez potentially making an early-than-expected return from the IL, Velazquez's playing time this week could depend on whether Cleveland has anything to play for. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1
 

Outfield

Adam Engel, White Sox: The rabbit ball has bestowed its blessings upon one final unlikely suspect this season. Engel came into 2019 with 12 homers in 240 career games, and then hit two more in his first 62 games this year. In September? Four in 19 games. He's only slashing .259/.322/.500 on the month, but the late power surge puts him on the radar if HR is a tight category and you're looking for any last bit of help to put you over the top. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: $9

Domingo Santana, Mariners: Unlike Haniger, Santana was able to make it back from his injury before the end of the season, but he doesn't seem to be 100 percent and has only made one pinch-hitting appearance since Tuesday. He's got plenty of upside if he gets more consistent ABs over the final week, but he's also a big risk not to see any meaningful playing time at all. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4