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 talent on an A-E scale. Luis Robert would have been an "A" grade player last year – that mark will be reserved for similarly high-impact prospects that could thrive in 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

Logan Allen, Cleveland: The left-hander completely transformed himself over the winter, losing a lot of weight, tightening his slider and roaring through the spring with an 18:3 K:BB through 14 innings. Allen seems to have locked up a rotation spot over Cal Quantrill, and while we haven't seen the organization's pitching magic work on a southpaw yet, any 23-year-old Cleveland arm who seems to have taken a big step forward in their development should be on your radar. If Allen is the No. 5 starter he won't be needed until April 13, which means he may not officially make the Opening Day roster, but grabbing and stashing him now could pay big dividends. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $2

Domingo German, Yankees: Those who took part in early drafts may have let German slip through the cracks (he had an average ADP of about 332 in February), but the right-hander posted a 13:1 K:BB over nine scoreless innings this spring to reclaim a rotation spot. He doesn't have a long track record of success, but if you're playing the "which pitchers could benefit from homers being reduced by the new baseball?" game, a flyball pitcher in Yankee Stadium is a good place to start. 12-team Mixed: $12; 15-team Mixed: $25; 12-team AL: Rostered

Kyle Gibson, Rangers: Every year there are a few Opening Day starters who get no respect, and this year Gibson has that dubious honor. The right-hander has a 10:3 K:BB in 10 spring innings though, and his struggles in 2019-20 can be explained by an undiagnosed case of ulcerative colitis. If the condition's under control he could rebound, and like the cicada, his productive seasons have come on a regular three-year cycle, so this could be his year. If you're looking for a streamer for that first half-week, Texas is in Kansas City, which isn't the worst matchup either. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Cole Irvin, Athletics: While A.J. Puk gets most of the prospect buzz, and Daulton Jefferies got the Cactus League buzz, Irvin quietly went about his business and has stayed right in the competition for the No. 5 starter role to begin the season. The 27-year-old southpaw isn't a prospect, but he rang up an 18:3 K:BB in 18 innings this spring and even if he winds up in a long relief/swingman role, he could see plenty of action as the A's manage the young and/or fragile arms on their staff. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Daulton Jefferies, Athletics: Speaking of Jefferies, his big-league debut didn't go so well last year, but the right-hander has sizzled with a 20:3 K:BB over 13 innings this spring. Unlike Irvin, Jefferies is more likely to get sent down rather than used in the bullpen if he doesn't win a rotation spot, but he also has significantly more upside and should see work as a starter as the season progresses. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Jakob Junis, Royals: A classic 'potential breakout due to a new pitch' guy, Junis has actually worked on adding a consistent cutter and changeup to his arsenal, and at least in Cactus League play it was working as he racked up a 10:0 K:BB over seven innings. Kansas City has room in the rotation to give him another chance, so he could be worth a dart throw. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Steven Matz, Blue Jays: The lefty never could figure it out with the Mets, but his talent was never in question and a 15:2 K:BB in 15.1 spring innings offers a bit of hope that the Jays' coaching staff has unlocked something in him. Matz could open the season as the No. 3 starter, which actually isn't ideal for early streaming purposes as he'd be facing the Yankees over the first weekend of the season, but he has a rotation job locked down and some upside with that offense at his back. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $3

Jake Odorizzi, Astros: As a late signing, Odorizzi likely went undrafted in a number of leagues. The veteran righty should be able to provide solid mid-rotation production once he's up to speed, but we've seen late signings with recent injury histories stumble out of the gate before (Lance Lynn's 2018 comes to mind), so there is a bit of risk here. Still, if you don't need him for a couple weeks while he finishes getting stretched out, Odorizzi should be a solid pickup. 12-team Mixed: $7; 15-team Mixed: $15; 12-team AL: $25

Carlos Rodon, White Sox: The perennial tease is at it again, firing up a 16:1 K:BB over 13.2 innings this spring to lock down a rotation spot. Rodon has had trouble staying healthy, hasn't has an ERA below 4.00 since he was a rookie in 2015 and has managed a WHIP below 1.37 only once in his career, but he still has quality stuff, and maybe this is the year he finally puts it all together. What have you got to lose? (I mean, other than standings points in the ratio categories). 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $3

Ross Stripling, Blue Jays: The Jays' injuries have pushed Stripling into a starting role to begin the season, but the right-hander has also delivered a 9:1 K:BB through 8.2 spring innings. Before last year's stumbles, he was a solid and reliable swingman for the Dodgers, but his HR/FB rate soared in 2020 while his K rate cratered. If that was simply a product of circumstance and not a loss of stuff, a rebound wouldn't be surprising. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Julio Teheran, Tigers: Teheran looked good this spring in his comeback attempt with the Tigers, posting an 18:4 K:BB in 14.2 innings. The right-hander produced useful fantasy numbers as recently as 2019, but his velocity has been in decline for a while now and his margin for error is thin, especially with a lackluster Detroit roster providing support. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Michael Wacha, Rays: The Rays went with a quantity over quality approach to replacing Blake Snell and Charlie Morton for this season, but Wacha has been the best of the additions this spring, although his 10:2 K:BB in 12 innings isn't exactly dominant. The right-hander will begin the year in the rotation, but his best path to fantasy value would likely come as a bulk reliever behind an opener. Fortunately, he's in an organization that has a history of finding the best role for a pitcher. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Relief Pitcher

Shawn Armstrong / Tanner Scott / Cesar Valdez, Orioles: Baltimore's ninth-inning picture remains murky, just as it was last year, and Hunter Harvey's latest injury likely just removed temptation from fantasy GMs who otherwise would have gotten burned thinking he would provide value. Of three candidates currently in the mix, Scott probably has the best arm but faces the extra hurdle of being the most reliable southpaw in the bullpen, which could keep him in a high-leverage rather than save-centric role. Armstrong has long posted big strikeout rates in the high minors, but his stuff has never quite translated to the majors. Valdez is the wild card, a throwback who relies on his changeup almost exclusively to get outs, but in a world where basically everybody can pump it up to 94 mph or better, maybe the pitcher who routinely throws 78 mph is the most effective option with the game on the line. Armstrong – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1 / Scott – 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5 / Valdez – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Matt Bush / Ian Kennedy / Josh Sborz, Rangers: Not that Jose Leclerc was Mr. Reliable, but his absence does create a vacancy at the back of the Rangers' bullpen. Kennedy is the leading candidate to close after a strong spring and a 30-save season on his resume. Matt Bush's latest comeback attempt resulted in a big-league job, but he walked four batters in 4.2 spring innings, so expecting anything more is risky. Sborz posted good strikeout numbers in the Dodgers' system after converting to relief and has a 12:1 K:BB in eight innings this spring, so he could prove to be useful. Of course, even if someone does emerge, the rebuilding club could flip them to a contender and into a setup role, so don't invest too heavily here no matter what happens. Bush – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1 / Kennedy – 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15 / Sborz – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Diego Castillo / Pete Fairbanks, Rays: I stopped at two guys here in the wake of the Nick Anderson injury, but heck, it's the Rays. Chaz Roe, Ryan Thompson, Andrew Kitteridge... who knows who will get saves for this club. I'm partial to the idea of Cody Reed taking on Jose Alvarado's old role, for what it's worth. Castillo seems like the guy who is always the last one hanging around in the 'pen for the ninth inning after the high-leverage situations are dealt with earlier in the game, but maybe Fairbanks' playoff run was a sign of things to come. Castillo – 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $13; 12-team AL: Rostered / Fairbanks – 12-team Mixed: $11; 15-team Mixed: $21; 12-team AL: Rostered

Emmanuel Clase / Nick Wittgren, Cleveland: We apparently won't find out who's closing for Cleveland until the team actually has a late lead to protect. James Karinchak remains the favorite due to his massive strikeout rates, but the fact that he hasn't been given the job yet (not to mention his seven walks in nine spring innings) is worrisome. Wittgren could be a more stable, if less statistically sexy, choice. He's posted solid numbers the last two seasons and has an 8:1 K:BB over 7.1 innings this spring. Clase is another big-K young arm who could be in the mix, and his 13:2 K:BB in 9.1 innings this spring is definitely enticing. Clase – 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7 / Wittgren – 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: Rostered

Rafael Dolis / Jordan Romano, Blue Jays: Gotta love baseball journalism. After Kirby Yates goes down for Tommy John surgery, then suddenly we get all the "his medicals this offseason had red flags" stories. Super helpful, grumbles the person with Yates shares. Anyway, Romano looked great last year and is the favorite to take over the closer role, but his track record is limited. Dolis is also coming off a solid 2020, and if manager Charlie Montoyo mixes and matches, both guys could get saves. If you want a dark horse candidate here, take a look at David Phelps' 12:0 K:BB in six innings this spring. Dolis – 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7 / Romano – 12-team Mixed: $25; 15-team Mixed: $35; 12-team AL: Rostered

Chad Green, Yankees: It isn't particularly relevant for season-long formats, but Aroldis Chapman still has a two-game suspension to serve to begin the season. With Zach Britton out, that means any save chances in those two games will likely fall to Green. If you want to snatch a sneaky save early while plugging a hole on your staff with a solid reliever, he's your man. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Adam Ottavino, Red Sox: Matt Barnes looked to be locking down the closer job for Boston this spring, but he's now sidelined with COVID-19, leaving the role to Ottavino. That gives Ottavino about a two-week head start to prove he deserves to keep the gig in the long run. With closers, opportunity is everything, and the right-hander's track record prior to 2020 suggests he could make the most of his. 12-team Mixed: $15; 15-team Mixed: $25; 12-team AL: Rostered

Catcher

Aramis Garcia, Athletics: If you're looking for a cheap catching option in deep formats, all you really want is some hint of upside. Garcia has that, showing some pop in the minors and working behind a starter in Sean Murphy who has had some trouble staying healthy. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

First Base

Jake Bauers, Cleveland: Cleveland has made some questionable roster decisions this spring (Exhibit A: Amed Rosario, starting center fielder), but heading into the season with Bauers as your starting first baseman is fairly inexcusable. Nonetheless, he'll see playing time, and that gives him a modicum of value in deep formats. There's no real upside here, and the team could come to its senses at any moment and promote Bobby Bradley, but until then Bauers could stumble into some counting stats. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Ronald Guzman, Rangers: Nate Lowe was essentially handed the starting job at first base the moment he stepped off the plane from Tampa, but he hasn't looked great this spring. Guzman has out-hit him, is coming off a big showing in winter ball and now has a path to regular playing time thanks to the injuries at DH for Texas. When players like Willie Calhoun and Khris Davis get healthy, if Guzman is still significantly out-producing Lowe, he may not be the one to retreat to the bench. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $3

Second Base

Jed Lowrie, Athletics: The year is 2080. A 96-year-old Lowrie, mostly cyborg by this point, returns to Oakland and reclaims the starting job at second base after spending the prior few seasons on the IL for other clubs, and the cycle begins again. Just as he did in 2013 and 2017, Lowrie is back with the A's looking to prove he still has something left in the tank, and it's not like Tony Kemp and Chad Pinder are big obstacles between him and regular at-bats. He probably won't launch 23 homers again, but I'm also not inclined to bet against him. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Pat Valaika, Orioles: The O's cleared the deck a bit at the keystone, and while they're trying to use the last few days of camp to turn Rio Ruiz into their own Mike Moustakas, I don't have much faith that experiment will pan out. Turning Valaika into the next Hanser Alberto seems like it will have a better chance of succeeding. Whatever else has been going on lately in Baltimore, they do have a track record of unlocking the bats of light-hitting middle infielders in recent years. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Third Base

Maikel Franco, Orioles: Another late signing, Franco isn't anything special, but he hit pretty well in Kansas City last year and has three 20-HR seasons on his resume, and now he's playing in Camden Yards. It's not Coors Field, but it's still a solid hitter's park. Franco should be able to deliver some decent power numbers if you have a spot for him. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: $21

Jose Rojas, Angels: One of my favorite deep sleepers, Rojas is an Anaheim kid who was drafted in the 36th round out of a local community college in 2016 and dragged himself up the ladder rung by rung until finally posting a .293/.362/.577 slash line with 31 homers and 107 RBI in 126 games at Triple-A Salt Lake in 2019. Jared Walsh has a similar path to the majors (39th rounder in 2015), and while Rojas doesn't have a consistent path to at-bats right now, he is on the Opening Day roster and if Walsh's 2020 breakout doesn't stick, he could be the next man up at first base (well, Albert Pujols would be next man up, but Albert's not an everyday guy at this stage of his career). 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Rio Ruiz, Orioles: As mentioned in the Valaika note above, the O's are trying Ruiz out at second base to see if he can hack it defensively. He wasn't exactly a Gold Glover at third base, so I'm not expect anything to come of this, but if you're looking for some low-BA pop and potential position flex, he could prove useful. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Shortstop

Leury Garcia, White Sox: Eloy Jimenez's decision to hang off the rim in a spring training game has cost the White Sox dearly, but it's opened up playing time in left field. Andrew Vaughn is getting a look (this is the year teams decided to chuck the defensive spectrum in the trash, I guess) but if that doesn't work out, Garcia figures to get the job, at least until Adam Engel is healthy. This is why Garcia is on the roster, frankly – he can look good for a week or two in a starting role almost anywhere on the diamond before fading. Get the good week(s) while you can. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Amed Rosario, Cleveland: Shoving Rosario out to center field with apparently no practice time seems like a bad idea, but it could be one fueled by the desire to make the Francisco Lindor deal look not quite so bad, in which case Rosario is all but guaranteed a spot in the lineup. That doesn't mean he'll provide useful offense, mind you, but he did hit .287 with 15 homers and 19 steals in 2019. The talent is in there somewhere. I'm just not sure adding defensive struggles onto his shoulders is the best way to unlock it. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Rostered

Outfield

Akil Baddoo, Tigers: One of two intriguing Rule 5 outfielders in the AL, Baddoo has a 70-grade name, a strong eye at the plate and good wheels. It's a tool set that could land him a leadoff role if he can hit enough, and it's certainly looked this spring like he enjoyed some serious development in 2020 as he's slashed .314/.467/.714 with four homers. The Tigers' outfield is crowded, so Baddoo may not see much playing time right away, but as a bench stash in a deep format he could pay off later this season. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Jay Bruce, Yankees: With Luke Voit sidelined, Bruce should see a lot more playing time than expected to begin the season. His left-handed power profile is a great fit for Yankee Stadium, and the 33-year-old journeyman could be the next successful reclamation project for the club, although his window for a starting role may not be a long one. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

Jake Cave / Brent Rooker, Twins: The Twins decided that while Alex Kirilloff was good enough to help them in the playoffs last year, he wasn't good enough to be an Opening Day starter in left field this year. In his place for the next three weeks or so will be Cave and Brent Rooker, and while the latter has more upside, if it's a strict platoon, it's the former who will see more playing time. They're both only temps, though. Cave – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1 / Rooker – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Jake Fraley, Mariners: Speaking of service time games, the M's also sent Jarred Kelenic down and will give Jake Fraley one more chance to prove he can be somebody who might fetch a decent return in a trade. There's no long-term future for Fraley (or Mitch Haniger, for that matter) in an organization with Kelenic, Kyle Lewis, Julio Rodriguez and, sure, let's throw Taylor Trammell on the pile, but if he can get hot for the next month, maybe Fraley can parlay it into a consistent role elsewhere. Then again, he has a .427 career OPS in the majors. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Ben Gamel, Cleveland: If Amed Rosario doesn't work out in center field, Plan B for Cleveland appears to be Gamel. He's a handy enough fourth outfielder, but he's never really shown he can be more than that, and a sudden starting role probably won't change that impression. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Billy Hamilton, White Sox: Another team, another chance to demonstrate the truth of the old adage that you can't steal first base. Hamilton's a long shot to be anything more than the late-inning defensive replacement for Vaughn in left field. Nick Williams, the former Phillie, is also still in the running for a spot, but he seems like an even longer shot to have value than Hamilton. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Ka'ai Tom, Athletics: The other Rule 5 outfielder is Tom, a 26-year-old plucked out of the Cubs system this offseason. He slashed a combined .290/.380/.532 with 23 homers in 132 games between Double-A and Triple-A in 2019, and while an oblique strain delayed the start of his Cactus League campaign, he's done nothing but rake since getting healthy. Stephen Piscotty isn't exactly an iron man in right field, and if he breaks down again, there could be a path for Tom to get more at-bats than expected. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Taylor Trammell, Mariners: Rather than starting Kelenic's service-time clock, Seattle has decided to start Trammell's, which is a pretty back-handed compliment. The 23-year-old is athletic and has has posted some big stolen-base totals in the minors, but 16 strikeouts in 49 plate appearances this spring marks him as a big batting average risk, so be wary if you're chasing him as a speed source. Still, he'll probably be the Opening Day left fielder. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $13

Designated Hitter

Zack Collins, White Sox: As part of the fallout of Eloy's injury, Vaughn might no longer be the regular DH, which could open the door for Collins to see semi-regular at-bats. He's had a good spring, slashing .325/.413/.575 with a 6:6 BB:K, and as an added bonus he's the third catcher for the White Sox and could eventually gain eligibility behind the plate. The 26-year-old finally seemed to be putting things together at the plate in 2019 for Triple-A Charlotte after being drafted with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 draft, so while he's not at Vaughn's level as a prospect, there is some upside here. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3