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

Alex Cobb, Angels: So, last time I wrote up Cobb it didn't turn out so well, but I haven't given up on him turning his season around yet. The veteran right-hander lines up for a two-start week at home against Cleveland and the A's, assuming he returns from his blister-induced IL stint on schedule, and his 31:10 K:BB through 21.1 innings, 0.48 HR/9 and 2.50 FIP remain enticing, even if his actual fantasy ratios are scary. Just keep playing That Thing You Do on repeat if you roll the dice on Cobb this week. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Logan Gilbert, Mariners: Gilbert was the other half of The Future Is Now Day for the Mariners on Thursday, making his big-league debut a bit ahead of the team's intended schedule in order to help keep the battered Seattle rotation afloat. The 24-year-old rang up a 5:0 K:BB over four innings but also got taken deep twice, and he's got the upside to make the former a more typical occurrence than the latter as his career progresses. Hopefully, the somewhat shaky first outing will help keep bidding to reasonable levels – he's a good kid, and if he and Jarred Kelenic do what they're capable of, Seattle could become a baseball-M.A.A.D. city once again. 12-team Mixed: $7; 15-team Mixed: $12; 12-team AL: $21

James Kaprielian, Athletics: With Daulton Jefferies and A.J. Puk both still on the shelf, it was Kaprielian who got the surprise callup to replace Mike Fiers in the rotation, and the 27-year-old acquitted himself well in his first big-league start. Kaprielian has some prospect cache of his own – he was a first-round pick of the Yankees in 2015 – but injuries have plagued him every step of the way, and the 68 innings he threw over three minor-league levels in 2019 were actually a career high. Even if he stays healthy, he likely won't be able to handle a huge workload. Assume Kaprielian is here for a good time, not a long time. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Dean Kremer, Orioles: While Kremer is still looking for his first win of the year, he's started to find his footing, posting a 3.38 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB over his last three starts and 16 innings. Two of those starts came against the Yankees and Red Sox as well, so quality of opposition wasn't an issue. The 25-year-old doesn't have tremendous upside, but the O's need some stability in their rotation behind John Means, so Kremer will get every chance to establish himself as a middle of the road starter. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $3

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

Jordan Lyles, Rangers (vs. NYY, vs. HOU)

Jose Quintana, Angels (at BOS, vs. OAK)

Relief Pitcher

A.J. Cole, Blue Jays: On Wednesday, Cole became the sixth Toronto pitcher to get a save this season – one day after Jordan Romano became the fifth, which helps explain why he got the opportunity in the first place. Cole has pitched well in three appearances since re-joining the club, as he has yet to give up a run with a 4:1 K:BB in 4.2 innings, and given that Romano has yet to work on back-to-back days in May, there might be a window here for Cole to pick up the pieces once or twice more for saves. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2 

Michael Fulmer, Tigers: Since being moved out of the rotation mix and into a late-inning bullpen job, Fulmer has looked like a new man. He hasn't given up an earned run in five straight appearances, grabbing two wins, two saves and a hold over that stretch, and he was sitting 95-97 mph with his fastball in Saturday's win over the Cubs. With Gregory Soto still having trouble getting his own high-octane stuff over the plate consistently, there's an opening here for Fulmer to seize the closer gig in Detroit, but even if he stays in a flexible high-leverage role he'll have plenty of value if he keeps pitching like this. It's been forever and a day since the Tigers have had a true bullpen ace – Jose Valverde maybe? – but Fulmer might just become that guy. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $8; 12-team AL: $15 

Hansel Robles, Twins: The back of the Twins bullpen remains a dumpster fire. Alex Colome lost the closer gig in April, but has pitched better in May in a lower-leverage role. Taylor Rogers was the next man up, but he's been tagged for five runs in his last four appearances. That opened the door for Robles to get a save chance Saturday, and he got the job done, which could lead to more opportunities. The former Angels closer (23 saves in 2019) has battled some control issues this season, posting a 16:9 K:BB in 15.2 innings, but really, all Rocco Baldelli wants is somebody to lean on in the ninth inning. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7 

Catcher

Drew Butera, Angels: Butera has started five of nine games since being picked up by the Angels, but he's gone 1-for-14 and will probably lose his spot once Max Stassi is clear of his concussion. At 37 years old, this might just be the end of the road for Butera. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Eric Haase, Tigers: With the Tigers down two catchers, Haase has started two of the last five games while working in a timeshare with Jake Rogers. Haase hasn't seen more than 19 plate appearances in any of his four big-league seasons, but he has shown some pop in the minors despite a putrid .384 career OPS in the majors. He'll get bumped off the roster once Grayson Greiner or Wilson Ramos are back, and in terms of fantasy value, Haase is probably going nowhere fast. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1 

Francisco Mejia, Rays: Effectively on the shelf since May 5 with a rib issue, Mejia was activated from the IL on Sunday and should slot back into a significant role behind the plate for the Rays. Mike Zunino has gotten hot (for him) in the meantime, hitting .231 with three homers in eight games, but Mejia was playing well enough that it shouldn't be an obstacle. The 25-year-old has a .300/.348/.450 slash line on the year as he finally turned on the lights and has begun to make good on his scouting reports, and while he probably won't take on a starter's workload unless Zunino gets hurt in turn, Mejia's bat can still provide value with part-time ABs. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Rostered 

Jake Rogers, Tigers: The 26-year-old has gone from depth option to de facto starter in a hiccup, and Rogers hasn't looked out of place by going 3-for-12 with a homer since his promotion. There's a chance the rebuilding Tigers might want to keep him around longer even after Ramos and Greiner get healthy, so if you're a gambler looking for a long-term option with a bit of upside behind the plate, Rogers is worth a bid. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

First Base

Ji-Man Choi, Rays: Choi came off the IL this weekend and Tampa shipped out Yoshi Tsutsugo to make room for him, which is a great sign for Choi's playing time. The 29-year-old is coming off a down 2020, but if he takes on the strong side of a platoon at first base with... Yandy Diaz? Mike Brosseau? Whoever. Anyway, the ABs are there for Choi if he hits and gets on base at his usual rates. There's a long-term concern once Wander Franco is up and scrambles the infield picture (I can see a scenario where Brandon Lowe is suddenly in the mix at 1B), but for now Choi should be a solid add, if not exactly dynamite at the plate. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Second Base

Niko Goodrum, Tigers: It seems like every week Goodrum shows up on my list of available guys on the cusp of being assets in shallower formats, and every week he's one of my final cuts because he's not actually producing enough. Well, the 29-year-old has finally gotten over the hump, slashing .317/.429/.415 in May with a homer and five steals (in seven attempts). Goodrum won't maintain that batting average but it's his speed that makes him truly useful, and as long as he's doing better than Willi Castro and Harold Castro (no relation) at the plate, he should be able to hang onto a starting role. There are worse ways to spend FAAB dollars on a Sunday morning. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered 

Chad Pinder, Athletics: Out since early April with a sprained knee, Pinder rejoined the A's lineup this weekend and was immediately back in the utility mix, getting a start at shortstop. The 29-year-old doesn't have great upside, but he's played everywhere expect catcher over the last few years and can chip in the occasional homer, making him the kind of guy you need in deep leagues to shuffle players around and optimize your lineup. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Third Base

Kelvin Gutierrez, Royals: A collision with Jose Abreu put Hunter Dozier on the shelf and moved Hanser Alberto into the starting third base job. That leaves Alberto's utility role open, and Gutierrez was called up to fill it. At best, he'll hit for a decent average with an occasional homer and steal, and there's no guarantee he sees enough playing time to do even that much, but the 26-year-old does have some modest upside if he can take advantage of this latest career opportunity.  12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1 

Outfield

Miguel Andujar, Yankees: Andujar is actually seeing regular playing time during this latest stint in the majors (technically two stints, since he was sent back down last Sunday but then recalled a few days later when Gleyber Torres tested positive for COVID-19). Andujar has only gone 2-for-15 though, and with Gio Urshela's knee feeling better, he may not be long for the roster. Again. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Brett Gardner, Yankees: This might come as a shock, but Aaron Hicks is dealing with a serious injury that could require surgery. This time it's his wrist, but Hicks' absence (and the trade of Mike Tauchman earlier this year) leaves Gardner as the only viable option for the Yankees in center field at the moment. The veteran is having a miserable season, managing a .477 OPS in 29 games with zero steals, and at 37 years old the end of the... wait, I used that one already. At 37 years old, Gardner may not have much time left, but unless New York decides to call up someone like Estevan Florial, they don't really have any alternatives while Hicks is out. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: Rostered 

Jarred Kelenic, Mariners: Kelenic landed on the big-roster roster with massive fanfare Thursday, and his huge performance Friday sent the hype train hurtling out of the station. Of course, Kelenic's gone 0-for-9 with four strikeouts in his two other starts so far, and there could be growing pains along the way, but other than Wander Franco in Tampa there may not be another hitter called up this season with a comparable fantasy ceiling as he's got legitimate five-category potential. He was probably already stashed in most leagues, but in formats where you can't pick up a player until he's actually on a 26-man roster, this is the kind of prospect you toss FAAB dollars at like Lil Wayne. 12-team Mixed: $35; 15-team Mixed: $55; 12-team AL: $75 

Ryan LaMarre, Yankees: The 32-year-old journeyman didn't see any big-league action last year but he played for five different teams in the five seasons prior to 2020, and now he'll add pinstripes to his jersey collection. LaMarre gives the Yankees some OF depth while Hicks is out, and given Gardner's struggles he could see more action than you might expect. LaMarre's not a long-term solution though, just someone who might chip in a bit of production while he makes the Bronx his temporary home. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1 

Jose Marmolejos, Mariners: With Evan White and Ty France both landing on the IL at the same time, there are suddenly a lot of 1B and DH at-bats to go around in Seattle. The outfield overflow can help cover the latter, but Marmolejos will have to shoulder most of the load at first base. The 28-year-old has done very little at the plate so far this year, and while he has put up some decent numbers in the high minors, there's little reason to suspect he's about to erupt, so be careful you don't bid too much on a guy just because he's got a temporary starting gig. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Designated Hitter

Rob Refsnyder, Twins: Refsnyder got some playing time waiting for him in an outfield corner with Jake Cave joining Byron Buxton and Alex Kirilloff on the shelf, but he might only qualify at DH in a lot of leagues. By the time he gains eligibility elsewhere, someone might be healthy enough to bump him off the roster. The 30-year-old can still hit a little though as he's routinely posted solid batting averages with a bit of pop at Triple-A, so if you're tempted to pick him up and can squeeze him onto your roster, there's a chance he can deliver decent numbers in the short term. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1