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

Tyler Alexander, Tigers: With Matthew Boyd down again, Alexander will slot back into Detroit's rotation in some fashion (regular starter? Primary behind an opener? Piggybacking? B-52 bullpen? OK, I made up that last one). He's been sharp since the beginning of August, posting a 3.00 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 28:9 K:BB over his last 33 innings, and we've seen the southpaw surpass expectations before -- remember those nine straight Ks last year? If you need innings and ratios are your focus, he could be a useful piece down the stretch. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

A.J. Alexy, Rangers: I don't know if this guy is for real, but it's hard to ignore 11 scoreless innings with only two hits allowed and an 11:5 K:BB to begin his big-league career. Alexy hasn't faced the stiffest competition yet (the Rockies not at Coors Field, and the Angels anywhere) but that changes in a hurry this week, as the kid sets up for a possible two-step at home against the Astros, and maybe the White Sox next weekend depending on how the Rangers shuffle around their rotation. With only a few weeks left on the calendar though, taking stabs at upside might be the only option left to you, and Alexy's stuff does give him upside. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Joe Ryan, Twins: Ryan had a decent big-league debut against the Cubs, then teased a perfect game against Cleveland on Wednesday in his second outing for Minnesota, which is a decent way to answer questions about whether your stuff can pay in the majors. His long-term future is less important to most fantasy GMs right now though than whether his deception and command can keep fooling hitters for the next couple weeks before the league builds a book on him, and that seems very doable. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Clarke Schmidt, Yankees: The right-hander will make his first big-league start of the year Sunday as the Yankees wait to get Gerrit Cole and Jamison Taillon back. Schmidt has been gaining stamina and momentum at Triple-A, posting a 3.00 ERA and 20:4 K:BB through four appearances and 15 innings in the final stages of his recovery from a spring elbow issue, but he didn't work more than 4.1 innings in any of those games so whether he can last long enough to qualify for a win against the Mets is in question. In keeper leagues it's worth bidding a little more for the 25-year-old as a stash. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Jose Suarez, Angels: Suarez followed up his complete-game, eight-K win over the Rangers with another victory Saturday, falling just short of a quality start in Houston. There's little in his track record to suggest he'll keep that up, but he's a 23-year-old southpaw which means the switch could flip when you least expect it, so he's worth a gamble. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Michael Wacha, Rays: The right-hander hasn't been good since 2018, and even then the good times didn't last more than half a season, but Wacha might finally be regaining that form. He's posted a 3.10 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and dazzling 28:2 K:BB in 20.1 innings over his last four outings, and the Rays seem to have a handle on when to give him the hook before he gets into trouble. It could all come crashing down any time, and a start in Toronto this week could trash your ratios at the worst possible time, but sometimes you just have to close your eyes and take a leap of faith when patching together a September pitching staff. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

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

John Gant, Twins (at NYY, at TOR)

Packy Naughton, Angels (at CHW, vs. OAK)

Wily Peralta, Tigers (vs. MIL, at TB)

Drew Rasmussen, Rays (at TOR, vs. DET)

Relief Pitcher

Nick Anderson, Rays: Anderson finally comes off the IL to make his season debut, and as with any of the top names in the Tampa bullpen, he could immediately rack up some saves or never sniff the ninth. Either way he should get strikeouts though, assuming he's 100 percent, so he might be a better fit for a roster that could use some saves, but can't afford to lose ground (or has ground to gain) in ratios and Ks. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Kendall Graveman, Astros: Ryan Pressly seems to be having trouble making it to the finish line, giving up four runs in his last two appearances and complaining of arm soreness. If the Astros decide to shut their closer down before the playoffs or limit his usage, Graveman is the logical candidate to step in. He hasn't pitched as well as he did in Seattle, but part of that is just his luck resetting as his 3.47 FIP in Houston isn't really much different than his 2.88 mark prior to the trade. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: Rostered 

Greg Holland, Royals: I mean, sure. Kansas City is 17 games back in the AL Central, so of course they're giving save chances to a 35-year-old relic of their most recent glory days rather than someone who might be a part of their next playoff-caliber bullpen. Scott Barlow still looks like the best bet as closer over the final weeks, but it's clear Holland is still in the mix despite missing nearly a month with shoulder trouble. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: $9

Julian Merryweather, Blue Jays: Merryweather was a great story in April, popping triple digits on the radar gun and seizing the closer role in Toronto... for about a week, before he once again got hurt. He's been on the shelf ever since until being activated Friday, and he looked a bit shaky in his return. Jordan Romano is clearly the top option in the Jays' bullpen, but manager Charlie Montoyo has shown a willingness to use Romano as his highest-leverage guy rather than his ninth-inning guy, so if Merryweather can regain his early form, he might finish up the season in the same role he started it in. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Tyler Wells, Orioles: Brandon Hyde's Wheel of Closers has landed on Wells, but the 27-year-old rookie may not be another Cesar Valdez-style flash in the pan. Wells has a high-spin 95 mph fastball and a plus slider, a profile that marks him as a potentially strong high-leverage arm if not quite an elite closer by modern standards. He did blow his most recent save chance Saturday against the Jays, but he hadn't given up a run since the All-Star break prior to that appearance. If the O's happen to play spoiler for an AL East rival down the stretch, Wells looks like the guy to reap the rewards. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: $21

Catcher

Tom Murphy, Mariners: Murphy has regained the starting role for Seattle, starting 10 of the last 17 games even with two other catchers vying for playing time, and he's actually producing with a .286/.432/.500 slash line over that stretch. His only two homers in that time came Saturday, but as long as the playing time is there he's worth rostering. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Rostered

First Base

Ji-Man Choi, Rays: Choi's gotten multiple at-bats in three straight games since coming off the IL, which is about the most any Ray can expect. He's only 1-for-11, but he's streaky, and it wouldn't be a big surprise if he had a couple big weeks to close out the regular season. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Second Base

Jack Lopez, Red Sox: Boston's ongoing COVID hot spot has Lopez back in the big leagues. He got regular playing time last week while he was up, going 2-for-12 with a couple doubles, but this time the middle infield is a little more crowded with Xander Bogaerts, Enrique Hernandez and (checks notes) Jose Iglesias apparently?, all getting reps. In the words of Agent Dale Cooper, "What year is this?" 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Third Base

Jake Lamb, Blue Jays: Lamb represents the Jays' latest attempt to fill their gaping hole at the hot corner, but the 30-year-old is slashing only .154/.350/.231 through seven games with his newest club. Cavan Biggio finally re-started his rehab assignment Saturday, but given how much trouble he's had getting and staying healthy even while on the IL, he may not be an immediate solution. In retrospect, the team probably should have given Jordan Groshans a shot as he was red hot in late August, but they missed their window -- he hasn't played for Double-A New Hampshire since Sept. 2 as the Fisher Cats had more than a week's worth of games wiped out due to COVID-19 issues. Anyway, it's Lamb on the strong side of a platoon until someone better comes along, and you never know, he might run into a homer or two. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Shortstop

Leury Garcia, White Sox: Garcia hasn't slowed down since rejoining the roster Aug. 24, slashing .365/.407/.519 with a homer, three steals, eight RBI and nine runs in his last 14 games, and he's seeing enough consistent playing time to even be worth rostering in shallow formats. There's really no reason he should be on the waiver wire right now if you're still in the hunt, especially given his incredible position flex -- he's played at least 10 games at every position except catcher and first base this year. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: Rostered

Richie Martin, Orioles: The 26-year-old has never been accused of swingin' el bate loco, but Martin has started two of three games in his latest stint with the O's, going 2-for-8 with a double. Baltimore doesn't have any good answers at the position, so he could keep getting playing time down the stretch on the theory that it's better to have his glove in the lineup, to help get a better read on the various pitchers the team is auditioning, than it is to put Jorge Mateo's shaky glove out there. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Taylor Walls, Rays: Wander Franco's hamstring strain puts Walls back in the majors after a brief demotion and likely back into a starting role, although guys like Joey Wendle could also spot in. Walls has yet to show he can handle big-league pitching, batting .222 through 18 at-bats in September so far, but he could chip in the occasional steal. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Outfield

DJ Peters, Rangers: There's not much available in the outfield this week if you need to plug a hole (except for Leury Garcia of course, who fits everywhere), so Peters looks a lot more appealing despite his 34.4 percent strikeout rate in the majors this year. The 25-year-old is at least producing when he does make contact, and over his last 12 games he's got a .294/.302/.627 slash line with five homers and 12 RBI. That hot streak could evaporate in a hail of empty swings at any moment, but he's playing every day and it's worth seeing if Peters can keep it up for just a few more weeks. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15