AL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

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.

This year, we're incorporating 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. Andrew Benintendi would have been an "A" grade player last year -- that mark will be reserved for similar 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.

Starting Pitcher

Paul Blackburn, Athletics: Called up for a spot start Saturday, Blackburn acquitted himself well, giving up just an unearned run across six innings. The 23-year-old righty has a classic back-end-of-the-road profile, lacking the dominant raw stuff to collect strikeouts by the bushel and instead relying on his command to limit walks and homers, but he could still prove to be a useful arm in deeper fantasy formats. With Andrew Triggs likely gone for the year and Kendall Graveman struggling to stay on the mound, Blackburn just needs to be better than Daniel Gossett for now to hang onto the fifth starter role. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Danny Duffy, Royals: On the shelf for over a month, Duffy looks set to rejoin the Royals' rotation Tuesday after fanning five with no walks in four innings during his latest Triple-A rehab start. The 28-year-old hasn't consolidated the gains he made last year, and Duffy's 2017 numbers so far look very much like his 2015 and 2014 performances, so it's fair to wonder whether he'll be able to turn it up a notch in the second half. If he got cut loose during his DL stint he's worth adding given that his floor is still pretty good even if he doesn't hit his ceiling. 12-team Mixed: $8; 15-team Mixed: $21; 12-team AL: Owned

Francis Martes, Astros: Last week I noted that Martes was fighting with David Paulino for a rotation spot going forward, but since then Paulino has taken himself out of the picture with a PED suspension. Martes responded with his best start of the year so far Saturday night, holding the Yankees to two runs over five innings with a 7:1 K:BB, but even with that strong outing his time in the majors could be limited. Dallas Keuchel, Charlie Morton and Collin McHugh are all inching closer to a return, and while Martes can survive the return of one of them (Morton appears closest right now), after that he'll be in a dogfight with Mike Fiers and Brad Peacock to maintain his rotation spot, at which point things like option years come into play. Houston also figures to be big players at the trade deadline and could add a starting pitcher. Martes remains a great dynasty asset (and possible trade bait?), but he could also be back at Triple-A right after the All-Star break. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Collin McHugh, Astros: McHugh's first rehab appearance Friday was a disaster, but at least he's pitching again. The 30-year-old has missed the entire season so far due to arm issues that date back to spring training, but he's now on track to return right after the All-Star break if all goes well. He doesn't have tremendous upside, but much like rotation-mate Fiers he gets strikeouts with his offspeed pitches despite a fastball that barely averages more than 90 mph, and with the Astros offense supporting him he could have a solid second half if he stays healthy. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: $9

Andrew Moore, Mariners: Moore made a strong first impression in his big-league debut June 22, giving the Mariners seven solid innings, and he'll return to the rotation Monday and could stick with the club as their fifth starter after the All-Star break. The 23-year-old was the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season after being a second-round pick in 2015, and while he doesn't look much like a workhorse at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds soaking wet, he pounds the strike zone and keeps the ball in the park. He doesn't have the blazing fastball or wipeout breaking stuff to have a huge fantasy ceiling, but he could be a reliable arm when it comes to ratios. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Charlie Morton, Astros: Morton is on target to return to the Astros' rotation next weekend after making one more rehab start. The 33-year-old has proven that last year's velocity increase and resulting spike in his strikeout rate was no fluke, but he's also failed to translate that extra heat into noticeably better numbers. Out of action since late May, Morton's profile is low enough that he might have been cut loose even in deeper formats, but until he starts posting goose eggs along with big radar gun readings, there's little reason to get too excited over him. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Joe Musgrove, Astros: The Paulino suspension gives Musgrove a route back to the major-league rotation, at least on a short-term basis. The 24-year-old looked dominant in his first Triple-A start following his demotion and certainly has plenty of upside, but his 6.01 ERA this year for Houston was no fluke either. Even if Musgrove gets called back up this week to replace Paulino and looks good, there's no guarantee he'll hang onto a rotation spot after the All-Star break once pitchers like Morton and Keuchel are healthy. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $5

Carlos Rodon, White Sox: As anticipated, Rodon's first start off the DL didn't go smoothly as he walked six batters in five innings, although some shoddy defense behind him protected his ERA. His upside remains substantial, but the 24-year-old still has some control and command issues to tame before he'll be anything close to an ace, which combined with his name recognition could push his bidding higher than his likely value in the short term. The left-hander might be a better option for teams that need to gamble in order to make up lots of ground in the pitching categories. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

Eduardo Rodriguez, Red Sox: Out since the beginning of June with a knee injury, Rodriguez began his rehab assignment Thursday and could rejoin the Red Sox rotation right before the All-Star break. He remains a somewhat frustrating pitcher to roster in fantasy leagues, as his upside is undeniable (especially considering the team around him) but he can never seem to stay healthy enough to capitalize on it. If he's available and you need help on your staff, though, it's not like the waiver wire will be chock-full of better options. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: Owned

CC Sabathia, Yankees: Sabathia appears set to make a surprisingly quick return from the DL on Tuesday, jumping the queue and not going on a rehab assignment despite being sidelined since June 13. The veteran lefty knows what his arm and body can handle, though, and with the All-Star break coming up he'll get some extra rest in, so there wouldn't appear to be any additional risk of re-injury if the Yankees do take this route. Sabathia was putting together a very solid season prior to straining his hamstring, but a 4.18 FIP and 4.16 xFIP suggest his improvement hasn't been quite as drastic as it looks on the surface. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: Owned

Aaron Sanchez, Blue Jays: The 25-year-old hasn't pitched in the majors since May 19 due to blister and other assorted issues with his fingers, but Sanchez finally appears to be back on track to rejoin the Jays rotation either right before or right after the All-Star break. There's a disparity between his perceived upside – the dude simply looks like a fantasy ace on the mound when he's locked in – and his actual performance, especially when it comes to strikeouts, but the right-hander has a secure floor and you never know if or when he'll be able to take things to the next level. If Sanchez is available, he's worth rolling the dice on with a big bid. 12-team Mixed: $8; 15-team Mixed: $21; 12-team AL: Owned

Anibal Sanchez, Tigers: Since rejoining the Tigers' rotation June 19, Sanchez has posted a 3.12 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB in 17.1 innings. Of course it won't last, but the veteran has had stretches of effectiveness over the last couple of years despite his overall mediocrity, so if you're streaming arms heading into the break he's worth a look, especially with his next start coming against the Giants (dead last in the majors in wOBA against RHP at .293). 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Hector Santiago, Twins: The southpaw missed three weeks with a shoulder issue, and didn't look any better upon his return Tuesday than he had when he went down. Santiago should take a regular turn in the Twins rotation going forward, but don't expect much. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Blake Snell, Rays: Snell's control issues apparently weren't solved during his time with Triple-A Durham, as he walked five batters in his first start back with Tampa on Wednesday. The 24-year-old still has tremendous upside if he can learn to add some command to his already filthy arsenal, and despite his struggles if he got dropped he should be a priority add in all formats if you need a boost to your pitching staff. 12-team Mixed: $4; 15-team Mixed: $9; 12-team AL: $21

Relief Pitcher

Brad Boxberger, Rays: Boxberger came off the DL on Friday and promptly struck out the side in his first appearance, so I think it's safe to say he's healthy. The right-hander with the career 11.6 K/9 figures to slot into a setup role, but Alex Colome's name keeps surfacing in trade rumors and Boxy should be next man up given his 41-save campaign in 2015. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Zach Britton, Orioles: Britton's second attempt at a return seems to be going much better than his first, as he's got a 1.50 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 7:2 K:BB over six rehab innings. Baltimore won't rush him, as Brad Brach has been perfectly fine as their interim closer, but Britton seems to be on track to rejoin the Orioles bullpen by midweek. If he's fully healthy again, a big second half should be in the cards for the left-hander. 12-team Mixed: $15; 15-team Mixed: $35; 12-team AL: Owned

Steve Cishek / Tony Zych, Mariners: Edwin Diaz is struggling again, getting scored upon in each of his last three appearances, which means it could be worthwhile stashing some alternative closing options in the Seattle 'pen. Cishek picked up a save when Diaz was unavailable a couple of weeks ago and has closing experience, but Zych has the better stuff, although he hasn't been lights-out lately. The Mariners clearly would prefer Diaz to be their closer, but he's making it difficult for them to stick with that plan. Cishek – 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7 / Zych – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Alex Claudio / Keone Kela / Jose Leclerc, Rangers: Matt Bush's collapse has left the Rangers' bullpen in an awkward spot. Kela would be the team's first choice to replace him as closer, but Kela is dealing with some bicep discomfort right now and his track record of arm trouble makes that a little worrying. Until he's ready to go, Leclerc's 14.5 K/9 should be able to handle the assignment with Claudio potentially getting a save opportunity or two against tough lefties, but if Leclerc does well there's always a chance he keeps the job and Kela remains the eighth-inning guy. Claudio – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1 / Kela – 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15 / Leclerc – 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Tommy Hunter, Rays: Somewhat quietly, there's a bit of turmoil in the Rays' bullpen. Colome's been scored upon in four straight outings and the trade rumors that have been dangling over his head all season might be getting to him. Boxberger's return from the DL would seem to position him as the next closing option if Colome is taken out of the picture, but Boxberger's spotty track record when it comes to staying healthy can't be ignored. In the middle of all that, Hunter picked up the save Tuesday after Colome sent the game into extra innings. Hunter's probably third in the pecking order, but he's pitched well this year and as a spec saves play in deep leagues you could do a lot worse. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Tommy Kahnle, White Sox: David Robertson could miss a few days on the paternity list this week, opening the door for Kahnle to get an audition in the closer role. The righty has had some recent struggles but he's also struck out at least one batter in 21 straight appearances to fuel his 15.2 K/9, and with Nate Jones unable to get healthy Kahnle remains the most likely candidate to replace Robertson full-time if and when the veteran closer gets dealt. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Catcher

Robinson Chirinos, Rangers: The veteran backup catcher's recent power surge (seven homers in 12 games dating back to June 7) has landed him on shallow league radars, but Chirinos is also hitting only .220 (9-for-41) and incredibly has no singles during that stretch – his other two hits were doubles. Jonathan Lucroy is hardly living up to expectations, though, and Chirinos could continue cutting into his playing time if he keeps slugging and Lucroy doesn't. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Austin Romine, Yankees: The injury-wracked Yankees have resorted to using Gary Sanchez as their DH over the last few games, leaving catching duties to Romine. Romine's responded with a modest five-game hitting streak, but he's also a career .228/.266/.328 hitter in the majors, so don't get your hopes up that he'll suddenly have fantasy value even with regular at-bats in the short term. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Kevan Smith, White Sox: Smith just keeps on hitting, to the point that he's started to get playing time at DH. He won't offer much fantasy value once his BABIP cools down, but a .422/..426/.511 slash line over his last 13 games can't be ignored in leagues where the catcher position is a relative fantasy wasteland. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

First Base

Chris Carter, Yankees: Well, that didn't take long. Less than a week after they designated him for assignment, Carter is back with the Yankees due to a rash of injuries that leave their options at first base to him or Rob Refsnyder. He's still the same guy he was before they tried to get rid of him, though, and this roster reprieve may not last very long. If you pick him up hoping to get a homer or two out of him, be aware of the damage he could do to your batting average. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Rob Refsnyder, Yankees: Speaking of Refsnyder, he was called back up at the beginning of last week to provide some depth at first. And second. And maybe the outfield corners, just in case. He's gone 0-for-8 since his recall and the fact that the Yankees were willing to bring Carter back tells you what they think of Refsnyder as a potential lineup regular. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Third Base

Rafael Devers, Red Sox: The fuzzy Super-2 deadline is well in the rear view mirror, which means we're all free to speculate on which top prospects could or should get promoted and when. Devers hasn't gotten much attention as a possible impact call-up this season, but that could change the longer the Red Sox go without addressing their black hole at third base. Their trade possibilities might be drying up, too. If the Royals keep winning, Mike Moustakas might no longer be available, which reduces the Sox's options on the open market to Todd Frazier and, uhh, Martin Prado? Jose Reyes? Meanwhile, their 20-year-old top prospect is slashing .306/.369/.592 at Double-A with 17 homers in 70 games, and Boston hasn't been afraid to jump guys directly from Trenton in the past. I freely admit this is an absurd comp but I can't help thinking back to 2003, when a 20-year-old kid named Miguel Cabrera got called up midseason after tearing up the Southern League and helped the Marlins win a World Series. In re-draft leagues, now's the time to think about stashing Devers, before the hype train really picks up steam. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $5

Ronald Torreyes, Yankees: Starlin Castro's hamstring injury has given Torreyes a chance to start at the keystone, and he's responded by hitting .311/.347/.444 over his last 12 games. He doesn't offer a lot of power or speed, but getting on base in a lineup like the one the Yankees possess brings a lot of run-producing opportunities, which makes Torreyes a solid short-term option. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Shortstop

Adeiny Hechavarria, Rays: Acquired from the Marlins, Hechavarria should solve Tampa's defensive issues at shortstop for the rest of the season. He won't offer much in the way of offense, though – he's a career .256/.293/.338 hitter – so his biggest fantasy contribution might come from his impact on the ERA and WHIP of pitchers like Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Marcus Semien, Athletics: Semien's finally begun his rehab assignment and has had no issues at the plate, hitting .353 in five games at High-A before getting bumped up to Triple-A Nashville. With Franklin Barreto now in Oakland, the A's will likely use as much of Semien's rehab time as they can, but assuming he's back right after the All-Star break look for the duo to form the new double-play combo by the bay, with Jed Lowrie eventually finding himself on another team. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $17

Tyler Wade, Yankees: The 22-year-old isn't one of the Yankees' top prospects, but he was hitting .313/.390/.44 at Triple-A before his promotion with 24 steals in 71 games. Wade will likely head back down once Castro gets healthy, but for now he'll supply infield depth on a roster that could really use it. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Outfield

Ezequiel Carrera, Blue Jays: Out since June 13, Carrera was hitting a solid .297/.366/.412 before suffering a foot injury, but he's gone 1-for-9 since coming off the DL. He'll be competing with Steve Pearce for playing time in left field going forward, and while a straight platoon would favor Carrera, the team may prefer to use Pearce more often given his superior power potential. Even if he does see regular at-bats, Carrera's relatively empty batting average has limited fantasy appeal. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Jacoby Ellsbury, Yankees: The veteran came off the DL on Monday after recovering from his concussion and has gone 5-for-21 since, although his spot at the top of the Yankees' lineup has allowed Ellsbury to score six runs in five games. Once Aaron Hicks returns, Ellsbury may be stuck as the fourth outfielder, but there should be DH at-bats available for him as well... at least until Matt Holliday gets healthy. If the Yankees ever get a full roster, Ellsbury could be squeezed into a minor role, but given how they're season's been going that seems more like a hypothetical concern than anything. His skills are fading, but the 33-year-old can still chip in the occasional steal and decent overall stats. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Owned

Nick Franklin, Angels: Franklin continues his quest to play for all 30 MLB teams before his 30th birthday, adding the Angels to his list Saturday after a trade from the Brewers. He's basically a perfectly fungible utility player at this point in his career, but if you need a warm body to fill a roster spot, he's back in the AL. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Clint Frazier, Yankees: The Yankees tried hard to avoid calling up Frazier, but after Dustin Fowler's season-ending injury in his first big-league appearance they really had no other option but to give their top outfield prospect a look. He made them look good with a homer in his debut Saturday, but his stay in the majors might only last until Hicks returns. Then again, if Frazier keeps hitting, they might try to find a way to keep him around. Frazier's got five-category upside, but his .256/.344/.473 slash line at Triple-A indicates the 22-year-old may not quite be a finished product yet. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $17

Brandon Guyer, Cleveland: Out of action since May 12, Guyer has come off the DL and slotted back in as Cleveland's lefty-killer off the bench. Given that all three of the team's current starting outfielders hit lefty, there could be more playing time afforded Guyer than you might expect, but his value will still be restricted to AL-only and very deep mixed formats. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Mikie Mahtook, Tigers: The Tigers' Wheel of Mediocre Center Fielders has spun back to Mahtook and he's actually done something with the opportunity, going 9-for-24 (.375) over his last six games with five RBI and four runs. The 27-year-old has gone on prolonged hot streaks before, including a huge stretch run for the Rays in 2015, so it's possible he could grab the starting job and run with it this time. His offensive upside remains somewhat limited, but with regular at-bats he can chip in the occasional homer and steal. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Jorge Soler, Royals: Soler returns to Kansas City after beating up on Triple-A pitching for a month or so (.324/.453/.667 in 31 games), and he's gone 4-for-16 with a homer in four games since his recall. The Royals are in a weird spot right now – they looked like sellers through the first two months of the season, but a big June now has them just three games back of the AL Central lead – so depending on which way they go heading into the trade deadline, Soler could see regular playing time in DH and/or in the outfield corners if the team flips veterans like Brandon Moss and Alex Gordon, or even get dealt himself if they decide to make a playoff push, but more likely he just stays in a bench role or even gets sent back down once the Royals' roster is fully healthy. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3