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. Aaron Judge 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

Mike Fiers, Tigers: Fiers is set to join Detroit's rotation Sunday against a surprisingly potent White Sox offense. The right-hander has seen his ERA and WHIP inexorably rise each of the last two seasons – three, if you count his partial big-league campaign with the Brewers in 2014 – and while his breaking pitches can produce strikeouts, his sub-90 mph fastball is very hittable, which can lead to some ugly outings. He should take a regular turn for the Tigers, though, at least until a younger arm demands a spot, and given the state of the team's farm system, that could take a while. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Jakob Junis, Royals: The right-hander was profiled two weeks ago in the column that came out before Opening Day, but Junis' 2018 debut Tuesday was dynamite enough to draw some early FAAB bucks, especially given his impressive spring. His ultimate fantasy ceiling remains in question as he doesn't have dominant raw stuff, just dominant command, but the possibility that he could take a big step forward this season makes Junis worth an early gamble even in shallower formats. He's also got a solid set of matchups on the horizon – Mon vs. SEA and Sat vs. LAA for a two-start week, then at DET two Fridays from now. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: Owned

Martin Perez, Rangers: The perennial mediocrity made his first start of the season Friday and did about as well as you'd expect, striking out one batter while giving up 10 hits over 5.1 innings but still escaping with the win. Perez's career 5.4 K/9 tells you everything you need to know about his fantasy ceiling, but he'll get you some innings. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Relief Pitcher

Jose Alvarado, Rays: While there's been plenty of ninth-inning turmoil in the Senior Circuit already, the AL closer scene has been relatively stable east of Anaheim. As such, it's a good time to start planning ahead and stashing a prospective saves play or two if you have bench spots to churn. One of the most intriguing situations right now is in Tampa. Small sample size warnings abound, of course, but Alex Colome already has one blown save and has yet to strike out a batter in two appearances. Alvarado, on the other hand, has followed up a dominant spring with a 5:0 K:BB through his first four innings. If Colome gets deposed, Sergio Romo could be in the mix given his prior closing experience, but his slider isn't as devastating as it once was and his fastball pales in comparison to Alvarado's 98 mph portside heat. The 22-year-old has value in deeper leagues as a high-K setup man, but his path to saves could be getting a little clearer every day. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Miguel Castro, Orioles: Baseball is a copycat league – just ask Arliss Howard at the end of Moneyball. Houston's success with hybrid long/high-leverage relievers such as Chris Devenski in 2017 is causing other teams to try and replicate that success in their own bullpens to begin 2018, and Castro appears to be one such experiment. He's already fired 6.1 innings in four appearances this year with a strong 6:2 K:BB, and it wasn't all that long ago the 23-year-old was mentioned in the same breath as Roberto Osuna while the duo was coming up in the Jays system. Pitching for the O's won't get him the same opportunities for wins and saves Devenski enjoys, but if he provides solid ratios and a plus K/9 over 80-90 innings, Castro will have some deep-league value. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Luis Cessa / Domingo German, Yankees: Called up after Friday's 14-inning marathon and CC Sabathia's subsequent placement on the DL, Cessa and German are options for the Yankees when they need a fifth starter next week. Cessa has more big-league experience, but German put up better numbers at Triple-A in 2017 and has a bit more upside. Both are little more than staff fillers right now and their stay in the majors could be brief, but if they do get a starting assignment either one of them could surprise. Cessa: 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1 / German: 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Seung Hwan Oh, Blue Jays: Confirming what was already suspected, Oh got the save for the Jays last Sunday after Osuna had worked two consecutive days, and would be next in line as closer in Toronto. He's purely a spec play, but if you want to handcuff Osuna, the former Card would seem to be your man. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Joe Kelly, Red Sox: Kelly also has a save in the early going and appears to be next in line should something befall Craig Kimbrel. Unlike Oh, Kelly's numbers have been barely palatable outside of that save, and the right-hander has a 4:4 K:BB through 3.1 innings. He's capable of putting together a strong run, but consistency has never been Kelly's strong suit. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Keynan Middleton, Angels: It's looking increasingly like Middleton is Mike Scioscia's closer du jour. That honor may not last long, but if you need saves right now, as opposed to playing the longer game with someone like Alvarado, the 24-year-old should be your target. Middleton's raw stuff is more eighth inning than ninth, and his 4:2 K:BB through six innings to begin the year isn't elite by any means, but at least he's got 70-grade hair and looks the part of a closer. 12-team Mixed: $4; 15-team Mixed: $9; 12-team AL: $21

Bobby Poyner, Red Sox: The 25-year-old lefty hadn't pitched above Double-A prior to this season, but he won a bullpen job this spring and is getting used as more than just a LOOGY, racking up a win and two holds in his first four big-league appearances with a 6:0 K:BB in 4.2 innings. Granted, all four of those appearances have come against the Rays or Marlins, so Poyner could falter against tougher competition, but his minor-league numbers and plus changeup suggest he can be a high-K relief option. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Catcher

David Freitas, Mariners: Freitas got profiled last week but since then has split the workload behind the plate equally with Mike Marjama, giving him a little more value than originally anticipated. It's even possible he sticks in Seattle as Mike Zunino's backup once he gets healthy, but Freitas is still a career .222/.276/.333 hitter in the big leagues, so don't get too excited. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Max Stassi, Astros: Speaking of backups getting more playing time than anticipated, Stassi looks like the legit No. 2 catcher in Houston, as Evan Gattis has yet to play an inning behind the plate. Stassi's delivering too, slashing .417/.500/.583 through 14 plate appearances. He won't keep that up, but in a platoon role against lefties, the 27-year-old should be able to provide some bargain production. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

First Base

Jefry Marte, Angels: Marte's off to a quick start at the plate as he sees regular action against LHP, and that role should continue to provide him with a steady stream of playing time as the Angels are set to face six lefties in 12 games beginning Monday. He won't keep hitting .375, but if you're looking for a cheap option to plug into your lineup and get you some at-bats, Marte's a sneaky play. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Daniel Vogelbach, Mariners: Nelson Cruz's injury has finally given Vogelbach a chance in Seattle and he's taking advantage of it, or at least he was until he struck out three times Saturday. There's always going to be some empty swings in his profile, but the 25-year-old has impact power if he gets the playing time. Cruz's return from the DL may not kneecap Vogelbach's value, either, given Ryon Healy's painfully slow start to the season. Vogelbach's still a spec play, but he's trending up. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Third Base

Ryan Schimpf, Angels: Picked up from the Braves in the Carlos Perez swap, Schimpf is likely only on the roster until Ian Kinsler comes off the DL, which could come as soon as Tuesday. He does have that 20-homer season on his CV, though, so if you have a deep bench Schimpf could be worth a stash. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Shortstop

Franklin Barreto, Athletics: Called up when Chad Pinder got hurt, Barreto struggled in his big-league debut last year but is still only 22 years old and has plenty of upside. What he doesn't have is a regular place to play. Marcus Semien and Jed Lowrie are both healthy and the latter is smacking the cover off the ball right now, so Barreto seems relegated to a bench role right now. Manager Bob Melvin has suggested trying him in the outfield, so platooning for Matt Joyce in left could be a path to playing time, but despite his fantasy ceiling as a power-speed asset, Barreto is still more of a long-term stash than a player who'll provide immediate roster help. That upside is tempting, though, and based on his track record Lowrie's long overdue for a DL stint, right? 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

Dixon Machado, Tigers: For a guy who came into the season with a starting middle infield job, Machado was still basically a fantasy non-entity – not surprising given his .259/.302/.319 line last season in his first extended look in the majors and lackluster minor-league performances that suggested he might only be able to steal a handful of bases and provide no power or batting average contribution with regular playing time. The 26-year-old has come firing out of the gate, though, hitting .300 with six doubles (!) and seven RBI in seven games. Keep in mind, he had seven extra-base hits in 73 games all of last year. Can Machado keep it up? Probably not, but at a thin position like second base, any potential upgrade is worth exploring, and it won't cost you much to find out. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Taylor Motter, Mariners: Motter was called up to take Cruz's spot on the 25-man roster and has gotten all of four at-bats since. His multi-position potential can be useful, but he'd need a couple more injuries on the M's roster to really get a shot at fantasy value. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Outfield

Michael Brantley, Cleveland: Yeah, he probably got taken in your draft or auction, but in a really shallow format with really shallow benches, Brantley's checkered injury history and stint on the DL to begin the season may have scared everyone away. He's back now, and with Lonnie Chisenhall swapping places with him on the DL, Brantley should see regular at-bats going forward, and he's still got that five-category potential. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: Owned; 12-team AL: Owned

Mark Canha, Athletics: The A's aren't ready to turn the center-field reins over to Dustin Fowler yet, so Canha is expected to get the call when Boog Powell lands on the DL on Sunday. He'll provide Matt Olsen with a platoon partner at first base and might spell Joyce in left field as well, although Canha's career numbers actually show a reverse platoon split – which might explain why he didn't win a spot on the 25-man roster out of camp. He could pop a homer or two while he's up, though. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Rajai Davis, Cleveland: Davis has three steals already this season despite only 14 plate appearances, and Brantley's activation won't affect the speedster's role in the short thanks to Chisenhall's own injury. Eventually everyone will be healthy at the same time, but for now expect the 37-year-old to keep on running and provide a scarce resource if you can afford to roster such a one-dimensional player. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Owned

Jace Peterson, Yankees: Injuries keep piling up for the Yankees, with Brandon Drury the latest player to hit the shelf – and in his case, potentially for a while with migraines. That just means it's next utility man up, and Peterson gets his chance in New York after playing all four infield positions and both outfield corners for Atlanta in 2017. He doesn't offer much offensive upside, and Tyler Wade and Ronald Torreyes are both ahead of him in the pecking order for playing time, but Peterson could end up having a bit of value in deep formats thanks to his potential position flex. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Jake Smolinski, Athletics: Powell's injury leaves Smolinski as the A's best option in center field for the moment, which should mean plenty of short-term playing time for the 29-year-old. It's been a long time since he was healthy enough to handle regular playing time, and his fantasy ceiling wasn't that high to begin with, but at-bats mean runs and RBI – even if it's just a handful of each. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Trayce Thompson, Athletics: Thompson's never been the same player since back issues derailed his 2016 campaign, and he's bounced through three organizations in the last two weeks without seeing a single big-league at-bat. With Powell out, though, the A's could give the 27-year-old a look to see if he can find anything close to his old form. He's purely a lottery ticket, but once upon a time Thompson was a player with 20-20 upside as a White Sox prospect. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Designated Hitter

Pedro Alvarez, Orioles: Alvarez has gotten a little more playing time than expected while Mark Trumbo has been sidelined, and while Friday's extra-inning grand slam could easily end up being the highlight of his season, he does offer some power upside if he keeps getting semi-regular at-bats. Plus, it's not like Danny Valencia is doing anything right now to bump Alvarez out of the DH spot. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Shohei Ohtani, Angels: In shallow leagues where Ohtani's roster status was cruelly cut in two, like one of Plato's Children of the Sun, Hitter Ohtani might well have slipped through the cracks after his rough spring and all the focus given to Pitcher Ohtani. Well, Hitter Ohtani has done his best to prove any naysayers wrong, homering in three straight games and ripping off a 1.310 OPS through his first 18 at-bats in MLB. Does he have some holes in his swing that pitchers will learn to exploit? Sure. Is he still only 23, and will he adjust back? Almost certainly. Are the Angels going to keep using him at DH every chance they get until then, roughly three out of every six days? You betcha. Hitter Ohtani will still likely end up being the least valuable of the two Ohtanis, but it now looks like by a matter of degree rather than an order of magnitude. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: Owned