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 role on an A-E scale. Shohei Ohtani would have been an "A" grade player last year – that mark will be reserved for similarly 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.
 

AL FAAB | NL FAAB

Starting Pitcher

Homer Bailey, Athletics: Bailey's been on fire since, well, since I made fun of the idea of removing him from the rotation a couple of weeks ago. You're welcome, Oakland fans. Over his last four starts he's got a 2.22 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 27:2 K:BB through 24.1 innings, and it's not like he's done it against the dregs of the league – he's faced the Yankees twice in that stretch. If you need staff help in September, might as well hope he can stay locked in right to the finish line. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Owned

Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland: This is one of those rare situations where redraft and keeper values are so divergent they need separate listings. If all you're worried about is 2019, Carrasco's activation from the IL doesn't mean much as he'll work out of the bullpen in September, and other than some holds and a possible vultured win or two he probably won't move the fantasy needle. Assuming his chronic myeloid leukemia stays under control, though, the 32-year-old should be back in the rotation in 2020, giving you an opportunity to stash a guy who's posted ace-like numbers for four years at a discount. Make sure to factor in the risk of him not returning to form due to his illness, but even if Carrasco is only 80 percent of what he was, he'll still be an asset. Redraft – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2 / Keeper – 12-team Mixed: $11; 15-team Mixed: $16; 12-team AL: $21

Jhoulys Chacin, Red Sox: Getting cut loose by a pitching-starved team like the Brewers is generally a sign you don't have it any more, but in the modern game there's always someone who's staff is in even worse shape, and in this case that team is the Chris Sale-less Red Sox. Chacin put up useful numbers the prior two years in San Diego and then Milwaukee before some major regression this season, so maybe another change of scenery can help turn things back around for the 31-year-old. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Danny Duffy, Royals: Duffy last pitched Aug. 3 before hitting the IL with a hamstring strain, and until that start he was putting up decent second-half numbers from a deep league perspective: 4.22 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 50:18 K:BB through 53.1 innings. If he can return to at least that form, he could be useful staff filler. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Sean Manaea, Athletics: Manaea finally came off the IL on Sunday after dazzling in three August starts for Triple-A Las Vegas, posting a 1.53 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 28:4 K:BB in 17.2 innings. Oakland may run with a six-man rotation down the stretch rather than bumping anyone to the bullpen, but the 27-year-old southpaw should get every chance to prove he's fully recovered from his shoulder woes. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: $21

Lewis Thorpe, Twins: Kyle Gibson could be done for the season as he deals with an ulcerative colitis diagnosis, and while Minnesota has a couple of young options to take his rotation spot, Thorpe would be the most interesting. The Australian lefty has had trouble staying healthy during his minor-league career, but he posted a 119:25 K:BB in 96.1 innings for Triple-A Rochester this year and looked good in his one big-league start against the White Sox at the end of June. Devin Smeltzer has also generally been a flop in his chances to start, so the Twins might be better off seeing if Thorpe can do better. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4
 

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

Dylan Cease, White Sox (at CLE, vs. LAA)

Aaron Civale, Cleveland (vs. CHW, at MIN)

Ross Detwiler, White Sox (at CLE, vs. LAA)

Mike Montgomery, Royals (vs. DET, at MIA)

Daniel Norris, Tigers (at KC, at OAK)

Patrick Sandoval, Angels (at OAK, at CHW)

Justus Sheffield, Mariners (at CHC, at HOU)

Jacob Waguespack, Blue Jays (at ATL, at TB)

Asher Wojciechowski, Orioles (at TB, vs. TEX)

Jordan Zimmermann, Tigers (vs. MIN, at OAK)
 

Relief Pitcher

Emmanuel Clase, Rangers: The 21-year-old flamethrower isn't racking up huge strikeout totals yet, fanning 11 batters in his first 13 big-league innings, but Texas is already tossing him into the deep end with some high-leverage work, including a save chance Friday that he successfully converted. Clase may not fully displace Jose Leclerc as the closer in September, but the club will likely continue to sprinkle him into the mix with an eye on him possibly taking over the role in 2020. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: $9

Brusdar Graterol, Twins: Speaking of young flamethrowers, Graterol gets a September promotion and will pitch out of the bullpen after spending most of the year as a starter at Double-A Pensacola. The right-hander posted a 7:2 K:BB in 5.1 relief innings after a brief stint at Triple-A, and he reportedly hit 103.8 mph with his fastball at Pensacola soon after being shifted to relief. No, that's not a typo. Even if you assume it was a hot radar gun... jinkies, Scoob. Taylor Rogers is fairly set as the regular closer and manager Rocco Baldelli has already shown he's a little enamored with Sergio Romo's veteran moxie, but Graterol could still pitch some very crucial high-leverage innings for the Twins down the stretch. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Josh James, Astros: The strikeout potential is still there, but James' injury struggles this year have put a damper on the chances of him emerging as the next great Houston arm. Look for him to pitch in middle relief unless he can prove he's back in his 2018 form, but even then he'd only see a setup role. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1
 

Catcher

Willians Astudillo, Twins: Out since late June with an oblique strain, Astudillo returns to his utility role just in time to take some of the at-bats a banged-up Marwin Gonzalez can't. His catcher eligibility for 2020 may be in jeopardy – he's only played 16 games behind the plate so far this year – and without it his Zero True Outcomes approach at the plate is a lot less appealing, but there's always a chance all those balls in play could fall his way over the last few weeks. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Cam Gallagher, Royals: Gallagher missed just under a month with an oblique strain, and the 26-year-old should reclaim the starting job behind the plate for September now that he's healthy – it's not like Meibrys Viloria (.613 OPS) or Nick Dini (.570 OPS) have done much in his absence. Of course, Gallagher's own .677 OPS this year is only a marginal improvement. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Eric Haase, Cleveland: The 26-year-old is just a depth option behind the plate. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Rangers: IKF rejoined the Rangers on Tuesday and looks like he'll get another chance to prove he can handle a starting role at third base, collecting a hit in three straight starts with two doubles and four RBI. The 24-year-old's fantasy upside is limited as a third baseman, but his lingering catcher eligibility – he's played 37 games there this year, which will lock him into the position for 2020 in most formats – makes him a somewhat more appealing option if he gets steady playing time. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Sean Murphy, Athletics: Oakland's top prospect behind the plate, Murphy gets the call in September after posting a .308/.386/.625 slash line for Triple-A Las Vegas with 10 homers and 30 RBI in only 31 games. What happens at the plate in Vegas tends to stay in Vegas, and his scouting profile doesn't suggest he's the next Gary Sanchez, but he doesn't have to be to have fantasy value. With the A's in the thick of the wild-card chase, though, it's tough to say how much playing time Murphy might get. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2
 

First Base

Jake Bauers, Cleveland: Tyler Naquin's season-ending injury brought Bauers back to the majors a day early, but his .247/.350/.427 line at Triple-A since his demotion doesn't suggest he's figured anything out at the plate. Bauers and Greg Allen could split time in left field down the stretch, but with the latter a switch hitter and a better defender, that doesn't necessary mean a lot of playing time for Bauers and his .687 OPS. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Seth Brown, Athletics: An unheralded 27-year-old who was a 19th-round pick in 2015, Brown parlayed a big season at Triple-A Las Vegas into a big-league debut, and he's been red-hot through his first six games for Oakland, going 11-for-25 with seven RBI. Unless/until he cools off, he should hold down the strong side of a platoon in left field, subbing out for Mark Canha against lefties, but it's not yet clear what his actual upside is. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Mike Ford, Yankees: Ford picked the wrong time to get hot. He's slashing .387/.424/.935 over his last 10 games with five homers, but now he's got a healthy Luke Voit pushing him for playing time. Voit will get a chance to reclaim a starting role, but he's looked rusty in his first two games back, and the Yankees might decide to go with a platoon at first base down the stretch if he continues to struggle – especially if Ford keeps capitalizing on the chances he does get. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Ronald Guzman, Rangers: Guzman was awful in the majors earlier in the year, but he slashed .308/.400/.504 in 30 games for Triple-A Nashville after his demotion and well, he's still on the 40-man roster, so back he comes in September. Unless Danny Santana is needed elsewhere on the diamond, though, Guzman could have trouble finding playing time. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Nate Lowe, Rays: Lowe is one of the toughest callups to project for September. His most recent demotion was simply due to a numbers crunch on the roster following the addition of Jesus Aguilar, but now Ji-Man Choi is hot and Kevin Kiermaier is healthy enough to force Avisail Garcia back to DH, so where does Lowe play? With the Rays fighting for a wild-card berth right now (they're one percentage point behind the A's for the second spot heading into Sunday), how they answer that question could well decide whether they make the postseason or not. I think Lowe is their best bet, but I'm not getting paid to make those decisions. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Albert Pujols, Angels: While everyone else in your league chased the shiny new things getting called up in September, might I recommend you grab a comfortable old sweater instead? Pujols is slashing .322/.403/.475 over his last 15 games with 16 RBI, and while the 39-year-old isn't anything close to the offensive force that he was in his prime, he could still close out the campaign on a heater with what would be his 11th career 100-RBI season in his sights. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Owned

Luke Voit, Yankees: Out since the end of July with a sports hernia, Voit may not be 100 percent – there's talk of offseason surgery – but he's back for September anyway. He's started two straight games since coming off the IL, and while he did collect a couple of singles Friday, he's struck out five times in eight at-bats. Given how hot Mike Ford has been, Voit may not have a long leash to reestablish himself as the Yankees' starter at first base. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5
 

Second Base

Franklin Barreto, Athletics: Barreto's had his chances and blown them all, so this is just a "he's on the 40, might as well" promotion, even if the A's did kick Corban Joseph to the curb. Jorge Mateo, who hasn't been called up and could stay in Triple-A for a while yet with Las Vegas fighting for a PCL playoff spot, or Sheldon Neuse are far more likely candidates to man the keystone for the A's down the stretch. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Daniel Robertson, Rays: Robertson will bring some momentum with him when he rejoins the Rays, having gone 10-for-21 over his last five games at Triple-A Durham. Where he fits into an infield picture that now has Eric Sogard jockeying for playing time alongside Joey Wendle, Matt Duffy, etc. isn't clear though, and it's easy to see Robertson as the option of last resort in that group. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Jonathan Schoop, Twins: Schoop lost his starting job at second base to rookie Luis Arraez early in August, but he's doing his best to win it back, hitting .391 (9-for-23) with four homers while starting six of the last nine games. The Twins could wind up platooning the two down the stretch, which would be bad news for Schoop as the right-handed hitter of the duo, but Arraez has cooled down significantly (.208/.286/.208 over that same nine-game stretch) as with a playoff spot maybe on the line, Rocco Baldelli may turn to the known commodity. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: Owned
 

Third Base

Ryan Flaherty, Cleveland: The team does have an opening at third base in the wake of Jose Ramirez's injury, but the 33-year-old Flaherty is a poor option to fill it – in seven big-league seasons, he's never hit above .224 or posted an OPS above .683. He'll provide bench depth for Cleveland down the stretch. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Sheldon Neuse, Athletics: The third piece in the Sean Doolittle deal a couple of years ago that netted the A's Jesus Luzardo and Blake Treinen, Neuse broke out with a .317/.389/.550 line at Las Vegas this year and made his big-league debut Friday. The 24-year-old probably profiles as a utility player in the long run, in the Chad Pinder/Canha mold, but for now he'll get a look at second base and try to prove his ceiling is a little more impressive than that. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3
 

Shortstop

Yu Chang, Cleveland: With Jose Ramirez lost for the year, Cleveland has apparently decided to replace his lost offense with some slick infield defense, starting Chang (a natural shortstop) at the hot corner in five of the last six games. He has gone 5-for-17 during that stretch, which isn't nothing, but the 24-year-old's .253/.322/.427 slash line at Triple-A is a better reflection of where he's at as a hitter. Chang does have a bit of hypothetical power and speed, but his contact issues could make it hard for him to get to either in the majors. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Ronny Rodriguez, Tigers: Rodriguez's sudden power surge – three homers in the last two games, and six in the last 12 – has pushed him into shallow-league consideration, as the Tigers really have nothing to lose by seeing if it's for real. The 27-year-old already has a career-high 24 long balls between Triple-A and the majors this year, and while he hasn't been able to replicate his minor-league batting averages in Detroit yet, he's doing what he can to shift the perception that he's just another cookie-cutter utility infielder for the organization. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: $9
 

Outfield

Jake Cave, Twins: Cave's been taking full advantage of the opportunity afforded him by the various injuries in the Twins' outfield, slashing .356/.431/.778 over his last 14 games with five homers. With Byron Buxton back from the IL but still lacking a firm timetable for his return to starting duties, Cave should keep drawing regular starts while he's hot, which is a good combo for fantasy value. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Ryan Cordell, White Sox: Cordell got called back up Friday to take Jon Jay's spot in the outfield. He still has a .587 career OPS in the bigs, and no clear path to consistent at-bats. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Adam Engel, White Sox: The White Sox's Wheel of Fungible Fourth Outfielders has landed back on Engel, and he's slashed .310/.375/.414 while starting nine of the last 10 games. That "hot streak" comes with zero homers, zero steals, two runs and three RBI, and he's a career .211 hitter in the majors, but hey, at least he's getting starts. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Clint Frazier, Yankees: Frazier got called up Sunday and immediately inserted into the starting lineup... at DH, which isn't a glowing endorsement of any defensive improvements he might have made in the minors. The 24-year-old still has a seemingly bright future – he has slashed .283/.330/.513 this year for the Yankees – but he doesn't have the upside of either Giancarlo Stanton or Aaron Judge, so if the team doesn't trust his glove work, he's still best viewed as offseason bait to land some pitching. With the club holding a healthy lead over the Rays in the AL East, though, that could give Frazier a nice window in September for regular at-bats to enhance his trade value. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $13

Brian Goodwin, Angels: Goodwin's quietly worked his way back into consistent playing time over the last couple of weeks, slashing .300/.407/.680 over his last 16 games with five homers, two steals, 11 RBI and 13 runs. The Angels really have no reason to play the slumping Justin Upton down the stretch and plenty of reasons to see if Goodwin can be part of their 2020 plans, so he could well keep drawing at-bats through September, and he's already shown this year he's capable of extended hot streaks. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Ian Miller, Twins: The 27-year-old career minor leaguer did have an intriguing 35 steals in 42 attempts at Triple-A this year, but Miller will be purely bench depth for the Twins down the stretch. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Anthony Santander, Orioles: This seems weird to say, but the Baltimore scouting department may have gotten one right. Santander was a Rule 5 pick in 2017, plucked out of High-A in the Cleveland system, but the 24-year-old looks like a significant part of the team's future outfield right now. He's slugged four homers in the last five games and is slashing a surprising .291/.328/.520 on the year. He won't be a superstar, but Santander could become the switch-hitting version of Trey Mancini. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: $9