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. Vladimir Guerrero 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

Dane Dunning, White Sox: The 25-year-old is getting called up to make his second big-league start Sunday, and with Gio Gonzalez landing on the IL on Sunday, Dunning seems likely to stick around in the rotation this time. His first outing was a generally positive one, as he posted a 7:1 K:BB through 4.1 innings, and Dunning's stuff profiles as a solid mid-rotation guy if he pans out. Having the White Sox's parade of sluggers providing run support doesn't hurt either, assuming he's able to consistently go at least five innings. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

Josh Fleming, Rays: The unheralded 24-year-old was an emergency add to the Rays rotation last weekend, but all he's done is pick up two wins in two starts with a 1.74 ERA – not a bad beginning to a big-league career. Fleming looks like a prototypical finesse lefty with a fastball that barely cracks 90 mph, but his changeup can flash plus and was generally too much for minor-league hitters to handle. If there's a red flag in his profile, it's that he struggled to keep the happy fun ball in the park when he got to Triple-A last year, but so far that issue hasn't resurfaced with Tampa. It's hard to see a lot of ceiling here, but if you need rotation help he could continue to surprise. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Deivi Garcia, Yankees: The 21-year-old, who was already on the 40-man roster while Clarke Schmidt was not, gets the call to make his major-league debut Sunday in the Yankees' doubleheader. Garcia's no slouch as a prospect either, having fanned 165 batters in 111.1 innings across three levels of the minors last season, but while he has a plus fastball to headline his four-pitch arsenal, his tiny frame creates a lot of doubt as to whether he can hold up as a starter in the long term. It's entirely possible he's getting this start to showcase him for a trade, and that might be his best route to fantasy value in 2020 – even if he pitches well in his debut, it's not clear if there's room for him in the Yankees' usual five-man rotation right now. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $13

Luis Garcia, Astros: There are four guys named Luis Garcia in different organizations right now, and this might be the second-most interesting one after the Nationals' current starting second baseman. Houston's Garcia is a 23-year-old righty who has yet to even pitch in the high minors, but he struck out 168 batters over 108.2 innings last year between Low-A and High-A to lead all minor leaguers in strikeout rate (38.1 percent). He's got the frame and the mid-90s fastball to handle a starting assignment, but his ability to avoid becoming a reliever will hinge on the development of his changeup. It's not clear what role the Astros have in mind for him, or if he's just up to get his feet wet in the Show, so he's a better keeper or dynasty stash than a short-term asset. Even if Garcia bumps the struggling Brandon Bielak from the rotation, he'd just be keeping the spot warm for Jose Urquidy. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Jakob Junis, Royals: Junis returned to the rotation Wednesday after recovering from back spasms and struck out six batters over 3.2 innings, which is nice. What isn't so nice is that he has yet to complete five innings in any of his three trips to the mound this year. He doesn't have a lot of time left to get fully stretched out, and pitching for Kansas City doesn't give him a tremendous win probability anyway. Consider the right-hander just a guy to plug into your staff when you're out of better options. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Michael King, Yankees: The pitcher making the other start for the Yankees in Sunday's doubleheader is King. The 25-year-old righty has been a useful swing man this season – his 6.59 ERA looks shaky, but it comes with a 1.10 WHIP and reasonable 12:5 K:BB over 13.2 innings – but he probably won't be able to last long enough to qualify for a win and should return to the bullpen afterwards, so there isn't a lot to recommend him even if he pitches well against the Mets. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Jorge Lopez, Orioles: Lopez will get the first crack at replacing Wade LeBlanc in the Baltimore rotation. That's a lot bar to clear, but the 25-year-old still might not be up to the task. While he has gone at least four innings in two of his four relief appearances this season, they haven't been effective innings – he has an 8.38 ERA and 1.55 WHIP, and his career rates aren't a whole lot better. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Chris Mazza, Red Sox: Mazza's already flopped in the rotation once this year for Boston, and it's a sign of the team's desperation that they gave the 30-year-old another chance. There's no reason for you to make the same mistake. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Ljay Newsome, Mariners: The 23-year-old made brief appearances at Triple-A in each of the last two seasons without much success, but the results since making his big-league debut last week have been surprisingly good. Newsome's only allowed two runs in his two outings, one in long relief and one in the rotation as the replacement for the traded Taijuan Walker, but they've both come on solo homers, a worrying trend if he starts coughing up more baserunners. That's been the story of his career as he's moved up the ladder, though – Newsome's mediocre fastball is easy to take out of the yard, but his impeccable control limits the damage. That formula has worked before in the majors (Kyle Hendricks says hi), but it's a tough tightrope to walk. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Michael Pineda, Twins: Pineda is currently tabbed to rejoin the Twins on Tuesday after serving out the rest of his PED suspension, but note that any more postponed games would bump that date forward. The right-hander should still be a priority target on a preemptive bid if you have that option, though. With Jake Odorizzi on the shelf there's a spot in the Minnesota rotation open for him, and he looked good last season in his return from Tommy John surgery before the suspension was handed down, as he somewhat unusually retained his command but lost some fastball velocity. Usually it's the other way around for pitchers coming back from TJ. He's apparently fully stretched out and should be able to go at least five innings right from the jump, assuming he's effective of course, and while there haven't been any reports on the quality of his fastball, if it inches back up towards his pre-surgery 94 mph he could be a huge addition to the Twins' playoff push. 12-team Mixed: $8; 15-team Mixed: $17; 12-team AL: $35

Relief Pitcher

Scott Barlow / Jesse Hahn / Greg Holland / Ian Kennedy / Josh Staumont, Royals: With Trevor Rosenthal's value rehabilitated and cashed in, Kansas City once again has a vacancy at closer, and there are plenty of candidates. Kennedy won the job last year but has been terrible in 2020 and been relegated to low-leverage spots. Holland is a Royals legend and has been moderately effective this year, but even with Rosenthal already gone he pitched the eighth inning Saturday in a non-save situation. Hahn wound up getting a two-out save in that game, but only after Kennedy made a hash of the ninth and nearly coughed up a six-run lead, and while the 31-year-old has also been effective as a middle-innings guy this year he didn't even have a hold in his career before this weekend, much less a save. That leaves the two younger guys, both of whom have a lot more upside and keeper appeal if they get a chance at the job. Barlow has been getting a heavy workload and thriving, posting a 1.93 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 18:3 K:BB over 14 innings in August, but it's Staumont that has the classic closer arsenal. The 26-year-old right-hander can hit triple digits with ease, averaging 98.4 mph with his fastball, and while his control remains shaky, a 44.3 percent strikeout rate cures a lot of ills. I'd expect one of the latter two, or perhaps both, to take over the ninth rather than another retread. Barlow – 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $13 / Hahn – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3 / Holland, Kennedy – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5 / Staumont – 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

Diego Castillo, Rays: Tampa finally has too many relief arms on the shelf to get too cute with high-leverage situations, and as a result Castillo – arguably the only guy left manager Kevin Cash can really trust – has picked up saves in consecutive appearances, his first two of the season. He had eight saves last year as part of the team's late-inning crew, and his 2.13 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB in 12.2 innings suggest he can handle the assignment full time, or at least until Nick Anderson gets healthy. 12-team Mixed: $15; 15-team Mixed: $25; 12-team AL: Rostered

Jose Cisnero / Buck Farmer / Gregory Soto, Tigers: Jose Jimenez is out as Detroit's closer, so it's open audition time. Soto, as a power lefty, might profile better as a high-leverage arm rather than exclusively as a ninth-inning option, but he got his first big-league save Saturday. Cisnero also offers a big fastball from the right side and has a 1.53 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB in 17.2 innings this season, and perhaps most impressively has yet to allow a homer. Farmer is decidedly the third guy in this equation, as neither his raw stuff nor his performance in 2020 compare to the other two Tigers. Cisnero – 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: $21 / Farmer – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1 / Soto – 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

John Curtiss / Peter Fairbanks / Edgar Garcia, Rays: Oh wait, you didn't think Tampa would completely abandon being unpredictable in their bullpen usage, did you? Before Castillo got his two saves this week, Curtiss, a 27-year-old journeyman, and Garcia, a raw 23-year-old who got dumped by Philly in the offseason, both nabbed their first career saves. Meanwhile, Fairbanks hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 7.2 innings, posting an 11:2 K:BB over that stretch, and he seems to have taken over the 'high-leverage guy who isn't closing because of reasons' role in the team's bullpen. Either of the first two could become the next Oliver Drake and suddenly rattle off some more saves, while Fairbanks could be emerging as the next Nick Anderson. Either role has some value, but there are no sure things in this group. Curtiss, Garcia – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5 / Fairbanks – 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: $7

Hunter Harvey, Orioles: The young righty looked like he'd be the O's next closer back in the spring, but elbow soreness in summer camp landed him on the IL and he's just now been deemed ready to return. He hasn't officially been activated yet, but according to manager Brandon Hyde it should happen in the next day or two – perhaps a signal that Mychal Givens is finally going to get dealt at the deadline to open up a spot for Harvey. He couldn't stay healthy as a starter in the minors and there's no guarantee the move to the bullpen will solve those issues, but Harvey absolutely has the stuff to be a dominant closer if he gets a chance. Of course, Hyde hasn't been known for sticking to one guy in the ninth during his brief tenure, so even if the 25-year-old pitches well, saves won't necessarily follow. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: $7

Shun Yamaguchi, Blue Jays: Quietly, the 33-year-old rookie has become an invaluable part of the Jays' long relief corps. Yamaguchi had an awful start to his MLB career, but he has a 1.54 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB in 11.2 innings over six appearances in August, and after working four innings in his last outing, he might get a chance to fill one of Toronto's open rotation spots. Even if he continues to come out of the 'pen, a spot as the bulk reliever behind a hard-throwing opener like Julian Merryweather still gives Yamaguchi intriguing upside in wins. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Catcher

Jonah Heim, Athletics: Austin Allen's struggles led to him getting bumped to the alternate training site, with Heim taking his place. The 25-year-old put up huge numbers at Triple-A Las Vegas last season, but offensively speaking, what happens in Vegas usually stays in Vegas. Sean Murphy also isn't doing much at the plate, so if Heim gets hot he could steal significant playing time. For now though, he's just a dart throw. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Michael Perez / Kevan Smith, Rays: With Mike Zunino on the shelf, Tampa will turn to a platoon behind the plate. Perez, as the lefty swinger, will be on the strong side of it, while the recently promoted Smith will handle duties against LHP. Neither one offers tremendous upside, but Smith did hit for a solid average for a couple years with the White Sox not too long ago and could offer value in formats with daily moves or DFS-style scoring. Perez – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4 / Smith – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

First Base

Ronald Guzman, Rangers: Danny Santana's back on the IL, giving Guzman another chance in the majors. Over a little more than a season's worth of playing time for Texas in his career (731 plate appearances) he's got 27 homers and 95 RBI, so the power you want from a first baseman is there, but his .232/.311/.423 slash line and 28.7 percent strikeout rate have been rough. Guzman's still only 25 and he did go yard in his first start back with the team, so you can't discount that he's a late bloomer, but the club has plenty of other 1B/DH options if he falters yet again. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Jose Marmolejos, Mariners: Evan White's shoulder started barking just as he was getting the hang of big-league pitching, and that opened up playing time for Marmolejos this weekend. All the 27-year-old did over four starts was go 5-for-13 with two doubles, two homers and six RBI. He's posted some solid minor-league numbers but never got a chance in the majors until this season, so his .190/.227/.452 slash line could well be a sign he's nothing more than a Quad-A guy. but if Marmolejos just needed an adjustment period, he could seize a regular role at 1B/DH and not let go. Despite his relative lack of prospect pedigree, there is some upside here. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Ryan O'Hearn, Royals: O'Hearn's showing signs of life at the plate, going 6-for-12 over his last four games with his first two homers of the year. Of the three mid-20s first baseman profiled this week I actually prefer him the least, but O'Hearn also has the least competition for a starting gig, and even the platoon with Ryan McBroom that's been the most scenario all along could help O'Hearn maintain a palatable batting average. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Daniel Vogelbach, Blue Jays: The M's gave up on the bowling ball of a slugger, kicking him to the curb as a DFA before flipping him to the Jays for the only thing less valuable than a PTBNL – the dreaded cash considerations. It's not clear what Toronto plans to do with Vogelbach when they already have a better version of him on the roster in Rowdy Tellez, but maybe the Vogellez (Tellbach?) combo at 1B/DH can make life miserable for right-handed pitchers on days when Vladimir Guerrero needs a breather. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Jared Walsh, Angels: Anaheim has admitted the obvious and begun looking for ways to get Albert Pujols and his .644 OPS out of the starting lineup, but the alternatives on the current roster are limited. A trade is a likely scenario, but for now the Angels will have to make do with Walsh as a potential platoon partner for the future Hall of Famer. As the lefty, Walsh would in theory see the larger share of playing time, and his huge 2019 campaign at Triple-A Slat Lake suggests he has some upside with regular at-bats, but so far he's been a disappointment in his brief big-league career. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Second Base

Aledmys Diaz, Astros: Out since Opening Day with a groin injury, the 30-year-old utility man returned to action Saturday. Jack Mayfield and Abraham Toro had been seeing most of the action at third base while Alex Bregman was out, but Diaz should take over from here. He's got some decent skills at the plate, but the biggest selling point here would be consistent ABs in a potent lineup. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Sam Haggerty, Mariners: I dismissed Haggerty in last week's column, but I forgot to factor in Seattle's uncanny ability to turn seemingly fungible minor-league utility guys into fantasy stars for a few weeks every season. The 26-year-old started his big-league career with a nine-game hitting streak that got snapped Saturday, and his four steals in four attempts over that stretch was a massive windfall for anyone who took a gamble on him. Haggerty did swipe 49 bags in 112 games back at High-A in 2017, so the speed isn't totally out of nowhere. He could lose his starting job or even get jettisoned back to alternate camp as soon as his bat cools down, but given how much time is left on the calendar, eking another couple weeks of steals out of him could easily be the deciding factor in some title chases. If that's the category you're looking to boost, don't be shy about bidding well over the recommendations here. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $13

Nick Madrigal, White Sox: Madrigal returned from a shoulder injury Saturday and immediately went 2-for-4, so I guess he's 100 percent. The 23-year-old has been mostly as advertised to begin his big-league career, going 7-for-21 with zero extra-base hits in his first six games, but he's still looking for his first steal in the majors which puts a firm damper on his fantasy value. The White Sox will run him out there every day at second base, but if all he can supply at this stage of his career is an empty batting average, you may have more useful MI options available. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Tyler Wade, Yankees: Wade figures to be DJ LeMahieu's regular double-play partner now that Gleyber Torres is out of action, although if third base opens up too, utility infielders Thairo Estrada and Jordy Mercer will factor in as well. Of the three guy who weren't MVP candidates last year, Wade is the most interesting one from a fantasy perspective as he might chip in the occasional steal with consistent playing time. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Third Base

Bobby Dalbec, Red Sox: With Mitch Moreland headed to San Diego, Boston has some playing time available on the infield, and it looks like they'll give it to one of the team's top prospects. Dalbec isn't going to displace Rafael Devers at the hot corner but could take over at first base, or at least split time with Michael Chavis. It's also kind of a waste of Dalbec's talents, as he profiles best as a future Three True Outcomes guy who can offer plus defense at third base, but mismanaging resources has kind of become the MO of the Red Sox this year – their "haul" for Moreland was two marginal prospects (one of whom is basically a Dalbec clone) that they'll have to add to the 40-man roster before next season. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Outfield

Seth Brown, Athletics: Called up Tuesday, Brown has gotten exactly one at-bat all week. The 28-year-old has flashed some power in the minors, but barring an injury or trade to shake up the OF/DH picture it doesn't look like he's going to get any kind of chance to produce this time around. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Jarrod Dyson, White Sox: Dyson heads to Chicago as the White Sox's new fourth outfielder, defensive replacement and pinch runner. He's an upgrade on Adam Engel in that role, and Nomar Mazara hardly has a strangehold on a starting job, but it's still unlikely Dyson will get many chances to use his speed on the basepaths with his new club. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Derek Fisher, Blue Jays: Activated from the IL on Wednesday, the 27-year-old re-joins a roster that has seen Teoscar Hernandez and Randal Grichuk lock down starting jobs alongside Lourdes Gurriel this season, leaving little playing time left over for players like Fisher. He's running out of time to prove he can repeat his minor-league production in the majors, and Fisher may not get his chance with the Jays. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Brian O'Grady, Rays: Dumped in Cincy in the offseason despite a breakout campaign at Triple-A in 2019, O'Grady wound up with Tampa and was called up this weekend to provide some outfield depth while Kevin Kiermaier nurses his latest boo-boo. He's probably only keeping a roster spot warm for the recently acquired Brett Phillips. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Leody Taveras, Rangers: The 21-year-old was called back up this week and apparently the Rangers were tired of all the stone-gloved guys they'd been using in center field, because the slick-fielding Taveras started five straight games after his promotion. He's chipped in a little value on offense too, stealing his first career base Friday and then swatting his first career homer Saturday. His eight strikeouts in 16 at-bats during those five games, however, suggest he's still mostly overmatched. The question with Taveras as a prospect has always been whether his offensive skills could catch up to his tools; so far the jury's still out, but if the Rangers end up being sellers at the deadline and send veterans like Lance Lynn packing, it probably means Taveras will get a long leash the rest of the season to try and prove himself. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4