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

Dane Dunning, Rangers: The right-hander was supposed to be in one of the Rangers' tandem rotation slots to begin the season, but he tossed five innings in his first start and given that he was one of the key pieces coming back in the Lance Lynn trade, Dunning might be allowed to graduate to "full" starter status quickly. He doesn't have elite stuff, but he does have a first-round pedigree (29th overall in 2016 by the Nats), strong minor-league strikeout rates, and 2020 was his first year back from Tommy John surgery, meaning he's already had a chance to work through the usual control issues. Dunning also lines up for a decent two-start week (at Tampa, home to the O's) if you're more interested in short-term help. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered

Brent Honeywell, Rays: It's been a long, tough road to the majors for Honeywell, but after multiple injuries and multiple lost seasons he got called up to serve as the opener Sunday. Once upon a time he was a top prospect who flashed one of the last screwballs in captivity, but at this point he's a total wild card. The 26-year-old won't have much immediate fantasy value in his current role and he might be optioned back down quickly, but in formats where a prospect has to be in the majors to pick him up, he could be worth stashing in case he's ready to make up for lost time. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $2

Daulton Jefferies, Athletics: On the flip side, in formats that allow players to be picked up even if they aren't in the majors yet, Jefferies should be looked at as a priority stash option. Oakland is not only keeping the 25-year-old stretched out at the alternate site, they're keeping him on turn with Cole Irvin, the guy who won the fifth starter gig out of camp but has a 7.45 ERA through his first two starts. Jefferies has the higher ceiling of the two anyway, so if you have room on your bench, it may not be long before the A's decide to make that switch. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Nick Margevicius, Mariners: James Paxton's return to Seattle didn't last long, as the veteran southpaw is already looking down the barrel of Tommy John surgery. While in the long run that might open up a rotation spot for Logan Gilbert, for now it's Margevicius who will take over. The southpaw has a typical soft-tossing lefty profile, which in the 21st century means he has a career HR/9 of 1.75 despite strong control numbers. In leagues that aren't super deep, he'll be a streaming option at best in the absolute right matchup. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Robbie Ray, Blue Jays: The veteran lefty looked like a whole new man during Grapefruit League play and generated some draft buzz, only to bruise his pitching elbow and have the start to his season delayed. Gotta cut out those Macho Man elbow drops coming off furniture, my man. (That's how I would have hurt my elbow as a kid, so I can only assume that's what happened here.) The good news is Ray now sets up for a two-start week, and while the opponents aren't ideal ("home" to the Yankees in Dunedin, at the Royals) it could get his 2021 off to a flying start if his spring turnaround was legit. 12-team Mixed: $4; 15-team Mixed: $9; 12-team AL: Rostered

Bruce Zimmermann, Orioles: The unheralded southpaw has begun his campaign with back-to-back quality starts, albeit barely as he gave up three earned runs over six innings each time. Zimmermann's 9:2 K:BB in those 12 innings is solid though, and while navigating the AL East is especially tough when you don't have strikeout stuff, his rotation spot at least seems secure, which gives him value in deeper formats or as a streamer. 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)

Danny Duffy, Royals (vs. LAA, vs. TOR)

Chris Flexen, Mariners (at MIN, vs. HOU)

Kyle Gibson, Rangers (at TB, vs. BAL)

Dean Kremer, Orioles (vs. SEA, at TEX)

Triston McKenzie, Cleveland (at CHW, at CIN)

Casey Mize, Tigers (at HOU, at OAK)

Martin Perez, Red Sox (at MIN, vs. CHW)

Justus Sheffield, Mariners (at BAL, vs. HOU)

Relief Pitcher

Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland: We don't have a lot of clarity yet on Cleveland's bullpen committee, but if anyone has stepped to the fore it's Clase, who has been dominant while collecting a win and a save in his first three appearances. Nick Wittgren also has a save and James Karinchak hasn't given up a run, but neither has matched Clase's performance in the early going. The number of closers who seem completely secure in their duties seems to shrink every week, so if you're going to speculate on someone, it might as well be a pitcher with absolutely filthy stuff on a good team. 12-team Mixed: $7; 15-team Mixed: $15; 12-team AL: Rostered

Michael Fulmer, Tigers: It's been a minute since Fulmer provided any fantasy value, but the right-hander might finally be fully healthy again after a few rough seasons. He's reeled off a 10:0 K:BB in seven innings over three relief appearances to begin 2021, and pitching out of the bullpen has helped his velocity rebound to its pre-surgery level. The Tigers have a rotation vacancy after Julio Teheran broke down, and Fulmer has been named the next man up after tossing four innings in relief of Derek Holland in Teheran's spot. The best case for Fulmer's fantasy value might be to remain a bulk reliever behind someone like Holland rather than starting himself, but if he keeps flashing an elevated strikeout rate, he'll be useful in any role. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $3

Kendall Graveman / Keynan Middleton, Mariners: Rafael Montero hasn't pitched his way out of Seattle's closer role just yet and does have a strong 7:2 K:BB through his first 4.1 innings, but he's blown two of his three save chances. I wrote up Graveman last week and he's pitched in two high-leverage spots since, but it was Middleton who got the 10th inning save Saturday. He also has a 9.00 ERA and 2:3 K:BB through four innings though, so if you're going to speculate here, Gravement should remain your top target. Graveman – 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $5 / Middleton – 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $3

Jesse Hahn, Royals: I have no idea what's going on in the Kansas City bullpen. Greg Holland has only pitched twice this year and hasn't lasted a full inning either time. Meanwhile, Hahn got the save last Monday (after Wade Davis got in Opening Day) instead of someone like Josh Staumont even though Holland hadn't pitched in a few days at that point. Those are the only two saves the Royals have so far. Hahn's probably going to attract some bids and he did have some sleeper hype half a decade ago as a starter with the A's, but really, there are at least six guys I can name (Holland, Davis, Hahn, Staumont, Scott Barlow and, heck, Kyle Zimmer's had a good start to the year) who might get a save chance on any given day if this team has a late lead to protect. Don't waste your budget trying to guess who might get the call tomorrow. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Ian Kennedy, Rangers: Surprisingly, one of the closer situations that seems to have resolved itself early is the one in Texas, as Kennedy has pitched very well (6:0 K:BB in three innings) and every other semi-plausible ninth-inning option is hurt. The veteran right-hander is only one year removed from a 30-save campaign and his velocity is back at its 2019 level, and he might well be one of the pitchers who should have gotten a mulligan for the circumstances surrounding 2020 rather than simply written off. 12-team Mixed: $15; 15-team Mixed: $25; 12-team AL: Rostered

Lou Trivino, Athletics: With Trevor Rosenthal out until at least the second half and maybe unlikely to regain his form even when he returns after thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, the A's need a new closer. I looked at a couple options last week, but comments by Bob Melvin since suggest that Trivino, not Jake Diekman or Sergio Romo, is actually at the top of the pile right now for save chances. Trivino does have kind of a Liam Hendriks starter kit vibe to him, and opportunity makes up at least 80 percent of closer value, but the fact that he doesn't actually have a save yet might keep the bidding in check a bit this week. 12-team Mixed: $12; 15-team Mixed: $21; 12-team AL: $35

Catcher

Luis Torrens, Mariners: Torrens appears to have moved to the top of the depth chart in Seattle ahead of Tom Murphy, starting five of the last seven games and going a solid 6-for-19 (.316) to start the season with a couple doubles. He also has a 0:5 BB:K though, and one hot streak from Murphy a la 2019 could flip things around in a hurry, but Torrens does have upside based on his minor-league resume and could be a useful plug-in for now. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: Rostered

First Base

Renato Nunez, Tigers: The 27-year-old joined the roster Sunday after Miguel Cabrera hit the IL. Nunez offers some low-BA pop as part of the 1B/DH mix and slugged 31 homers for Baltimore in 2019, but the team could also just use its DH spot to get all four starting-caliber outfielders more playing time, so Nunez isn't assured consistent playing time while Miggy is sidelined. Still, the power upside is very real if he is in the lineup most days. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Second Base

Jed Lowrie, Athletics: I highlighted Lowrie prior to Opening Day, and he's put together a strong start at the plate for the A's while starting eight of 10 days (something that must be baffling to any Mets fan). He's slashing .294/.368/.441 with a homer and solid 4:6 BB:K, and there are plenty of fantasy rosters out there where he'd be an upgrade in a bench or even MI spot. Look past the disaster of the last two seasons and at the upside suggested by his 23 HR, 99 RBI campaign in 2018. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: Rostered

Danny Mendick, White Sox: Injuries all over the diamond for the White Sox have given Mendick a shot at regular playing time, and the 27-year-old went 4-for-6 with two walks in his first two starts at shortstop. He'll likely get bumped back to the bench as soon as either Leury Garcia isn't needed in the outfield or Tim Anderson is healthy again, but Mendick's quick start might have earned him a bit of a leash. He has yet to steal a base in 51 career MLB games, but he does have a bit of a power/speed profile, racking up 31 homers and 39 steals in 265 games in the high minors in 2018-19. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Rougned Odor, Yankees: The former Ranger now finds himself on the bench in the Bronx. It's not clear where his playing time might come from without an injury to an infield starter, or if the Yankees can fix Odor's contact issues, but the upside of a lefty hitter with three career 30-homer campaigns on his resume calling Yankee Stadium home can't be ignored, either. For now, he's a speculative stash. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Third Base

Christian Arroyo, Red Sox: He's been getting a surprising amount of playing time at second base in the early going as Boston takes advantage of Enrique Hernandez's flexibility, but Arroyo hasn't done a whole lot with his opportunities, going 4-for-20. Three of his hits were doubles, which can happen when you play wall ball off the Green Monster, and while Arroyo had some prospect sheen once upon a time it was based more on projection than production, even in the minors. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Yu Chang, Cleveland: Chang appears to be on the short side of a rough platoon at first base with Jake Bauers, which is just sad, especially for Cleveland fans. The 25-year-old showed brief glimpses of power potential in the minors but never even hit .260 above rookie ball, and there's little reason to think he can be productive in the majors. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Shortstop

Anderson Tejeda, Rangers: Called up when Brock Holt hit the IL, Tejeda has started two straight games at third base and even hit second in one of them. The 22-year-old appears to be on the strong side of a platoon with Charlie Culberson, which is another way of saying the full-time starting job is there for the taking. Tejeda had a 2:30 BB:K in 23 games in his big-league debut last year though, not surprising for a player who hadn't seen game action above High-A before that. He does have some modest power/speed potential, but he could also sabotage your batting average for a couple weeks with full-time at-bats before being optioned back down. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Outfield

Akil Baddoo, Tigers: I am incapable of seeing Baddoo's name without inserting it into the Mah-na Mah-na song, and now you have that earworm too. You're welcome! Hey, it's not my fault his name sounds like scatting. The 22-year-old Rule 5 pick has been one of the out-of-nowhere stars of early April, going 5-for-16 with a couple homers and a steal, and his 1:4 BB:K isn't outrageous either. His athleticism was never in question as a prospect in the Twins system, and if he did take a big step forward in the shadows in 2020, he could well provide value all year long. I personally need more than 17 plate appearances to be convinced, and Detroit has a fairly crowded outfield so playing time could be an issue, but the Tigers have nothing to lose by seeing how long he can keep this up. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: $17

Seth Brown, Athletics: Oakland can't seem to keep their outfield/DH options healthy, which has opened up some playing time for Brown since his recall. He's started four straight games, with one of his two hits leaving the yard. The 28-year-old has twice slugged 30 homers in a minor-league season, although both times it was in hitter's parks, and he made a decent showing in his big-league debut in 2019. With the team intent on keeping Rule 5 pick Ka'ai Tom though, Brown will really need to rake to stick around once the roster gets closer to full strength. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Juan Lagares, Angels: Dexter Fowler's season-ending knee injury opens up playing time in right field, and Lagares should be one of the players to take advantage, at least in the short term. He still may not see everyday playing time however, as the Angels could use Jared Walsh in right and Albert Pujols at first base, but Lagares is by far the better defensive option and the team's pitchers would certainly prefer him out there. Keep in mind that Jo Adell is just a phone call away, so Lagares may not be the long-term answer. (To answer the question before it's asked, if the Angels are trying to steal an extra year of control on Adell it could be a while before he's up, which is why he doesn't have his own entry. If you are able and want to stash him now though, try $3/$5/$7.) The veteran doesn't offer much upside with his bat, but he might still be able to swipe a base or two. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Jose Marmolejos, Mariners: Evan White is dealing with a minor quad issue, putting Marmolejos in the starting nine for the last two games. He's already hit a homer, and he has posted some big numbers in the high minors, but the 28-year-old probably can't be relied upon for anything more than a bit of pop as long as he's seeing consistent at-bats. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Cedric Mullins, Orioles: Mullins has had a blistering start to the season, hitting .455 (15-for-33) with a homer, four doubles and two steals while hitting leadoff every game for the O's. He swiped 34 bags across three levels in 2019, so the speed is for real, and the 26-year-old has shown occasional flashes of developing a decent stick in the minors too. Mullins' OPS is still facing serious regression from its current 1.167, but if he slipped through the cracks in your draft, there is enough upside here, and steals are a rare enough commodity, to make him a worthy target in shallow formats. 12-team Mixed: $15; 15-team Mixed: $25; 12-team AL: Rostered

Josh Palacios, Blue Jays: All three of the Jays' expected starting outfielders are currently on the shelf, which pushed Palacios into the lineup for a shocking four-hit performance Saturday. His stay in the majors could be brief, but he made a great impression in camp and the 25-year-old could wrest a bench job away from Jonathan Davis if he keeps making the most of his opportunity. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

DJ Stewart, Orioles: Stewart came off the IL before Austin Hays did, which gives him a small window to try and prove he deserves to stick around. The 27-year-old has struggled in multiple chances in the majors but has a couple strong minor-league seasons under his belt, so this might be his last opportunity to establish himself in Baltimore, even if it's just in a bench role. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Nick Williams, White Sox: Called up Thursday when Billy Hamilton went down, Williams started the only game the White Sox have played since then in left field. The former Phillie seemed like he had a very bright future after a strong rookie season in 2017 but it's been all downhill since, although he did look good at Triple-A in 2019. There might still be some upside here, but whether he gets enough of a look to find it again is another question entirely. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Designated Hitter

Yermin Mercedes, White Sox: Somehow, Mercedes isn't rostered everywhere yet, but this week's FAAB run should fix that. A 1.460 OPS with two homers and seven RBI in six games speaks for itself, and the 28-year-old will likely remain Chicago's primary DH as long as long as he's raking. If he ever sneaks in enough work at catcher to gain extra eligibility, so much the better, but right now you're investing in the bat if you have the flexibility to add a Ut-only option. 12-team Mixed: $11; 15-team Mixed: $21; 12-team AL: Rostered