This article is part of our AL FAAB Factor series.
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
| PLAYER | TEAM | POS | GRADE | 12-Team Mixed $ | 15-Team Mixed $ | AL-Only $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Cobb | LA | SP | C | 5 | 11 | Rostered |
| Eli Morgan | CLE | SP | C | 5 | 11 | Rostered |
| Matt Manning | DET | SP | A | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Bruce Zimmermann | BAL | SP | D | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Domingo German | NY | RP | B | No | 2 | 5 |
| Drew Steckenrider | SEA | RP | D | 5 | 11 | 21 |
| Cole Sulser | BAL | RP | D | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| Dillon Tate | BAL | RP | D | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Nick |
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
| PLAYER | TEAM | POS | GRADE | 12-Team Mixed $ | 15-Team Mixed $ | AL-Only $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Cobb | LA | SP | C | 5 | 11 | Rostered |
| Eli Morgan | CLE | SP | C | 5 | 11 | Rostered |
| Matt Manning | DET | SP | A | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Bruce Zimmermann | BAL | SP | D | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Domingo German | NY | RP | B | No | 2 | 5 |
| Drew Steckenrider | SEA | RP | D | 5 | 11 | 21 |
| Cole Sulser | BAL | RP | D | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| Dillon Tate | BAL | RP | D | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Nick Ciuffo | BAL | C | E | No | No | 1 |
| Breyvic Valera | TOR | 2B | D | No | No | 1 |
| Santiago Espinal | TOR | SS | C | No | 2 | 5 |
| Nick Gordon | MIN | SS | C | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| Zack Short | DET | SS | D | No | No | 1 |
| Edward Olivares | KC | OF | C | No | 1 | 4 |
| Jose Siri | HOU | OF | C | 5 | 11 | Rostered |
Starting Pitcher
Alex Cobb, Angels: Cobb has looked good in two starts since coming off the IL, allowing only one run in 10.1 innings -- although his 9:5 K:BB is a little shaky. The 33-year-old gets the Rangers for his last start of the year, which is a nice bonus, and if you need a pitcher with a solid chance at a win and strong ratios, Cobb might be the best bet available on waivers. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: Rostered
Eli Morgan, Cleveland: Cleveland's basically ignoring the idea of keeping guys on regular rest, instead focusing on getting reps for as many guys as possible to get an early start on assembling a 2022 rotation. Morgan got roughed up by the Brewers back on Sept. 10 but has otherwise thrived this month in that arrangement, delivering back-to-back wins and quality starts in his last two outings against playoff-caliber offenses (the Yankees and White Sox) and giving up only one run in 12 innings with a 9:1 K:BB. He also gets the Rangers for his final start, so his odds of making it three straight victories looks pretty, pretty good. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: Rostered
Other two-start options, Mon-Sun (12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $1)
Matt Manning, Tigers (vs. CHW, at CHW)
Bruce Zimmermann, Orioles (vs. BOS, at TOR)
Relief Pitcher
Domingo German, Yankees: German and Luis Severino both came off the IL in the last week to bolster the Yankees' staff, but both are being deployed out of the bullpen since they didn't have enough time to get stretched out. Severino's gone in most leagues, but German's roster rates are just low enough that he's worth mentioning. Both could see some high-leverage work, which could mean relief wins or holds with some K's. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5
Drew Steckenrider, Mariners: Seattle's closing situation appears to be a full tandem between Paul Sewald and Drew Steckenrider, but the former is long gone in most leagues while the latter is still lingering on a lot of waiver wires. Steckenrider has a 2.12 ERA and 1.08 WHIP since the All-Star break, but the strikeouts he showed in Miami a few years (and injuries) ago appear to be gone. Still, it's the saves you want. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: $21
Cole Sulser / Dillon Tate, Orioles: Tyler Wells broke down, so the Baltimore closing picture is wide open once again. Sulser was expected to be the default option for Brandon Hyde, but it was Tate who got the first save after Wells went down, although Sulser had pitched two straight days prior to Saturday's win. Will the O's even have another close lead to protect? Answer unclear, check back later. Sulser -- 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11 / Tate -- 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7
Catcher
Nick Ciuffo, Orioles: Ciuffo got called up Friday and started Saturday, and as the only lefty among Baltimore's three catchers, he could see some more action over the final week as he auditions to be Adley Rutschman's future backup. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1
Second Base
Breyvic Valera, Blue Jays: Toronto still doesn't have a third baseman as he try to claw their way back into the wild-card picture, so Valera and Santiago Espinal will probably split reps at the hot corner over the final week. (Shockingly, Jake Lamb didn't work out). Espinal will probably see most of the action, though. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1
Shortstop
Santiago Espinal, Blue Jays: The default third baseman for the Jays right now, Espinal has gone 2-for-7 with a double while starting two straight games since coming off the IL. He's put together a surprisingly solid season at the plate (.290/.352/.380 in 220 plate appearances), but his ceiling is limited. Then again, in this offense, just so long as he gets on base at a decent clip he could supply some counting stats even from the bottom of the order. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5
Nick Gordon, Twins: Gordon has started 10 of the last 11 games for the rebuilding Twins, and given his long, bumpy road to the majors it's easy to forget he was once considered a pretty good prospect. The 25-year-old is taking advantage of his opportunity too, slashing .343/.378/.571 over that stretch with two homers and three steals. The speed is likely more reliable, but Minnesota will keep trotting him out there over the final week and give him a chance to get a leg up on a significant role in 2022. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11
Zack Short, Tigers: Short got called back up Sunday, and he'll fill a bench role over the final week of the season. None of Detroit's shortstop options have worked out this year, including him, but there's always a chance he gets another look. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1
Outfield
Edward Olivares, Royals: There's still time for Kansas City to demote and promote Olivares at least once more before the season's over.He went 2-for-3 in his latest return Saturday, and with Michael Taylor away from the team he could get regular at-bats, until he doesn't. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4
Jose Siri, Astros: Since Sept. 11, Siri has started 10 of 15 games, and with Michael Brantley still out it looks like Houston's preferred outfield is Kyle Tucker, Jake Meyers and Siri, with Chas McCormick as the top backup. Siri's more than held his own too, slashing .297/.350/.622 with four homers in 40 plate appearances during those last couple weeks. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: Rostered
