NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

1. Identify likely free agents and discuss their strengths and weaknesses.
2. Estimate how much of your 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. Carlos Correa 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

Chase Anderson, Brewers: Don't look now, but the Brewers' rotation is actually pitching well. Anderson has led the way with a 2.43 ERA, eye-popping 0.65 WHIP and 29:4 K:BB in 37 innings over the last month, knocking nearly two full runs of his seasonal ERA in the process and winning three of his six starts. He doesn't have an overpowering fastball, but he's added a cutter to his changeup and curveball as his secondary pitches and the mix seems to be working. The former Diamondback won't be able to suppress hits at that rate forever, but his strong command of the strike zone should allow him to stay effective going forward. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $6; 12-team NL: Owned

Tyler Anderson, Rockies: The 20th overall pick in 2011, it's been a long, slow journey to the majors for Anderson, but the left-hander is finally poised to get his shot. Despite numerous arm injuries he's still got a solid arsenal, as his fastball sits in the low 90s and is supplemented with a solid changeup and show-me breaking pitch, and after missing all of 2015 he's come back to post a 24:8 K:BB in 27 innings in the high minors this year. He's taking Eddie Butler's spot in the Rockies' rotation Sunday, but given his track record and home park, there's no reason to get too excited just yet. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team NL: $3

Matt Cain, Giants: After throwing 72 pitches in a simulated game Wednesday, the Giants decided that Cain had shown enough to rejoin the rotation. The veteran appeared to have turned a corner before he strained his hamstring, reeling off three straight quality starts with a 1.71 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB over 21 innings, and a home start against the Brewers on Monday represents a fairly soft landing spot for his return. His second start of the week will come Sunday in Tampa as well, making him a very interesting streaming option for the week despite his apparently ugly numbers on the year.12-team Mixed: $4; 15-team Mixed: $8; 12-team NL: $15

Zach Davies, Brewers: One of the other big movers in the Brewers' rotation has been Davies, who's been nearly as good as Anderson over the last month. Davies sports a 2.89 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 30:8 K:BB in 37.1 innings over that stretch with four wins, and he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the A's in his most recent outing. Like his rotation-mate his raw stuff isn't overpowering, but a plus changeup allows him to rack up both strikeouts and ground balls. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $6; 12-team NL: Owned

Anthony DeSclafani, Reds: Profiled last week, DeSclafani officially came off the DL and tossed six quality innings Saturday. He's nominally the Reds' ace by default at the moment, and after a good but not great 2015 campaign the 26-year-old righty is looking to take a step forward this season. It might take him a few starts to shake off his rust though, as his 2:3 K:BB in his 2016 debut wasn't exactly elite, and the team around him could make it tough for DeSclafani to rack up wins. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $6; 12-team NL: $12

Zach Eflin, Phillies: The 22-year-old righty will make his major league debut Tuesday in Vince Velasquez's spot in the rotation. Eflin saw a big spike in his K-rate this year at Triple-A (7.2 K/9, after a 4.6 K/9 rate last season at Double-A) but it's still not at a level that predicts a great deal of big league success. He combined a low 90s fastball with a curveball that flashes plus, a changeup and a slider, and while he doesn't have a tremendous prospect pedigree, neither did Jerad Eickhoff and that's worked out pretty well so far. You don't want to write off any Phillies pitching prospect right now that way things are going, but Eflin still seems like a long shot to have real value. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team NL: $3

Christian Friedrich, Padres: Finally free of Coors Field, Friedrich is beginning to show signs of becoming a useful major league starter. The crafty left-hander has a 2.57 ERA in five starts (including three QS) since joining the Padres' rotation, and while his shaky control leaves him with a 1.57 WHIP, as long as he's keeping the ball down in the strike zone and avoiding homers, he'll be useful. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team NL: $6

Tyler Glasnow, Pirates: It's Super-2 time, and that means a slew of top prospects could be coming up to the majors at any moment. Jameson Taillon got the first call for the Pirates, but Glasnow's dominant 86:36 K:BB in 71 Triple-A innings can't be ignored either. The six-foot-eight righty boasts a fastball that sits at 96 mph and a plus curveball, and his changeup is coming along nicely as well. He came out of his last start with a stiff back, which likely keeps him out of the immediate running for a promotion, but with Gerrit Cole headed for an MRI and both Jeff Locke and Juan Nicasio struggling, the Bucs could need multiple fresh arms in their rotation very soon. Stash Glasnow now if you can. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $6; 12-team NL: $12

Zack Godley, Diamondbacks: After a solid showing in his big league audition last year, Godley started 2016 back in the minors but injuries to Shelby Miller and Rubby De La Rosa forced the D-backs' hands, and Godley got the call Saturday. He turned in a quality start, but he'll need to keep pitching well to secure his spot once everyone gets healthy. He doesn't feature a lot of velocity, but his low 90s two-seamer is rarely straight and he complements it with a solid curve and changeup. Godley isn't the cream of the prospect crop though, so don't cry if you miss out on him. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team NL: $3

Josh Hader, Brewers: While Milwaukee's rotation has been looking pretty good at the major league level, that doesn't mean it can't get better. Hader got promoted to Triple-A this week after utterly dominating the Southern League to the tune of a 0.95 ERA and 73:19 K:BB in 57 innings. Part of last year's trade haul for Carlos Gomez, Hader features a mid-90s fastball that plays up even further due to the deception in his crossfire delivery, and his slider and changeup are both solid secondary pitches. If he handles Triple-A hitters the way he did Double-A bats, he could be wearing a Brewers uniform very soon, and that makes him a very interesting stash. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team NL: $6

Raisel Iglesias, Reds: Iglesias began a rehab assignment at Double-A this weekend as he recovers from a should injury. The 26-year-old Cuban was surprisingly good last year, but durability was thought to be an issue due to his wiry frame and his current woes do nothing to change that perception. The Reds have talked about using him out of the bullpen when he's ready to rejoin the major league staff, and while that would seem to reduce his fantasy value, their closer situation is enough of a mess that they could try to turn him into the next Aroldis Chapman. Iglesias lacks about 10 mph on his fastball for that, but if he falls into the job, saves is saves, and it's always possible the bullpen role is temporary. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team NL: $7

Erik Johnson, Padres: Profiled last week after the James Shields trade, Johnson officially made his Padres debut Saturday and as well as he had in his occasional big league appearances with the White Sox, which is to say he was pretty bad. He's shown flashes in the minors, including a 9.2 K/9 at Triple-A last year, and San Diego has nothing to lose by living with his growing pains. His low 90s fastball and secondary offerings scream back-end starter, though, so there's little reason for you to do the same. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team NL: $3

Luis Perdomo, Padres: Perdomo got first crack at filling James Shields' spot in the Padres' rotation last week, and while nine earned runs in 10 innings doesn't fill anyone with confidence, he did manage a solid 10:2 K:BB ratio. One of those starts was also in Coors Field, so take the ERA with a grain of salt. The Rule 5 pick has a big fastball and decent slider, but he's never pitched above A-ball coming into 2016 and probably would be better off back in the bullpen slowly learning his craft. With Andrew Cashner hitting the DL, though, the Padres may just let him take his lumps in the rotation. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team NL: $1

Cody Reed, Reds: By an odd coincidence, the Reds started suggesting their top pitching prospects were ready for a promotion right after the approximate Super-2 deadline came and went. Huh. Reed has been impressive at Triple-A, posting a 58:15 K:BB in 58.2 innings, and the 23-year-old left-hander can't be any worse than Alfredo Simon. Expect him to get the call as soon as this week and racking up K's with his mid-90s fastball, sharp slider and work-in-progress changeup. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team NL: $6

Robert Stephenson, Reds: The 23-year-old righty has already made two spot starts this season, but overall he seems a bit further behind Reed in development and might have to wait his turn for a permanent promotion. Stephenson fastball has lost a couple of ticks since he was drafted, but it still sits in the mid-90s and he complements it with a hammer curve. His command and control remain works in progress though, as shown by his 50:33 K:BB in 65.2 Triple-A innings this year. Given the state of the Reds' rotation, and for that matter their season, they'll probably bring him up at some point, but Stephenson's results could be a bit erratic. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team NL: $3

Jameson Taillon, Pirates: Called up for a spot start Wednesday, Gerrit Cole's triceps injury could give Taillon a path to come right back to the majors. The 24-year-old righty has had trouble staying healthy since being popped as the second overall pick behind Bryce Harper in the 2010 draft, missing the entire 2014 and 2015 seasons, but he's been absolutely electric at Triple-A this year, posting a 2.04 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 61:6 K:BB in 61.2 innings. Taillon's fastball can touch 97, and he mixes in a slow curve and changeup as well to keep hitters off-balance. With the back end of the Pirates' rotation a mess right now anyway it seems only a matter of time before he's in the majors for good, but keep in mind that he'll likely be on an innings limit given how much time he's missed. On a per-inning basis, however, he could provide you with some very juicy production. 12-team Mixed: $4; 15-team Mixed: $8; 12-team NL: $17

Relief Pitcher

Jorge De La Rosa, Rockies: The Rockies decided to let De La Rosa work out his kinks in long relief, and after eight strong innings over three appearances they'd seen enough to return him to the rotation at least on a one-time basis. The veteran lefty is what he is at this point in his career, but as a streaming option when Colorado is on the road, you could probably do worse. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team NL: $6

Carlos Estevez / Boone Logan / Jason Motte, Rockies: Jake McGee has landed on the DL, and that means free agent feeding frenzy when it comes to the Rockies' bullpen. Manager Walt Weiss has said Estevez will get first crack at filling in for McGee, which makes some sense given Estevez's big fastball and 9.7 K/9 so far in the majors, but his 4.43 ERA isn't exactly comfortable. Should he falter, veteran righty Motte and veteran lefty Logan, both of whom have put up solid numbers this year, could work their way into the mix as well. McGee's timetable for recovery from his knee injury is unknown at this point so if you are desperate for saves you have to go hard after Estevez, but be mindful of the damage any Colorado reliever can do to your ratios. Estevez - 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $10; 12-team NL: $21; Logan - 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team NL: $2; Motte - 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team NL: $3

John Gant, Braves: Gant will get the start Sunday in a rough spot against the Cubs, but at this point it's hard to say whether it's just a spot start or not. His 6.17 ERA in 11.2 innings isn't pretty and he was scored on in five of seven relief appearances, but Gant's 10.8 K/9 at least offers a hint of upside, as do strong minor league strikeout rates. A spike in his fastball velocity that allows him to now touch 95 mph is the primary driver of those K's, but his curve and changeup are useful too. He's a lottery ticket, but an interesting one. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team NL: $1

Cory Gearrin, Giants: In a Giants' bullpen that has seem some attrition this year, Gearrin has quietly gone about his business and emerged as a solid setup man. He doesn't have a big fastball or big strikeout rate, but over the last month he's put together two wins, a save, six holds, a 1.88 ERA and a 13:4 K:BB in 14.1 innings. There are few fantasy bullpens where those numbers wouldn't be useful. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team NL: $2

Brett Oberholtzer, Phillies: While Eflin is getting the first chance to fill Velasquez's rotation spot, it was Oberholtzer who stepped up in long relief when Velasquez got hurt, tossing four innings and allowing just an unearned run. If Eflin falters, Oberholtzer is probably next in line, and while his big league numbers have been uninspiring in his previous starting stints you never know when the light bulb could go off for a 26-year-old lefty with a smidge of a prospect pedigree. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team NL: $1

Addison Reed, Mets: He's been on fire this season as Jeurys Familia's primary setup man, and over the last month Reed has a 0.66 ERA, 0.59 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB in 13.2 innings to go along with a win and six holds. Familia's in no apparent danger of losing his job, but he hasn't been anywhere near as dominant as he was last season, and after a late May stumble it might be time to start planning for what could go wrong if Familia's numbers continue to go south. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team NL: $3

Tyler Thornburg, Brewers: Will Smith's return from the DL overshadowed the strong work Thornburg's been doing as a setup man for the Brewers. Over the last month he's posted a 0.66 ERA, 0.44 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB in 13.2 innings while adding a save and seven holds. Jeremy Jeffress is by no means a lock as Milwaukee's closer, and while the assumption is that Smith would be next in line should Jeffress falter, Thornburg's numbers indicate he might have a say in that. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team NL: $3

Catcher

Trevor Brown, Giants: Buster Posey missed a few games this week with nerve irritation in his thumb, an issue that doesn't sound like it'll just go away. Brown didn't do much with his extra playing time, but on the season he's shown he can be a decent source of power when given a chance, slugging four home runs in 73 at-bats. If you need catching help he's worth a look, just in case Posey's thumb issue becomes more serious. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team NL: $2

Erik Kratz, Pirates: Francisco Cervelli will be out 4-6 weeks with a broken hamate bone, so the Pirates were left scrambling for catching depth. The Angels helpfully obliged, sending Kratz their way for cash considerations. The veteran will back up Chris Stewart while Cervelli is sidelined, but Kratz's track record suggests you might be better off taking zeros than plugging him into your roster. Buyer beware here. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team NL: $1

Chris Stewart, Pirates: Stewart's had a rough year at the plate so far, but Cervelli's injury will give him regular at-bats and a chance to recapture the form that saw him hit an empty .292 over the last two seasons for the Pirates. It's not much, but in most leagues every little bit of offense helps at catcher. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team NL: $6

Tony Wolters, Rockies: Wolters is expected to come off the concussion DL this week and resume his duties behind Nick Hundley. Aside from his bizarre three steals in two games in mid-April, Wolters hasn't supplied much offense this year, but Coors at-bats is Coors at-bats so he at least has a bit of upside thanks to his home park. Hundley's also proving to be a bit fragile this year as well, so Wolters could fall into a starting role at some point. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team NL: $3

First Base

Tommy Joseph, Phillies: After a few weeks of teasing, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin has made it official and named Joseph as his new starting first baseman. It's easy to see why when you compare his .319/.329/.652 slash line to Ryan Howard's .150/.213/.346. Joseph offers big-time power, and while the rebuilding Phillies have one of the worst offenses in baseball right now, the right-handed slugger should be able to help rectify that a bit from the middle of their batting order. Barring a major name getting dealt over from the NL at some point, Joseph could well be the bat with the most upside you see on your waiver wire until the trade deadline. 12-team Mixed: $8; 15-team Mixed: $15; 12-team NL: $31

Sean Rodriguez, Pirates: Rodriguez has been filling in all over the diamond this season and seems to have inherited Josh Harrison's super-utility role. In leagues with a five-game threshold for positional eligibility, Rodriguez now qualifies everywhere except catcher, flexibility which can be hugely useful in deep formats. He's also been contributing something at the plate, slashing .259/.339/.509 on the season. That power spike might not last, but at-bats in a strong Pittsburgh offense means he should get you at least a handful of counting stats. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team NL: $4

Second Base

Kelly Johnson, Mets: The Braves have a good scam going here. Sign Kelly Johnson in the offseason to a one-year deal, flip him to the Mets for a C-grade prospect, rinse and repeat. His profile hasn't changed much in Queens, but the Mets will surround him with a better offense and Neil Walker's currently dealing with a back issue which could give Johnson additional playing time. Once Walker gets healthy, Johnson will return to a utility role but could eventually work his way into the mix at third base. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team NL: $6

Ramiro Pena, Giants: Pena was called up to take Kelby Tomlinson's spot on the bench. The 30-year-old hit .300 in the PCL last year and has kept it up so far in 2016 at Sacramento, but don't expect Pena to see much playing time for San Francisco. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team NL: $1

Jace Peterson, Braves: The annual Kelly Johnson trade opened up a roster spot for Peterson to return to the majors. He's done very little so far in over 600 major league t-bats during his career and could head right back to Triple-A once Gordon Beckham and Erick Aybar come off the DL, but he might swipe a bag or two in the meantime. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team NL: $1

Shortstop

Danny Espinosa, Nationals: The brief Trea Turner callup seemed to say that the clock is probably ticking on Espinosa's time as the starting shortstop for the Nats, but he's doing everything he can to hang onto the job. He's found his power stroke, slugging eight home runs over the last month, and while he'll never be an asset in batting average he's at least hot right now, going 8-for his last-23. Manager Dusty Baker likes his veterans and suggested when Turner got sent down that the kid focus on winning the International League batting title, which in addition to giving prospect hounds everywhere an aneurysm, suggests Espinosa's leash might be longer than anyone expects. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team NL: Owned

Jhonny Peralta, Cardinals: Finally off the DL, Peralta hit the ground running by collecting seven hits in his first four games back in the Cards' lineup. For now, they're using him at third base to keep Aledmys Diaz in the lineup, with Matt Carpenter shifting to second and Kolten Wong jettisoned to Triple-A to get his act together, but Diaz has cooled off significantly since his hot start. Peralta will be a regular no matter what, but keep in mind that he could be back at shortstop before long, especially if Wong rakes at Memphis. 12-team Mixed: $6; 15-team Mixed: $12; 12-team NL: $25

Alexei Ramirez, Padres: Another veteran who's flown under the radar this season, Ramirez got hot over the last couple of weeks, hitting .306/.340/.510 with three home runs, eight RBI, eight runs scored and a steal. He's still got double-double upside, although playing for the Padres limits his ceiling in RBI and runs, and could be useful in shallower formats if you need help up the middle. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $6; 12-team NL: Owned

Jose Reyes, Rockies: Reyes is off the restricted list and on a rehab assignment, which means the Rockies will need to add him to the 25-man roster by June 20 or find someone else who will. There's been no apparent movement on the trade front though, and no obvious contenders in need of a shortstop other than perhaps the Blue Jays, and they ain't taking back Reyes' contract or his baggage. With Trevor Story entrenched at short in Colorado, Reyes might have to sit on the Rockies' bench for a while and wait for another team to get desperate. He still has upside if he finds his way into a starting job, but the odds of that happening any time soon might be less than you think. 12-team Mixed: $4; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team NL: $13

Outfield

Albert Almora, Cubs: The 22-year-old was having a solid season at Triple-A when he was called up to take Jorge Soler's spot after Soler strained his hamstring. Almora's power still hasn't developer, but he showed signs of becoming a top-of-the-order hitter this year at Iowa, hitting .318 and swiping 10 bags in 12 attempts. He'll take Soler's at-bats against lefties for the next few weeks, but Almora's value remains greater in keeper leagues than it does in redraft formats. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team NL: $8

Michael Bourn, Diamondbacks: Chris Owings hit the DL with a case of plantar fasciitis, which opens up center field at-bats for Bourn. He's definitely lost a step since turning 30, and Bourn hasn't been a useful fantasy player since 2013, but with steals at a premium these days he's worth a bid to see if he can give you a little boost in that category. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team NL: $6

Keon Broxton, Brewers: Domingo Santana is back on the DL, this time with an elbow injury, which means Broxton is back from Triple-A. He hasn't yet shown he can contribute in the majors, but maybe the third time's the charm for him. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team NL: $1

Chris Coghlan, Cubs: After a woeful stint with the A's, Coghlan returns to the Cubs to try and recapture last year's double-double form. He'll likely be taking Tommy La Stella's role for now with La Stella on the DL, but how much playing time Coghlan gets on a crowded Cubs roster in the long term remains to be seen. Manager Joe Maddon usually does a good job of finding at-bats for players who are contributing, but first6 Coghlan has to show he can still contribute. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team NL: $3

Alejandro De Aza, Mets: Mets manager Terry Collins has made noises recently about getting De Aza more playing time, which would likely come at Michael Conforto's expense. Juan Lagares is also battling a thumb issue, which creates a further opening for De Aza. It seems highly unlikely that Conforto would lose his starting spot, but in deep leagues where at-bats are precious, De Aza could be worth grabbing, just in case. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team NL: $2

Tyler Holt, Reds: With Billy Hamilton out due to a concussion, Holt figures to assume the starting center field job for the next week or so. He's been surprisingly solid off the Reds' bench this season and could steal a couple of bases with the added playing time, but in the long run he's probably just keeping a roster spot warm for the likes of Jose Peraza. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team NL: $3

Peter O'Brien, Diamondbacks: O'Brien got called back up to the majors for another look, and promptly struck out three times in four at-bats Friday. He still has massive power potential, and Yasmany Tomas and Brandon Drury are both struggling right now which could give O'Brien a chance to seize the left field job and run with it, but he'll need to make some contact first. His value remains higher in keeper leagues than redraft formats right now. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team NL: $8

David Peralta, Diamondbacks: Peralta came off the DL at the beginning of the week and smacked a home run, but overall he's shown a but of rust by striking out six times in 14 at-bats, which is to be expected given his month-long layoff. He's not quite what you would call an impact bat, and his 2015 performance is probably his absolute ceiling, but he should be able to supply a good batting average, decent counting stats and a bit of power once he settles back in. 12-team Mixed: $6; 15-team Mixed: $12; 12-team NL: $25

Steve Selsky, Reds: Selsky took Jon Moscot's spot on the 25-man roster, but will likely only stick around in the majors until the Reds need to call up another pitcher. Other than a brief flash of power in the California League, Selsky's never shown much in the minors to indicate he'll be any kind of fantasy asset. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team NL: $1

Jayson Werth, Nationals: As he has in previous seasons Werth has begun to shake off a slow start, hitting .289/.347/.622 with four home runs and 13 RBI over the last couple of weeks. His value remains tied to his health, and the 37-year-old could break down again at any time, but in shallower leagues there's nothing wrong with riding him while he's hot, especially given the strength of the Nats' offense around him. Just don't get too attached. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $10; 12-team NL: Owned