NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

This is our weekly look at National 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.

This year, we are again using 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. Cody Bellinger 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.

This is the final column of the season. Thank you to all who read and/or provided comments during the year. If you have any additional comments, please send them to [email protected] and/or [email protected].

STARTING PITCHER

Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks: Kelly has turned around his season after a summer swoon by making two significant adjustments, one mechanical and the other mental. He posted a 9.20 ERA over a six-start stretch, putting his role at risk. As we noted in our recent update: "After that start, Kelly tweaked his mechanics, a slight turn of the hips before driving down the mound. That adjustment added a tick of velocity over his last five starts; Kelly's four-seam fastball averaged 92.08 following that start against Milwaukee and jumped to 93.47 since." Kelly also credits an intangible adjustment, realizing he no longer needs to fear opposing hitters - which is the mental tweak. He has only allowed three runs in 27 innings with a 28:9 K:BB his last four starts, improving his stat line to a 4.31 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 151:55 K:BB. 12-team Mixed: $11, 15-team Mixed: $22; 12-team NL: Owned

Austin Voth, Nationals: Voth should close the season in the Washington rotation. He stepped back for Joe Ross earlier in the month and has allowed three runs in 9.2 innings over a pair of outings. Overall, Voth has posted a 3.58 ERA, 1,16 WHIP and 36 strikeouts in 32.2 innings across seven appearances but is just 1-1 on the year. 12-team Mixed: No, 15-team Mixed: $0; 12-team NL: $5 

Adam Wainwright, Cardinals: Wainwright's ownership percentage continues to rise, driven by his fine performance during his last four outings. Since only lasting 3.2 innings on Aug. 26, he has gone 4-0 with a 0.88 ERA while tossing at least six innings in each appearance. On the year, Wainwright has posted a 3.83 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 144 strikeouts in 162.1 innings. He should start Monday and then the final weekend of the season. 12-team Mixed: $25, 15-team Mixed: $35; 12-team NL: Owned

Injury activations/updates

Garrett Richards, Padres: Richards, recovering from July 2018 Tommy John surgery, started against Milwaukee on Monday. He went 3.2 innings, surrendering three runs on five hits and no walks while fanning five, sitting at 93-95 mph with his fastball. Richards was on his fourth rehab start on Aug. 5 but was shut down with shoulder discomfort. After missing a little more than two weeks, he resumed his rehab stint and has made three more starts since being shut down. Richards topped out at 63 pitches in his last rehab outing, so he was on a pitch count against the Brewers but could be given more bandwidth in his next start. 12-team Mixed: $1, 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team NL: $7 

Luke Weaver, Diamondbacks: Weaver, removed from his May 26 start with a mild flexor pronator strain and a minor UCL sprain, opted for a conservative treatment rather than undergoing surgery. He started a throwing program in mid-July and looked sharp in his rehab start Friday for High-A Visalia by tossing two scoreless innings. Weaver threw a bullpen session Tuesday and was activated off the 60-day injured list to start Saturday and produce two scoreless innings. Prior to being hurt, Weaver, who came over to Arizona in the Paul Goldschmidt trade, posted a 3.03 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 68:14 K:BB across 62.1 innings. 12-team Mixed: $1, 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team NL: $9 (likely still owned in keeper leagues) 

Brandon Woodruff, Brewers: Woodruff, sidelined since late July with the left oblique strain, was activated and started Tuesday against San Diego. Prior to being sidelined, he had posted a 3.75 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 136:29 K:BB through 117.2 innings. After throwing 40 pitches during a live batting-practice session last Wednesday, Woodruff was limited to 37 pitches over two scoreless innings as he was not stretched out. He will start Sunday and could get one more outing before the end of the regular season. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $9; 12-team NL: $14 (based on expectation that he will get 1-2 more starts the rest of the way) 

RELIEF PITCHER 

Kevin Ginkel, Diamondbacks: Ginkel notched a hold Saturday and a save Monday, closing out the D-Backs' win against the Miami with Archie Bradley unavailable due to back spasms. He has allowed just one run over his last 10 appearances covering 10 innings, notching five holds during that stretch. Bradley is currently entrenched as the Arizona closer but Ginkel could be an option to close in 2020 if the Diamondbacks decide to deal Bradley this offseason. 12-team Mixed: $2, 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team NL: $11

Daniel Hudson, Nationals: Sean Doolittle has struggled since Aug. 1 by posting an 8.25 ERA, resulting in the Nationals turning to Hudson to earn the save Tuesday. Hudson had his own struggles in a pair of outings a few weeks ago, but has compiled a 2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB through 18 innings and threw two scoreless innings to close out Washington's win Tuesday. He followed that up by giving up three hits over two scoreless innings to record his fifth save of the season Friday. The team has only encountered three save chances in the past month or so and Doolittle is still officially the closer, so don't rush out and grab Hudson. But he could get the chance to post a few saves down the stretch. 12-team Mixed: $2, 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team NL: $11 

Keone Kela, Pirates: Kela is the favorite to notch saves with Felipe Vazquez landing on the restricted list. He has experience closing from picking up 24 saves for the Rangers in 2018 before serving as Vazquez's setup man following his trade to Pittsburgh. Kela missed two months with a shoulder injury and then was suspended for 10 games but has been hot lately, allowing just one run while notching 23 strikeouts in his last 19 innings while recording one win and four holds. Richard Rodriguez, Francisco Liriano and Michael Feliz may also figure in the late-inning mix for Pittsburgh. 12-team Mixed: $5, 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team NL: $16

CATCHER

Luis Torrens, Padres: Torrens was claimed in the 2016 Rule 5 draft by the Reds from the Yankees and then traded to the Padres, then spent 2017 in the majors so he could remain San Diego property. He hit just .163/.243/.203 in 56 games, though that was hardly a surprise for a 21-year-old plucked straight out of Low-A. Torrens spent all of 2018 at High-A and nearly all of this year at Double-A Amarillo, slashing .300/.373/.500 with 15 home runs and 62 runs batted in. He could get a chance to spend 2020 backing up Francisco Mejia in San Diego. 12-team Mixed: $0; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team NL: $5

FIRST BASE

Victor Caratini, Cubs: Despite the return of Willson Contreras earlier this month, Caratini was in line for semi-consistent playing time due to the potential absence of Anthony Rizzo (ankle). Rizzo made a surprising return to action Thursday, but he wasn't moving particularly well and could only see spot duty down the stretch. When Rizzo is out of the lineup, Chicago has a hole at first base that likely will be filled by Caratini, Contreras and Ian Happ. When Contreras mans first base, Caratini will be behind the plate, with the situation reversed at times when Contreras is catching. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team NL: $11 (higher than usual bid because he is a catcher) 

SECOND BASE

Cristhian Adames/Christian Colon/Jake Elmore: This week's call-ups to fill a middle infield spot were in San Francisco, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Adames was promoted from Triple-A Sacramento last Saturday. After being released by the Cubs in July, he joined the Giants on a minor-league deal and went on to hit .283/.364/.517 in 43 regular-season games with Sacramento. Elmore slashed .322/.387/.455 with six homers, 35 RBI and three stolen bases over 109 games at Triple-A Indianapolis, Colon, who recorded a .300/.372/.443 slash line in 136 games for Louisville, was promoted Monday. All three will fill bench roles for their respective teams. All - 12-team Mixed: No, 15-team Mixed: No, 12-team NL: $3

THIRD BASE

Alec Bohm, Phillies: Bohm, drafted in 2018, advanced through three levels of the minors this year. He opened at Low-A Lakewood, recording an excellent .367/.441/.595 line in 22 games to move up the ladder to High-A Clearwater. The third baseman slashed .329/.395/.506 with four homers and 27 RBI through 40 games with the Threshers to earn a promotion to Double-A Reading. At that level, Bohm hit .269/.344/.500 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI over 270 plate appearances. He may move across the diamond to first base and could possibly be up with the Phillies sometime in 2020. 12-team Mixed: $3, 15-team Mixed: $9, 12-team NL: $14 (aggressive bid, based on third base eligibility) 

Matt Carpenter, Cardinals: Carpenter, who has struggled mightily, hit a game-winning home run Thursday and may be in line for consistent playing time the final week of the season after Kolten Wong strained his left hamstring in the same game. Wong has a .342/.409/.487 slash line since the All-Star break, so his absence would be a major hit to the St. Louis offense. Tommy Edman, who replaced Carpenter at third base, likely will shift to second if Wong is sidelined. If that occurs, Carpenter would take over at the hot corner even though he's posted career lows in average, on-base percentage, slugging and runs batted in. 12-team Mixed: $2, 15-team Mixed: $7, 12-team NL: $11 

SHORTSTOP 

Garrett Hampson, Rockies: Hampson endured a rough campaign but may be closing the season strong. He produced 11 hits in 22 at-bats while chipping in a stolen base, eight runs and three RBI while making five consecutive starts from Sep. 12-16. The offensive surge has helped Hampson, who qualifies at second, short and the outfield, lifting his season average from .218 to .243. He could open 2020 as the Rockies' starting center fielder, as Trevor Story is entrenched at shortstop and Ryan McMahon appears to have a stranglehold on second base. 12-team Mixed: $15; 15-team Mixed: $25; 12-team NL: Owned (in case his hot streak continues)

OUTFIELD

Jesus Sanchez, Marlins: Sanchez, who came over to Miami at the deadline from Tampa, slashed .246/.338/.446 with four homers and nine walks in 17 games with Triple-A New Orleans before missing the rest of the season with a strained hamstring on Aug. 23. Prior to getting dealt, he hit .275/.332/.404 with eight home runs and five steals in 78 games at Double-A Montgomery, but just .206/.282/.317 with a 28.2 percent strikeout rate at Triple-A Durham. Sanchez, who will be 22 in October, is regarded as one of the top prospects in the game and could get a chance to break camp with the parent club next spring. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team NL: $7 (keeper spec bid)