AL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

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. Rafael Devers 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

Jordan Zimmermann, Tigers: Zimmermann's been downright dominant over his last three starts, posting a 0.90 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and 20:1 K:BB in 20 innings while winning two of the three outings. He hasn't been facing pushovers, either, as the Oakland and Toronto offenses both rank in the top 10 by wOBA against righties. His tenure in Detroit has been awful so far, but he was a solid starting pitcher back in his Washington days, and it's possible the 32-year-old is just fully healthy for the first time in a few years. There's enough potential upside in that scenario to make him worth picking up. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $13

Brian Johnson, Red Sox: Johnson is set up for a two-start week, assuming Drew Pomeranz doesn't make a surprise return from the DL before the All-Star break, and given the matchups (home starts against the Jays and Rangers, neither of whom set the world on fire against LHP) he's a strong streaming option. The danger is that he may not be stretched out enough, or given a long enough leash, to qualify for the win in either start, but Johnson has flashed his upside as a starter in the past. Just don't expect long-term value here – if Pomeranz doesn't return after the break to reclaim that rotation spot, Steven Wright will. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Brett Anderson, Athletics: "Fully healthy for the first time in a few years" is probably a phrase that's never going to be applied to Anderson, but the veteran southpaw will make a rare appearance off the DL on Sunday and try to give the A's a few successful turns in the rotation before he breaks down again. Last time he emerged from cryo-sleep, his first start was the best, so if you have a Sunday night FAAB deadline you might already have missed the window for getting anything useful out of him. Instead, why not start a pool with the rest of your league betting on which body part he injures next? 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Yefry Ramirez, Orioles: The 24-year-old's first two big-league starts haven't gone too badly, as he's given up only two runs (one earned) in 10 innings, and Baltimore doesn't have any better options at the moment to round out their rotation. Ramirez is a converted infielder who was a Yankees farmhand until last summer, and his status as a late bloomer makes it tough to get a read on his actual fantasy upside. The strikeouts have been there in the minors, though, and if he continues sharpening his slider he'll have the arsenal to stick in the rotation. If not, his decent fastball/changeup mix will likely have him ticketed for the bullpen in the long run. He's just a lottery ticket right now, but he's an interesting one. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Aaron Slegers, Twins: Slegers would slot in nicely at center in an MLB basketball house league, standing a menacing 6-10, but like tall drinks of water such as Chris Young before him, his height doesn't translate into velocity with his fastball as he typically sits around 90 mph. His long stride and arm angle does allow his stuff to play up, though, and after putting together some solid innings for Triple-A Rochester, he gave the Twins a quality start Thursday against the O's. There isn't a lot of fantasy upside here due to his lack of strikeouts, but Slegers could get a long look in the rotation while Minnesota waits to see if Ervin Santana ever gets healthy. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Luis Cessa, Yankees: Cessa will make a spot start Monday in a doubleheader against the Orioles. The opposition makes him a possible streaming option, but it's also probable he gets sent immediately back to Triple-A afterwards, and his upside is limited. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Relief Pitcher

Joe Jimenez, Tigers: With Shane Greene sidelined for a couple of weeks, Jimenez will take over ninth-inning duties for Detroit. He's already blown one save but converted another, and the Tigers will likely take this opportunity to prepare the youngster for when Greene gets traded and he inherits the closer role on a full-time basis. Don't expect more than one or two saves in the short term, but if you can stash Jimenez on your bench it could pay off a month or so down the road. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: Owned

Catcher

Max Stassi, Astros: The 27-year-old has been pushing to take over the starting job in Houston, but Brian McCann's injury makes it official, at least through the rest of the month. Stassi's numbers have started to sag with a heavier workload, however, and he's slashing only .203/.319/.373 with two homers in 20 games since the beginning of June, so don't get too excited here. Any playing time in the Astros offense has fantasy value, but Stassi may not be the long-term answer for the club, at least as anything more than a platoon partner. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Owned

Sandy Leon, Red Sox: Christian Vazquez broke his finger sliding into second base Saturday, leaving Leon as the primary option for the Red Sox behind the plate (and perhaps kicking a round of J.T. Realmuto trade rumors into high gear). Leon's breakout 2016 happened a long time ago, but he hasn't been a complete washout at the plate this year, posting a .260/.303/.407 slash line through 40 games. As with Stassi, more playing time in a potent offense has fantasy value, even if Leon is hitting eighth or ninth most of the time. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Owned

Chris Herrmann, Mariners: Mike Zunino is also on the shelf for a couple of weeks with an ankle injury, leaving Herrmann as the starter in Seattle at least until the All-Star break, likely in a fairly strict platoon with David Freitas. Herrmann's career .625 OPS doesn't suggest he'll be anything more than an emergency fantasy option, though, even with consistent at-bats. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Blake Swihart, Red Sox: Swihart still isn't seeing much playing time, or doing much with the at-bats he does get, but he'll now be Leon's backup at catcher. The most important thing here is that he might see enough action behind the plate to retain eligibility at the position in 2019, which would at least improve his keeper value. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Tim Federowicz, Astros: The veteran backstop with the career .568 OPS will back up Stassi until McCann gets healthy. Don't expect much. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

David Freitas, Mariners: Freitas will handle the short side of a platoon with Herrmann until Zunino gets back. He ranks below Federowicz because the Mariners offense isn't quite as strong as the Astros, and his career OPS is actually slightly lower at .563. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Second Base

Niko Goodrum, Tigers: With Dixon Machado kicked to the curb, Goodrum will get a chance to move out of a super-utility role and show what he can do as the starter at the keystone. He's already exceeded expectations, slashing .251/.325/.461 with eight homers and seven steals in 71 games, and with regular playing time in the second half a 20-20 rookie campaign actually isn't outside the realm of possibility. If his uncertain role has kept Goodrum on waivers in shallow leagues, it's long past time to rectify that situation. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: Owned

Adalberto Mondesi, Royals: The Royals finally admitted Alcides Escobar is no longer a starting-caliber big-league player, shifting the veteran into a utility role and handing shortstop over to Mondesi. The 22-year-old hasn't exactly seized the opportunity, hitting .241 (7-for-29) with a homer and two steals while starting eight of the last 10 games, but he's got the wheels to make an impact in stolen bases in the second half with consistent playing time if he can start getting on base more frequently. Mondesi's upside makes him worth a gamble, even if the results aren't there yet. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $13

Joey Wendle, Rays: Tampa seems intent on seeing whether Wendle can be an everyday or nearly everyday player, shifting him to left field to get him into the lineup more often. It hasn't helped his power stroke – Wendle hasn't gone yard since May 29 – but he is hitting .385 (10-for-26) over his last nine games, and his minor-league track record still suggests a player that can contribute at least a little in that category. If he hangs onto a significant role through the second half, the fantasy value will come. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: Owned

Lourdes Gurriel, Blue Jays: The Jays continue to cycle through middle infielders like a teenager swiping through pics of their Instagram crush, and Gurriel is once again the player getting all the likes from manager John Gibbons. The 24-year-old has started four of the last five games since being called back up from Triple-A Buffalo, collecting a hit in each of them with a homer and five RBI. His numbers this year at Buffalo (.281/.308/.452 with five home runs and three stolen bases in 34 games) give a good picture of his upside and his limitations as a hitter, and the fickle nature of the organization makes it tough to expect he'll hold down a starting job straight through to September, but at least in the short term he could provide some value. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Neil Walker, Yankees: Gleyber Torres' hip injury will keep him out until after the All-Star Game, pushing Walker back into the starting lineup at second base at least against RHP, with Brandon Drury handling the keystone against southpaws. Walker's had an awful year at the plate – his .522 OPS is nearly a 33 percent drop from his career mark – but maybe semi-consistent playing time can help him get going. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Tyler Wade, Yankees: Wade was called up to take Torres' roster spot, but he'll have to compete with Drury for playing time off the bench. He does offer some stolen base upside if he does find him name on the lineup card, but that's about it. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Shortstop

Jorge Polanco, Twins: Polanco returned from his suspension right on schedule Monday and has started every game since, going 6-for-21 with a couple of doubles and a steal. The 25-year-old could potentially face a threat to his playing time if and when Miguel Sano is back with the big club, but the Twins like Polanco's defense at shortstop, at least compared to Eduardo Escobar's. Polanco showed his upside last season, so a second half with modest offensive contributions across the board seems very feasible. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

Daniel Robertson, Rays: With Wendle kicked out to left field, Robertson has been getting a starter's workload at second base, slashing .279/.415/.372 in 12 games since he came off the DL in late June. There hasn't been a whole lot of production accompanying that line, just three RBI and seven runs, but consistent playing time makes him a lot more appealing in shallower fantasy formats. Robertson's minor-league track record was generally more potential than actual production, but at 24 years old it's time for him to step up. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Owned

Ronny Rodriguez, Tigers: Rodriguez was called back up Wednesday to take Machado's spot on the roster, and Goodrum's spot on the bench. The 26-year-old has been putting together a huge year at Triple-A, slashing .338/.365/.454 with nine homers and 10 steals in 63 games for Toledo, and if Goodrum falters in a starting role, Rodriguez would be next in line at second base. That potential makes him worth stashing in deeper leagues, but until he actually has a clearer path to consistent at-bats, he can be left on waivers in shallower formats. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Rangers: IKF is listed as a shortstop in our database so he gets included here, but he's worth writing up because he just played his fifth game as catcher, becoming eligible at the position in a wide range of leagues. He's still only seeing a handful of at-bats a week, but his .255/.327/.355 looks a lot better in a catcher spot than at CI or MI. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Outfield

Kyle Tucker, Astros: Tucker was called up Saturday and immediately installed as the Astros' starting left fielder, a job he could hold for the rest of the season if he provides any kind of offensive spark. The 21-year-old top prospect had little left to prove at Triple-A, slashing .306/.371/.520 with 14 homers and 14 steals in 80 games for Fresno, and he's got the upside for a big second half from a fantasy perspective in the Astros' potent lineup. The club has seen other hyped youngsters come up and falter in the last couple of years, but Tucker's considered a much better prospect than A.J. Reed or Derek Fisher were, and their failures shouldn't be held against the new guy. If you need to gamble on someone who can really move the needle for you, don't be afraid to go big on Tucker now rather than waiting for trade-deadline reinforcements from the NL. 12-team Mixed: $21; 15-team Mixed: $45; 12-team AL: $75

Jackie Bradley, Red Sox: The streaky outfielder is hitting .316/.372/.553 with two homers, two steals and 10 RBI over his last 11 games, which means it's time for me to write him up again. You should know what you're getting by now with Bradley, so ride him while he's hot then drop him like a hot potato when he, uhh, cools down? That sentence got away from me there, but you get the idea. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Owned

Jake Cave, Twins: Cave's been all over highlight reels this week for his defense, as he's robbed two different hitters of homers with leaping grabs over the fence, but he hasn't been too shabby at the plate either, slashing .297/.350/.459 in 12 games since his latest promotion. Until Byron Buxton is deemed ready to rejoin the big-league roster, Cave seems like the Twins' regular center fielder, and he's flashed just enough upside in the minors to be worth a look even in shallower formats. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Daniel Palka, White Sox: Palka did an uncanny Matt Davidson impression this week, going 4-for-21 over his last five games but with all four hits leaving the yard, giving him a somewhat absurd .190/.261/.762 slash line during that brief stretch. The power is legit, but it's also the only thing he brings to the table from a fantasy perspective. Still, if you need the HR and don't care what he does to your batting average, he's worth picking up. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Owned

Greg Allen, Cleveland: Lonnie Chisenhall's latest injury opened up a spot for Allen to return to the majors, and he's once again come firing out of the gate, going 4-for-11 in three games with two steals. His numbers faded fast in his last stint with Cleveland, but Allen's speed can still play with even semi-regular playing time. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Mikie Mahtook, Tigers: Leonys Martin's strained hamstring gives Mahtook yet another stint in the majors, but there's no reason to think this one will turn out any better than his previous chances. The 28-year-old has been getting regular playing time since his promotion, starting five of six games, but his 6-for-21 showing comes with only one RBI and one run, and Martin may not be sidelined for long. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Clint Frazier, Yankees: It's clear at this point that it's going to take an injury to get Frazier regular at-bats in the Yankees' lineup, but Aaron Hicks just tweaked his hamstring and Brett Gardner seems long overdue for a DL stint. Frazier was cruising at Triple-A, and while he still only qualifies as a stash right now and could just as easily get demoted again before he gets his shot, the 23-year-old's upside is still significant. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Joey Rickard, Orioles: Colby Rasmus hasn't shared the reasons why he keeps stepping away from the game, but whatever is going on with him, his latest semi-retirement gives Rickard another shot in the majors. The 27-year-old has had a decent year for Triple-A Norfolk, but other than the occasional steal his fantasy value is limited, and the O's will be looking for an upgrade in right field – whether from within, or as part of the haul for Manny Machado. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Jim Adduci, Tigers: Of all the scrub outfielders called up this week in the AL, Adduci has slightly more appeal if only because he'll occasionally see playing time at first base as well. I did say "slightly", though. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

John Andreoli. Mariners: Andreoli has a bit of speed, and the M's do like to run, but it's hard to see him getting much playing time in an outfield that already features four regulars with varying skills, plus Nelson Cruz at DH. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Nick Martini, Athletics: There's no reason to either shake or stir up your roster to make room for Martini, who has little but a decent hit tool to offer fantasy GMs. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Designated Hitter

Shohei Ohtani, Angels: Ohtani will only hit for now after coming off the DL, as the Angels keep an extremely close watch on his elbow as they try to avoid sending him for Tommy John surgery. His .269/.349/.492 slash line so far this season with six homers in 146 PAs has been solid, but there's no way to tell whether he can improve on those numbers with a full-time focus on hitting – or indeed whether he will see regular playing time, or get frequent rest to try and protect his elbow, or whether another DL stint might be just around the corner for him. That much uncertainty makes me wary, but the upside is undeniable if he sees 60-70 starts at DH after the All-Star break. All of that doesn't even take into consideration whether he's even available, which would depend as much on how your league chose to handle him heading into the season – in a redraft league where he took up only one roster spot, it's entirely possible he got cut loose when it looked like he might not pitch again in 2018, but in leagues where there was a Hitter Ohtani and a Pitcher Ohtani, it's unlikely Hitter Ohtani got dropped. Still, if he's out there and you need to gamble on hitting upside, he could pay off big. 12-team Mixed: $12; 15-team Mixed: $25; 12-team AL: $45