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

Keegan Akin, Orioles: The southpaw will join the rotation Sunday, replacing the demoted Dean Kremer. Akin hasn't tossed more than 3.1 innings in any of his relief appearances for Baltimore, so don't count on him for much length right out of the gate. The 26-year-old has consistently posted big strikeout numbers since being drafted in the second round in 2016 – including whiffing five batters in two innings for Triple-A Norfolk prior to his callup – but as yet that hasn't translated into solid ratios or much success. As such, Akin's a better deep keeper league stash than someone likely to provide much short-term help. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Alex Cobb, Angels: Cobb got some early-season buzz as his stuff looked like it was back in peak form, but a couple short outings in late April ruined his numbers and spoiled the party, and then he landed on the IL with a blister, so the bandwagon emptied quickly. Since returning to the rotation though, the right-hander has two wins in two starts with a 0.75 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB over 12 innings. It's still very possible that early optimism was warranted, and there's an opportunity here to pick him up fairly cheap before his ratios remind everyone why they liked him as a sleeper six weeks ago. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: Rostered

Justin Dunn, Mariners: Somewhat quietly, Dunn's been putting together a solid season. The 25-year-old hasn't given up more than three earned runs in a start, although his ongoing control issues have prevented him from lasting six innings in any of them, which makes him tough to roster in formats that use QS instead of wins. He's taken another step forward in May, posting a 2.52 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 29:14 K:BB through 25 innings over five outings. If he can just shave a few more points off that 14.1 percent walk rate – which is a career-best mark already – Dunn could have a true breakout. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered

Michael King, Yankees: King's been a rock in long relief for the Yankees this year, and with the rotation a man short, he'll get an audition as a starter Sunday in a great spot against the Tigers. Deivi Garcia got the nod Saturday and flopped, so if King pitches well, he could stick in the rotation for a while. The 26-year-old doesn't have huge upside, but it's entirely possible he could become a right-handed version of Jordan Montgomery. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Alek Manoah, Blue Jays: Now that's how you make a debut. Manoah got called up for Thursday's start and did to the Yankees what he'd been doing to Triple-A hitters as he fanned seven over six scoreless innings. The 23-year-old has a workhorse frame and a strong, deep arsenal, and every sign dating back to spring training has suggested he's not only ready for the majors, but ready to take his spot at the top of the Jays' rotation alongside Hyun Jin Ryu. The fact that the team pretty much needs him to be the real deal just buys Manoah a longer leash if he does hit any speed bumps. Especially in mixed leagues, it's tough to imagine a pitcher with a higher ceiling and a better offense to support him joining the player pool this season – maybe MacKenzie Gore if he suddenly flips the switch and starts finding the plate, but that's about it. (AL-only GMs at least might get someone traded into the league.) If you need pitching and have been keeping your powder dry, this is the guy you've been saving it for. 12-team Mixed: $45; 15-team Mixed:$55 ; 12-team AL: $75

Eli Morgan, Cleveland: Morgan was brought up somewhat on an emergency basis with Cleveland running short of rotation options, and he got hammered by the Blue Jays on Friday, surrendering eight runs (six earned) in only 2.2 innings. With Zach Plesac on the IL learning how to take off a shirt safely, Morgan could get another turn or two, but his stuff is mediocre and there's nothing in his profile to suggest his results will improve dramatically. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Jake Odorizzi, Astros: Odorizzi's roster rate is juuuust low enough in the NFBC formats I checked to make him worth listing here. The right-hander rejoined the rotation Saturday after missing about a month of action and pitched well against the Padres, shaving more than three runs off his ERA after his dreadful April. There's no reason to think he can't be his usual mid-rotation stalwart self over the final two-thirds of the season. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: $21

Relief Pitcher

Tyler Duffey, Twins: Like most of the Minnesota bullpen, Duffey's had a bumpy start to the year, with his walk rate in particular sitting nearly double what it was in 2020. If you squint though, his May hasn't looked too bad – he's given up earned runs in only two of 12 appearances, although he got tagged for a total of seven runs in those other two games. He also picked up his first save last weekend, and while he's a better fit as a setup man, the Twins' closer situation is enough of a mess than he could wind up with a few more if he's the only one delivering consistent results. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

J.P. Feyereisen, Rays: The 28-year-old was immediately thrust into the high-leverage mix after being picked up from the Brewers, and Feyereisen notched his first save last Sunday before getting his second this weekend. He also blew a save in between, and while you could view it as encouraging that he's worked the ninth three times since Diego Castillo's last save, we've seen Tampa give auditions like this to pitchers before only to drop them back into the fungible mass of late-inning arms afterward. Maybe he's their new closer, but if I were inclined to bet on that sort of thing, I'd still take the under on Feyereisen reaching double digits in saves by the end of the year. His overall numbers were good even in Milwaukee though, so in saves+holds formats, his specific usage matters a lot less. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Keynan Middleton, Mariners: With Kendall Graveman still on the shelf, Middleton was one of three different relievers to get a save for the M's this week and arguably pitched the best of the three in that time. Rafael Montero is still erratic, so if Graveman isn't the same once he returns from the COVID-19 list, it could be Middleton who winds up carrying the load in the ninth. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Cal Quantrill, Cleveland: At the moment, there's no indication Quantrill is going to be moved into the rotation. Given the scrubs getting starts right now for Cleveland, it might be smart to have a reliable long reliever behind them. Nonetheless, the 26-year-old has pitched well this season, posting a 1.26 ERA and 15:4 K:BB through 14.1 innings in May, and he got stretched out to three innings in his last appearance. Quantrill's time could yet be coming, and that makes him a viable stash. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Cole Sulser, Orioles: Sulser wasn't one of the possible Cesar Valdez replacements I mentioned last week, but he's on a roll right now, reeling off six straight scoreless appearances with an 8:4 K:BB through six innings. He got a brief run as closer last year and it didn't end well, but if Valdez does indeed move into more of a high-leverage role and manager Brandon Hyde turns to the hot hand instead, at the moment that would be Sulser. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Kyle Zimmer, Royals: Zimmer has looked good since coming off the IL about a week and a half ago, picking up a win and a save in four scoreless appearances with a 5:1 K:BB in 4.1 innings. Josh Staumont is out with a knee issue and Greg Holland hasn't successfully converted a save since April 18, so it's possible Zimmer is the top option in the Royals' bullpen right now. The 29-year-old was a first-round pick in 2012, and while he's travelled a long, injury-plagued road to the majors, the pedigree is there for him to break out as a relief ace. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Catcher

Anthony Bemboom, Angels: The Halos shuffled around their backstops again, leaving Bemboom as the backup to Kurt Suzuki until Max Stassi is back. Bemboom's started one of three games since his latest promotion, but his time in the majors could again be short. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Jake Rogers, Tigers: Wilson Ramos' return from a back injury lasted all of six games before it flared up again and sent him back to the IL. That doesn't bode well for his outlook the rest of the year, and opens the door for Rogers to be more than just a short-term option. The Tigers' current infatuation with Eric Haase complicates the picture, but Rogers is still more likely to be the rebuilding club's catcher of the future, and they have more incentive to give him steady playing time as a result. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Garrett Stubbs, Astros: The 28-year-old will back up Martin Maldonado while Jason Castro is sidelined. Stubbs profiles as someone who might have some offensive upside with regular at-bats, but he's unlikely to get them. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

First Base

Mike Ford, Yankees: Even with Luke Voit out again, Ford isn't getting consistent playing time, and it's easy to see why given his .135/.289/.216 slash line through 45 PAs in May. He's purely a deep-league dart. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Taylor Jones, Astros: With Yuli Gurriel nursing a sore finger, Jones has started two of the last three games. He's only gone 1-for-10 though, and while the 27-year-old has been raking for Triple-A Sugar Land this year, there's been little indication he could produce useful numbers in the majors if Gurriel were sidelined for a longer stretch. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Tyler Nevin, Orioles: Called up Friday, Nevin rapped a double and drew a walk in his big-league debut. The 24-year-old has big-league bloodlines as Phil's son, but his only real minor-league performance of note came as High-A Lancaster in the old California League, a notoriously good hitting environment, and it might take a serious injury to Trey Mancini to get Nevin regular playing time. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Second Base

Kean Wong, Angels: Kolten's kid brother saw his first action of the year Saturday going 1-for-4 with a double. The 26-year-old was raking at Triple-A Salt Lake, and with David Fletcher covering shortstop while Jose Iglesias is sidelined, Wong probably only has to be better than Jose Rojas or the rapidly cooling Phil Gosselin to claim a majority of the playing time at second base in the short term. He doesn't even have his brother's upside at the plate, though. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Outfield

Jason Martin, Rangers: Brought up to take David Dahl's spot on the roster, Martin hasn't exactly hit the ground running in the majors, going 0-for-8 with four strikeouts through his first four games. He was hitting well at Triple-A Round Rock though, and whiffs haven't been a serious concern in the minors, so he may just need to get comfortable. Texas can't expect lightning to strike twice after Adolis Garcia, but Martin does possess some power-speed potential. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Chas McCormick, Astros: Michael Brantley's hamstring strain has allowed McCormack to start five of the last six games, and the 26-year-old has gone 4-for-17 with two homers and a steal. He doesn't have tremendous upside, but he can draw a walk with some pop and speed, and as a short-term outfield plug-in, he could chip in with some solid production. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Rob Refsnyder, Twins: Refsnyder has now started nine straight games and slashed .313/.389/.563 with two homers, six RBI and eight runs over that stretch, but he's still on waivers in most leagues. That line is remarkably similar to his .315/.377/.500 performance at Triple-A in 2019, the last time he got consistent playing time anywhere, so it's not entirely out of nowhere either. There are plenty of fantasy rosters out there that could use a short-term boost, and the Twins need someone to step up with Byron Buxton not close to returning and Max Kepler and Nelson Cruz at less than 100 percent. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Victor Reyes, Tigers: Reyes got called back up Monday after two scorching weeks at Triple-A Toledo (.391/.482/.543), but a pectoral strain derailed his chance of quickly reclaiming a starting spot. Neither Akil Baddoo nor Nomar Mazara are doing much at the plate though, so Reyes could easily move ahead of one of them once he's healthy. As with most Tigers hitters, his upside is fairly modest, but when he's locked in he can contribute useful numbers. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland: Zimmer is now 28 years old, and this could be his last chance to prove he can be a big-league player, even as a bench option. He wasn't exactly setting the world on fire at Triple-A before his promotion, but he's a defensive upgrade in center field on the likes of Jordan Luplow and Harold Ramirez, something the team could use, and Zimmer does offer some stolen base potential if he can just get on base. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3