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 role on an A-E scale. Shohei Ohtani would have been an "A" grade player last year – that mark will be reserved for similarly 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.

<p align="center"><b>AL FAAB | <a href="https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/showArticle.htm?id=45777">NL FAAB</a></b></p>

Starting Pitcher

Andrew Heaney, Angels: The portsider is set to make his 2019 debut Sunday after spending the first eight weeks of the season on the IL due to an elbow issue that flared up this spring. Heaney's always been one of those guys I like less than the consensus – there's no denying his upside, but he can't seem to stay healthy for long and never quite puts it all together when he is – but he wouldn't be the first left-hander to suddenly blossom at 27 years old. His last start at Triple-A was especially encouraging given his strikeout potential: 10 K's and one walk over 4.1 scoreless innings at Salt Lake, which isn't the friendiest pitching venue. If you need rotation help, he could be the best free-agent target to enter the pool for a while. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: $21

Lance Lynn, Rangers: Lynn's caught fire, relatively speaking, over the last month, lasting at least six innings in five straight outings and turning in quality starts in four of them with a 3.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB in 34 innings. The veteran right-hander was delivering similar results over a full season as recently as 2017, and last year's semi-disaster was in large part due to the fact that he signed late, had an abbreviated spring and then staggered through an extremely erratic weather-scarred schedule in March and April. By the time he got right and was able to find a rhythm, the damage to his ratios had been done. Even pitching in Texas over the summer, he should be able to provide some solid innings, and the Rangers' offense has been giving him plenty of run support if you're more interested in wins than QS. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: Owned

Tommy Milone, Mariners: Milone hasn't posted an ERA below 4.00 in the majors since 2015, but he keeps getting chances, because, well, (waves with left hand). His first start for the M's was decent enough, but the 32-year-old's upside is basically non-existent and his hold on a rotation spot will be tenuous. Felix Hernandez is still about a month away from returning, but Seattle has other options in the meantime if Milone stumbles. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Zach Plesac, Cleveland: See? Toronto doesn't have a monopoly on second-generation talent. Plesac is the nephew of former Brewers closer Dan Plesac, but he isn't being handed a job based on his bloodline. The younger Plesac was a 12th-round pick in 2016, and was considered a fringe prospect until a velocity bump this season saw him tear through Double-A and Triple-A (56:7 K:BB through 57.1 innings) en route to his scheduled big-league debut Tuesday. Mike Clevinger looks like he'll be back from the IL a bit sooner than expected, so Plesac's stint in the rotation could be short, but if he pitches well he could also supplant Jefry Rodriguez as the fifth starter. The key to high long-term future will be whether he can come up with a useful breaking pitch, but he's already got a plus changeup. This is the rare case where radically different bids may be on order depending on what sort of league you're in. GMs in re-draft formats have little reason to be aggressive here given his profile and limited track record, but those in shallow keeper and dynasty leagues may want to be in on Plesac, just in case – Cleveland's track record developing pitchers with his arsenal is a good one. Redraft – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3 / Dynasty – 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Clayton Richard, Blue Jays: Everything I just said about Milone applies here, only Richard's older and has more trouble staying healthy to boot. Joy! On the bright (?) side, he's got more job security in Toronto than the younger lefty does in Seattle. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Ryan Weber, Red Sox: The 28-year-old journeyman has pitched for four teams in the last four years, but out of nowhere he gave Boston a quality start Thursday against the Blue Jays in a spot start, so he'll likely get another turn or two to show whether or not it's a fluke. (Ron Howard narrator voice: it was.) He's also set up for a two-start week, at home against Cleveland on Tuesday and then on the road against the Yankees on Sunday, and his low profile could make him an easier streaming option to nab than some of the bigger names listed below, even if he's not exactly guaranteed to make both starts. As a rest-of-season arm, though, there's little reason to get excited. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Other two-start options (12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $1)

Homer Bailey, Royals (at CHW, at TEX)

Chris Bassitt, Athletics (vs. LAA, vs. HOU)

Trevor Cahill, Angels (at OAK, at SEA)

Daniel Norris, Tigers (at BAl, at ATL)

Ivan Nova, White Sox (vs. KC, vs. CLE)

Michael Pineda, Twins (vs. MIL, at TB)

Adrian Sampson, Rangers (at SEA, vs. KC)

Ryan Yarbrough, Rays (vs. TOR, vs. MIN)

Relief Pitcher

A.J. Cole, Cleveland: I almost dropped Cole from this week's article after Plesac's promotion was made official, but he's pitching well enough to mention even if his path to a more significant role might be closed off. The idea was not that he'd start, but that he'd be Cleveland's main long reliever in a situation where their fifth spot in the rotation might be effectively a bullpen day, giving him some vulture potential. Of course, if the rookie struggles in the debut, that could still happen. Cole's 1.17 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 10:1 K:BB in 7.2 innings over six appearances aren't too shabby either. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Shawn Kelley / Jose Leclerc, Rangers: Time for another review of the Rangers' bullpen situation. Kelley came off the IL on Tuesday and has been worked hard since, pitching three of four games,and getting saves in each, before predictably blowing one Saturday. An injury-prone 35-year-old reliever tosses 63 pitches over five days and appears gassed? You don't say. The right-hander missed under three weeks, so he may not have been gone long enough to have been cut loose in many leagues, but if he was it looks like manager Chris Woodward is sticking with him in the ninth inning for now. Leclerc, meanwhile, has been scored upon only once in eight May appearances while rocking a 19:5 K:BB in 10 innings, but the Rangers so far have only teased him returning to the closer role. There's been no indication Saturday's stumble by Kelley has changed the equation, but it might be smart to jump on Leclerc now anyway. Chris Martin, who blew his last save chance May 19, remain the third wheel at best in the picture. Kelley – 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15 / Leclerc – 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Brandon Workman, Red Sox: Workman got a save last Sunday night but hasn't sniffed the ninth inning since. We've seen this pattern before on teams with closer committees, such as Tampa or Philadelphia – when they get a chance, managers like to test relievers who are pitching well to see if they're worth using in highest-leverage spots if the usual suspects aren't getting the job done. Consider Workman a solid high-K reliever who might pick up a handful of saves as a bonus, rather than a potential future Boston closer. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Catcher

Dustin Garneau, Angels: Garneau is up to fill in for Kevan Smith as Jonathan Lucroy's backup. The former Rockie has drifted around the last couple of years, which is what happens when you have a .591 career OPS and an indifferent defensive reputation behind the plate. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Garrett Stubbs, Astros: Max Stassi is on the shelf, so Houston will give its top catching prospect some time on the big-league roster behind Robinson Chirinos. Stubbs slashed .310/.382/.455 in his first taste of Triple-A last year, but the return trip hasn't been as productive for the 26-year-old as he's hitting just .250 through 28 games, albeit with four homers, five steals and a strong 14:18 BB:K. If he were to get consistent playing time, he could offer modest five-category upside as a sort of discount J.T. Realmuto, but this stint in the bigs is likely more of a getting-his-feet-wet scenario. He's an interesting stash in keeper or dynasty formats, though. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Seby Zavala, White Sox: The 25-year-old is making his big-league debut after Welington Castillo suffered a concussion. Zavala has an 80-grade name that just rolls off the tongue like a Harry Potter spell, and he may have a smidge of value at the plate – sure, he was hitting .218 at Triple-A, but six homers in 21 games isn't nothing. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Second Base

Cavan Biggio, Blue Jays: I wrote up Biggio last week as a preemptive bid, and as predicted he got the call Friday. It looks like he'll initially get a look as the Jays' starting second baseman, but given his usage in the minors a super-utility role could be in his future. Either way, a .307/.445/.504 slash line for Triple-A Buffalo with six homers and five steals in 42 games is going to be a magnet for FAAB dollars, but his 0-for-6 start with three K's in two games for Toronto might put a slight damper on the enthusiasm. Toronto's firmly focused on 2020 and beyond, though, so Biggio will get a long leash if he has some early struggles. 12-team Mixed: $6; 15-team Mixed: $13; 12-team AL: $27

Thairo Estrada, Yankees: The 23-year-old's been on the fringes of fantasy value for a while now, but with Miguel Andujar gone for the year and none of the Yankees' other banged-up infield options healthy yet, his playing time has been ticking up a bit and he's been taking advantage. Since May 15, Estrada's gone 6-for-16 with three doubles, a homer, five runs, seven RBI and a steal, which is ging to float him to the top of a lot of searches if you're sorting your free-agent pool by recent production. Didi Gregorius looks like he might be back in early June, though, and Estrada's hot streak could dissipate just as quickly as it came. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

David Fletcher, Angels: Fletcher's been on a tear in May, slashing .303/.354/.487 while making 19 straight starts, and Andrelton Simmons' injury removes what little pressure he had for playing time in the short term. His production hasn't been great over that stretch, though – three homers, eight RBI and nine runs – but his position flex gives him added value, as in formats with a five-GP threshold he now qualifies at second base, third base, shortstop and outfield. He's a good bench guy in shallow leagues, as you can plug him in almost anywhere for a week or two and at worst he shouldn't hurt you. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Owned

Lourdes Gurriel, Blue Jays: Gurriel returned to the majors on the same flight from Buffalo that brought Biggio north across Lake Ontario, and apparently he ain't never going back. The 25-year-old, who was technically the first of the Jays' wave of legacy prospects to arrive (he's the son of Cuban legend Lourdes Sr., and Yuli Gurriel's younger brother), has gone deep in back-to-back games while starting in left field, and he hasn't looked uncomfortable in the outfield despite his lack of experience at the position. There's still plenty of upside in his bat – like his brother, he can hit for a good batting average, but unlike Yuli he's heading into his prime as a power hitter rather than being on the other side of it – and Toronto will keep giving him chances to succeed somewhere on the diamond as long as he keeps flashing his potential. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

Shed Long, Mariners: Dee Gordon's lingering wrist issue has opened up some playing time at the keystone, as Long's jumped into the breach with a little four-game hitting streak that includes two doubles, two walks and a steal. Tim Beckham remains a threat to playing time if Long stumbles, and it's not yet clear how long Gordon might actually be sidelined, but the kid's .293/.362/.510 slash line this season for Triple-A Tacoma is certainly intriguing. Consider Long a lottery ticket for now, but if Gordon gets some bad news, he could become a priority target. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Luis Rengifo, Angels: Rengifo has been a human yo-yo over the last month, getting promoted, then demoted again, then coming back on the next red-eye from Salt Lake when the Angels get hit with another injury. That's probably a bad sign for how the organization views his long-term potential, but he's still only 22 and you can't hold his .548 big-league OPS against him too much given the small sample and his erratic usage. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Daniel Robertson, Rays: Tampa's infield depth is getting stretched with Matt Duffy, Joey Wendle and now Yandy Diaz all now on the shelf, but the rash of injuries have opened up a regular job for Robertson. His .590 OPS on the year isn't much, but he's picked up the pace lately, going 6-for-20 while starting seven of the last eight games. He should have some short-term value. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Third Base

Kyle Seager, Mariners: Seager made his 2019 debut Saturday and went 2-for-4 with a double, so it seems safe to say he's 100 percent. The 31-year-old is coming off his worst big-league season that featured a downturn in both his plate discipline and his Barrel rate, but of course it's not yet clear whether 2018 was just a hiccup or his new normal. The M's will likely give him plenty of time to try and regain at least his 2017 form, if not 2016, but don't bid expecting an automatic rebound. 12-team Mixed: $4; 15-team Mixed: $9; 12-team AL: $19

Outfield

Greg Allen, Cleveland: Allen rejoined the big-league roster after Cleveland gave up on trying to salvage something from Carlos Gonzalez, but he's probably stuck in a fourth-outfielder role given that the team's run out of veteran road kill he could potentially shovel aside. Tyler Naquin, and eventually Bradley Zimmer, will also be in the mix over the summer, so at some point Allen's going to have to produce for Cleveland if he wants to have a real future with the club. The steals upside is still enticing, but he can't run from the bench. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Skye Bolt, Athletics: Another 80-grade name, Bolt is back for his second stint in the majors while Khris Davis recuperates from his sore hip. The 25-year-old will likely be stuck in a reserve role, but Oakland's currently rotating through a bunch of spare parts in the outfield around Ramon Laureano, and if they all go cold at once, Bolt could get his chance to strike. His .311/.379/.571 slash line at Triple-A carries some PCL inflation, but he could develop into your standard, off-the-shelf athletic hitter with double-digit power and speed and a low batting average. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Keon Broxton, Orioles: Speaking of standard, off-the-shelf athletic hitters with double-digit power and speed and a low batting average, Broxton's now an Oriole. He couldn't beat out Juan Lagares on the Mets, which isn't as big an indictment as it seems given some of that organization's other personnel decisions, but the former Brewer is hardly an All-Star in waiting at this point in his career. He should be an upgrade on Joey Rickard for Baltimore, though, and in deep leagues where Cameron Maybin generated a mild bidding war earlier in the year, Broxton's going to be at least a lukewarm commodity given his modest upside. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Mark Canha, Athletics: One of Oakland's spare parts is hitting like anything but right now. Canha's slugged six homers in 10 games since coming off the IL, and while he only has four other hits, unless you're in a points league that's not really a big concern. He should see regular at-bats while Davis is sidelined, so if he stays hot he's headed for a big couple of weeks – something he's proven he can deliver in the past, although he's also capable of vanishing for stretches that long too. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Owned

Derek Fisher, Astros: Fisher could be the most hated man in fantasy baseball right now, if only because he's not Yordan Alvarez or even Kyle Tucker. Still, Fisher's the guy who got the call when George Springer strained his hamstring, which is probably a good sign that the Astros will rely on their veteran outfielders to fill in rather than giving a kid a look as a starter. Who can blame them? I mean, they don't even have the best record in the majors at the moment. Fisher's done his part to earn his way back to a big-league paycheck, slashing .314/.379/.555 through 33 games with Triple-A Round Rock this year, but after last season's flop he probably needs a trade to get another real chance. Which you'd think, again, might be another good reason to start him, but I'm not about to question Houston's front office. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Tony Kemp, Astros: Jake Marisnick is also a little banged up, so in the short term Kemp stands to be the biggest beneficiary of Springer's absence. The 27-year-old has a bit of upside in stolen bases, swiping nine bags on 11 attempts in 2018 through 97 games, but his .227/.289/.387 slash line this year isn't out of line with his career performance. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3