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.

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. Andrew Benintendi 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

Christian Bergman, Mariners: After getting shelled for 10 runs and 14 hits by the Nats back on May 23, Bergman has had a remarkable turnaround, posting a 1.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB in 18 innings over his last three starts. In fact, if you throw out that one disastrous outing, he's got a 1.85 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in the big leagues so far this season. As a righty with a sub-90 mph fastball he's not going to move the needle in strikeouts, but the 29-year-old is pitching well enough to be useful in most formats, especially as a streaming option when he's taking the mound at Safeco. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Buck Farmer, Tigers: Farmer's now thrown 13 innings over two starts for the Tigers and has yet to allow a run, so expect a feeding frenzy in FAAB for his services. Now, there's plenty of reason for skepticism with the 26-year-old, from his merely OK minor-league numbers to the fact that stifling the White Sox and a Trout-less Angels squad isn't exactly a monumental feat, but his slider has looked a little sharper than in previous years and it's certainly possible he's figured something out. This could easily be one of those free-agent buys you look back at next offseason and wonder what the heck the buyer was thinking, but if you need pitching there's a reasonable chance he's the new Matt Shoemaker or thereabouts, which makes him well worth pursuing. 12-team Mixed: $4; 15-team Mixed: $9; 12-team AL: $21

Mike Fiers, Astros: As recently as May 27, Houston publicly stated that Fiers was headed to the bullpen, but Charlie Morton's injury gave him a reprieve and it's safe to say Fiers took the hint. He's won all three of his starts since then, posting a 1.96 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB in 18.1 innings. As a righty without a dominant fastball who relies on his changeup to generate whiffs, the 31-year-old has been streaky throughout his big-league career, but he's locked in at the moment and that makes him worth a roster spot. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Owned

Dillon Gee, Rangers: The 31-year-old journeyman made a spot start Tuesday against his former team, the Mets, and you'd think he was still secretly working for them given how many pitches he grooved when he wasn't issuing free passes. With Tyson Ross nearing his season debut, Gee should head back to long relief if he doesn't get booted off the roster entirely. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

David Holmberg, White Sox: Holmberg's made three starts for the White Sox now and actually won a game Saturday, barely making it through five innings while getting plenty of offensive support. The former Red hasn't been terrible in the rotation, managing a 4.26 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 7:6 K:BB in 12.2 innings, but with James Shields about to return Holmberg will probably get the boot, either to the bullpen or Triple-A Charlotte. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Brian Johnson, Red Sox: Eduardo Rodriguez's knee injury is serious enough that Johnson may finally get a length stretch in the big-league rotation to prove whether or not he has a future with the Red Sox. The memory of that eight-K shutout in Fenway on May 27 is still fresh, but the southpaw's most recent outing for Boston was less thrilling, as he failed to get out of the fifth inning. Johnson's now 26 and is close to being a finished product, and as a junk-balling lefty he doesn't have a tremendous ceiling, but if he can provide reasonably consistent innings the Red Sox offense should give him a handful of wins while he delivers adequate ratios. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: $9

Jake Junis, Royals: Junis has now made two starts for Kansas City and done very little with them, which is a far cry from his stellar numbers at Triple-A this year. This isn't really that big a surprise. The 24-year-old sits in the low 90s with his fastball and relies on off-speed pitches and location to get his strikeouts, and that's a very tricky path to success for a right-hander in the majors. He's still worth stashing in dynasty leagues as he could eventually figure out how to make his arsenal work, but in the short term he's a high risk arm with only medium upside, which makes him a danger to your active roster. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Tyson Ross, Rangers: The 30-year-old's recovery from offseason thoracic outlet syndrome surgery continues to be one step forward and one step back, as he keeps alternating solid starts with rough ones for Triple-A Round Rock including an eight-run, 10-hit mess Friday. With time running out on his rehab assignment, though, the Rangers are going to have to bite the bullet and either activate him from the DL, or shut him down and try something new. During his heyday with the Padres, Ross relied heavily on his slider, and if his feel for that pitch hasn't returned he's going to be a huge ratio risk in the majors. Yes, there's upside here, but as the likes of Matt Harvey and Phil Hughes have shown, thoracic outset syndrome surgery isn't something a pitcher is likely to bounce back from quickly. Personally, I'm not sure I would roster Ross in a re-draft league if you paid me to do it, but if you are desperate for pitching you probably have little to lose by rolling the dice with him. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

James Shields. White Sox: Shields threw five innings in a rehab start Thursday and will get one more turn at Triple-A before being activated from the DL, which puts him on schedule to return to the White Sox next Sunday. He's been out of action since mid-April so some rust is to be expected, but he also put up shockingly good numbers in his first three starts of 2017. Perhaps that should be shockingly lucky numbers; his 5.42 FIP and 5.59 xFIP are right in line with last year's misery, and his 1.62 ERA is completely unsustainable given his 5.4 BB/9, 1.6 HR/9 and .162 BABIP. Don't get fooled by those April ratios. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Nik Turley, Twins: Yeah, that was my reaction too. Turley's a 27-year-old lefty who scuffled around in the Yankees system before bouncing through the Giants, White Sox and Red Sox organizations the last couple of years and winding up in the independent Atlantic League to close out 2016. The Twins gave him another shot in the offseason and boy howdy, are they glad they did. Turley tore up Double-A (0.37 ERA, 0.54 WHIP, 45:7 K:BB in 24.1 innings ) before a promotion to Triple-A where he just kept racking up strikeouts, fanning 39 in 28.1 innings including 15 in his last start against a loaded Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lineup that includes prospects Clint Frazier (three Ks), Gleyber Torres (two Ks), Dustin Fowler (two Ks) and Tyler Austin (two Ks). Prior to this year, the scouting report on Turley was low-90s fastball, curve and changeup. From the brief looks I've gotten of him this year, the fastball might have ticked up and the curve has been devastating, a nasty 11-5 hook that just disappears down and in on right-handed hitters. He wouldn't be the first late-blooming lefty in baseball history, and it's hard not to root for a guy who was the third-last pick in the 2008 draft to finally make it. He'll take the mound for the first time in the majors Sunday, and if you're looking for this year's Rich Hill, he may well be it. The bids listed here assume you're submitting before his afternoon tilt in San Francisco, but given the friendly park and a Giants lineup that ranks 29th in wOBA against LHP (.278), it wouldn't be surprising at all to see him have a strong debut, in which case you may have to be a little more aggressive. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Relief Pitcher

Matt Barnes, Red Sox: Barnes has rebounded from a rough stretch in late April to reclaim his spot in the eighth inning in front of Craig Kimbrel, and over the last month he's got a 2.51 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 20:2 K:BB, a win and five holds in 15 appearances (14.1 innings). Kimbrel's in no danger of losing his job, but Barnes is supplying plenty of value as a high-K relief option even without getting a taste of the save action. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Cam Bedrosian, Angels: At his own request, Bedrosian slowed down his rehab after feeling some discomfort in his groin Wednesday, and his return to the Angels is once again a bit up in the air. While it's nice to see a player show concern for his long-term health instead of being too macho to admit when he's not right, the delay doesn't do much for Bedrosian's fantasy value or his chances of unseating Bud Norris as closer when he does return. At this point, it's better to assume he'll slot into a setup role initially once he's activated, and in shallower leagues there may be better targets out there at the moment if you need saves. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: $9

Brad Boxberger, Rays: Boxberger began a rehab assignment Monday and while he'll likely need a lengthy stint in the minors to shake off the rust, his return to the Rays bullpen is now close. Despite his 41 saves in 2015 and career 11.5 K/9, the right-hander will be ticketed for a setup role once he's activated as Alex Colome has the ninth inning on lockdown for Tampa. Of course, with the Rays six games back of the surging Yankees in the AL East, Colome could fetch a nice return on the trade market if they elect to become sellers, which should put Boxberger right back in the mix for saves. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Sean Doolittle, Athletics: Doolittle was activated from the DL on Saturday and got right to work, striking out one in a clean inning. The power lefty may not necessarily find his way back into a ninth-inning platoon with Santiago Casilla, but Casilla's hardly been untouchable and Doolittle seems like the next logical candidate if the closer job in Oakland opens up. The 30-year-old will need to stay healthy, which is usually a challenge for him, but while he's between DL stints he should supply rock-solid ratios and strikeouts with some upside in holds and saves. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Chad Green, Yankees: Green's expected to make a spot start for the Yankees on Sunday while they navigate a long stretch of games without a day off (their next break doesn't come until June 19). The right-hander's put up very good, almost Devenski-like numbers in long relief, but Green may not last long enough to get a win Sunday and should head back to the bullpen thereafter, which makes him tough to find a roster spot for in most formats. He might be best viewed as a possible stash in the event someone like Masahiro Tanaka breaks down. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Tommy Hunter, Rays: Hunter's been rolling in a setup role for the Rays, posting a 2.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 20:3 K:BB in nine innings since coming off the DL in late May. The veteran righty doesn't have much of a shot at saves, even if Colome gets dealt, but should be a solid source of ratios and Ks going forward and has extra value in holds leagues. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Francis Martes, Astros: Houston continues to give its top pitching prospects some big-league experience, and this week it's Martes' turn to enjoy a superior per diem and cushy accommodations. The 21-year-old right-hander with the big fastball and power curve was far too wild at Triple-A to think he'll make an immediate impact in the majors, and his debut Friday was nothing to write home about, but he remains a priority stash in dynasty leagues even if his short-term value is almost nil. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Catcher

James McCann, Tigers: McCann came off the DL on Friday and promptly went 0-for-8 in his first two games back, which has been par for the course for him this year. Alex Avila's hot hitting makes him the starter behind the plate for Detroit, but McCann can still run into some homers over the summer, especially if he's restricted to a platoon role. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Wilson Ramos, Rays: It's time to start getting excited about Ramos. He began a rehab assignment Monday and has seen plenty of work behind the plate already rather than being limited to DH, and it looks like he's ahead of schedule in his recovery from ACL surgery. The Rays won't rush him back, but once he does come off the DL all signs point to him claiming the starting role in Tampa fairly quickly, as Derek Norris now has a domestic violence allegation hanging over his head and can't get his batting average over .200. In AL-only leagues, Ramos could be one of the biggest impact bats to enter the player pool relative to his position for the rest of the year, and you'll get a month or more of action from him than you would a trade deadline addition. If he's available, don't hold back in your bidding. 12-team Mixed: $7; 15-team Mixed: $15; 12-team AL: $35

First Base

Greg Bird, Yankees: Bird entered the final stage of his rehab assignment this weekend and should be back with the Yankees early in the week. Chris Carter's been hitting better lately, but the starting job at first base should be Bird's to lose once he's back in the lineup. There's still a lot to like about the young slugger – even if you discount his big spring, 11 homers in 46 regular-season games in 2016 is harder to shrug off – but there is some reason for caution here. He was awful this season before hitting the DL, although his ankle injury can certainly account for much of his struggles, and there is the issue of playing time upon his return. Aaron Hicks may be the new starter in center field, but once Jacoby Ellsbury recovers from his concussion the Yankees will have six players (Bird, Hicks, Aaron Judge as the young studs, and Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Matt Holliday as the aging but still productive vets) for five spots between the outfield, first base and DH, and while the latter trio should see more frequent rest than the kids, all of them could see fewer at-bats than expected and could be vulnerable to a benching for a few games if they aren't hitting. Bird's upside makes it worth being aggressive in your bidding, but the 24-year-old isn't a lock for big numbers. 12-team Mixed: $8; 15-team Mixed: $19; 12-team AL: $45

Kennys Vargas, Twins: Vargas was called back up mid-week to take Jorge Polanco's roster spot while the latter is on the bereavement list, and the slugger has seen action in two games since, going 1-for-7 with a solo homer. He'll likely be sent back down once Polanco returns, but even if he keeps his spot in the bigs, he offers nothing from a fantasy perspective but some power – which, if you haven't noticed, isn't hard to find this season. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Second Base

Taylor Featherston, Rays: With Brad Miller and Rickie Weeks both on the DL and Matt Duffy showing no signs of being ready for action any time soon, the Rays needed some extra depth on their infield and picked up Featherston on the cheap from the Phillies. The 27-year-old utility player put up some solid power-speed numbers in the low minors but has never been able to duplicate them against better competition, and will likely only stick around in Tampa until someone else gets healthy. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Alen Hanson, White Sox: Claimed off waivers from the Pirates, Hanson has always been somewhat overrated as a fantasy prospect due to big stolen-base totals in the minors, but his lack of a plus hit tool or plate discipline limits his opportunities to use that speed in the majors. Still, the White Sox are going nowhere, and as a switch hitter with some defensive versatility, Hanson could easily stick around for a while in a utility role as his new club evaluates his potential to be a part of their future plans. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Ramon Torres, Royals: A long-simmering prospect who was an international signing back in 2010, Torres finally made his big-league debut Wednesday after posting a .327/.349/.445 line in 53 games for Triple-A Omaha. The 24-year-old probably profiles as a utility player down the road, as he doesn't have plus power or speed but has shown a good glove and hit tool, and in terms of the future depth chart at the keystone for the Royals, Torres still sits behind Whit Merrifield and Raul Mondesi. Still, he could be a worthwhile stash in deep dynasty leagues given the progress he's shown recently. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Third Base

Jurickson Profar, Rangers: Back for his second tour of duty in Texas in 2017, Profar didn't exactly force his way back to the majors with a .267/.342/.427 line at Triple-A, but Adrian Beltre's unlikely to stay healthy the rest of the year and if the Rangers want to let Joey Gallo get acclimated at another position, Profar could emerge as the primary backup at third base. It's tough to write off a former top prospect at just 24 years old, but he's never been the same at the plate since his shoulder injury and Profar would need to do something really impressive, and soon, to be anything more than a lottery ticket for fantasy purposes. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Shortstop

Darwin Barney / Ryan Goins, Blue Jays: With Devon Travis back on the DL, Barney will split time at second base with Goins for Toronto in the short term, with Chris Coghlan also potentially getting an occasional start. Goins is the better defender and hits left-handed, which should get him more playing time of the duo, but Barney's more likely to actually do something useful with his at-bats. Until a timeline for Travis' return from a knee injury becomes clearer, assume that either Barney or Goins are just short-term options. Barney – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1 / Goins – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Tim Beckham, Rays: Duffy's repeated setbacks in his recovery from heel surgery have given Beckham a wide window to finally establish himself a big-league regular, and he's taken full advantage with a career-high 10 homers and .761 OPS so far in 2017, He's been even better lately, hitting .322/.375/.492 over his last 15 games, and even if Duffy makes a sudden and rapid return to action it's hard to see him bumping Beckham from the starting shortstop role. The first overall pick in 2008 may yet do something to justify that selection. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $13; 12-team AL: Owned

Outfield

Peter Bourjos, Rays: Kevin Kiermaier's hip fracture creates a void in center field for the Rays, but don't expect Bourjos to fill it. He has gone 4-for-9 since Kiermaier went down, but Mallex Smith will get a very long look in the role and Bourjos' .243/.300/.383 slash line in 751 career big-league games tells you all you need to know about his upside at the plate. The veteran could work his way into a platoon with Smith and steal the occasional base, but that's about the most you should be hoping for. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Jaycob Brugman, Athletics: Brugman swapped places with Mark Canha on the A's roster and made a quick splash after his big-league debut, going 4-for-11 with a couple of RBI in his first three games. He's shown a decent eye and solid hit tool in the minors, but Brugman's lack of power or speed puts a definite cap on any potential fantasy value even if he does stick around in Oakland for a while. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Lonnie Chisenhall, Cleveland: Chisenhall came off the DL on Tuesday but has only started two games since, as he's been stuck in a right field timeshare while Bradley Zimmer suffers through his growing pains in center. Cleveland's outfield is crowded, and while Chisenhall arguably has the most upside of any of the non-Zimmer, non-Michael Brantley options, consistent playing time could be tough for him to come by unless he gets hot at the plate. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Owned

Carlos Gomez, Rangers: Out since mid-May with a hamstring injury, Gomez began a rehab assignment this weekend and could be a week or so away from rejoining the Rangers. Delino Deshields is red hot in center field right now and Gallo has taken over in left field with Beltre back at third base, but Gomez should still be the favorite to take back the center field job once he returns, although the crowded outfield situation could cut into his playing time. A healthy Gomez is a potential batting average liability but can still supply some power and speed, and the 31-year-old is well worth picking up if he got dropped while injured. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: Owned

Mitch Haniger, Mariners: Seattle was hoping he'd be back in their lineup by now, but lingering soreness in his oblique delayed his return. Things appear to be back on track after Haniger resumed his rehab assignment Tuesday, however, and he could come off the DL early in the week. He was an early-season sensation for the M's, justifying his placement on all those sleeper lists, and while he might have a hard time maintaining a 1.055 OPS upon his return, he'll slot right back into a corner outfield spot and a spot in the heart of the batting order. 12-team Mixed: $7; 15-team Mixed: $17; 12-team AL: Owned

Aaron Hicks, Yankees: Joe Girardi made it official Friday and announced that Hicks would keep the starting center field job even after Ellsbury returns from his concussion. The decision was kind of a no-brainer given Hicks' current 1.007 OPS, but the 27-year-old has shown some impressive skill growth this season and his production isn't just the result of an elevated BABIP. Particularly exciting is his 31:31 BB:K through 49 games, a walk rate nearly double what he managed the two years prior. Ellsbury will still factor into the mix once he returns, but so long as Hicks' newfound plate discipline don't suddenly collapse, a breakout campaign seems to be in the works. 12-team Mixed: $11; 15-team Mixed: $25; 12-team AL: Owned

Cameron Maybin, Angels: Maybin came off the DL on Friday and promptly went 3-for-4 with four steals, so it seems safe to say he's healthy. He was on fire before straining his oblique, slashing .391/.509/.674 in 12 games prior to hitting the DL, and he should see regular playing time in an outfield devoid of Mike Trout for another month or so. Maybin won't maintain that kind of batting average, but his 17-for-18 performance on the basepaths this year makes him a very desirable fantasy commodity. 12-team Mixed: $4; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: Owned

Mallex Smith, Rays: Speaking of speedsters, Smith is back in the majors with a clear path to playing time due to Kiermaier's injury. He was hitting .311/.345/.477 with 16 steals in 23 attempts over 30 games with Triple-A Durham, and in three games since returning to Tampa and being inserted as the starter in center field, he's gone 5-for-11 with four steals and four runs. Improving your launch angle may be all the rage in the majors right now, but if Smith can keep the ball on the ground and use his elite wheels to reach base and cause havoc, he could provide a huge jolt to any fantasy lineup and might even establish himself as someone worth a regular spot in the Rays' outfield even after Kiermaier returns. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $13; 12-team AL: $31