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

Dylan Covey, White Sox: Covey's back in the rotation despite a 7.90 ERA and an 0-5 record, which sums up the White Sox season in a nutshell. Sunday's start against the Tigers might make him look like a useful streaming play, but don't expect much Thursday against the Royals. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Danny Duffy, Royals: Out since late August due to an elbow impingement, Duffy returns Sunday to close out the year in the rotation. As with any big-name player hurt late in the season, he might have been dropped in shallow leagues, and he showed flashes of his 2016 self before getting sidelined, striking out at least six batters in five straight starts for a 37:8 K:BB in 30 innings. If you need one last jolt to your staff, he's more than worth a look. 12-team Mixed: $25; 15-team Mixed: $55; 12-team AL: Owned

Carson Fulmer, White Sox: Fulmer's now has two great starts in a row, which is going to make him a popular add, but hold your horses. Stifling the Giants and Tigers isn't exactly a tremendous test, and while the righty's draft pedigree and upside can't be ignored, it's more likely than not he crashes hard Thursday in Houston. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Felix Hernandez, Mariners: King Felix may be entering the King Lear phase of his career, but he's not quite in his dotage yet. He lasted only 3.1 innings in his return to the rotation but looked good, and he could give the Mariners three solid starts to close out 2017. That golden right arm of his may smell of mortality, but it's got a few bullets left in it. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $13; 12-team AL: Owned

Nick Martinez, Rangers: He's back in the Rangers rotation, but he's also still Nick Martinez. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Adalberto Mejia, Twins: The rookie lefty lasted only three innings in his return from the DL on Saturday, but the Twins will probably leave him in the rotation as they try to hang onto a wild-card spot. With his next start coming against the Tigers on Thursday, there's some streaming appeal here. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Daniel Mengden, Athletics: Friday's shutout of the Phillies is going to make Mengden a popular FAAB target despite his mediocre upside, but it's actually his second straight quality start and his next start Wednesday comes in Detroit, so his hot streak might not be over just yet. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

James Paxton, Mariners: Paxton had a rough return to the Mariners rotation, but Friday's outing was basically a rehab start for him, so some struggles are understandable. The lefty still has ace-level upside, and he'll get a few more starts to try and swing a fantasy playoff race or two. 12-team Mixed: $35; 15-team Mixed: $75; 12-team AL: Owned

Gabriel Ynoa, Orioles: The O's are giving Ynoa a look in the rotation, and while he has yet to go five innings in either of his two starts so far, he hasn't been so bad that Baltimore will end the experiment. He's still only an emergency fantasy option, though. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Relief Pitcher

Blaine Boyer, Red Sox: After a couple of ugly outings after being activated from the DL at the end of August, Boyer's snow reeled off six straight scoreless outings with a 10:1 K:BB in eight innings. There's no save or even hold upside here, but if you need a plug-in to steady your ratios, he's worth a look. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Jacob Faria, Rays: Faria came off the DL on Friday and the Rays announced they'll use him out of the bullpen for now. Tampa has a couple of question marks in their rotation, though, so it's possible the rookie gets another start or two before the season is over. His numbers on the year certainly warrant it. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Yusmeiro Petit, Angels: It wouldn't be a September FAAB Factor without an Angels reliever in it. Just when it seemed like Blake Parker had taken the closer job, Mike Scioscia suddenly discovered the wisdom in using his best reliever to get the toughest outs rather than the final ones, and as a result Petit fell into a couple of saves over the last week. Whether that's still the case next week is a total mystery, of course, but if saves are tight you have to chase them. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

David Price, Red Sox: Fresh off the DL, the Red Sox will use Price in relief rather than throwing him back into the rotation. Another flameout by Doug Fister, though, and that plan could could change. The team would also much rather have a stretch-out and effective Price in their postseason rotation, so Fister's performance may end up being irrelevant. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $13

Catcher

Russell Martin, Blue Jays: Out for about a month, Martin should handle starting duties behind the plate for the Jays over the last couple of weeks. He won't help you in batting average, but he could provide a little power boost. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: $9

First Base

Mark Canha, Athletics: With Khris Davis out, Canha's been getting regular at-bats over the last week and provided a couple of three-hit performances. He's capable of getting hot for a short stretch, so he's worth an add if you're scrounging for offensive production. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Second Base

Willie Calhoun, Rangers: The big prize from the Dodgers in the Yu Darvish deal, Calhoun got a late promotion and has been pressed into service right away on a banged-up Rangers roster. A 1-for-13 start isn't exactly ideal, but as long as he's getting at-bats he's worth a look, even in re-draft formats. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Jason Kipnis, Cleveland: Kipnis came off the DL on Sunday and will get a look in center field, where Cleveland needs more "help" than they do at second base. It's been a disappointing year for the 30-year-old, but the club will try to get him going before the postseason begins, and that will require playing time. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: Owned

Third Base

Miguel Andujar, Yankees: The 22-year-old had a big season for Triple-A Scranton Wilkes/Barre, and with their International League playoff run over Andujar will get rewarded with some big-league roster time. Don't expect him to see much playing time, though. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Adrian Beltre, Rangers: Beltre's season looked like it was done when he got hurt at the end of August, but instead the ageless one came back early and will slot in as the Rangers' DH for now to try and avoid aggravating his hamstring. If he got cut loose in your league, remedy that. 12-team Mixed: $11; 15-team Mixed: $25; 12-team AL: Owned

Shortstop

Alcides Escobar, Royals: Curiously, Escobar's bat has come alive just as Raul Mondesi re-joined the Royals roster. Huh. The veteran shortstop's .426/.418/.704 slash line in September hasn't come with much in the way of counting stats (two homers, zero steals, seven RBI and 11 runs in 16 games) but it's good enough for the MI spot in most formats. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Owned

Outfield

Tyler Collins, Tigers: Collins has gotten four starts in the last six games since being called back up, as the Tigers keep shuffling around their outfield to try and find a combination that works. He may not keep getting that much playing time, but it's not like the team has better options. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Jacoby Ellsbury, Yankees: After a mostly sluggish season, Ellsbury's caught fire in September and improved his batting average by 22 points, slashing .409/.527/.545 in 15 games with three steals, six RBI and 14 runs. With Aaron Hicks hurt again, expect the veteran to continue fueling the Yankees; offense from top of the batting order. 12-team Mixed: $11; 15-team Mixed: $25; 12-team AL: Owned

Clint Frazier, Yankees: Activated off the DL on Monday, the rookie's been eased back into action so far. Ellsbury's hot streak likely has a lot to do with that, but the Yankees will want Frazier to get rid of any rust before the playoffs, so more playing time should be coming soon enough. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: Owned

Willy Garcia, White Sox: Garcia came off the DL on Friday but hasn't seen any action yet over the weekend, and the 25-year-old may not be more than a bench player over the final weeks. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Craig Gentry, Orioles: The veteran outfielder is just a pinch-running option for the O's at this point, and maybe not even their top one. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Mitch Haniger, Mariners: Haniger's finishing the season the way he started it, slashing .412/.429/.750 since Aug. 30 with five homers, 12 RBI and 14 runs in 16 games. If he's available and you need one more bat to put you over the top in a shallow league, he should be your top target. 12-team Mixed: $13; 15-team Mixed: $29; 12-team AL: Owned

Teoscar Hernandez, Blue Jays: The former Astros prospect is getting a long look from the Jays down the stretch as they evaluate their post-Jose Bautista outfield options, and Hernandez is making it worth their while with a .303/.324/.576 line over his last 10 games. Look for the 24-year-old to stay in the starting lineup over the final weeks. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $13