AL FAAB Factor: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

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 upside on an A-E scale, prioritizing skills and talent above role and playing time outlook. Wyatt Langford 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.

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 on our Discord.

Starting Pitcher

Shane Bieber, Guardians: Bieber resumed his rehab stint Tuesday and once again embarrassed some poor hapless youths in the Arizona Complex League, just like he'd done back in late May. He only threw 32 pitches (20 strikes), and the Guardians won't rush the 30-year-old right-hander through his rehab given that he's already had one setback, but an early August season debut seems within reach. It's impossible to predict what kind of numbers Bieber might provide a fantasy staff when he does return, but those two starts in 2024 are awfully tantalizing. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $3

Richard Fitts, Red Sox: The 25-year-old righty will rejoin the big-league rotation Tuesday, for a less than appealing matchup against Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and company in Philly. Fitts has a 6.59 ERA in four big-league appearances since the beginning of June despite a solid 13:4 K:BB, serving up five homers in 13.2 innings, and his leash figures to be short. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Luis Gil, Yankees: Gil should beat Bieber to the majors, so if you're looking for a tiebreaker to help decide which upside arm to stash, that's as good as any. Gil tossed 57 pitches (39 strikes) for Double-A Somerset on Friday, and in 6.2 innings over two rehab starts he's posted a 13:3 K:BB. Actually, that's probably an even better tiebreaker. The 27-year-old righty is expected to need only one more rehab outing before bolstering the Yankees' rotation. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $5

Cristian Javier, Astros: Javier's rehab is ramping up too, and while he may not have the brand recognition or pure upside of Gil or Bieber, he's capable of providing solid innings for a fantasy stretch run with an above-average offense behind him. Javier threw 46 pitches (29 strikes) for Double-A Corpus Christi on Friday, which likely puts him two or three rehab starts away from making his 2025 debut with Houston. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $3

Dean Kremer, Orioles: If you'd prefer a pitcher who's actually healthy and pitching well right now, Kremer's remarkable turnaround continues Saturday when he held the Rays to one run over seven innings. The righty's given up one run or fewer in five of his last six trips to the mound, posting a stellar 2.00 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 33:9 K:BB in 36 innings over that stretch. Kremer doesn't have elite strikeout upside, but those ratios should be rostered even in shallow leagues. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: Rostered

Eric Lauer, Blue Jays: Speaking of guys with way-too-low roster rates, it's probably time to ditch any skepticism regarding Lauer's 2025 performance. After another quality start Saturday against the Giants, the southpaw sports a 2.80 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 65:16 K:BB through 61 innings on the season, and he hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his 15 appearances (nine starts). Lauer showed similar form in 2021-22 with the Brewers before shoulder troubles derailed him, but he's been healthy this season. While his ratios have benefited from some luck when it comes to homers, he's also showing better command, fueling a big jump in whiff rates on his secondary pitches. Most importantly, he's clearly outpitching Max Scherzer, and if the Jays add a starter by the deadline, it doesn't seem like Lauer will be the guy getting bumped out of the rotation. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Rostered

Zebby Matthews, Twins: The 25-year-old right-hander missed a couple weeks with a sore shoulder, but he returned from the IL just in time to get a Coors Field start Saturday, which didn't go well. Matthews has been getting Ks – he has a 31:9 K:BB in 23 big-league innings this season – but hitters are still teeing off on his 96.5 mph fastball to the tune of a .406 batting average. That's... yikes. Bad luck can only explain so much of that. He still seems to have the arsenal and command to take a big leap at some point, but he's a risky fantasy option until things begin to click consistently. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: Rostered

Jack Perkins, Athletics: Manager Mark Kotsay finally acknowledged the inevitable right before the All-Star break and indicated that Perkins was a candidate to join the rotation in the second half. It's not clear exactly when that will happen – the A's don't have an official fifth starter on the roster at the moment and no off days until August 4, but Perkins tossed three relief innings Saturday, so keeping him on something close to a normal starter's schedule would have him slotting into the rotation Thursday at the earliest. Those three innings were scoreless, of course, which has been pretty SOP for the 25-year-old righty since his promotion. Over five appearances and 12.2 innings, Perkins has posted a 2.84 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB. He dominated in the desert at Triple-A Las Vegas too before getting the call, and his arsenal certainly looks like it's got ace potential, as he has yet to give up a hit on any of his secondary pitches while working off his 96.2 mph fastball. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Tomoyuki Sugano, Orioles: A two-step has to be really, really good to lift a pitcher out of the big streaming bucket below, but that's what Sugano has lined up this week. The veteran rookie gets a road start in Cleveland before taking on the Rockies back in Baltimore, and both those opponents sit in the bottom five in wRC+ and wOBA against right-handed pitching. Sugano's first MLB season has been bumpy and his 6.62 ERA since the beginning of June is worrying, but if anyone can help him shave down those ratios, it's the Guardians and Rox. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $5

Brandon Walter, Astros: Walter continues to live dangerously. The 28-year-old southpaw has served up nine homers in his first 46.2 big-league innings, but he still only has a 3.66 ERA thanks to a stunning 47:3 K:BB. He's had six sharp starts and two poor ones, and one of the two blowups can be chalked up to pitching at Coors Field. (There's far less excuse for giving up seven runs to the Angels, though.) The Astros' rotation will get healthier in August, but Walter's done enough so far to stick around. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Rostered

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

Via RotoWire's Probable Pitchers grid

Tyler Anderson, Angels (at NYM, vs. SEA)
Walker Buehler, Red Sox (at PHI, vs. LAD)
Sean Burke, White Sox (at TB, vs. CHC)
Joey Cantillo, Guardians (vs. BAL, at KC)
Colton Gordon, Astros (at ARI, vs. ATH)
Kyle Hendricks, Angels (at NYM, vs. SEA)
Jacob Lopez, Athletics (at TEX, at HOU)
Max Scherzer, Blue Jays (vs. NYY, at DET)

Relief Pitcher

Reid Detmers, Angels: The Halos are almost certain sellers at the trade deadline, and if last season is any indication, they are more than happy to trade away veteran relievers. That puts Kenley Jansen firmly in the crosshairs for a contender looking for bullpen help, and Detmers is the only guy who looks remotely capable of stepping into the closer role if Jansen gets shipped out. Over his last 30 innings, the 26-year-old lefty has a 1.20 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 40:13 K:BB. Of course, he might be on the block as well, but he's got three more years of team control before reaching free agency, so unless the Angels get a massive haul for him, they won't be motivated to move him. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered

Lucas Erceg, Royals: The back of the Royals' bullpen is getting a bit messy. Carlos Estevez has blown three straight save chances, and while there's been no sign yet his closer job is in jeopardy, that's not a trend that can continue much longer. Erceg is the most likely replacement, although he hasn't been especially sharp of late either with a 4.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 10:7 K:BB through nine innings in July. Erceg's high-90s fastball and nasty slider (44.4 percent whiff rate this year) are a classic closer combo, though. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: Rostered

Catcher

Ryan Jeffers, Twins: Jeffers has been locked in over the last couple weeks, batting a cool .500 (14-for-28) since July 5 with four doubles and a homer. He's by far the superior option behind the plate over Christian Vazquez, and while it's admirable that Minnesota doesn't want to overwork him, they may not have that luxury down the stretch if they want to get into the wild-card picture. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered

First Base

Nick Loftin, Royals: Loftin's forced his way into a regular spot in the Kansas City lineup, bouncing between second base, left field and occasionally DH while batting .290 (9-for-31) over the last nine games with two homers and seven RBI. The 26-year-old just got some competition at those defensive positions from Adam Frazier, and Michael Massey will be back eventually, but the Royals have little reason to prioritize their playing time over figuring out if Loftin can be a real asset for the club. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Rowdy Tellez, Rangers: With Jake Burger sidelined again, and Texas tired of cycling utility players through first base with little to show for it, the team's decided to try a platoon of Tellez and Justin Foscue at the cold corner. Tellez is essentially a bargain bin Burger, providing power but little else – he homered Saturday in his second game as a Ranger, but his career .232/.299/.437 slash line is no fluke, and his 26.7 percent strikeout rate this season would be his worst mark since 2019. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Second Base

Adam Frazier, Royals: Oh good, just what the squad that's 26th in runs scored and 28th in team OPS needs. Another light-hitting utility player. Frazier returns to Kansas City in a trade after returning to Pittsburgh this past winter as a free agent, which means I can only assume he'll be flipped to the Padres or Mariners any second now. The 33-year-old really serves no purpose on the KC roster, but presumably they went out and got him for a reason. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Third Base

Kody Clemens, Twins: Roger's kid has muscled his way into a strong-side platoon role at first base for Minnesota, and through nine games in July he's batting .296 (8-for-27) with three homers and 10 RBI. Ty France doesn't offer much of an obstacle to playing time, and while Clemens is hitting over his head right now, he does have solid power. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: Rostered

Shortstop

J.P. Crawford, Mariners: Crawford's usually good for a couple of heaters in a season, and he's having one now. While his 15-game hitting streak got snapped Saturday, the 30-year-old is still slashing .318/.384/.424 since June 29 with four doubles, a homer, eight runs and eight RBI. T-Mobile Park is still rough on left-handed hitters, but the M's are on the road for a week beginning Thursday with series in Anaheim and Sacramento, and Crawford's current form suggests he'll be able to take full advantage. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered

Brayan Rocchio, Guardians: With Gabriel Arias on the shelf, Rocchio is getting another chance to prove he can be Cleveland's shortstop of the future, and this time the 24-year-old switch hitter might actually be making a case. Over 11 straight starts, he's batting .286 (10-for-35) with eight of those hits going for extra bases, including seven doubles. That sample isn't big enough to wipe away a career .209/.286/.312 slash line in the majors, but it does look a lot like his 2023 performance at Triple-A Columbus, when Rocchio slashed .280/.367/.421 with 33 doubles and 46 total XBH in 116 games. He's the player the Guardians want to see take over the position given his defensive upside, so any spark of offense is a welcome sight. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Outfield

Jake Mangum, Rays: Mangum has settled in as Tampa Bay's regular left fielder, and like most of the rest of the team, he seems to have a permanent green light on the basepaths. The 29-year-old is slashing a respectable .277/.333/.383 through 13 games in July with three steals in four attempts, and he's 14-for-17 on the season. If stolen bases are your primary category for gaining ground in the standings, Mangum should be useful. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: Rostered

Chas McCormick, Astros: Out since late May due to an oblique strain, McCormick returns to a Houston outfield that needs all the help it can get. Jose Altuve is currently back in left field while the Astros give Brice Matthews a shot at second base, but the rookie's gone 1-for-12 with six strikeouts in his first four big-league games. Mauricio Dubon can always pitch in when he isn't needed elsewhere... but Isaac Paredes just strained his hamstring, so Dubon might be needed more urgently at the hot corner. It all adds up to McCormick seeing all the playing time he can handle right out of the gate, with his major competition in LF/CF being Taylor Trammell and Cooper Hummel. McCormick's numbers have cratered since a breakout 2023, largely due to bad injury luck, so if he can stay on the field he might chip in some power and speed the rest of the summer. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Designated Hitter

Justin Foscue, Rangers: The 26-year-old keeps yo-yoing between Triple-A and the majors, effectively being the 28th or so man on the Rangers' roster, but Foscue will get a chance to fill a short-side platoon role at first base in the short term while Jake Burger is unavailable. He was at least showing some aptitude for that role with Round Rock, and in 74 PAs against southpaws this year at Triple-A he slashed .258/.378/.613 with six homers. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1