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.

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Starting Pitcher

Joe Boyle, Rays: Boyle's one of those guys that it's easy to dream on given his strikeout potential, and winding up in Tampa Bay's pitching factory only increased expectations. The 25-year-old's been absolutely dominant at Triple-A this year, posting a 1.73 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 96:31 K:BB through 73 innings for Durham, and he may have finally gotten his control to a point that his high-90s fastball and power slider can be consistent weapons. It's not clear what Tampa's plans for him are yet, and he may only be up to make a spot start ahead of the All-Star break, but Taj Bradley has options remaining and a 7.00 ERA over his last six starts, and you can't rule out the Rays dealing a pending free agent like Zack Littell by the trade deadline, or even selling high on someone like Drew Rasmussen, who has two years of team control after 2025. It's kind of their thing as a franchise. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Jonathan Cannon, White Sox: A lower-back strain cost Cannon most of June, but he's looked decent in two starts since coming off the IL, giving up three runs over 8.1 innings with a 5:5 K:BB. The 24-year-old righty offers little upside, but his spot in the rotation seems fairly secure. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Joey Cantillo, Guardians: The Luis L. Ortiz situation created an immediate vacancy in the Cleveland rotation which Cantillo will get the first crack at filling, assuming he doesn't throw any suspicious first-pitch balls to lead off innings too. The 25-year-old southpaw lasted 68 pitches against the Cubs on Thursday with good results, and his overall numbers in the majors this year have been solid, so there's upside here if you're fishing for some. Cantillo also lands in a two-step this week, with road outings against the Astros and White Sox, so he could pay quick dividends. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Dietrich Enns, Tigers: Enns was a nice story when he made his first big-league appearance since 2021 on June 26 and blanked the A's over five innings, but the bloom came off the rose quickly when he had to make another start Thursday and got rocked by the Nats. The 34-year-old lefty is still in the rotation for the moment, but it wouldn't be surprising if Detroit swaps him out for Keider Montero. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Logan Evans, Mariners: Seattle decided Wednesday that having Emerson Hancock give up 16 runs in 15 innings over his last three starts was bad actually, and cycled Evans back in as the team's fifth starter. The 24-year-old right-hander blanked the Royals over 5.2 innings in his return to the majors, and while he doesn't offer much strikeout upside, a 2.98 ERA over his first 45.2 big-league innings is useful on just about any fantasy roster. He's a better streaming stash than short-term fantasy option though – he's lined up for a trip to Yankee Stadium in his last start before the All-Star break. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Cam Schlittler, Yankees: Schlittler, whose name is an absolute land mine for broadcasters everywhere, has had a breakout campaign in the high minors, posting a 2.82 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 99:26 K:BB over 76.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, and with Clarke Schmidt seemingly headed for Tommy John surgery, the 24-year-old righty is set to make his big-league debut this week. He's a tall drink of water at 6-foot-6 who has tweaked his delivery over the last year or so to get more extension and make better use of those long levers, and his best pitch is a mid-90s fastball with good life that he can pump up to 98 or so when necessary. He's still working on his arsenal around the heater, but he's got a good curve and decent slider, and Schlittler has been working on a splitter, which just feels a little on the nose. There's real upside here, and a potentially long runway, as Luis Gil won't be ready to go until at least the end of the month and Ryan Yarbrough isn't throwing yet. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: $9

Brandon Young, Orioles: The 26-year-old righty got pressed back into duty this past week with Cade Povich and Zach Eflin both on the shelf, and Young once again failed to complete five innings. He's got a back-of-the-rotation arsenal that can get by when his command holds up, but 11 walks in his first 16.2 big-league innings won't cut it. Young lines up for a two-start week heading into the break, at home against the Mets and Marlins, so if you're feeling frisky he might be worth a roll of the dice based on his Triple-A numbers this year. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $3

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

Via RotoWire's Probable Pitchers grid

Sean Burke, White Sox (vs. TOR, vs. CLE)
Noah Cameron, Royals (vs. PIT, vs. NYM)
Aaron Civale, White Sox (vs. TOR, vs. CLE)
Richard Fitts, Red Sox (vs. COL, vs. TB)
Jose Soriano, Angels (vs. TEX, vs. ARI)
Jeffrey Springs, Athletics (vs. ATL, vs. TOR)
Simeon Woods Richardson, Twins (vs. CHC, vs. PIT)

Relief Pitcher

Jacob Latz, Rangers: Latz is emerging as an effective swingman for Texas, working two-plus innings in six of his last seven appearances and compiling a 2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB over 23.1 frames. Bulk Ks with an occasional win or three-inning save can help stabilize a deep-league staff, providing a better floor than a volatile starter on a bad team – and usually coming cheaper, too. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Jack Perkins, Athletics: Speaking of three-inning saves, Perkins has two of them now, as the Sacramento Exiles continue to develop the 25-year-old right-hander out of the bullpen until a rotation spot opens up – something that should happen by the trade deadline, at the latest. If you have a bench spot to churn for a high-upside arm, he needs to be a priority target – Perkins' 1.93 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB through his first 9.1 big-league innings aren't a fluke, as he's complementing his 96.3 mph average fastball with a sweeper that's getting a 41.4 percent whiff rate so far. He's got a five-pitch mix that he hasn't had to dip into too extensively while only going once through the order or so, but his changeup has been lethal against lefties in a tiny sample so far. It wouldn't be a shock if Perkins isn't just in the rotation, but is the ace of the staff by the time 2025 is in the books. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Grant Taylor, White Sox: This is probably your last chance to get any Taylor shares. The White Sox bullpen hasn't exactly been a reliable place to find a closer the last couple years, but Taylor's got three of the team's four saves since June 22, and the one he didn't get came when he's worked two innings the day before. He'll need to find a secondary pitch with some real swing and miss to become a truly elite reliever, but a 99.2 mph four-seamer with a 37.1 percent whiff rate is a nice foundation to build on. Chicago might decide to move him back into the rotation down the road, following the Chris Sale/Garrett Crochet development path, but in the short term the team is giving Taylor a clear shot at becoming The Guy in the bullpen. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: Rostered

Catcher

Samuel Basallo, Orioles: I made a joke on the RotoWire Discord this week about the baseball gods conspiring to get Basallo called up by injuring all of Baltimore's other catching options, but it's looking less like a joke with Gary Sanchez scheduled for an MRI on his knee this weekend, and Adley Rutschman, Maverick Handley and Chadwick Tromp all currently on the IL. Jacob Stallings is the last man standing behind the plate and I guess is worth throwing a buck at in two-catcher AL-only formats, until he gets struck by lightning or whatever. The O's clearly don't want to start Basallo's clock yet, or at least want to try and preserve his 2026 rookie status, but they're running out of alternatives, and the 20-year-old is slashing .282/.402/.577 at Triple-A Norfolk since June 1 with seven homers, 18 RBI and a 15:18 BB:K in 23 games. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $3

Danny Jansen, Rays: Jansen's re-established himself as Tampa Bay's clear No. 1 catcher, and he's beginning to get the hang of hitting in the team's temporary bandbox of a home park. Over the last month, he sports a .258/.299/.532 slash line with five homers and 14 RBI in 18 games, and this figures to be a very loud summer at George M. Steinbrenner Field when it comes to offense. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Rostered

Jacob Stallings, Orioles: (Ominous rumble of thunder in distance). 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

First Base

Jake Burger, Rangers: Burger returned from an oblique strain Wednesday and has started three straight games, two at first base and one at DH, while going 3-for-11. It's been a rough first season in Texas for the 29-year-old slugger, but the guy who launched 63 homers over the prior two years is still there if he can stay healthy and get into a groove. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: Rostered

Second Base

Brooks Baldwin, White Sox: Baldwin has yet to make an impact in the majors, managing a .600 OPS in 282 plate appearances, but the 24-year-old switch hitter doesn't seem to have much left to prove at Triple-A – over 28 games for Charlotte this year he's slashed .368/.425 .737 with 11 homers. With Luis Robert on IL and Michael Taylor banged up, there's playing time available in center field, and really even if Taylor were healthy, there would be no reason to give him playing time over a kid who might be part of the team's future. Baldwin also qualifies at second base and shortstop, and he could emerge as a super-utility fantasy asset in the second half if he gets a real chance. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Zack Gelof, Athletics: Activated from the IL on Friday after a rib injury cost him the first three months of the season, Gelof has gone 0-for-7 with three strikeouts, so he hasn't exactly hit the ground running. His power-speed upside is undeniable – he's got 31 homers and 39 steals in his first 209 MLB games – but the 25-year-old will need to make consistent contact to be much more than a volatile dart throw in shallower formats. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

Colt Keith, Tigers: Keith continues to be sheltered against left-handed pitching, which does limit his utility in shallow fantasy leagues that don't have daily moves, but he should still have a higher roster rate given his current role and form. Over 17 games since June 13, the 23-year-old is slashing .321/.375/.518 with two homers, seven RBI and 10 runs while taking over as the Tigers' leadoff hitter against RHP. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Rostered

Chad Stevens, Angels: Called up when Christian Moore got hurt, Stevens has seen a surprising amount of playing time, or maybe not so surprising when you consider his main competition for work at the keystone is Kevin Newman. Stevens was slashing a PCL-boosted .307/.383/.542 in 72 games for Triple-A Salt Lake with 14 homers and nine steals prior to his promotion, so there may be some upside here, and Moore's timeline for a return from a sprained thumb, as well as the futures of players like Luis Rengifo and Yoan Moncada in Anaheim, is a bit murky. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Third Base

Royce Lewis, Twins: Lewis' inability stay healthy has put a major dent in his trustworthiness, but that just creates a buying opportunity. I mean heck, Minnesota's found a way to keep Byron Buxton in the lineup this season, so why not Lewis too? (Frantically finds some wood to knock on.) Lewis' upside is elite, of course – he showed that in 2023 – and he's gone 5-for-15 since returning from his latest IL stint, so if he's available in your league, it won't be for long. 12-team Mixed: $7; 15-team Mixed: $15; 12-team AL: Rostered

Shay Whitcomb, Astros: Whitcomb's been getting a little more playing time during his latest MLB stint, and he even popped his first big-league homer Wednesday. That's been his only hit in eight at-bats though, and he still profiles as a bench player at best, with Brice Matthews far more likely to be brought up to fill a starting job if Houston has an opening. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Shortstop

Leo Jimenez, Blue Jays: Jimenez missed the beginning of the season with an injury the Jays have never bothered to provide details on, but he looked healthy at Triple-A Buffalo prior to his promotion, batting .271 (13-for-48) in 15 games with a 9:11 BB:K. The 24-year-old doesn't have much fantasy upside in terms of power or speed, but any backup infielder on the Toronto bench figures to get semi-regular playing time as the team does its mix-and-match thing. Andres Gimenez being banged up again doesn't hurt Jimenez's outlook either. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Ha-Seong Kim, Rays: Kim finally made his Tampa debut Friday after his recovery from shoulder surgery was complicated by a hamstring strain, and he promptly strained his calf, which suggests he maybe wasn't fully over the hamstring issue. The latest injury doesn't seem to be serious, so he could avoid a return to the IL, but it might help suppress bidding on him. Kim could move the needle in the second half on the basepaths if his lower body stays in one piece – the Rays have stolen more bags than anyone else in the majors so far in 2025 (117 in 89 games, with only two other clubs even in triple digits and the Rangers a distant fourth with 83), and the 29-year-old infielder swiped 60 bases over the last two seasons for the Padres. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

Colson Montgomery, White Sox: Somewhat of a surprise promotion as part of the White Sox's full-on youth movement, Montgomery was a top-25 prospect as recently as late 2023, but the shine has come off his status since then as he's struggled to do much damage with his bat in the high minors. The 23-year-old had picked up the pace prior to getting the call to The Show, slashing .284/.347/.657 over his last 17 games for Triple-A Charlotte with six homers among his 11 extra-base hits, but he still had a 32.0 percent strikeout rate against a 6.7 walk rate even during his hot streak. He made a spectacular defensive play in his MLB debut Friday before banging out three hits with a triple Saturday at Coors Field, and Chicago seems likely to give him every chance to lock up the starting job at shortstop, but the floor is non-existent in his first taste of the majors. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Max Muncy, Athletics: Muncy the Younger has gotten hot again, slashing .314/.385/.571 over his last 10 games with three doubles and two homers... and a 3:12 BB:K, so the hot streak could freeze over at any moment. The 22-year-old will be a roller coaster as a fantasy asset, but the good times have outweighed the bad since he returned to the majors in early June, and he's got little competition for playing time at third base with both Luis Urias and Miguel Andujar on the IL. Andujar could be back soon, but the A's have little reason to prioritize his playing time unless it's to try and showcase him for a trade. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered

Outfield

Mauricio Dubon, Astros: With Jeremy Pena out due to a rib fracture, Dubon has been Houston's primary shortstop while still spotting in elsewhere on the diamond, and he's got a nice little six-game hitting streak going in that everyday role. Since June 15, the 30-year-old utility player is slashing .290/.333/.565 with four of his five homers on the year, and his current form at the plate and defensive versatility – in leagues with a 20-game threshold from the previous year and a 10-game cutoff in the current campaign, Dubon qualifies at first base, second base, shortstop and outfield, and he's two games away from adding third base eligibility – make him an ideal bench asset even in shallow formats. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: Rostered

Cooper Hummel, Astros: Hummel's been another beneficiary of the Astros' injury woes, getting consistent playing time in left field over the last couple weeks and slashing a respectable .267/.421/.367 in his last 11 games with a homer, two RBI and six runs. His plate discipline makes him more useful in OBP formats, but the at-bats have some value even in standard 5x5. Hummel's days of being a possible qualifier at catcher are behind him, though – he hasn't seen time behind the plate since 2023, even in the minors. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Tyler O'Neill, Orioles: Out since mid-May due to shoulder issues, O'Neill wasted little time reminding people of his upside when healthy, homering Saturday in his second game back. The 30-year-old has played 100 or more games only once in the last four seasons, hasn't stolen double-digit bags since 2022 and hasn't hit above .241 since 2021, so how much of a fantasy asset he is even when in the lineup is increasingly a question mark. O'Neill's power still appears intact though, so if that's what you need, he's a worthwhile gamble. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Mike Tauchman, White Sox: Tauchman's piling up hits again, banging out six singles over the last three games and slashing .351/.400/.405 over nine contests since returning from a brief absence due to a groin strain in late June. The 34-year-old has only one RBI and two runs during that stretch though, and while he isn't completely without pop, any contributions you get from him outside of BA/OBP should be viewed as a bonus. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: Rostered

Colby Thomas, Athletics: After slashing .325/.393/.570 since late May for Triple-A Las Vegas with a palatable 24.4 percent strikeout rate, Thomas finally forced the A's to bring him up to the majors. The 24-year-old will have to wait his turn for a starting job, however – Denzel Clarke's glovework has him entrenched in center field, while Lawrence Butler isn't getting bumped from right field, Tyler Soderstrom has been good enough defensively in left field, and Brent Rooker remains arguably the team's best hitter at DH. None of them are obvious trade candidates, and Soderstrom isn't going back to first base with Nick Kurtz doing a fine Jim Thome impression, so there's no obvious path to regular playing time for Thomas. That makes him a decent keeper stash, but gives him limited value as a redraft asset other than as a dart throw to park on your bench in case injuries hit the A's roster, regardless of his upside. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $3

Designated Hitter

Masataka Yoshida, Red Sox: At some point during Boston's week-long homestand ahead of the All-Star break, Yoshida should come off the IL. What his role will be at that point is anybody's guess. The Rafael Devers didn't actually clear a path for him, since he now has Roman Anthony in the way instead, and while trade rumors have floated around guys like Wilyer Abreu and even Jarren Duran, the Red Sox don't really seem like they're in a position to make a big go-for-it trade at the deadline. Yoshida was supposedly going to get reps at first base on his rehab stint, but he's only even seen one game in the outfield, spending most of his time at DH. The 31-year-old should still have some juice in his bat, but right now he looks like a puzzle piece that doesn't fit on the BoSox roster. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4