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 in the comments or on our Discord.

Starting Pitcher

Spencer Arrighetti, Astros: The right-hander returned from a four-month absence Wednesday and showed, well, about four months worth of rust, giving up five runs in 3.2 innings against the Marlins. He tossed 86 pitches though, so he's fully stretched out, and Arrighetti should get back in the swing of things quickly enough. He had some sleeper appeal coming into 2025, but he'll need to re-discover last year's strikeout rate (27.1 percent) to have real value. Getting five of his 11 outs via strikeout in his return was a good sign. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Shane Bieber, Blue Jays: The target date for Bieber's Blue Jays debut now appears to be Aug. 19 in Pittsburgh, as he's set to make one more rehab start after building up to 78 pitches with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday. That's a cushy landing spot, and Toronto's been able to stay patient with their big trade-deadline acquisition due to their lead in the AL East, which is currently three games over the red Sox and 5.5 over the bumbling Yankees. If you need a reminder of Bieber's upside, over three rehab starts in the high minors he's delivered a 19:2 K:BB over 14.2 innings. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: $21

Kyle Bradish, Orioles: Bradish is four starts deep into his rehab assignment, working up to 69 pitches (45 strikes) in his most recent outing Friday with Triple-A Norfolk. The right-hander hasn't produced reassuring ratios, but his 13:4 K:BB over 12.1 innings might be a better indication of how close he is to returning from June 2024 elbow surgery. Bradish isn't an established big name the way Bieber is, but he's got a 2.81 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 9.56 K/9 over the last two seasons for the O's. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

Cristian Javier, Astros: Houston appears ready to activate Javier for Monday's home start against the Red Sox, setting him up for an immediate two-step with a second home outing against the Orioles. The 28-year-old right-hander's control has been a little shaky on his rehab stint, and he doesn't have the pure ceiling that someone like Bieber does, but a nearly Cy Young-caliber 2022 campaign (2.54 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 33.2 percent K rate over 148.2 innings) didn't occur all that long ago for Javier. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Luis Morales, Athletics: A high-upside dart throw, Morales will get a look in the rotation with Luis Severino landing on the IL. Morales began the season with Double-A Midland and earned a promotion with a 2.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 53:15 K:BB over 42.1 innings. His ratios took a step back at Triple-A Las Vegas, which is understandable, but his 54:20 K:BB through 47 innings in the desert didn't show any regression at all. After one long-relief appearance in the majors back on Aug. 1, he's now set for his first start. The 22-year-old righty boasts four pitches headlines by a fastball that can touch 99 mph, and if everything clicks he has legit ace upside. He's a better keeper or dynasty stash than a redraft asset, but if he pitches well in Severino's place, the A's would have no reason to return him to the bullpen. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Cade Povich, Orioles: As expected, Povich came off the IL and ran into the Phillies' buzzsaw Monday. His 7:1 K:BB in 5.2 innings was encouraging, even if he did allow two homers and four runs in 5.2 innings. The southpaw has had a bumpy start to his big-league career since debuting in 2024, but his minor-league strikeout numbers suggest there's some upside here once he begins to figure things out. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

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

Via RotoWire's Probable Pitchers grid

Logan Allen, Guardians (vs. MIA, at ATL)
Bailey Falter, Royals (vs. WAS, vs. CHW)
Dean Kremer, Orioles (vs. SEA, at HOU)
Zebby Matthews, Twins (at NYY, vs. DET)
Chris Paddack, Tigers (at CHW, at MIN)
Jose Soriano, Angels (vs. LAD, at ATH)
Will Warren, Yankees (vs. MIN, at STL)

Relief Pitcher

Keegan Akin, Orioles: Sometimes, the most important asset a closer can have is the trust of his manager. Akin's four-seamer averages just 93.5 mph and the whiff rates on his slider and changeup are nothing special, and he's a left-hander to boot, but O's interim manager Tony Mansolino appears content to let him handle the ninth inning until Felix Bautista can make it back, if he even does in 2025. Akin has both of Baltimore's saves in August, and no one else is making much of a case to challenge him for the role. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

David Bednar, Yankees: You know things are bad in the Yankees' bullpen when even the retired Mo Rivera can't escape whatever curse has befallen the group. Goose Gossage better keep his head up. As far as active pitchers go, Devin Williams is melting down again, and Bednar appears to be the next man up, although he's had his own struggles in pinstripes – he walked in the tying run Saturday while trying to bail New York out of a jam Camilo Doval has created. Bednar's also worked more than one inning in three of his four appearances for the Yanks, posting a 3.00 ERA and 10:3 K:BB in six innings. Even if he does emerge as the top closing option, that kind of usage isn't going to let him pitch back-to-back days that often, which could limit his save chances. 12-team Mixed: Rostered; 15-team Mixed: Rostered; 12-team AL: $15

Phil Maton, Rangers: While he wasn't immediately installed as Texas' new closer after being acquired from St. Louis, Maton has the Rangers' only save so far in August. Perhaps more importantly, Robert Garcia blew his first two save chances this month, and the lefty has a 5.40 ERA and 1.80 WHIP over his last 10 appearances and 8.1 innings. At the very least, Maton figured to be a frequently called-up second fiddle. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Justin Topa, Twins: I owe y'all a couple-a mea culpas for my writeup of the Minnesota bullpen last week. Yeah, all the reporting said Cole Sands would be the new top guy, but I forgot that Rocco Baldelli still manages the club. The Twins have recorded two saves since Jhoan Duran was shipped to the Phillies, and they've gone to Erasmo Ramirez (which, lol) and Topa. Topa doesn't have closer stuff, relying mainly on a mid-90s two-seamer, but Baldelli's gonna Baldelli, so it wouldn't be a shock if the righty got more chances. Or maybe he won't get another one the rest of the year. Who knows? 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Mike Vasil, White Sox: Chicago launched Jonathan Cannon into the sun down to Triple-A after three bad starts in a row, creating an opening in the rotation. The team hasn't offered any hints yet on who might fill it, but Vasil is the most intriguing candidate, and he got stretched out to 61 pitches in bulk relief Friday. The 25-year-old right-hander has a 1.37 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 17:13 K:BB over 19.2 innings since the beginning of July, and while he could get two turns through the rotation this week either as a primary pitcher or traditional starter, he'd likely have a limited workload if he takes the mound Monday. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Luke Weaver, Yankees: While Williams is struggling and Bednar is getting worked heavily, Weaver has been quietly doing his thing. Over 14.2 innings since a rough stretch in early July, the veteran righty has a 1.84 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 15:4 K:BB. Weaver filled in as closer earlier in the season, and he could get a chance to do it again if Bednar isn't up to the task. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Catcher

Ryan Jeffers, Twins: With Christian Vazquez on the shelf, Jeffers is in line for a big workload behind the plate with only Jhonny Pereda and Mickey Gasper to spell him, but he's already hit his way into everyday duty. He's hit safely in 10 straight games since a stint on the paternity list in late July, batting a cool. 400 (16-for-40) with three doubles, a homer, five RBI and 10 runs. Jeffers has also been batting in the heart of the order for a depleted Twins squad. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Rostered

First Base

Jake Burger, Rangers: Burger has started back-to-back games since coming off the IL, one at first base and one at DH, but both were against left-handers so it's not quite clear yet if he'll have an everyday role. The 29-year-old still has a career-low .663 OPS on the season with only 11 homers in 77 games, but the likes of Josh Smith, Rowdy Tellez and Joc Pederson (who's having an even worse season than Burger is) don't present big obstacles to his playing time, and he's shown in the past that he's capable of getting hot in a heartbeat. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: Rostered

Tristan Gray, Rays: With Taylor Walls now dealing with a groin injury and Jose Caballero having been traded away, the Rays' infield is getting a little thin. Gray would be the most likely candidate to fill the utility infield role if Walls lands on the IL, and while the 29-year-old has done little in brief cups of coffee in the majors over the last three seasons, he's shown power in the past in the high minors and has a couple 30-homer campaigns at Triple-A Durham on his resume. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Ryan Mountcastle, Orioles: On the shelf since late May, Mountcastle was activated Friday and has started two straight games at DH. The 28-year-old hasn't played the outfield since 2021, so it's unlikely he'll help fill in there even with Colton Cowser and Tyler O'Neill on the IL, and Coby Mayo is getting a long look at first base, so Mountcastle doesn't have many other paths to playing time. He had a rough start to 2025, but if he's healthy he should bounce back to his usual level of production, which saw him compile a .270/.317/.438 slash line in 2023-24. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Second Base

Brooks Baldwin, White Sox: The 24-year-old switch hitter has taken over as the White Sox's starting third baseman in August, batting .333 (8-for-24) over the last seven games with a couple solo homers. Baldwin's taking advantage of injuries to Miguel Vargas and Chase Meidroth, and he might keep a starting job if he's still hitting when the roster gets healthy. It won't necessarily be at the hot corner though – Baldwin's played double-digit games this season in the majors at second base, third base, shortstop and all three outfield spots, pointing to a future as a super-utility player. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Luke Keaschall, Twins: Keaschall's hit the ground running, figuratively speaking anyway, since being activated from the IL on Tuesday. Over four games, he's gone 7-for-17 (.412) with two doubles, his first big-league homer, and eight RBI. The 22-year-old is a core piece of the rebuild the Twins launched in earnest at the trade deadline, and he's got serious five-category upside. 12-team Mixed: $7; 15-team Mixed: $15; 12-team AL: $35

Curtis Mead, White Sox: Tampa Bay's stacked depth chart never gave Mead much of a chance to carve out a regular role in the majors despite a career .293/.373/.501 slash line in 856 Triple-A plate appearances, but the path is a lot clearer for him in Chicago. He's started four straight games at first base, going 4-for-14 (.286) with three RBI and a steal, and Vargas really hasn't done enough to warrant being slotted right back into a starting role once he gets healthy if Mead is contributing. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Christian Moore, Angels: Moore missed about a month with a thumb issue, so it's understandable he's still looking for his swing since his return. The 2024 first-round pick could probably use more minor-league seasoning, but that's not the Angels' style. Even when he's fully healthy it's not clear how much fantasy upside he has, as he hasn't shown much more than good patience and a solid hit tool, but his playing time should be secure. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Lenyn Sosa, White Sox: Time for your monthly reminder that when Sosa's in a groove, he'll post numbers worthy of being rostered even in shallow mixed leagues. Over his last 14 games, the 25-year-old is slashing .340/.393/.600 with four homers, nine runs and 11 RBI. Sosa will run hot and cold, but that's why you have a bench. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered

Third Base

Gio Urshela, Athletics: Urshela is filling the strong side of a platoon with Max Schuemann at third base, and with Max Muncy not hitting yet as he recovers from a fracture in his hand, that arrangement could continue for a while. Consistent playing time seems to suit Urshela, and over his last 11 games he's batting .282 (11-for-39) with three doubles, three RBI and four runs. If you're specifically targeting batting average as a category you can gain ground in, he should have value for you. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $3

Shortstop

Brayan Rocchio, Guardians: Rocchio's been on a nice roll since the All-Star break, and he's established himself as Cleveland's everyday second baseman, at least for now. The 24-year-old switch hitter is slashing .292/.329/.403 over his last 21 games with six doubles, a triple, a steal, seven runs and a surprising 14 RBI. He's flashed both power and speed in the minors, but a career 13-for-23 success rate on the basepaths in the majors suggests he may not get many more green lights. It's been a while since one of the Guardians' seemingly inexhaustible supply of athletic middle-infield prospects actually panned out, but Rocchio is inching close to being a useful fantasy asset. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: Rostered

Outfield

Greg Allen, Orioles: The veteran depth outfielder showed up in Baltimore this week as the team tries to plug the holes created at the trade deadline, and by injuries since then. Allen's gone 0-for-6 in his first two games with the O's, but if he gets manage to get on base, the 32-year-old still has some steals potential. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

JJ Bleday, Athletics: Bleday's been as scorching as Neil Diamond in his prime to kick off the month, going 11-for-21 (.524) with two doubles and two homers and continuing the blazing stretch he'd been on at Triple-A Las Vegas in July. With Lawrence Butler slumping and Denzel Clarke on IL, Tyler Soderstrom is the only sure thing in the A's outfield, so there's a path for Bleday to reclaim a full-time role if he doesn't turn back into JJ Bleday. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Kyle Isbel, Royals: Isbel's glove has kept him in center field for the Royals no matter how he hits, but he's actually contributing at the plate as well. In 18 games since the All-Star break, the 28-year-old is slashing .357/.410/.446 with five doubles, two steals, eight RBI and 11 runs. There isn't much in his profile to suggest this is anything more than some good luck – he's got a career-low 1.2 percent Barrel rate in 2025 – but it might be worth seeing if that heater will last a little longer. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: Rostered

Tristan Peters, Rays: Jonny DeLuca's back on IL, opening up a spot for Peters to make his big-league debut. The 25-year-old earned his promotion by slashing .282/.370/.453 at Triple-A Durham with 11 homers, 11 steals and a 50:70 BB:K in 105 games, so he might have some modest five-category upside in an everyday role. Peters would likely need another injury, or even two, to get that chance though. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1