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 tossed 41 pitches in a live batting practice session Thursday, a workload that suggests his rehab stint could be shorter than usual once it resumes. Cleveland's been careful with the 30-year-old's recovery from last April's Tommy John surgery, but he could be ready to reinforce the big-league rotation by early August, although I wouldn't necessarily bet on it. It's also 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: With Hunter Dobbins lost for the season, Fitts will rejoin the Boston rotation after the ASB. The 25-year-old righty 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 if he continues to struggle the Red Sox will also have Tanner Houck as an option by then. Fitts could have a very short leash. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Luis Gil, Yankees: Like Bieber, Gil is poised to begin a rehab assignment. He's probably a bit behind the Cleveland right-hander, although the Yankees seem to think he'll be able to join the big-league rotation before the end of the month. That seems... ambitious, and would give him time to make just three rehab starts, but Gil is "only" recovering from a spring lat strain and not Tommy John surgery, so maybe it's feasible. His numbers during his breakout 2024 make him a strong stash candidate even if you do end up waiting an extra week or two for his services. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $3

Keider Montero, Tigers: Montero rejoined the Detroit rotation Monday but then piggybacked Casey Mize on Saturday, keeping both guys a little fresher for the other side of the ASB. Montero has been effective in the majors since late May, posting a 2.88 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 24:9 K:BB through his last 34.1 innings, but the Tigers are a prime candidate to add a starting pitcher by the trade deadline. As a result it's tough to count on Montero for anything but short-term value. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Trevor Rogers, Orioles: The 27-year-old southpaw has been impressive since a shaky return to the rotation in Tampa Bay on June 18. Over his last four starts, Rogers has delivered a 1.01 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 23:7 K:BB through 26.2 innings, helping to keep an injury-ravaged O's staff afloat. It's easy to forget now, but he looked like a future front-line starter in 2021 for the Marlins before injuries took their toll. Rogers' velocity has mostly returned this year (93.5 mph average fastball, way up from last season's 91.8 mph average but still short of the 94.6 mph he was delivering in 2021) and his slider is still getting whiffs, although he hasn't been using it as often in 2025. There's enough reason for optimism in his profile to give him a shot in the second half. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Rostered

Cam Schlittler, Yankees: Schlittler served up a couple homers in his MLB debut Wednesday but otherwise looked good with a 7:2 K:BB in 5.1 innings. The 24-year-old righty 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 he should get another turn or two after the ASB, at the least. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: $9

Relief Pitcher

Jordan Hicks, Red Sox: Boston's front office may have heard the criticisms of the return it got for Rafael Devers, as Hicks has been tossed right into a high-leverage role and even got a save last Sunday after Aroldis Chapman worked the eighth. Hicks does have late-inning experience with the Cards, prior to the Giants' ill-fated attempt to convert him to starting, but he was never as effective as his triple-digit heat suggested he should be. Still, Alex Cora's usage of Chapman has left some saves up for grabs in the Red Sox bullpen – Justin Slaten and Greg Weissert have three each – and if Hicks gets the bulk of those leftover opportunities in the second half, he'll have some deep-league value. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Catcher

Victor Caratini, Astros: Caratini's heating up again in his C/DH/1B role, hitting safely in eight of nine July appearances while batting .333 (12-for-36) with four homers and 13 RBI. Yordan Alvarez should be back eventually, but until then Caratini should be rostered even in shallower two-catcher formats. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Rostered

Freddy Fermin, Royals: Kansas City is giving Salvador Perez more work than ever at 1B and DH, opening up extra starts behind the plate for Fermin, and since the beginning of June the 30-year-old is slashing .328/.409/.448 in 66 plate appearances. His production's been lacking during that stretch – he has only one solo homer, no other RBI and four runs total – but that's as much on the offense around him as it is on Fermin. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered

Kyle Higashioka, Rangers: With injuries limiting the Rangers' DH options, the team has taken to using both its catchers in the lineup at the same time, and Higashioka has made that choice easier by batting .333 (9-for-27) in July with three homers and nine RBI in seven games. The 35-year-old is usually good for an offensive surge or two every year, so if you need help at catcher he hopefully won't lose his momentum over the break. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Rostered

Second Base

Romy Gonzalez, Red Sox: It looked like Gonzalez might have bashed his way into a full-time job by slashing .349/.376/.698 since the beginning of June with 17 of his 30 hits going for extra bases, including five homers, plus 16 runs and 22 RBI in 26 games. Then he got parked on the bench against two straight right-handed pitchers after Alex Bregman was activated from the IL, so maybe not? I'm not sure what more Gonzalez needs to do, to be honest. Yeah, he's better against LHP, but he's held his own against righties and Abraham Toro's run of relevance evaporated weeks ago. If he can escape that platoon typecasting, he could be a nice find in the second half. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: Rostered

Brice Matthews, Astros: Called up for his big-league debut Friday, Matthews went 0-for-7 with five Ks in his first two starts for Houston, which isn't particularly encouraging. Still, the organization is pretty much out of outfielders they can turn to – Jake Meyers, Jacob Melton, Zach Dezenzo, Chas McCormick and even Pedro Leon are all on the IL, not to mention Yordan – so using Jose Altuve in left and giving Matthews a long look at the keystone is probably the team's best option. Matthews is a legit prospect somewhat in the Caleb Durbin mold, slashing .283/.400/.476 in 73 games at Triple-A this season with 10 homers and 25 steals, but his 30.2 percent strikeout rate for Sugar Land was actually an improvement over 2024. Matthews is a better dart throw in OBP formats as a result, but even in standard roto 5x5 he could provide some counting stats if he gets his feet under him in the majors. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

Curtis Mead, Rays: Sent down to Triple-A at the beginning of the month, Mead got a quick recall when Brandon Lowe landed on the IL. The 24-year-old Aussie remains little more than a keeper stash and DFS punt play as a short-side platoon player right now, but patience with Tampa players with his offensive upside can pay off – look no further than Jonathan Aranda for proof. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Jorge Polanco, Mariners: Polanco's blistering March/April gave way to an ice-cold May, and his June wasn't a whole lot better. That may have gotten the 32-year-old cut loose in shallower formats, but there are reasons to fix that if he's floating around on your wire. First, he's being eased back into defensive duties again at second base, suggesting he's finally completely healthy. Second, he's kicked July off with a .282/.349/.615 slash line over 43 plate appearances, and seven of his 11 hits have gone for extra bases (four doubles, three homers). Polanco will be streaky, but the aggregate results in the second half should be worth a spot on your roster. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: Rostered

Will Wilson, Guardians: Sent down at the beginning of June, Wilson had a nice month at Columbus (.292/.343/.523 in 18 games) before getting called back up when Lane Thomas went back on the IL. With Angel Martinez needed back in center field and Daniel Schneemann struggling at the plate, there's an opening for Wilson to claim a significant share of the work at the keystone, but he's gone just 1-for-12 with six Ks since rejoining the Guardians. There is a bit of upside here, but his window to start capitalizing on it will be narrow. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Third Base

Yoan Moncada, Angels: Moncada's stop-start season started up again Tuesday as he came back off the IL, and he's gone 4-for-19 with a homer in five games at third base. The best-case scenario here is that he stays on the field for the next couple weeks and gets dealt to a team like the Yankees if they can't land a bigger fish at the trade deadline. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Oswald Peraza, Yankees: Speaking of the Bronz Zoo, DJ LeMahieu got kicked to the curb and Jazz Chisholm got shifted back to second base as his shoulder wasn't doing well with the longer throws from third, leaving a big hole in the Yankees' lineup. Peraza's trying to fill it at the moment, but through 25 plate appearances in July he's gone just 3-for-25 with zero walks, extra-base hits or RBI. New York did grab Jeimer Candelario off the scrap heap but he's not doing much at Triple-A, so a trade seems almost inevitable. Until then though, Peraza should at least get some consistent playing time. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Outfield

Miguel Andujar, Athletics: The 30-year-old was activated off the IL on Wednesday and has started three straight games at third base, going 2-for-12 with a walk and nothing else of note. Andujar seems destined for the bench though, whether with the A's or with a contender, especially with Max Muncy the Younger slashing .292/.346/.604 over his last 13 contests and even improving his strikeout rate a touch. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Joey Loperfido, Blue Jays: Toronto's remarkable recent run has been a true team effort, and it seems like no matter who they call up or add to the lineup, they find a way to contribute. Loperfido's been no exception – he wasn't having a bad year at Triple-A Buffalo (.278/.354/.422), but since his promotion last Sunday he's gone 5-for-14 for the Jays with a homer and five RBI. He's still the most likely candidate to go back down when the Jays need someone to fill a slightly different role, or Daulton Varsho gets healthy, but until then Loperfido could chip in useful numbers. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Nathan Lukes, Blue Jays: One of the guys that's jumped past Loperfido on the organizational depth chart is Lukes. The 31-year-old has been a near-everyday player since returning from a concussion in late June, slashing .305/.406/.424 over his last 20 games with a homer, nine runs, 11 RBI and more walks (10) than strikeouts (eight). Those numbers aren't actually too far out of line with his career Triple-A performance (.297/.363/.436 in over 1,500 PAs), but the fact that he spent all that time at Triple-A tells you everything you need to know about his upside. Lukes is a decent plug-in for now, but he shouldn't be viewed as a long-term fantasy solution. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered

Angel Martinez, Guardians: Martinez's career high in homers at any level is 14, set in 2023 (11 at Double-A, and three more at Triple-A), but the 23-year-old switch hitter went yard in three straight games last week before the streak ended in the nightcap of Friday's twin bill. It's been a while since the Cleveland organization had a real success story when it comes to turning one of their seemingly inexhaustible supply of athletic middle infielders into a viable big-league bat, much less a Jose Ramirez/Francisco Lindor-level star, but Martinez is teasing that possibility. He's slashing .268/.289/.610 through 12 games in July with five doubles in addition to those three long balls, and with Lane Thomas on the shelf and no one else stepping up at second base, he's got multiple paths to playing time in the second half. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team AL: Rostered

Taylor Trammell, Astros: Somebody's got to play outfield for the Astros, so why not a recycled former top prospect? Trammell was drafted 35th overall by the Reds back in 2016 and starred in the Futures Game in 2018, but it's been mostly downhill since due to injuries and skill erosion. (Keep that in mind before going all in on whoever shines in this year's showcase.) Now 27 years old, Trammell's gotten consistent playing time this month in Houston's injury-ravaged outfield and gone 5-for-23 in July with two doubles, a homer and a 2:10 BB:K. He nearly posted a 20-20 season at Triple-A last year in the Yankees' system, so the athleticism is still there, and he could find his way into some counting stats until the Astros' roster gets healthier. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Designated Hitter

Masataka Yoshida, Red Sox: Yoshida has started three of four games since coming off the IL on Wednesday, all at DH, and gone 4-for-10 with a couple doubles. The 31-year-old has a solid bat – career .286/.344/.435 slash line since coming over from Japan ahead of the 2023 campaign – and the Red Sox are starting to get creative as they try to find playing time for all their OF/DH options, which basically means Ceddanne Rafaela got bumped back to the infield for Saturday's game. Trading someone like Wilyer Abreu would solve the logjam, but even with the current roster in Boston, Yoshida should get regular at-bats, if not quite full-time ones. Just don't expect him to gain OF eligibility any time soon, much less 1B. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11