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

Sam Aldegheri, Angels: With Jose Soriano finishing the year on the IL, Aldegheri seems likely to get a start in the final week. His handful of ugly MLB innings over the last couple years won't put him on the fantasy radar for most, but the Italian southpaw was pitching really well for Double-A Rocket City prior to getting bumped to Triple-A Slat Lake for one start in September. Over his last 66.2 innings in the high minors, Aldegheri has a 2.30 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 52:23 K:BB. The lack of strikeouts caps his ceiling, but if you need a dart throw in the final week or are looking for a potential cheap keeper in a deep format, you could do worse. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

AJ Blubaugh, Astros: Houston's fallen behind Seattle in the battle for the AL West crown, but a wild-card spot seems like the worst-case scenario for whichever team doesn't win the division. Pitching injuries are a big part of that swoon for the Astros, and Blubaugh's been pushed into the rotation as a result. The right-hander threw only 50 pitches his last time out Tuesday, so if he does get a start in the final week his win potential could be limited, but he hasn't given up a run over his last six appearances with a 0.75 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB through 12 innings, so he's doing something right. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Joe Boyle, Rays: Boyle returned to the Tampa rotation Monday and blanked the Blue Jays over six innings with a 5:0 K:BB. If he looks good against the Red Sox on Sunday too, he could be your best option if you need steal a point or two in the ratio categories in the final week. The right-hander lines up to face the Jays again on the road on the final day of the season, and Toronto might not have anything to play for at that point and could be resting key hitters. Even if they need a win, well, they needed a win Monday too and couldn't solve him. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

Kyle Harrison, Red Sox: The 24-year-old southpaw finally made his first Boston start Saturday and looked good, delivering a QS against the Rays and only walking two batters in six innings of one-run ball. Harrison's control remains at least a yellow flag, but he's set to face a Tigers team that's in absolute free fall in the final week. On the season, Detroit's first in wOBA and second in wRC+ against LHP, but those numbers don't mean a lot given how the team is choking away the AL Central title. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Tyler Mahle, Rangers: Mahle returned from the IL too late to help the Rangers stay in the playoff picture – OK, fine, they aren't officially eliminated... yet – but he blanked the Marlins over 4.2 innings Friday with six Ks, and he's set to take on the hapless Twins at home in his final outing of 2025. He may not quite have the pure ceiling of Boyle, but the better matchup makes Mahle a strong option to throw your remaining budget at if you need quality innings in the final week. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: $15

Trey Yesavage, Blue Jays: Well, turns out the Jays decided Yesavage would get dropped right into the rotation after all, a decision that makes more sense now that Chris Bassitt is on the IL and a fading Jose Berrios has been shifted to the bullpen ahead of the postseason. Yesavage also decided to just skip his usual adjustment period to a new level, fanning nine Rays over five one-run innings in his big-league debut Monday. If he pitches well against the Royals on Sunday, and he's still available, he'll probably be the pitcher drawing the biggest bids for the final FAAB period given the hype and pedigree. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: $21

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

Via RotoWire's Probable Pitchers grid

Cristian Javier, Astros (at ATH, at LAA)
Zebby Matthews, Twins (at TEX, at PHI)
Ian Seymour, Rays (at BAL, at TOR)
Shane Smith, White Sox (at NYY, at WAS)
Jeffrey Springs, Athletics (vs. HOU, vs. KC)

Relief Pitcher

Hogan Harris / Michael Kelly, Athletics: If you need late saves, taking a stab at the A's bullpen is probably your last shot. Kelly and Harris have split the team's last four saves, forming a lefty-righty duo. Neither's a particularly good reliever, but that matters far less than the potential opportunities. As the right-hander, Kelly's the slightly better target. Harris – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5 / Kelly – 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Grant Taylor, White Sox: Taylor shook off a minor groin strain to get the save to get a save Friday, while Jordan Leasure got five outs in the seventh and eighth innings. The White Sox still don't seem committed to locking Taylor into a high-leverage relief role for the long term, but that doesn't mean he won't get another opportunity or two before 2025 is in the books. If they stretch him out to start, it won't happen until the spring. That won't stop them from using him as an opener this week though, or randomly in the sixth inning when they're down by four runs. Who knows? 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Catcher

Carter Jensen, Royals: After just dipping his toes into big-league waters through the first week or two of September, Jensen's been a lineup regular since last weekend and gone a sizzling 10-for-27 (.370) with four doubles and two homers. KC's closing schedule does feature three LHP in six games though, so they may elect to shelter him against pitchers like Yusei Kikuchi and Jeffrey Springs, but three games from the kid might still be better than one of your current catching options. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

Bo Naylor, Guardians: Cleveland's charge up the standings in September could end up being legendary if they can finish it off, and Naylor's bat has been a key part of it. He's hit safely in eight straight games, batting a mere .414 (12-for-29) over that stretch with three doubles, three homers and 13 RBI. He hasn't provided the steals in the majors that his minor-league resume promised – not a surprise for a guy with a career .287 OBP so far – but you only need him to stay locked in for another week. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Rostered

First Base

Nolan Schanuel, Angels: Schanuel returned from the IL on Friday after missing just under a month with a wrist injury and has gone 3-for-9 with a double and a homer since his activation. He doesn't offer consistent power and has limited value outside of OBP formats, but he should get steady playing time. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Second Base

Christian Moore, Angels: Since getting called back up two Saturdays ago, Moore's gone 6-for-24 with two doubles, three homers and two steals while starting seven straight games. He's also struck out nine times and might not keep it up, but if you need power from a spot you typically don't get it, he's worth a roll of the dice. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Third Base

Ernie Clement, Blue Jays: If you specifically need batting average, and he's available, Clement's your man. He's batting .277 on the year and .314 (16-for-51) over his last 15 games, and he qualifies basically everywhere on the infield in most leagues. He doesn't offer much else – during those 15 contests he's got zero homers, one steal, five RBI and 10 runs – but this is the time of year to micromanage your roster and hyperfocus on specific stats to try and eke out an extra point or two. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered

Jace Jung, Tigers: Jung might be worth a cheap stash in deep keeper formats, but since Colt Keith landed on the IL on Saturday it's been Zack McKinstry and Andy Ibanez getting a start each at third base in a platoon. Jung likely won't help you in redraft. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Coby Mayo, Orioles: Mayo's bat is heating up while he's getting everyday work at first base, and over his last eight games he's batting .400 (10-for-25) with two doubles and two homers. The 23-year-old could be the O's long-term answer at the position if he's begun to mature, but you just need him to keep rolling in the short term. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: Rostered

Shortstop

Max Muncy, Athletics: Muncy swapped placed on the IL with Zack Gelof on Saturday, but I don't have high hopes for a guy coming back from a hand fracture without benefit of a rehab stint. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Carson Williams, Rays: Another youngster to consider if you're going all out for power over the final week, Williams has left the yard twice in the last three games and four times in 13 games since Sept. 7. He's also batting .162 over the latter stretch with a 2:14 BB:K, and all four homers for solo shots. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered

Outfield

Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox: Abreu might have been cut loose in shallow leagues given that he's missed over a month and was no sure thing to return before the end of the regular season, but he's set to come off the IL on Sunday. With the Red Sox trying to lock down a wild-card spot, he should play every day once he's back and offers another power source. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: $21

Petey Halpin, Guardians: A third-round pick in 2020, Halpin made his big-league debut Saturday and went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs. He produced some modest power-speed numbers at Triple-A Columbus and should be part of the right-field mix for Cleveland along with C.J. Kayfus and Jhonkensy Noel, but Halpin's probably better deep keeper stash than redraft contributor in 2025. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

Chandler Simpson, Rays: Simpson's roster rate is still below 40 percent on Yahoo, so I'll list him in case he's available in your shallow mixed league and you need steals, but if that were the case you probably should have grabbed him weeks ago. He offers no power whatsoever, which might be part of what's keeping him on waivers in those leagues, but through 72 plate appearances in September he's batting .324 (22-for-68) with four steals and nine runs scored. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: Rostered