AL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

1. Identify likely free agents and discuss their strengths and weaknesses.
2. Estimate how much of your free-agent budget you should bid on them.

This year, we're incorporating 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 skills and role on an A-E scale. Carlos Correa would have been an "A" grade player last year -- that mark will be reserved for similar high-impact prospects stepping into an everyday role.

As always, 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.

Aaron Sanchez, Blue Jays - A dominant spring earned Sanchez the No. 5 starter role in Toronto, and he will be bumped up a spot during the first week of the season with Marco Estrada delayed by a back injury. It's probably wise to proceed with caution; he has a 42:37 K:BB and 5.21 FIP in 66 career innings as a starter. That said, the fact that he issued just three walks in 20 spring innings is certainly encouraging, and a seemingly more balanced, smoother delivery lends some hope to sustainability.

Shane Greene, Tigers - The hype train is picking up steam again, with Greene actually able to grip the ball (that helps) after undergoing surgery to repair an arterial issue in his shoulder last year. He's only gotten better with each spring start, reaching nine strikeouts over 5.2 innings in his March 30 outing. Don't forget, Greene was dominant at the start of last year before injuries did him in. If he pitches well enough, he could keep the job even after Daniel Norris (back) is cleared.

Joe Kelly, Red Sox - This week's three-homer blowup took some of the shine off Kelly's spring, but he still finished with a 22:8 K:BB in 24 Grapefruit League innings. Having overtaken Rick Porcello for the No. 3 starter role in Boston, Kelly lines up to face the Tribe in Cleveland on Thursday, then the Orioles and Blue Jays at home in a two-start week. It's still easy to dream on the premium velocity, but the strikeout and walk rates from the last couple years, and the hard-hit rate from last season, suggest there's marginal upside and significant downside with Kelly.

Matt Shoemaker, Angels - An injury to C.J. Wilson has created an opening in the rotation for Shoemaker, the runner-up for the AL Rookie of the Year in 2014. The home runs were an insurmountable issue last year and those problems carried over to spring training -- he gave up seven big flies in 20 spring innings. He will face the Rangers in Los Angeles in his first start of the year.

Steven Wright, Red Sox - While the knuckleballer was named the Red Sox's fifth starter for the start of the season, he will pitch out of the bullpen during the first week. He was sharp throughout most of spring, but his window to start will be narrow assuming Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) progresses as expected. Thus, he's probably best left on the wire in most standard mixed leagues, and there's simply not enough upside to warrant a hefty bid in "only" leagues, even for those in need of immediate help.

Relief Pitcher

Alex Colome, Rays - The results for Colome while in the starting rotation were less than stellar, but his stuff played up much better in the bullpen. Colome's K-BB% went from 6.8 percent as a starter to 22.7 percent as a reliever, with the skills suggesting he was almost a full run better than his excellent 2.66 ERA in a relief role would suggest. With Brad Boxberger out to start the year, Colome is in the conversation to close for Tampa Bay, just keep in mind that he did blow five saves over the final month of last season, and manager Kevin Cash may need him occasionally for more than one frame or in crucial spots in the seventh or eighth innings.

Danny Farquhar, Rays - The 29-year-old was informed Saturday that he made the Opening Day roster, with the Rays opting to go with an eight-man bullpen rather than a five-man bench. Farquhar finished strong last year and turned in a strong spring, allowing two runs with a 10:4 K:BB in 11.1 Grapefruit League innings. Jason Collette's pick to lead the team in saves, Farquhar has some experience closing, and the skipper may want to keep some of the other arms flexible in their roles, but until this picture becomes clearer, Farquhar is little more than a dart throw.

Xavier Cedeno, Rays - If one player does not emerge as the go-to endgame option in Tampa Bay, and Cash employs some sort of closer-by-committee, Cedeno could be in the mix for occasional save chances depending on the matchups. Something clicked for Cedeno after he came over from Washington early last year, as he posted a career-low walk rate and held same-handed hitters to a .490 OPS. Cedeno does not have an overpowering fastball, but he mixes four pitches and may be worth a dollar or two in "only" leagues thanks to the ratio contributions alone.

Tony Zych, Mariners - Mid-90s heat? Check. Devastating slider? Check. Control? Check. Zych fills up the boxes of a classic closer-in-waiting, and the buzz has only grown louder as he's mowed down hitters with the strikeout throughout spring. With four strikeouts in his last outing, Zych pushed his spring K:BB to 18:1 in 9.2 innings. The team seems dead set on keeping Steve Cishek in the closer role, but Cishek has given up multiple runs in three of his last four spring outings, and 38-year-old Joaquin Benoit has been a setup guy most of his career. Those scouring for saves should at least know Zych's name.

Nate Jones, White Sox - Jones allowed just two hits all spring, as did closer David Robertson, but Jones recorded 13 strikeouts against Robertson's three. That does not mean a role change is coming -- it would likely take an injury to Robertson for Jones to get an opportunity to close -- but Jones is the type of pitcher who, when healthy, can be plugged in as a source of ratio help and strikeouts in pretty much any format.

Catcher

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Tigers - Bryan Holaday's departure to Texas earlier in the week cemented Saltalamacchia's status as the backup catcher in Detroit. The book is out on Saltalamacchia, and starter James McCann has been hot throughout camp, but Saltalamacchia can provide some occasional pop for those desperate for a second catcher in "only" leagues.

First Base

Travis Shaw, Red Sox - It was easy to overlook Shaw in an organization like the Red Sox, even as he forced his way up and hit .270/.327/.487 with 13 homers in 65 games with Boston last season. Nobody was talking about a third base competition coming into camp, but Shaw forced the conversation with a hot start to spring training. Shaw eventually cooled off, going 2-for-21 to end March, but Sandoval's defense never got up to snuff and the team ultimately named Shaw the starter. Given his ability to loft the ball consistently (42.7 FB% last season) and make near-league-average contact, it's possible he could crack 20 homers with a serviceable average if he can hold onto the job most of the season.

Tyler White, Astros - If you drafted within the last couple weeks, it's hard to imagine White would be available in your league, but he should be one of the more sought-after commodities in leagues in which he's unowned. Somewhat of an afterthought in the Astros' first-base competition early in camp, White overtook Jonathan Singleton and A.J. Reed on the strength of patience, pitch selection and plate coverage. He's 25 and has never hit more than 15 homers on the farm, but he doesn't have to hit for a ton of power to be valuable to his real-life club or fantasy teams. If he can hit for a high enough average and drive in runs, White should justify a starting spot in 15-team mixed leagues.

Justin Smoak, Blue Jays - Left for dead by some after fizzling out with Seattle, Smoak started righting the ship in his first year with Toronto, posting a .768 OPS with 18 homers in 328 plate appearances. He did strike out at a career-high 26.2 percent clip, which kept his average at a highly detrimental .226, but he's had a fine spring and there might be bit more playing time open for him at the start of the year if Edwin Encarnacion (oblique) is limited.

Dae-Ho Lee, Mariners - Lee beat out Jesus Montero for a platoon role at first base, though his numbers weren't particularly impressive. The power wasn't there, and at 33, it remains to be seen if he has enough bat speed to routinely catch up to major league velocity. But Adam Lind isn't going to play against lefties, and with matchups against Cole Hamels, Martin Perez, Felix Doubront and Rich Hill on the docket for Week 1, the door is open for Lee to start four of the team's first six games.

Second Base

Ryan Goins, Blue Jays - Sure, spring training stats don't mean much of anything, but Goins matched his stolen base total from a year ago (2) during the exhibition slate. According to Sportsnet.ca, Goins worked with Olympic sprint coaches over the winter to add a speed element to his game, primarily with the idea that if pitchers concentrate more on him while he's on base, they'll make more mistakes to some of the team's heavy lifters. However, if he's able to chip in some steals here and there while playing regularly in place of Devon Travis, Goins could become more than an "only" consideration.

Shortstop

Tim Beckham, Rays - After struggling mightily throughout most of camp, Beckham finished strong, homering in his final two games of the exhibition season. Still, with Brad Miller locked in as the primary shortstop, Beckham remains merely a desperation injury fill-in option. The Rays are slated to face just one lefty over the season's first week.

Third Base

Matt Duffy, Astros - Don't call him the "other" Matt Duffy. OK, go ahead. Duffy hit three homers this spring, but also struck out 17 times in 49 at-bats, resulting in a .163 average. He made the Opening Day roster regardless, but he's not in the PCL anymore, and there's not a clear path to regular playing time. If you really dislike Luis Valbuena, perhaps go an extra buck in "only" leagues.

Outfield

Joey Rickard, Orioles - Even after going from High-A to Triple-A last year, and improving at every stop, Rickard was left unprotected by the Rays ahead of the Rule 5 draft. The Orioles took the plunge and the move will pay immediate dividends, as Rickard outplayed international signee Hyun-soo Kim and was named the starter in left field entering 2016. Power is not a significant part of the package with Rickard, but he's consistently walked at high rate and has some speed, enough to think he could be useful in many formats so long as he's seeing regular at-bats. There's a chance he could eventually work to the top of the O's order, and if that were to happen, his stock would increase dramatically.

Reymond Fuentes, Royals - Not only has Fuentes made the roster, he's started with the regulars a couple times within the last week (including Friday). The 25-year-old put together an outstanding spring, slashing .386/.453/.632 with three homers and 14 RBI. Meanwhile, Paulo Orlando hit .179/.220/.304. Fuentes finally started tapping into the power a little more last season, managing a career-high nine homers in 107 games at Triple-A, but it's the speed that would be the fantasy-carrying tool. Fuentes has reached 25 steals in every year since he graduated from rookie ball.

Tyler Naquin, Indians - The 24-year-old's blistering spring has been impossible to ignore, but how much should we buy in? Given his track record in the minors, it would be easy to write off the power he's shown lately, but Naquin spent nearly two months of the offseason in the organization's strength camp. He feels he can play center field for the team everyday, and considering the caliber of his defense, it's possible. Still, Naquin can probably left alone in 12-team mixed league for now.

Daniel Nava, Angels - There's not much to get excited about here, and Nava is just getting over a knee issue, but he's in line to open the year on the favorable end of a left field platoon alongside Craig Gentry. That may not be enough to warrant a roster spot in mixed leagues, but the pickings in the outfield can be awfully slim in "only" formats, so even if you're just grabbing him for a buck to keep him from another owner, it may be worth it.

Brandon Guyer, Rays - The Rays' outfield picture is a bit muddled, but one thing seems pretty clear; Guyer will continue to play against left-handed pitching. A career .272/.362/.439 hitter against southpaws, he fell a couple homers shy of a double-double season last year. At 30, there's probably not much room for growth in the power or speed departments, but he's a daily fantasy darling and in a similar vein, is a nice option in season-long leagues that allow daily roster moves.