NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

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.

This year, we are again using 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 grid, which is 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. Dansby Swanson 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.

This is the final column of the season. Thank you to all those who provided comments throughout the year. Any additional comments regarding the column, please email support@rotowire.com and/or jan.levine@gmail.com.

John Gant, Cardinals - Gant, who has worked out of the bullpen since getting called up Aug. 31, started Sunday, replacing John Flaherty in the team's rotation. During just five appearances with the Cardinals this season, Gant post a 3.86 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, with a 8:5 K:BB over 9.1 innings. Gant spent most of the season as a starter with Triple-A Memphis, notching a 3.83 ERA and 99:25 K:BB across 103.1 innings. But this was his first start in the majors since last season with Atlanta. 12-team Mixed: $0; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team NL: $4

Robert Stephenson, Reds - Stephenson, who has one more start left to the season, has continued his solid pitching since his activation off the disabled list in mid-August. The control is still a concern, but he has shown some signs of improving in that regard. Stephenson has allowed five hits or fewer in each of his last five starts, with four coming at home. His final start of the year comes against Chicago at home, making him a worthwhile risk, and he looks to have possibly solidified a 2018 rotation spot heading into the offseason. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team NL: $16.

Injury activation/updates:

Brandon McCarthy, Dodgers - McCarthy (finger) was activated from the disabled list Friday and will pitch out of the bullpen. He pitched three innings Saturday, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts. The long-relief role is likely the one McCarthy will fill the rest of the season and might allow him to be a part of the Dodgers' postseason roster. 12-team Mixed: $0; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team NL: $4.

Adam Wainwright, Cardinals - Wainwright, on the disabled list since Aug. 18 with a right elbow impingement, was activated Tuesday. He is slated to finish the rest of the season in the bullpen. Prior to be sidelined, Wainwright was 12-5 on the year season albeit with a 5.12 ERA. 12-team Mixed: $0; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team NL: $4.

RELIEF PITCHER
 
Jimmie Sherfy, Diamondbacks - Sherfy, called up with the rosters expanding Sept. 1, has excelled out of the bullpen for Arizona. In 10 outings, including two games earlier this season, Sherfy has allowed just five hits and a walk with nine strikeouts in 9.2 innings. He has the potential to someday close games, but that role belongs to Fernando Rodney for the foreseeable future. Sherfy posted a 3.12 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 61 strikeouts in 49 innings in the Pacific Coast League. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team NL: $9.

CATCHER
 
Tucker Barnhart, Reds - Barnhart and the Reds agreed to a four-year, $16 million extension Friday, which keeps him under team control through 2021 with a club option for $7.5 million in 2022. The 10th-round pick in the 2009 draft took over as the Reds' starting catcher in May 2016, when Devin Mesoraco suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. As the Reds' press release noted after the signing: "this year Barnhart leads all major league catchers in fielding percentage, caught stealings and assists, and his 2.9 Defensive WAR leads all National League players while ranking second among all major league position players. As calculated by FanGraphs, Barnhart leads all major league catchers in defensive value and in defensive runs saved." The switch-hitter entered Friday batting .272/.349/.399 with six home runs and 42 RBI through 113 games this season and looks to be the Reds' catcher of the present and future. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team NL: owned

Chris Iannetta, Diamondbacks - Iannetta continued his strong September, going 3-for-4 with a walk, two home runs and eight RBI in Arizona's 13-11 win over the Marlins on Friday. For the month, Iannetta is slashing .333/.448/.583 with three home runs and 10 RBI, giving him 16 and 42 for the season. With Arizona all but a playoff lock and looking to head into the postseason on a roll, look for Iannetta to see the bulk of the work behind the plate for Arizona the final week of the season. 12-team Mixed: $11; 15-team Mixed: $18; 12-team NL: owned

Kurt Suzuki, Braves - Suzuki homered twice Friday, his second two-home run season of the season. Those two home runs gave Suzuki, who agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Braves on Saturday, 14 homers in 38 games since the beginning of July and a career-high 18 homers in just 287 plate appearances. The power spike is completely out of character for Suzuki, who had 13 homers in 1,355 plate appearances the last three seasons with Minnesota. Suzuki should split time with Tyler Flowers again next season in Atlanta. 12-team Mixed: $4; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team NL: $16.

FIRST BASE
 
Pablo Sandoval, Giants - Sandoval is closing season strong, as he is 8-for-15 with four extra-base hits, including two home runs, and five RBI over his last four starts. Depending on league format, Sandoval may qualify at first base, having played five games there. Sometimes the final week of the season calls for aggressive moves, and adding Sandoval would certainly qualify as such, given the type of season he has had. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $4; 12-team NL: $7.

SECOND BASE

Brandon Drury, Diamondbacks - Drury, who blasted his 13th home run of the season Saturday, continues to see most of the playing time at second base. Chris Owings wont be back until at least the NLDS, affording Drury additional playing time. Drury has made the most of the opportunity, continuing the fine rookie campaign he had last season. 12-team Mixed: $18; 15-team Mixed: Owned; 12-team NL: Owned

Breyvic Valera, Cardinals - Valera hit .314/.368/.450 with eight home runs and 11 steals in 117 games at Triple-A Memphis, and can play second base, third base, left field and right field. With St. Louis still in the playoff hunt, Valera likely will be limited to pinch-hit or spot duty. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team NL: $2.
 
SHORTSTOP

Aledmys Diaz, Cardinals - Diaz opened the season as the Cardinals' shortstop but played himself out of the job and was demoted June 28. He wasn't much better at Triple-A Memphis, posting a .253/.305/.388 line over 46 games, with both his batting average and OPS actually checking in lower than his production in those categories during his 71 games with the big-league club prior to his demotion. Diaz will serve as a backup middle infielder the final week of the season. 12-team Mixed: $0; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team NL: $4

THIRD BASE

Jose Reyes, Mets - Reyes continues to make his case for a role on the 2018 Mets. It may come down to Reyes, who is a free agent, or Asdrubal Cabrera, who has a $8.5 million option or $2.5 million buyout. Reyes has been on fire since coming off the DL in late August. Since returning, Reyes is 31-for-95 with five home runs, 16 runs batted in, eight stolen bases, 23 runs scored and a 15:16 BB:K ratio in 24 games played (through Saturday). Going back 66 games to June 27, Reyes has posted a .305/.370/.514 line with eight homers, 31 RBI and 12 stolen bases, which after looking at his season-long numbers makes you realize just how bad he was the first three months of the year. Reyes qualifies at second, short and third base this year and next, adding to his value. 12-team Mixed: $40; 15-team Mixed: Owned; 12-team NL: Owned.

OUTFIELD

Aaron Altherr, Phillies - Altherr has gone 0-for-9 the last three games but that has done little to take away from his big early part of the week. He homered Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, driving in nine runs in that stretch. A hamstring injury cost Altherr five weeks, but he has 19 home runs and 60 RBI in just 100 games. He is starting daily and his ability to play all three outfield positions means he should be a regular the rest of the way and to start 2018. 12-team Mixed: $35; 15-team Mixed: Owned; 12-team NL: owned

Brett Phillips, Brewers - Phillips looks to have become Milwaukee's starting center fielder against right-handed pitching. He has provided a bit of speed, stealing four bases over nine games since Sept. 15 while also providing some consistency in the lineup. With a week left in the season, fantasy owners are looking for any edge down the stretch. Phillips could be one such sneaky type add in your league. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team NL: $11

Hunter Renfroe, Padres - Renfroe, sent to Triple-A on Aug. 19, made the most of his month in the minors. He slashed .509/.557/.891 with four homers, 18 RBI and a 7:6 K:BB across 55 at-bats at Triple-A El Paso. Prior to his demotion, Renfroe batted just .230 with 20 HR and 47 RBI but struck out 28.7 percent of the time. Since his callup Monday, Renfroe is 4-for-18 with all four hits home runs and eight runs batted in but with a 5:1 K:BB ratio. He should start nearly every day in right field the last week of the season. 12-team Mixed: $25; 15-team Mixed: $35; 12-team NL: $45 (power potential)

Injury activation/updates:

Billy Hamilton, Reds - Hamilton, who broke his thumb on a bunt attempt Sept. 6, was activated Wednesday. He'd been cleared to serve as a pinch runner and defensive replacement, but by hitting on the field during batting practice, he then got clearance to start a full game. That first happened Friday, as Hamilton started in center field. Dating to the All-Star break, he slashed .258/.304/.354 with 14 RBI, 28 runs and 20 stolen bases in 51 games, showing that his main value is in runs and stolen bases. The slash line is slightly better than his career line, which is .248/.299/.333 in 2,100 career plate appearances, yet he likely will start in center field for Cincy next season. 12-team Mixed: $20; 15-team Mixed: $30; 12-team NL: $40 (on the hope he sees consistent playing time and steals several bases down the stretch)