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.

The grid below allows readers to see at a glance how certain players stack up against others and what kind of bids 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 upside on an A-E scale, prioritizing skills and talent above role and playing time outlook, which are already factored into the recommended bid. Nick Kurtz 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

Brady Basso, Athletics: With just two weeks left on the schedule as of Monday, every inning and at-bat can matter if you’re in a race for a league title, and Basso could be the kind of sneaky add that puts you over the top. The 28-year-old southpaw has yet to throw more than four innings in an outing this season in the majors, so he’ll fly under the radar for most people, but he’s getting stretched out as part of the A’s rotation and has been pitching well – since rejoining the MLB staff after the All-Star break, he sports a 2.73 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 26:6 K:BB in 33 innings. More importantly, he gets a strong schedule to close things out. Assuming he stays on turn, he’ll make three more starts and will face the Rays (26th in wOBA against lefties), Angels (22nd in wOBA, 28th in K rate) and Astros (15th in wOBA). 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Ryan Johnson, Angels: The 24-year-old righty is beginning to figure things out in the majors, delivering back-to-back quality starts and producing a 2.11 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 26:19 K:BB through 38.1 innings since the beginning of August. That K:BB is still a big red flag, but Johnson gets a two-step this week, although neither the Twins nor Mariners are soft opponents for RHP. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Anthony Kay, White Sox: Kay’s another pitcher with three starts and a favorable schedule to close out the campaign. The veteran southpaw has failed to last five innings in four straight starts and has not been pitching well of late (5.23 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 31:10 K:BB in 41.1 innings since the beginning of August), but his three remaining outings should come against the Guardians (28th in wOBA vs. LHP), Royals (17th in wOBA) and Rockies away from Coors Field (16th in wOBA, 27th in K rate). If Kay’s going to have any kind of rebound to wrap up his 2026, those are the kind of opponents to do it against. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: Rostered

Yusei Kikuchi, Angels: If you’re targeting arms purely based on their remaining schedule, though, Kikuchi should be the guy you throw whatever FAAB dollars you have left at. After needing a minute to get his legs under him following a length IL stint, he’s delivered a 1.59 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB over his last three starts. His final three starts line up to come against the Mariners twice (dead last in wOBA vs. LHP, 21st in K rate) and the A’s once (10th in wOBA, but 15th in wRC+ and 23rd in K rate). That’s what we in the biz like to call actionable information. 12-team Mixed: $5; 15-team Mixed: $11; 12-team AL: Rostered

Two-start options, Mon-Sun

Via RotoWire’s Probable Pitchers grid

Kade Anderson, Mariners (at LAA, at COL) PLUS ONE
Cody Bradford, Rangers (vs. BOS, vs. TOR)
Erick Fedde, White Sox (at CLE, vs. DET) PLUS ONE
Griffin Jax, Rays (vs. ATH, vs. BOS)
Davis Martin, White Sox (at CLE, vs. DET) PLUS ONE
Troy Melton, Tigers (at TOR, at CHW)
Bailey Ober, Twins (vs. NYY, at LAA) PLUS ONE
Jack Perkins, Athletics (at TB, at CLE)
Patrick Sandoval, Red Sox (at TEX, at TB)
Will Warren, Yankees (at MIN, at ARI)
Brandon Young, Orioles (at NYM, vs. MIL)

Relief Pitcher

Felix Bautista / Ryan Helsley, Orioles: It’s not yet clear if either of these guys will pitch again in the majors this season, or handle ninth-inning duties if they do, but if you’re scrambling for saves they could be worth dart throws now, before their potential activation. Bautista began a rehab assignment in late August as he completes his recovery from shoulder surgery (after missing all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery), and the rust has definitely been showing as he has a 6.43 ERA and 8:7 K:BB in seven innings. He also has yet to throw on back-to-back days as the O’s are in no rush to get him back into the bullpen before he’s ready. Helsley saw his first game action since late July on Saturday, striking out one in a perfect inning for Triple-A Norfolk, and he could be closer to activation. The former Cardinal and Met closer had a bit of a bumpy first half to the season but still converted eight of his nine save chances, and right now he looks like the better bet to record a few more saves in 2026. Bautista – 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3 / Helsley – 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Rico Garcia, Orioles: In the meantime though, Garcia seems to have moved past Andrew Kittredge as manager Craig Albernaz’s preferred ninth-inning option, picking up the team’s last two saves. Garcia’s been scored upon only once in his last 15 appearances, recording a 13:4 K:BB in 13 innings with a 0.69 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over that stretch, while Kittredge has coughed up four runs in 2.1 innings over three September appearances. Garcia’s stint at the top of the closer depth chart could be brief depending on when Helsley and/or Bautista get cleared, but with Baltimore’s wild-card hopes still flickering, he could cash in a couple more saves. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: Rostered

Brody Hopkins, Rays: A deep-league stash rather than a player who’s likely to help most rosters in the short term, Hopkins is a top starting prospect for Tampa who got shifted to the bullpen at Triple-A in August, both to potentially help the big-league roster and to help solve his control issues. It seems to have worked on both fronts – over his last nine appearances for Durham, all single-inning outings, Hopkins dialed up a 3.00 ERA and 16:5 K:BB while popping triple digits with his fastball. Bryan Baker is entrenched as the Rays’ closer, but if Hopkins keeps up that form once he makes his MLB debut, the 24-year-old right-hander who was part of the haul from the M’s for Randy Arozarena a couple years ago could quickly become a key setup man into the playoffs. Whether the team decides to leave him in that role in 2027 or try moving him into the rotation is an open question, but his stuff is legit. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $2

Hagen Smith, White Sox: Speaking of stashes, the Chris Sale/Garrett Crochet plan seems to be working out great for Smith. The 23-year-old southpaw has pitched more than one inning in eight straight appearances and posted goose eggs in all of them, delivering a 0.65 WHIP and 22:4 K:BB in 15.1 innings to go along with his 0.00 ERA. As a high-K reliever in the short term and a potential future ace in the long run, even GMs in shallow keeper leagues should make sure he isn’t still available. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: Rostered

Others:

Robert Garcia, Rangers 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1
Spencer Miles, Blue Jays 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1
Anthony Nunez, Orioles 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1
Grant Wolfram, Orioles 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1

First Base

Coby Mayo, Orioles: Mayo remains on far too many waiver wires. The 24-year-old has slugged his way into an everyday role for Baltimore, and since Aug. 16 he’s compiled a .278/.352/.620 slash line in 88 PAs with eight homers and 15 RBI. No matter how shallow your league is, those numbers will play. 12-team Mixed: $3; 15-team Mixed: $7; 12-team AL: Rostered

Second Base

Others:

Nick Madrigal, Rays: 12-team Mixed: ; 15-team Mixed: ; 12-team AL: 

Third Base

Josh Jung, Rangers: Fresh off the IL, Jung banged out two hits in his return Saturday after missing about eight weeks with a calf strain. The 28-year-old had a breakout first half, but staying healthy has always been one of the big issues for Jung. If he get right back to the form that saw him slash .294/.361/.441 before going down, however, he’ll provide a nice closing boost for your offense. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Shortstop

Jorge Mateo, Rays: If your priority over the next couple weeks is to gobble up every stolen base you can, Mateo should be a very inviting FAAB target. He’s basically the only healthy shortstop Tampa has right now, and while he isn’t doing much at the plate with that opportunity (3-for-33 over his last 12 games), the veteran utility player has five steals in seven attempts during that time. He’s only reached base five times in there (one walk and one HBP in addition to the three singles), which isn’t exactly a sustainable pace, but if a few more hits start falling in for him, it doesn’t need to be. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: $4

John Peck, Tigers: Resigned to their fate, the Tigers are giving Peck a long look at shortstop, and in 10 September games he’s batting .226 (7-for-31) with a double, two runs, five RBI and three steals. The 2023 seventh-round pick isn’t a top prospect and the SBs will likely be his only significant fantasy contribution, but if that’s what you need, he should come at a reasonable price. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Anthony Volpe, Yankees: Volpe’s getting another shot in the majors, this time at second base while Jazz Chisholm is on the shelf. The 25-year-old has started three straight games and gone 4-for-11 with a homer, a steal and five RBI, and he had been finding a groove at Triple-A prior to his recall, slashing .295/.393/.667 over 27 games with 10 homers and eight steals for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since being sent down in early August. The Yankees probably aren’t catching the Rays for the AL East crown, but Volpe suddenly making an impact would go a long way toward helping them pull it off. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Donovan Walton, Athletics: The playing time split at shortstop for the A’s seems to be tipping back toward Walton, because why wouldn’t a team playing for next season want to see what they have in a 32-year-old journeyman? He’s batting just .250 over 10 games in September, but four of his seven hits have gone for extra bases including three homers, and he’s chipped in four runs and five RBI. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Outfield

Dominic Canzone, Mariners: The 29-year-old’s heating up again, slashing .288/.327/.538 over his last 12 games with seven extra-base hits (three doubles, two triples and two homers), and Seattle has a road trip this week to Coors Field, where Canzone should face three mediocre right-handed starters. That series alone could make him worth rostering for the rest of the year. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered

Austin Martin, Twins: Martin came off the IL on Friday and promptly started two straight games in left field, one against a lefty and one against a righty. He didn’t get a hit in either contest, but if the Twins are focused on defense over offense down the stretch and they try to claw their way into a wild-card spot, Martin could be the top choice over Trevor Larnach and prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez rather than being stuck in a short-side platoon role. If Minnesota packs it in for 2026, though, Rodriguez should be the guy who gets all the playing time he seems capable of handling. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $3

Angel Martinez, Guardians: The switch-hitting outfielder is still getting nearly everyday at-bats as one of the more reliable batters in Cleveland’s lineup, and over his last 15 games, Martinez has put together a .288/.362/.538 slash line with three homers, eight RBI and 10 runs. The Guardians head into Sunday clinging to the final wild-card spot in the AL, one game up on the Blue Jays and with the Rangers and Orioles in striking distance as well, so they will keep riding whatever hot hands they have. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: Rostered

Victor Mesa, Rays: Mesa may be having a late-season breakout. The 25-year-old has hit safely in eight straight games, and since coming off the IL when rosters expanded he’s slashing .429/.487/.743 with three homers, three steals, six RBI and nine runs in 39 PAs. The issue with picking him up now is that the Rays are set to face left-handed pitchers in five of their six games this week, and three more in seven contests during the final week. That puts a serious damper on Mesa’s chances of carrying that momentum straight into the playoffs, but he could still be useful in leagues with daily moves, or as a deeper-league keeper stash. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $2; 12-team AL: $5

Lazaro Montes, Mariners: I cut down the recommended bid on Montes last week due to a hip issue that flared up last Friday, but it seems to be minor. The 21-year-old slugger could make an impact in homers down the stretch, although it’s likely to come with significant batting average risk – he’s struck out 12 times in his first 27 big-league PAs, which isn’t surprising. Three of his first six hits have left the yard though, and he has nine RBI in his first 10 games for the M’s. Montes is more Colson Montgomery than Yordan Alvarez right now, but there’s no doubting his upside if he’s able to refine his approach at the plate. 12-team Mixed: $2; 15-team Mixed: $5; 12-team AL: $11

Richie Palacios, Rays: Palacios is another red-hot Ray who’s about to run into the worst possible schedule for his left-handed swing. The 29-year-old boasts a .296/.387/.741 slash line over his last 10 games with four homers and three steals, but how much playing time he gets over the final two weeks – or how productive he’ll be if he does get it, given his .465 OPS this year against same-handed pitching – is in serious doubt. If you have to pick up either Palacios or Mesa for the final kick to the finish line, Mesa seems like the better option. 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: $1; 12-team AL: Rostered

Emmanuel Rodriguez, Twins: Minnesota really is emptying the tank here, so full credit to them. Rodriguez was one of the top remaining prospects in the system, and the 23-year-old slashed .262/.414/.500 in 49 games at Triple-A this season while missing significant time due to thumb issues. Injuries have been the story of his minor-league career as much as his power and patience, but he looked plenty healthy when he homered in his first trip to the plate in the majors Saturday. Rodriguez may not get a real shot at a full-time role until the Twins are officially eliminated from the postseason picture, however. 12-team Mixed: $1; 15-team Mixed: $3; 12-team AL: $7

Others:

Michael Arroyo, Mariners 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1
Jorge Barrosa, Astros 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1
Rudy Martin, Blue Jays 12-team Mixed: No; 15-team Mixed: No; 12-team AL: $1