If you're in a league that uses FAAB - Free Agent Acquisition Budget - then good for you (if you're in a first come, first serve setup you need to change that for 2016). For those of you new to the game of FAAB spending, here is what you need to know. You have a set amount to spend on players on the waiver-wire - usually it's $100 or $1,000 - and you can spend that any way you want over the course of the season. This setup adds another level of interest/intrigue and it levels the playing field versus those leagues where people hoard waiver priority. In this 2-part series I'll list some players that might be on waivers in your league and give my thoughts on what an appropriate amount of cash would be to spend on each player. Now it's time for the pitchers.
* I wrote about how to handle the Waiver-Wire in the 2015 Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide.
PART I - HITTERS
PART II - PITCHERS
Brad Boxberger, RP, Rays
Jake McGee is returning from elbow surgery and the Rays hope he is back by the start of May. A dominating lefty, McGee could easily take back over in the 9th when he proves himself healthy (he had 19 saves last season with a 1.89 ERA and 0.90 WHIP). Boxberger has a 2.52 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 105 career games and he struck out a sick 14.47 batters per nine last season while cutting his previous walk rate in half in '15 (2.78 per nine). If he keeps the walks in check it's possible he leads the Rays in saves.
Amount to spend mixed: 10-15 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 30 percent
Archie Bradley, SP, Diamondbacks
The D'backs dealt Trevor Cahill to the Braves Thursday night opening up a spot for Bradley. You can find my thoughts on him here.
Amount to spend mixed: 15-20 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 25-30 percent
Kyle Gibson, SP, Twins
Gibson has looked great at times this spring with a 2.75 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. New pitches or not, I don't know how you can currently trust Gibson. In 31 starts in 2014 Gibson had 11 games in which he allowed at least five earned runs. That's disastrous, especially if you are playing in H2H leagues.
Amount to spend mixed: 10-15 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 15-20 percent
Luke Gregerson, RP, Astros
Named the Astros closer and that makes him an add in all formats. Gregerson is really good, a 2.75 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 435 games, but he's also produced only 19 saves in his six season career. Can he handle the pressure? Will he have a hiccup that forces management to turn to Josh Fields, Pat Neshek or Chad Qualls? Gregerson seems likely to lead the team in saves if he can stay healthy.
Amount to spend mixed: 20 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 25-30 percent
Raisel Iglesias, SP, Reds
A 25 year old out of Cuba, Raisel came to the United State with only two pitches. He's added two in the last few months. You trust that? He's spent the majority of his career as a reliever making five starts out of 88 appearances in 2010-12 in the Cuban National Series. I can't see how you can be expecting him to be effective over 30 starts.
Amount to spend mixed: 5-10 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 10-15 percent
Nate Karns, SP, Rays
With everyone hurt for the Rays, Karns will get a shot to produce early in the season. Karns was selected in the 12th round in 2009, and he's been solid this spring with a 3.86 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. He's only appeared in five big league games but last season at Triple-A didn't go so well (9-9, 5.08 EERA, 1.40 WHIP). He does bring a power arm with more than 10 strikeouts per nine over 449.1 minor league innings, but he's walked almost four batters per nine and that's a significant concern.
Amount to spend mixed: 5-10 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 10-15 percent
Evan Marshall, RP, D'backs
Addison Reed isn't 100 percent physically even though the team expects him to be fine long-term. If he does have a hiccup it seems likely that Marshall would get a chance to work the 9th inning with the Diamondbacks. In 57 games out of the pen last year Marshall struck out 54 batters in 49.1 innings with a 2.74 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. A big arm who is cheap as dirt now. That would change immediately if something were to happen to Reed.
Amount to spend mixed: 5-10 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 10-15 percent
Zach McAllister, SP, Indians
This guy beat out Danny Salazar, a more talented pitcher, for a starting spot. Zach is a beast at 6'4", 260 lbs, which makes you think strikeouts. They just haven't been there as he's posted a 7.4 per nine mark over 363.1 big league innings. That number is up at 9.9 this spring, and his K/BB ratio is 7.00 over 25.1 innings. Don't believe that level of performance. McAllister could lose his job due to his own struggles or if Salazar rights the ship in the minors.
Amount to spend mixed: 10 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 10-15 percent
Nick Martinez, SP, Rangers
Named a starter with the Rangers. Don't get too excited. As a rookie last season he posted a 4.55 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. Ugly. In the 140.1 innings he tossed last season his walk rate was worse than league average (3.53 per nine), his strikeout rate was embarrassing (4.94 per nine) and his GB/FB rate hideous (0.70). Pass.
Amount to spend mixed: 3-5 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 5-8 percent
Erasmo Ramirez, SP, Rays
I broke down Erasmo in a Spring Training Pitcher piece a few days back.
Amount to spend mixed: 7-10 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 10-15 percent
Daniel Norris / Aaron Sanchez, SP, Blue Jays
Sanchez has been deemed a starter, and while Norris isn't officially tabbed yet, you have to think he's gonna get the call over Marco Estrada who isn't very 
good and is dealing with an ankle issue. Norris is ranked in the top-20 prospects in baseball this season by Baseball America and MLB.com. He's also only 21 years old but he has just 58.1 innings above Single-A ball. He's young, raw and supremely talented. Sanchez would have been more exciting as a closer, but with the injury to Marcus Stroman (knee) Sanchez will start. Ranked 27th by Baseball America coming into 2015, Sanchez has just 34 innings above Double-A. He also owns a 1.35 WHIP and a poor 1.83 K/BB ratio during his minor league career.
Amount to spend mixed (Norris): 20 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 25-30 percent
Amount to spend mixed (Sanchez): 15 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 20-25 percent
Joakim Soria, RP, Tigers
Joe Nathan had a 4.81 ERA and 1.53 WHIP last season along with seven blown saves and a terrible 1.86 K/BB ratio. This spring he's been all over the place, his velocity has been up and down, and he's the owner of a 4.76 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and he has just seven strikeouts in 11.1 innings. Can't see how Nathan holds on to the job all season, despite the love affair that manager Brad Ausmus has with the 40 year old.
Amount to spend mixed:5-10 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 7-10 percent
Joe Smith, RP, Angels
Huston Street is always good when healthy, which begs the question - is he? Street has an 8.10 ERA and 1.65 WHIP over seven outings this spring. Have to think it's a blip on the radar screen, but Street owners wouldn't be nuts to add Smith who had 15 saves last season with a 1.81 ERA and 0.80 WHIP.
Amount to spend mixed: 5-10 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 10-15 percent
Adam Warren, SP, Yankees
Named the Yankees fifth starter, Warren started zero times last season though he did appear 69 times out of the bullpen. Warren had a 2.97 ERA and 1.11 WHIP last season with 76 strikeouts in 78.2 innings. How does he transition to the rotation this season? Probably not in a meaningful way given his minor league work (13-16, 3.66 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 6.4 K/9 in 53 starts at Triple-A).
Amount to spend mixed: 5-10 percent
Amount to spend lg. specific: 10-15 percent