A.L. FAAB Log: July 4, 2011

Rich Harden $30. Other bids: $15, $14, $11, $10, $7, $4.

I wrote about Harden two Fridays ago. His solid outing on Friday only solidifies what I said then. The winning bid came from the third place team, and most of the other bids were from contenders as well. Since most of the contending teams are fairly close to the salary cap, these bids make sense, but the lack of bids from the non-contenders don’t. I would have bid at least $25 if I were out of the running and had the cap space. Injuries and trades to the other league have a funny way of creating cap space before the deadline and while Harden obviously isn't a $25 keep, you can't carry your FAAB into next year in most leagues.

Andres Blanco $1.

Blanco picked up a fair amount of playing time last week, but Elvis Andrus is healthy again and Blanco should return to his extremely limited role. He's barely worth playing even in A.L.-only leagues.

Blake Beavan $1.

Beavan was part of the prospect package that the Rangers received last summer for Cliff Lee. Beavan is one of those pitchers with pinpoint control and ordinary stuff who has always managed to get by in the minors but has never been dominant. I assumed that Beavan's issue was going to be lack of a fastball, but Brooks Baseball had Beavan at 89-93 MPH with his heater today. It looks more like Beavan doesn't have much in the way of secondary stuff. He gets the Angels next week; a tougher assignment than the Padres at Petco, and I'd avoid Beavan right now.

Hisanori Takahashi $1.

After a terrible start to his 2011, Takahashi has been dominant since June, allowing only one earned run and seven base runners in his last 13 innings. He's unlikely to supplant Jordan Walden as the closer, but does look like the solid middle relief option many thought he would be when he signed with the Angels this winter.

Craig Gentry. Claimed by 12th, 5th (tie) and 1st place teams.

Lou Marson. Claimed by 9th place team.

Greg Holland. Claimed by 8th place team.