Tout Wars FAAB Report: Week of September 10

Welcome to the weekly Tout Wars FAAB report, on its new home right here on the Tout Wars site. Each week, we’ll review the free agent acquisitions from all five leagues, with commentary from a league member, as well as yours truly.

We changed the timing of the weekly run to 1 PM ET every Sunday, with the report posted later that afternoon so you’ll have time to digest and apply to your own leagues. In addition, I’ll be joining Lawr Michaels and Justin Mason on the Tout Wars Hour on the FNTSY Network every Sunday at 3:20 PM ET to discuss the results.

You can find the complete list of Tout Warriors here. Everyone starts with 1000 FAAB units, less any penalty incurred by finishing below a designated point in the standings. This is a means of keeping everyone motivated to keep playing all season long. The minimum bid is $0. FAAB units can be traded as well as rebated for players released off the DL. The report will list all winning bids along with unsuccessful tries and contingencies. This provides the maximum level of information to help gauge interest on the players.

The American and National League only formats are 12-team leagues, as is the new points-based head to head league, The Mixed Auction and Draft each have 15 clubs. All the leagues have four reserves with an unlimited DL, expect the head to head league, which allows six reserves. The headings above each league are links to publicly accessible sites where you can see standings, roster and a complete review of transactions. The initial auctions and drafts can be found here.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
JrgLopez, KC Doug Dennis 100 Seth Trachtman 45
ADiaz, Tor Doug Dennis 83 Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 11
YMendez, Tex Seth Trachtman 45
JMFernandez, LAA Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 11
BGuyer, Cle Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 1 Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 6
JRickard, Bal Larry Schechter 1
TButtrey, LAA Larry Schechter 0

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
DCovey, CWS Seth Trachtman 11
RTellez, Tor Larry Schechter 1
TScott, Bal Doug Dennis 0

Todd’s Take

Geez, what does a guy have to do to get noticed, carry a perfect game into the ninth? Jorge Lopez followed up a seven inning, one run outing versus the Orioles, fanning eight with no walks with his gem versus the Twins. The former Brewers prospect spent much of the 2018 campaign working as a reliever. With 15 innings allowing just two runs this last two efforts, Lopez is making a strong case to be in the Royals rotation next season.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
FMejia, SD Mike Gianella 65 Todd Zola 29 Steve Gardner 15
Craig Mish 3 Tristan H. Cockcroft 0
PWisdom, StL Mike Gianella 65 Todd Zola 29
JRoss, Was Mike Gianella 65 Phil Hertz 60
JOsuna, Pit Todd Zola 29
TGore, ChC Phil Hertz 25 Phil Hertz 4
TomHunter, Phi Steve Gardner 15
SKieboom, Was Mike Gianella 0 Steve Gardner 0
AAvila, Ari Steve Gardner 0 Mike Gianella 0
JHicks, StL Tristan H. Cockcroft 0 Steve Gardner 4

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
FPena, StL Mike Gianella 0
PSeverino, Was Mike Gianella 0
TNido, NYM Mike Gianella 0
DHudson, StL Tristan H. Cockcroft 0
KGlover, Was Tristan H. Cockcroft 0
KWright, Atl Tristan H. Cockcroft 0

Todd’s Take

In a bit of a switch, hitters dominated the NL bidding with Francisco Mejia paving the way. The jury is still out with respect to his defense; his stick is MLB ready.

Next up is Cardinals third-sacker Patrick Wisdom, called up to help an injury-riddled infield. As an example of how thin the hitting ranks are, Wisdom is just 6-for-31, albeit with half of his knocks leaving the yard. But, playing time is currency and he’s seeing regular run.

Without the budget to compete with Mike Gianella, I settled for Jose Osuna, hoping he plays down the stretch. Not-so-ironically, he’s replacing the same guy he’s replacing in Pittsburgh, Gregory Polanco.

MIXED LEAGUE AUCTION

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
JCandelario, Det Scott Swanay 81 Ron Shandler 27
FMejia, SD Jeff Zimmerman 32 Tim Heaney 3 Al Melchior 0
SAlcantara, Mia Ron Shandler 27 Scott Swanay 81 Fred Zinkie 4
KYates, SD Jeff Zimmerman 24 Zach Steinhorn 6 Al Melchior 1
RTellez, Tor Jeff Zimmerman 24
JGray, Col Jeff Zimmerman 24 Ray Flowers 21 Al Melchior 1
BKeller, KC Ray Flowers 20
AFrazier, Pit Ray Flowers 19 Al Melchior 0
YGurriel, Hou Ron Shandler 19 Jeff Zimmerman 24 Zach Steinhorn 2
JRoss, Was Ron Shandler 5
VRobles, Was Tim Heaney 3
CStewart, Det Jeff Zimmerman 2

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
CStratton, SF Ray Flowers 19
LBrinson, Mia Ray Flowers 19
MMahtook, Det Ray Flowers 19
HDozier, KC Ron Shandler 11 Jeff Zimmerman 0
WDifo, Was Ron Shandler 5
TomHunter, Phi Jeff Zimmerman 4
DFletcher, LAA Jeff Zimmerman 0
DTravis, Tor Jeff Zimmerman 0
JChoi, TB Jeff Zimmerman 0
YMunoz, StL Jeff Zimmerman 0

Todd’s Take

Frequent helper Jeff Zimmerman was a busy man, reacquiring Jon Gray among several other moves. The two I want to focus on are Rowdy Tellez and Christin Stewart, both options to provide some late season pop. Tellez has replaced the slumping Justin Smoak at first base. After hitting safely in his first four games, Tellez was 0-for-4 om Sunday but still should receive a good look the next three weeks. Stewart will be the Tigers everyday left fielder down the stretch, after hitting 23 homers for Triple-A Toledo this season.

MIXED LEAGUE DRAFT

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
FMejia, SD Perry Van Hook 123
RDavis, Cle Anthony Perri 60
DFletcher, LAA Anthony Perri 60 Rudy Gamble 27
AFrazier, Pit Rudy Gamble 42 Adam Ronis 28
AGomber, StL Charlie Wiegert 37 D.J. Short 15
RLaureano, Oak Charlie Wiegert 37 Adam Ronis 28
LVoit, NYY Adam Ronis 28
WChen, Mia D.J. Short 20
SAlcantara, Mia Perry Van Hook 3 D.J. Short 8
JAlvarado, TB Gene McCaffrey 1
RTellez, Tor Gene McCaffrey 0 Adam Ronis 28
CIannetta, Col Gene McCaffrey 0

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
SSchebler, Cin Adam Ronis 28
ENunez, Bos Rudy Gamble 22
FPena, LAA D.J. Short 15
BLowe, TB Adam Ronis 13
BMcKinney, Tor Adam Ronis 4 Gene McCaffrey 0
JRoss, Was Perry Van Hook 3 D.J. Short 1
FValdez, Hou Perry Van Hook 3
JBeeks, TB Perry Van Hook 3
JrgLopez, KC Perry Van Hook 3
YHirano, Ari Perry Van Hook 3
TRichards, Mia D.J. Short 1
AGordon, KC Gene McCaffrey 0
DDeShields, Tex Gene McCaffrey 0
MAdams, StL Gene McCaffrey 0
NCiuffo, TB Gene McCaffrey 0
VRobles, Was Gene McCaffrey 0
WCastillo, CWS Gene McCaffrey 0
YSanchez, CWS Gene McCaffrey 0

Todd’s Take

Kudos to Ray Flowers in the Mixed Auction and Rudy Gamble in the Mixed Draft for recognizing what Adam Frazier has done over the second half. How does .360/.413/.623 since the break grab you?

HEAD-TO-HEAD MIXED AUCTION

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
SAlcantara, Mia Justin Mason 100 Dr. Roto 15 Jake Ciely 7
BKeller, KC Peter Kreutzer 36 Dr. Roto 15 Andrea LaMont 1
FValdez, Hou Dr. Roto 31 Jake Ciely 7
FPena, LAA Dr. Roto 15 Jake Ciely 7
KBryant, ChC Andrea LaMont 6
FReyes, SD Andrea LaMont 3
AHedges, SD Jake Ciely 2
SReidFoley, Tor Jake Ciely 2
KMaeda, LAD Andrea LaMont 1
RLaureano, Oak Jake Ciely 1
ASimmons, LAA Andrea LaMont 0
AGordon, KC Andrea LaMont 0
MMahtook, Det Andrea LaMont 0
WMiley, Mil Justin Mason 0
JVargas, NYM Justin Mason 0

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
JRoss, Was Dr. Roto 15
JUrena, Mia Dr. Roto 15
DMengden, Oak Peter Kreutzer 13
TWhite, Hou Jake Ciely 1
CReed, Cin Justin Mason 0
KSmith, CWS Jake Ciely 0
MDavidson, CWS Andrea LaMont 0

Todd’s Take

There’s no better way to demonstrate context is everything than Kris Bryant drawing one bid while four pitchers drew multiple – and higher – bids. This format is all about unearthing pitching, hopefully with two starts.

Sandy Alcantara leads the way, though he only has one outing on the docket. His strikeout potential is the major allure.

Brad Keller also has just one, but it’s against the White Sox and their generous strikeout potential.

Framber Valdez is a sneaky pick-up since he lines up for two decent starts next week after facing the Tigers this week.

Francisco Pena is also looking at a double-dip in a week, though it lines up as more difficult that what Valdez will encounter.