Tout Wars FAAB Report: Week of April 2

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.

I apologize, posting is a little late this week. In addition, I opted to give the Touts the week off so they could spend time with the friends and family, hunting Easter Eggs, the afikomen or just general April Fool’s balderdash. As such, I’ll provide the commentary for all five leagues with the Touts returning next week to give an insider view.

As smentioned, there are five leagues, 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
TAustin, NYY Seth Trachtman 125 Jeff Erickson 117 Chris Liss 105
Jason Collette 87 Patrick Davitt 79
Mike Podhorzer 74 Vlad Sedler 66
Larry Schechter 31
TNaquin, Cle Lawr Michaels 50 Jeff Erickson 7 Chris Liss 6
Jason Collette 3
CTocci, Tex Jason Collette 37 Jeff Erickson 7 Lawr Michaels 2
FWhitley, Hou Chris Liss 30
JWendle, TB Jeff Erickson 27 Rob Leibowitz 18
JSmolinksi, Oak Vlad Sedler 25 Jeff Erickson 7
KJepsen, Tex Jeff Erickson 17 Larry Schechter 13 Doug Dennis 0
Chris Liss 0
JZimmermann, Det Vlad Sedler 16 Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 6
DButera, KC Seth Trachtman 15 Doug Dennis 0
CFulmer, CWS Rob Leibowitz 8 Vlad Sedler 3
NGoodrum, Det Chris Liss 6
RoPerez, Cle Doug Dennis 2
JBonifacio, KC Mike Podhorzer 1
BJohnson, Bos Seth Trachtman 0 Vlad Sedler 15 Jeff Erickson 5
JMarte, LAA Patrick Davitt 0 Seth Trachtman 6
JJimenez, Det Mike Podhorzer 0 Chris Liss 0
CarSmith, Bos Doug Dennis 0 Chris Liss 0
CShreve, NYY Chris Liss 0

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
BGuyer, Cle Lawr Michaels 15 Chris Liss 0
MMarjama, Sea Seth Trachtman 12
BKeller, KC Vlad Sedler 8
ALoup, Tor Vlad Sedler 4
RBuchter, Oak Vlad Sedler 4
JShields, CWS Vlad Sedler 3
MPerez, Tex Vlad Sedler 3
CBYoung, LAA Jason Collette 3 Jeff Erickson 1 Seth Trachtman 0
CGallagher, KC Seth Trachtman 3
JSucre, TB Seth Trachtman 3
SLeon, Bos Seth Trachtman 3
CGentry, Bal Jeff Erickson 1 Chris Liss 0
RRefsnyder, TB Jeff Erickson 1
BHolt, Bos Seth Trachtman 0 Chris Liss 0
AWarren, NYY Chris Liss 0
AWilson, Det Chris Liss 0
JKelly, Bos Chris Liss 0
PAlvarez, Bal Chris Liss 0

Todd’s Take

Real estate is all about location; fantasy potential is all about playing time, and right now, Tyler Austin lines up for some run at first base. That said, the path isn’t perfectly clear as Miguel Andujar was just called up and will likely see some time at first as well. Plus, the club seems intent on finding Tyler Wade at bats, pushing Neil Walker to the right corner  too. Austin drew the Tout’s attention with a pair of homers on Saturday. Mixed leaguers should pay attention, but it isn’t a foregone conclusion Austin plays enough to be viable in shallower formats.

I’m a little surprised there wasn’t more activity on the Red Sox Brian Johnson as he opens the week with a sweet start in The Aquarium, otherwise known as Marlins Park. Granted, the Fish hit a couple of Cubs hurlers hard this weekend, but that will be the exception, not the rule. There’s even a chance Johnson grabs a second start at home versus the Rays.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
RFlaherty, Atl Lenny Melnick 75 Mike Gianella 4 Andy Behrens 3
Tristan H. Cockcroft 1 Todd Zola 1
Mike Gianella 0
GBlanco, SF Andy Behrens 46 Scott Wilderman 0
JLucchesi, SD Derek Carty 42 Grey Albright 21 Phil Hertz 11
Steve Gardner 9
DHolland, SF Lenny Melnick 31 Todd Zola 1
JHicks, StL Steve Gardner 29 Mike Gianella 16 Craig Mish 3
Grey Albright 2 Phil Hertz 0
EButler, ChC Lenny Melnick 19 Steve Gardner 9
SBrault, Pit Steve Gardner 9
TLaStella, ChC Steve Gardner 9 Todd Zola 1 Craig Mish 0
KFreeland, Col Todd Zola 7
JarGarcia, Mia Tristan H. Cockcroft 7 Phil Hertz 0
PStrop, ChC Scott Wilderman 3 Steve Gardner 8 Andy Behrens 1
Derek Carty 0
JBarnes, Mil Brian Walton 2 Craig Mish 1 Tristan H. Cockcroft 1
Phil Hertz 0
JHughes, Cin Grey Albright 2 Brian Walton 2
CWallach, Mia Grey Albright 1 Todd Zola 0
ChVillanueva, SD Mike Gianella 0
DPeters, Mia Mike Gianella 0 Derek Carty 0
DMarrero, Ari Craig Mish 0
CStewart, Atl Todd Zola 0
PBourjos, Atl Scott Wilderman 0
BHoladay, Mia Craig Mish 0 Grey Albright 1 Todd Zola 0
SAlexander, LAD Derek Carty 0 Grey Albright 1 Phil Hertz 0
JFields, LAD Phil Hertz 0 Grey Albright 1

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
ERamos, Phi Lenny Melnick 15
GKontos, Pit Brian Walton 2
JARamirez, Atl Grey Albright 2
AEllis, SD Grey Albright 1 Todd Zola 0
EDiaz, Pit Grey Albright 1 Todd Zola 0
VCaratini, ChC Grey Albright 1 Todd Zola 0
AniSanchez, Atl Phil Hertz 1
CGearrin, SF Grey Albright 1
JMathis, Ari Grey Albright 1
TTelis, Mia Todd Zola 1
PBaez, LAD Scott Wilderman 0 Phil Hertz 0
JWilson, ChC Phil Hertz 0 Derek Carty 0
COGrady, Mia Derek Carty 0
JMcGee, Col Scott Wilderman 0
LGarcia, Phi Phil Hertz 0
PSandoval, SF Mike Gianella 0
RErlin, SD Tristan H. Cockcroft 0
RGsellman, NYM Phil Hertz 0

Phil Hertz of BaseballHQ was kind enough to send his thoughts:

I’m still trying to patch my pitching staff and made a decision that carrying Jimmie Sherfy in a re-draft League was probably not the best use of a reserve slot. With that in mind, I made an ambivalent bid on Joey Lucchesi, the Padre rookie who had a so-so start this weekend. Like Sherfy, I just wasn’t sure he’d have loads of value in a re-draft league, but at least he was up and starting. I wound up with the third highest bid on him – he went to Derek Carty and given Derek’s acumen, I’m second guessing myself on my ambivalence. My contingent bids after that were set-up relievers. I’m still hoping to get lucky with one of those guys graduating into a closer gig. I wound up with Fields, my third choice – one of the perils of a good start is I was next to last in the bidding pecking order.

A couple of bids raised my eyebrows. Even in a 1000 FAAB environment, 75 seemed high for Ryan Flaherty, who’s been a fantasy cipher most of his career and is likely to be a reserve by the middle of the month. Similarly 29 for Jordan Hicks seemed like an overpay, given the Holland signing and the depth of the Cardinal pen. Most of the Touts seemed to agree: the next highest bid on Flaherty was 4 and on Hicks 16.

Todd’s Take

I agree with Phil on Flaherty, classic case of recency bias. He’s not the latest member of the Launch Angle Club (first rule of the Launch Angle Club is not to talk about the Launch Angle Club).

I had a catcher opening with Steven Vogt hitting the DL. I really didn’t care who I received, so I listed a series of $0 bids. Grey Albright from Razzball was in a similar predicament, caring just a little more than me, so he strung together $1 bids. Good times.

With Steven Duggar sent to the farm, I needed to fill the swing spot. Not seeing any batters moving the needle, I opted to go with an arm. I considered Lucchesi, as he has a nice setup at home versus a Rockies club with a history of struggling on the road versus southpaws. However, I decided to roll the dice on the two-start Kyle Freeland, despite the second outing being a home affair. Who knows maybe I’ll catch a break and the latter outing will be rained out.

MIXED LEAGUE AUCTION

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
JZimmermann, Det Joe Pisapia 262 Zach Steinhorn 13
MDuffy, TB Jeff Zimmerman 101
TAustin, NYY Scott Engel 98 Al Melchior 10
RGsellman, NYM Jeff Zimmerman 85 Tim Heaney 0
JHeyward, ChC Joe Pisapia 62 Zach Steinhorn 17
IKennedy, KC Joe Pisapia 46 Tim Heaney 46 Zach Steinhorn 21
Ray Flowers 12
SLugo, NYM Tim Heaney 46
NMarkakis, Atl Zach Steinhorn 38 Joe Pisapia 12 Ray Flowers 12
DODay, Bal Al Melchior 36 Scott Pianowski 2 Scott Swanay 1
MGonzales, Sea Derek VanRiper 28 Fred Zinkie 0
HBailey, Cin Tim Heaney 26 Tim McLeod 22 Ray Flowers 17
Derek VanRiper 11
JGarcia, Tor Bret Sayre 21
MBoyd, Det Ray Flowers 17 Scott Engel 38 Derek VanRiper 11
Tim Heaney 7 Scott Swanay 2
CRichard, SD Bret Sayre 17
CSisco, Bal Fred Zinkie 10 Ron Shandler 5
KJepsen, Tex Scott Swanay 7 Tim Heaney 7
AKnapp, Phi Ron Shandler 5 Fred Zinkie 10
KPlawecki, NYM Ron Shandler 5
BMiller, TB Scott Pianowski 4
JMcGee, Col Tim McLeod 3 Scott Swanay 1
MRojas, Mia Scott Pianowski 3
AGarrett, Cin Scott Swanay 2 Jeff Zimmerman 63 Tim Heaney 0
JBarnes, Mil Scott Pianowski 2
TKahnle, NYY Scott Swanay 1
TMahle, Cin Fred Zinkie 0 Derek VanRiper 28 Tim Heaney 0
BLively, Phi Al Melchior 0
PTucker, Atl Fred Zinkie 0
RRua, Tex Al Melchior 0

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
CFulmer, CWS Ray Flowers 17
AdGonzalez, NYM Zach Steinhorn 12
JLucchesi, SD Ray Flowers 12
LChisenhall, Cle Ray Flowers 12
BMitchell, SD Derek VanRiper 11 Tim Heaney 7
MMaldonado, LAA Fred Zinkie 10
DMesoraco, Cin Ron Shandler 5
JJay, KC Jeff Zimmerman 5
DanNorris, Det Tim Heaney 3
JHicks, StL Tim Heaney 3 Fred Zinkie 0
SAlexander, LAD Jeff Zimmerman 3
CAsuaje, SD Scott Pianowski 2
HKendrick, Was Scott Pianowski 2
YSanchez, CWS Scott Pianowski 2
DGossett, Oak Derek VanRiper 1
JCRamirez, LAA Derek VanRiper 1
GKontos, Pit Scott Swanay 1
SOhtaniH, LAA Scott Swanay 1
TWatson, SF Scott Swanay 1
ACashner, Bal Al Melchior 0
AEngel, CWS Al Melchior 0
DRobinson, Tex Al Melchior 0
MMoore, Tex Bret Sayre 0
MGonzalez, CWS Derek VanRiper 0
TBlach, SF Derek VanRiper 0
GParra, Col Fred Zinkie 0
CTocci, Tex Jeff Zimmerman 0
JFields, LAD Jeff Zimmerman 0
AFrazier, Pit Scott Pianowski 0
AHechavarria, TB Scott Pianowski 0
DMachado, Det Scott Pianowski 0
DMengden, Oak Scott Pianowski 0
ESogard, Mil Scott Pianowski 0
JIglesias, Det Scott Pianowski 0
NAhmed, Ari Scott Pianowski 0
RFlaherty, Atl Scott Pianowski 0
TWade, NYY Scott Pianowski 0
CHatcher, Oak Tim Heaney 0
FLiriano, Det Tim Heaney 0
MBush, Tex Tim Heaney 0

Todd’s Take

Admittedly, I have a soft spot for Jordan Zimmermann. He was always under-priced during his salad days with the Nationals, primarily because his strikeout rate was lower than other pitchers sporting similar ratios. As such, it’s curious I’m intrigued due to an elevated strikeout rate, in tandem with a low walk rate. This is tempered by a horrible 2017, featuring a weak 5.8 K/9, but in the spring, Zimmermann fanned 18 with three walks in 18 Grapefruit League frames then opened the 2018 regular season with eight punch outs and only one free pass against the Pirates. With his second start coming in Guaranteed Rate Park against the White Sox, it’s worth a moderate investment to see if he’s figured something out.

 MIXED DRAFT LEAGUE

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
HStrickland, SF Greg Ambrosius 303 Tom Kessenich 277 Ray Murphy 151
Anthony Perri 130 Adam Ronis 113
Michael Beller 103 Charlie Wiegert 67
D.J. Short 60 Scott White 53
MDavidson, CWS Michael Beller 87 Gene McCaffrey 47 Adam Ronis 26
Charlie Wiegert 12 Perry Van Hook 1
KPlawecki, NYM D.J. Short 42 Anthony Perri 15 Rudy Gamble 2
AKnapp, Phi D.J. Short 38 Anthony Perri 17 Rudy Gamble 0
DMachado, Det Anthony Perri 34
DDietrich, Mia Gene McCaffrey 27 Adam Ronis 17 D.J. Short 10
Charlie Wiegert 6 Perry Van Hook 3
JZimmermann, Det Anthony Perri 23
TAustin, NYY Charlie Wiegert 12 Perry Van Hook 6 Charlie Wiegert 3
LForsythe, LAD D.J. Short 12
JMarisnick, Hou Charlie Wiegert 8
YSanchez, CWS Michael Beller 7 Perry Van Hook 1
CRichard, SD Charlie Wiegert 7
CSmith, Mia Perry Van Hook 6
MGivens, Bal Adam Ronis 3
BAnderson, Mia Perry Van Hook 3 Charlie Wiegert 6
PTucker, Atl Perry Van Hook 2
MMarjama, Sea Rudy Gamble 0

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
YGomes, Cle D.J. Short 32
FLiriano, Det Anthony Perri 28
CSpangenberg, SD Gene McCaffrey 27
MMahtook, Det Anthony Perri 24
MJoyce, Oak D.J. Short 10 Charlie Wiegert 3
BLively, Phi Charlie Wiegert 7
MBoyd, Det Charlie Wiegert 7
AFrazier, Pit Charlie Wiegert 5 Perry Van Hook 1
ACole, Was Charlie Wiegert 5
EHernandez, LAD Charlie Wiegert 5
JGarcia, Tor Charlie Wiegert 5
SLugo, NYM Charlie Wiegert 5
NMarkakis, Atl Charlie Wiegert 3 Perry Van Hook 1
BNimmo, NYM Charlie Wiegert 3
DFister, Tex Charlie Wiegert 3
JCRamirez, LAA Charlie Wiegert 3
AdGonzalez, NYM Perry Van Hook 1
CaJoseph, Bal D.J. Short 1
RoPerez, Cle D.J. Short 1
CWallach, Mia Rudy Gamble 0
TWolters, Col Rudy Gamble 0

Todd’s Take

Last week, on our Rotowire podcast, Derek VanRiper and I discussed whether Strickland or Sam Dyson was the better handcuff for Mark Melancon. My brilliant reasoning was Dyson, since there’s been opportunities for Bruce Bochy to give the ball to Strickland, and he’s always gone elsewhere.

D’OH!

Strickland is the better option and now it appears Bochy may be on board. Further, I have no confidence Melancon will ever return to form. On this same podcast, I opined we could be looking at the reincarnation of Huston Street. It remains to be seen if I’m reading these tea leaves any better.

HEAD TO HEAD MIXED AUCTION

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
MDavidson, CWS Howard Bender 66 Jake Ciely 38 Andrea LaMont 28
TBlach, SF Stephania Bell 65 Peter Kreutzer 11
HStrickland, SF Justin Mason 60 Dr. Roto 45 Stephania Bell 15
Jake Ciely 2
HRyu, LAD Clay Link 57 Kyle Elfrink 36 Jake Ciely 29
Peter Kreutzer 11
BBoxberger, Ari Justin Mason 45
LBrinson, Mia Howard Bender 36 Jake Ciely 28 Dr. Roto 24
Justin Mason 0
MBoyd, Det Kyle Elfrink 27 Peter Kreutzer 11 Jake Ciely 3
NWalker, NYY Justin Mason 26
MGonzales, Sea Dr. Roto 22 Justin Mason 10 Jake Ciely 0
KPillar, Tor Dr. Roto 22 Justin Mason 15
NMarkakis, Atl Stephania Bell 17 Howard Bender 12
CSpangenberg, SD Justin Mason 14 Justin Mason 25
MPina, Mil Peter Kreutzer 8
BJohnson, Bos Jake Ciely 5 Kyle Elfrink 21
CEdwards, ChC Stephania Bell 5
DanNorris, Det Peter Kreutzer 5
TMahle, Cin Jake Ciely 4
JPanik, SF Andrea LaMont 2 Justin Mason 12
YGomes, Cle Andrea LaMont 1 Peter Kreutzer 8

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
TSkaggs, LAA Clay Link 56
JPirela, SD Howard Bender 26 Justin Mason 1
BAnderson, Mia Howard Bender 24
COwings, Ari Dr. Roto 21 Justin Mason 0
JSoria, CWS Dr. Roto 20
KKela, Tex Dr. Roto 20
HRamirez, Bos Howard Bender 18
JWinker, Cin Howard Bender 18
MMahtook, Det Dr. Roto 11
CGreen, NYY Dr. Roto 10 Stephania Bell 3
AKnapp, Phi Peter Kreutzer 8 Andrea LaMont 0
SLugo, NYM Clay Link 7 Justin Mason 0
DButera, KC Peter Kreutzer 6
JGarcia, Tor Clay Link 6
SGreene, Det Stephania Bell 5
BLively, Phi Clay Link 5
FCervelli, Pit Andrea LaMont 1
AFrazier, Pit Justin Mason 0
CGomez, TB Justin Mason 0
CKuhl, Pit Justin Mason 0

Todd’s Take

Granted, recency bias played into the action on Matt Davidson this week, but going hard after the third baseman is justifiable, at least more so than Flaherty. Davidson has a clearer path to playing time.  It always seems like the White Sox want to find someone better, but always end up giving Davidson a decent number of at bats. His three homer games assures a decent chunk of playing time, at least until the Pale Hose tire of his inconsistency and look elsewhere.