Tout Wars FAAB Report: Week of June 18 – June 24

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
JBlash, LAA Jason Collette 80
YMendez, Tex Vlad Sedler 59
RRodriguez, Det Chris Liss 54 Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 2
DFletcher, LAA Rob Leibowitz 44 Jeff Erickson 23 Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 23
JLamb, LAA Chris Liss 33 Vlad Sedler 39 Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 6
FMejia, Cle Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 23
RGrossman, Min Jeff Erickson 17 Jason Collette 40 Patrick Davitt 0
JAlvarez, LAA Jason Collette 14 Seth Trachtman 0
KSmith, CWS Vlad Sedler 12 Patrick Davitt 0 Rob Leibowitz 0
RTorreyes, NYY Patrick Davitt 2 Rob Leibowitz 0 Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 0
CoJoseph, Bal Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 2
BRondon, CWS Seth Trachtman 0 Rob Leibowitz 38
JBriceno, LAA Patrick Davitt 0 Rob Leibowitz 0
WHarris, Hou Patrick Davitt 0 Chris Liss 7
AWynns, Bal Rob Leibowitz 0
TWhite, Hou Rob Leibowitz 0
AClaudio, Tex Patrick Davitt 0

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
FPena, LAA Vlad Sedler 17
RElias, Sea Jason Collette 14
TraThompson, CWS Jeff Erickson 11
AAlmonte, KC Chris Liss 9
VReyes, Det Chris Liss 9
WFont, TB Vlad Sedler 6
CHatcher, Oak Jason Collette 1
RTorres, KC Rob Leibowitz 0 Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 0
JDiekman, Tex Rob Leibowitz 0
RRua, Tex Rob Leibowitz 0
TMotter, Min Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 0
CShreve, NYY Patrick Davitt 0
DOtero, Cle Patrick Davitt 0
JoeSmith, Hou Patrick Davitt 0
NVincent, Sea Patrick Davitt 0
ZMcAllister, Cle Patrick Davitt 0
HVelazquez, Bos Chris Liss 0

Todd’s Take

Jabari Blash again crushed Triple-A pitching, this time for Salt Lake. The Angels promoted him, giving him a look while Kole Calhoun is on the DL. Of course, Calhoun was in a season-long rut before getting hurt, so there’s a chance Blash can keep his MLB roster spot when Calhoun returns, perhaps as Calhoun’s platoon partner. Blash has been given chances in the bigs previously, only to strike out… literally. Blash can take a walk so there’s extra allure in an OBP like Tout Wars in the event Blash can improve his contact rate. Curiously, Jason Collette was the only Tout willing to see if Blash can blast, though there are rumors Derek Carty has petitioned to be transferred to the AL so he could place a bid.

The second highest bid also went uncontested as Vlad Sedler is willing to give Yohander Mendez a shot, perhaps because he has a relatively soft matchup with the Royals in Kauffman Stadium lined up. Mendez is only 23 so there’s still time, but the prospect shine is beginning to wear off. He’s not overpowering, thus will need to rely on command and control to get by, especially in Arlington. At minimum, Mendez has a chance to stay in the rotation, after all this is a club summoning Yovani Gallardo.

I was wrong once before with Ronny Rodriguez, it could happen again, but as before, I like Chris Liss’ pickup. Niko Goodrum has displaced Dixon Machado at second base. That said, Goodrum has also been playing first, where he could shift against left-handers, clearing second for Rodriguez.

David Fletcher is an intriguing pickup. He was called up from Salt Lake after posting a .953 OPS. Andrelton Simmons is back but with Zack Cozart still out, there’s infield AB available. I like Rodriguez’s shot at playing time more, but stranger things have happened.

Of the other pickups, Robbie Grossman and Kevan Smith are both potentially useful in a deep AL league and I’m a little surprised both were available.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
EDiaz, Pit Steve Gardner 26 Phil Hertz 18
CFerguson, LAD Todd Zola 23 Tristan H. Cockcroft 1 Derek Carty 0
BZiegler, Mia Steve Gardner 4
TomHunter, Phi Brian Walton 2
KHiura, Mil Grey Albright 2

Todd’s  Take

Yawn. When the high bid is on a middling reserve catcher, you know it’s a  slow week. I need to make up ground in strikeouts in a big way. It’s not that Ferguson is a strikeout machine, but he starts and I could use the volume.

The only other acquisition of note is Keston Hiura. League leader Grey Albright’s MO is to go for the throat so he’s willing to take the chance the Brewers finally grow tired of playing musical chairs at second, turning to their 20-year old prospect on the fast track. Hiura only has 60 PA above A-Ball, but he’s raked at every level, exhibiting the power-speed combo yearned for in fantasy.

MIXED LEAGUE AUCTION 

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
JJay, Ari Bret Sayre 103 Scott Engel 11 Tim Heaney 11
ZEflin, Phi Scott Swanay 57 Ron Shandler 47 Scott Engel 8
SPiscotty, Oak Tim Heaney 56 Scott Swanay 0 0
JLoaisiga, NYY Jeff Zimmerman 54 Derek VanRiper 47 Tim Heaney 16
Scott Engel 9
SDominguez, Phi Ray Flowers 41 Scott Swanay 34 Bret Sayre 1
Tim McLeod 1
AMinter, Atl Scott Swanay 34
DRodriguez, SF Jeff Zimmerman 27 Jeff Zimmerman 13
DFletcher, LAA Jeff Zimmerman 24
BZobrist, ChC Ray Flowers 23 Scott Swanay 0
CStratton, SF Bret Sayre 23 Ray Flowers 3 Tim Heaney 3
KMorales, Tor Ray Flowers 17 Scott Swanay 0
FHernandez, Sea Tim Heaney 16
MFiers, Det Joe Pisapia 15
PSandoval, SF Scott Pianowski 13 Ray Flowers 6 Bret Sayre 5
Scott Swanay 0 Tim Heaney 0
CMoran, Pit Scott Swanay 13 Ray Flowers 15 Bret Sayre 5
Tim Heaney 0
AMondesi, KC Al Melchior 11
SBieber, Cle Tim McLeod 6
JLamb, LAA Ron Shandler 5 Jeff Zimmerman 0
YSanchez, CWS Bret Sayre 5 Scott Swanay 0 Jeff Zimmerman 0
LChisenhall, Cle Scott Engel 3 Scott Swanay 0
INova, Pit Scott Pianowski 0 Scott Swanay 13 Tim Heaney 6
Jeff Zimmerman 0
EHernandez, LAD Scott Swanay 0
JMercer, Pit Scott Swanay 0

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
DValencia, Bal Jeff Zimmerman 14 Scott Swanay 13 Ray Flowers 13
KYates, SD Scott Swanay 13 Ray Flowers 7
LForsythe, LAD Scott Swanay 13 Tim Heaney 0 Scott Swanay 0
DomSmith, NYM Ray Flowers 13 Bret Sayre 5
CDavis, Bal Ray Flowers 11
TAnderson, Col Scott Swanay 7 Tim McLeod 0
CSpangenberg, SD Tim Heaney 4 Scott Swanay 0
EFedde, Was Jeff Zimmerman 4 Jeff Zimmerman 0
ADeSclafani, Cin Tim Heaney 3
JHammel, KC Ray Flowers 3 Jeff Zimmerman 0
DWinkler, Atl Ray Flowers 2
MAndriese, TB Ron Shandler 1
AGarrett, Cin Bret Sayre 1
DCastillo, TB Tim McLeod 0
MStrahm, SD Tim Heaney 0
TGlasnow, Pit Tim Heaney 0
WDifo, Was Scott Swanay 0
CFerguson, LAD Jeff Zimmerman 0
DHolland, SF Jeff Zimmerman 0
ELauer, SD Jeff Zimmerman 0

Todd’s Take

Busy week for the Mixed Auction crew, let’s touch on the pitching since the hitting is pretty much decent batters filling holes.

We’ve got Zach Eflin, Jonathan Loaisiga, Dereck Rodriguez, Felix Hernandez, Mike Fiers, Shane Bieber, John Lamb and Ivan Nova finding new homes with six more starters remaining available as non-awarded contingency bids.

Eflin is a little like Dylan Covey – working under the shroud of more velocity, though the underlying metrics are kinder to Eflin, especially a healthier swinging strike rate. Of the group, I agree with the bid hierarchy, Eflin has the most upside.

The next highest bid belongs to Loaisiga, who earned another start after keeping the Rays in check in his debut. It may have been a scoreless five frames, but Loaisiga did walk four. It’s telling Jeff Zimmerman bid on Loaisiga as well as Rodriguez but not Hernandez or Fiers. Sure, there’s a chance one of the veterans goes on a run, but why not take a chance on the devil we don’t know? It comes down to team needs and level of risk aversion. I don’t blame those shooting for upside or question those preferring the tried and true, knowing what they have to work with.

MIXED LEAGUE DRAFT

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
JLoaisiga, NYY Jeff Boggis 152 D.J. Short 25 Adam Ronis 3
FMejia, Cle Michael Beller 77
JHicks, Det Tim McCullough 63 Gene McCaffrey 58 Adam Ronis 32
SLugo, NYM D.J. Short 40 Tim McCullough 32 Adam Ronis 16
TKemp, Hou D.J. Short 30 Perry Van Hook 5
TomMurphy, Col Rudy Gamble 27
TNaquin, Cle Perry Van Hook 23
TAnderson, Col Perry Van Hook 23 Jeff Boggis 12
SBieber, Cle Perry Van Hook 22
SWright, Bos Tim McCullough 22 D.J. Short 25 Adam Ronis 16
Perry Van Hook 7
DTravis, Tor Ray Murphy 18
WAdames, TB Adam Ronis 14
AniSanchez, Atl Adam Ronis 3

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
KMarte, Ari Ray Murphy 18 Perry Van Hook 5 Adam Ronis 1
PSandoval, SF Ray Murphy 18
DHolland, SF Perry Van Hook 7
JPirela, SD Perry Van Hook 7
AHanson, SF Adam Ronis 6
HPerez, Mil Ray Murphy 4
CPinder, Oak Adam Ronis 6
KYates, SD Adam Ronis 3
AMondesi, KC Adam Ronis 1
JusMiller, Was Adam Ronis 1

Perry Van Hook’s Commentary

High bid from the nine Touts bidding this week was $152 for new Yankee starter Jonathan Loaisiga by Jeff Boggis. I needed to fill some empty spots on my roster (ie. too many players on the DL) and won all my top choices – Cleveland fly-chaser Tyler Naquin for $23; Rockies starter Tyler Anderson (yes again) for two starts also for $23; and with Carlos Carrasco going on the DL, I added Shane Bieber for $22 (subsequently called up to start Sunday’s game). I over thought Bieber, thinking some other Touts would put the two events together and raised what would have been a winning $13 bid to $22. Hopefully he pitches well enough next week to make me forget the nine dollars.

Todd’s Take

I’m really surprised Willy Adames only drew one bid. It’s pretty clear he’s up to stay, even with Adeiny Hechavarria off the DL. Hechavarria is ticketed for a backup role while Adames will be the regular shortstop. Adames has been hitting in a decent lineup spot so even in a lesser offense, he’ll chip in across the board.

HEAD-TO-HEAD MIXED AUCTION

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
JBarria, LAA Kyle Elfrink 89 Dr. Roto 26 Jake Ciely 11
Peter Kreutzer 2 Clay Link 2
BAnderson, Mia Stephania Bell 38 Peter Kreutzer 37 Andrea LaMont 19
Dr. Roto 12 Michael Rathburn 8
MEstrada, Tor Paul Sporer 28
KBarraclough, Mia Stephania Bell 23
JHeyward, ChC Andrea LaMont 22
FPeralta, Mil Dr. Roto 20 Jake Ciely 3
AHanson, SF Dr. Roto 17
BSuter, Mil Michael Rathburn 15 Dr. Roto 10 Paul Sporer 4
Clay Link 1
SKingery, Phi Dr. Roto 14 Paul Sporer 4
JLoaisiga, NYY Jake Ciely 11 Clay Link 3 Peter Kreutzer 2
JHammel, KC Michael Rathburn 8
DRodriguez, SF Jake Ciely 6 Justin Mason 5 Paul Sporer 4
TomMurphy, Col Paul Sporer 5 Michael Rathburn 0
ELauer, SD Justin Mason 5
RLopez, CWS Justin Mason 5 Peter Kreutzer 3 Michael Rathburn 0
CKuhl, Pit Peter Kreutzer 3 Stephania Bell 3 Clay Link 1
FGalvis, SD Michael Rathburn 2
EDiaz, Pit Michael Rathburn 2
SMatz, NYM Clay Link 1 Peter Kreutzer 3

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
JusMiller, Was Paul Sporer 11
LBrinson, Mia Dr. Roto 10
CRichard, SD Michael Rathburn 5
EAdrianza, Min Michael Rathburn 4
PBlackburn, Oak Michael Rathburn 4
SLugo, NYM Michael Rathburn 2 Jake Ciely 2 Clay Link 1
CCulberson, Atl Michael Rathburn 1
CBassitt, Oak Justin Mason 0

Todd’s Take

Nice pull by Stephania Bell with Brian Anderson as the Marlins have a weekend series in Coors. Also very slick knowing to bid exactly $1 more than Peter Kreutzer.

Speaking of Coors, Tom Murphy has finally been advanced to the majors. The list of Colorado catchers expected to be fantasy gold more because of the name on the front of their uniform is long. Like many of the others, Murphy has power but needs to ratchet up his contact to take advantage.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to a personal commitment, next week’s report will be posted a few hours later than normal. Thanks for understanding – Todd