Tout Wars FAAB Review: Week of May 7

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
FRomero, Min Vlad Sedler 269 Seth Trachtman 82 Jeff Erickson 78
Larry Schechter 72 Doug Dennis 39
Rob Leibowitz 37 Lawr Michaels 33
Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 3
RYarbrough, TB Jason Collette 44 Jeff Erickson 13 Seth Trachtman 11
Vlad Sedler 7 Lawr Michaels 3
Doug Dennis 0
WLeBlanc, Sea Jeff Erickson 13 Jeff Erickson 7
HVelazquez, Bos Chris Liss 12 Doug Dennis 0
NRamirez, LAA Jeff Erickson 7 Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 1 Mike Podhorzer 0
BMaxwell, Oak Vlad Sedler 6 Doug Dennis 0
VGuerreroJr, Tor Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 1
BGuyer, Cle Seth Trachtman 1 Patrick Davitt 0
JTomlin, Cle Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 1 Jeff Erickson 1
ARomine, Sea Patrick Davitt 0
ONarvaez, CWS Doug Dennis 0
JLeclerc, Tex Seth Trachtman 0
DPompey, Tor Patrick Davitt 0 Seth Trachtman 1
JJimenez, Det Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 0 Jeff Erickson 7 Chris Liss 1

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
ESkoglund, KC Vlad Sedler 13
ABanda, TB Vlad Sedler 6
JAlvarez, LAA Vlad Sedler 6
DButera, KC Vlad Sedler 3 Doug Dennis 0
KJepsen, Tex Chris Liss 3
GPetit, Min Seth Trachtman 1 Patrick Davitt 0
JRondon, CWS Seth Trachtman 1
CStewart, Det Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 1
RLaMarre, Min Patrick Davitt 0
RGoins, KC Patrick Davitt 0
LTrivino, Oak Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 0
JKelly, Bos Seth Trachtman 0
CBYoung, LAA Patrick Davitt 0
ARomine, NYY Doug Dennis 0

Patrick Davitt’s Commentary

This week’s Tout-AL FAAB bidding featured the continuing search for starting pitchers, with some healthy bids on starters who had auspicious debuts.

The big buy of the session was by Vlad Sedler, who spent the princely sum of 269 to acquire MIN starter Fernando Romero. One of the Twins’ top pitching prospects (along with Stephen Gonsalves), Romero debuted midweek, earning a win over the Blue Jays with 5.2 scoreless innings and 5 Ks. Sedler then traded starter Jaime Garcia to Jeff Erickson for IF Adalberto Mondesi.

The next high bid was also on a starter who impressed earlier in the week. Rays enthusiast Jason Collette acquired TAM lefty starter Ryan Yarbrough for 44. Like Romero, Yarbrough also beat the Jays earlier in the week, allowing one hit while getting 15 outs, albeit as the second pitcher in one of the Rays’ vaunted bullpen days. The Rays have said Yarbrough is likely to get the rotation spot of injured Yonny Chirinos. Collette released Cam Bedrosian, one of the 46 guys jockeying uselessly for saves in Anaheim. Since I already have Justin Anderson and Jim Johnson, I might have to add Bedrosian next week to make a set. After which they’ll settle on Noe Ramirez (see below).

Other starters bought:

Jeff Erickson spent 13 to get SEA starter Wade LeBlanc (13), who will take over in Erickson’s rotation for DLed Jordan Montgomery

Chris Liss’ spent 12 on the Red Sox’ latest fifth starter, Hector Velazquez, and reserved still another closer hopeful, Jake Diekman of TEX.

The Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton partnership (W/C) was the busiest team, making three transactions, including Josh Tomlin of CLE, for 1. I dropped Tomlin this week, so I expect he’ll go all Johnny Vander Meer on my butt and throw back-to-back no-hitters.

Three touts rolled the dice on proto-closers: Erickson spent 7 on Noe Ramirez, potential #47 in LAA, who replaces reserved reliever Joe Smith; W/C invested 1 on Joe Jimenez of DET; and Seth Trachtman grabbed TEX reliever Jose LeClerc for zero to replace  DLed Angels starter Nick Tropeano.

W/C also made the week’s most notable speculative bet, buying TOR super-prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr., on the hope that Josh Donaldson gets re-injured or traded, and that the Jays are willing to start Vladdy’s service clock. W/C reserved Adeiny Hechavarria, Heath Hembree and Brett Anderson.

The week’s action saw some catcher moves. Doug Dennis changed second catchers, reserving Jason Castro of MIN and grabbing CHW’s Omar Narvaez for zero, and Sedler released LAA C Rene Rivera and got OAK backup Bruce Maxwell III, buying him for VI.

Trachtman DLed TOR OF Steve Pearce, who I hope is out for the season (see below), buying CLE OF Brandon Guyer for 1.

I as usual played in the shallow end of the pool, placing zero bids on utilityman Andrew Romine to take over for DLed Luis Sardinas, and TOR OF Dalton Pompey for released (and retired) Ichiro Suzuki. After Pompey had a decent first game, the Jays then crossed me up somewhat by recalling OF Anthony Alford, whom I already had on reserve. Too bad the league doesn’t have a category for “temporary replacements for Curtis Granderson and Steve Pearce.” Then again, maybe I’ll luck into getting a more permanent guy, a la Teoscar Hernandez.

Todd’s Take

How am I supposed to follow that? It’s like asking George Carlin to open for you.

Vlad already has the highest bid so far this season, dropping 159 on Lourdes Gurriel Jr. a couple weeks ago. It now becomes an intriguing guessing game with his league-mates. Do they need to be extra aggressive when they feel they’ll be competing with Rotogut for a player or will Vlad back off a bit now that he’s invested almost half his budget on two players? My guess is Vlad has at least two more low triple bids left before he tempers the amount – we’ll see.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
AnSuarez, SF Phil Hertz 113 Todd Zola 113 Brian Walton 55
Tristan H. Cockcroft 0
CKelly, StL Craig Mish 79 Phil Hertz 52
TJankowski, SD Scott Wilderman 37 Brian Walton 35
GGarcia, StL Todd Zola 33 Scott Wilderman 2 Tristan H. Cockcroft 0
LGohara, Atl Phil Hertz 32
RLopez, SD Brian Walton 23 Andy Behrens 17
JBarnes, Mil Todd Zola 17 Mike Gianella 6
CRichard, SD Mike Gianella 17
TNido, NYM Andy Behrens 14
TGuerrero, Mia Phil Hertz 7 Grey Albright 1
JHughes, Cin Todd Zola 7
AStevenson, Was Scott Wilderman 4
MAlbers, Mil Mike Gianella 3
ZEflin, Phi Craig Mish 3 Phil Hertz 37 Todd Zola 13
SCarle, Atl Craig Mish 2
YGarcia, LAD Grey Albright 1
TLyons, StL Lenny Melnick 1 Todd Zola 7
CHeadley, SD Tristan H. Cockcroft 0 Todd Zola 13
BShipley, Ari Tristan H. Cockcroft 0
PFlorimon, Phi Scott Wilderman 0 Tristan H. Cockcroft 0

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
WMiley, Mil Todd Zola 17
CStammen, SD Todd Zola 7
PSewald, NYM Todd Zola 7 Phil Hertz 3
TMcFarland, Ari Todd Zola 7
TWatson, SF Todd Zola 7 Mike Gianella 3
TLocastro, LAD Brian Walton 2
MSzczur, SD Scott Wilderman 1
PBaez, LAD Grey Albright 1
BKintzler, Was Brian Walton 1
BValera, LAD Tristan H. Cockcroft 0 Scott Wilderman 0
DCastro, Col Tristan H. Cockcroft 0
JGuerra, SD Tristan H. Cockcroft 0
NCuevas, Col Scott Wilderman 0
ERamos, Phi Phil Hertz 0

Todd’s Commentary and Take

Tout NL was a little of everything this week as a starting pitcher, catcher, outfielder and reserve infielder topped the bidding.

Andrew Suarez landed on the roster of Phil Hertz for 113 units – the same amount I bid. Either Phil has astutely studied my bidding habits and is fortunate I didn’t go 117 (I end all bids in 3 and 7) or he was just plain lucky. Further, we’re exactly tied in the standings. By rule, the FAAB tie-breaker is lower in the standings at the time of the FAAB run. Based on this, I’ve asked the umpires to review the call. The call on the field is Phil gets Suarez. We’ll see what happens.

With Yadier Molina out for a month after surgery for every male’s nightmare, Carson Kelly scratched from his Triple-A game, ostensibly to report to the Cardinals and share catching duties with Francisco Pena. Kelly was up last season for 34 games. He received 75 plate appearances and while he wasn’t overmatched (only 11 strikeouts) he hit only .174. He’s not crushing Triple-A so far, slashing .234/.337/.364. Still, he’s a top catching prospect and definitely with a hot in a deep league.

Scott Wilderman grabbed Travis Jankowski and the Padres are still sorting out their roster while hoping Manny Margot gets back in the groove. In 2016, Jankowski swiped 30 bases, always a nice thing in today’s fantasy landscape.

Greg Garcia, Jacob Barnes and Jared Hughes were all filler acquisitions. I lost Robbie Ray and Zack Davies this week. With three closers on my roster, I need to make a deal to help upgrade elsewhere, so I was looking to pick up some players that won’t hurt me while I look to trade.

I also grabbed Chase Headley because he has a pulse and qualifies at corner… ’nuff said.

The headsets are coming off and we have a decision. From OnRoto:

Built into the standings page are the 2 tiebreakers from the original Rotisserie book: most categories leading head to head, and if still tied, greatest total AB + 3 * IP. So if you’re listed ahead of Phil in the standings, you actually are ahead, even though you have the same number of total points.

From the rules:

Any issues not covered by this Constitution will revert to the rules as stated in the Official Constitution in Rotisserie League Baseball. Tout Wars LLC will rule on any issues not covered by the RLBA constitution.

The call stands, Hertz gets Suarez. The tiebreak reverts to the official rule book, which is how the tie was broken.

MIXED LEAGUE AUCTION 

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
NKingham, Pit Joe Pisapia 212 Scott Pianowski 169 Jeff Zimmerman 114
Tim McLeod 97 Zach Steinhorn 48
Scott Engel 47 Tim Heaney 46
Fred Zinkie 33
CSmith, Mia Scott Pianowski 188 Jeff Zimmerman 114 Ray Flowers 81
Zach Steinhorn 68 Al Melchior 56
Scott Engel 49 Fred Zinkie 44
MAdams, Was Scott Pianowski 99 Ray Flowers 52 Scott Engel 41
Ron Shandler 37 Tim Heaney 26
Al Melchior 20 Scott Swanay 13
Fred Zinkie 7
FRomero, Min Ray Flowers 81 Zach Steinhorn 54 Tim McLeod 53
Al Melchior 17 Fred Zinkie 17
DGerman, NYY Al Melchior 56 Joe Pisapia 88 Zach Steinhorn 53
Fred Zinkie 2
JBautista, Atl Tim Heaney 46 Scott Swanay 28 Fred Zinkie 25
Al Melchior 0
JAnderson, LAA Tim Heaney 36 Tim Heaney 26 Al Melchior 0
CPinder, Oak Ray Flowers 31
JHicks, Det Ray Flowers 29 Tim Heaney 26 Ron Shandler 16
Tim McLeod 9 Al Melchior 0
AGordon, KC Scott Swanay 28 Tim Heaney 26 Ron Shandler 22
Scott Engel 2 Al Melchior 0
RDavis, Cle Ron Shandler 27
TLyons, StL Tim Heaney 16
TBlach, SF Scott Engel 15 Scott Engel 14
YSanchez, CWS Jeff Zimmerman 14 Tim Heaney 1
BParker, LAA Bret Sayre 7 Tim Heaney 3
MGarver, Min Tim Heaney 7 Al Melchior 0
CKelly, StL Tim McLeod 7 Tim Heaney 4
KAllard, Atl Tim McLeod 3
JHellickson, Was Tim McLeod 3 Ray Flowers 19 Fred Zinkie 2
LGarcia, CWS Scott Engel 2
ZEflin, Phi Fred Zinkie 2
TClippard, Tor Scott Engel 1
JCamargo, Atl Al Melchior 0
DDescalso, Ari Tim Heaney 0
NDelmonico, CWS Al Melchior 0 Ron Shandler 1

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
AFrazier, Pit Scott Swanay 28
AdGonzalez, NYM Ray Flowers 19 Ron Shandler 1
CCuthbert, KC Ray Flowers 19
RGuzman, Tex Ray Flowers 19
TJankowski, SD Ron Shandler 18
JimJohnson, LAA Al Melchior 17
NAhmed, Ari Tim Heaney 6
IKinerFalefa, Tex Jeff Zimmerman 6
TNaquin, Cle Scott Swanay 4
NHundley, SF Tim McLeod 3 Tim Heaney 0
JJay, KC Scott Swanay 2
RGrossman, Min Scott Swanay 2
EDiaz, Pit Tim McLeod 1
MStassi, Hou Tim Heaney 1
PSewald, NYM Scott Engel 1
ARomine, NYY Tim Heaney 0
MFeliz, Pit Tim Heaney 0
MMaldonado, LAA Tim Heaney 0
RLopez, SD Tim Heaney 0
SLugo, NYM Tim Heaney 0
RPressly, Min Al Melchior 0

Todd’s  Take

Let’s see how the two mixed leagues rank the plethora of available starting pitching available this week. Here, Nick Kingham > Caleb Smith > Fernando Romero > Domingo German. Keep in mind, this was previous to German’s gem on Sunday afternoon. Talking with Al Melchior and Lawr Michaels on the Tout Wars Hour on FNTSY Network, Al questioned why German wasn’t more sought after. My guess is there’s a stigma about the AL East and Yankee Stadium. It’ll be interesting to see what Mixed Draft did and what Mixed LABR will do Sunday night.

MIXED LEAGUE DRAFT

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
AVerdugo, LAD Corey Parson 165 Ray Murphy 56 Adam Ronis 27
Perry Van Hook 23
NKingham, Pit Corey Parson 123 Scott White 53 Adam Ronis 46
Perry Van Hook 23
FRomero, Min Greg Ambrosius 121 Michael Beller 93 Corey Parson 81
Adam Ronis 38 Tom Kessenich 18
JBautista, Atl Michael Beller 79 Ray Murphy 56 Gene McCaffrey 28
Corey Parson 5
JJeffress, Mil Tim McCullough 72 Gene McCaffrey 38 Scott White 16
CSmith, Mia D.J. Short 65 Scott White 53 Jeff Boggis 17
JProfar, Tex Gene McCaffrey 48 Adam Ronis 14 Perry Van Hook 7
Corey Parson 3 Jeff Boggis 2
NAhmed, Ari Tim McCullough 42 Jeff Boggis 2
DGerman, NYY Adam Ronis 36 Corey Parson 31 Gene McCaffrey 27
LGarcia, CWS Ray Murphy 36 Corey Parson 3
LGregerson, StL Ray Murphy 27
MRojas, Mia Anthony Perri 22 Greg Ambrosius 6
MKoch, Ari Tim McCullough 22
WMiley, Mil Tom Kessenich 21
TAustin, NYY Charlie Wiegert 18 Greg Ambrosius 11 Corey Parson 5
CBedrosian, LAA Michael Beller 17
AGordon, KC Ray Murphy 16 Perry Van Hook 0
DODay, Bal Scott White 16
AHanson, SF Adam Ronis 14 Rudy Gamble 8
LLynn, Min Scott White 12
DDescalso, Ari Greg Ambrosius 9 Corey Parson 6
JCamargo, Atl Corey Parson 9
GParra, Col Rudy Gamble 8
CPinder, Oak Perry Van Hook 5 Gene McCaffrey 1
EHernandez, LAD Perry Van Hook 5 Adam Ronis 3
MGarver, Min Rudy Gamble 4 Adam Ronis 4
JHicks, Det Adam Ronis 4
AHechavarria, TB Jeff Boggis 0

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
HPerez, Mil Gene McCaffrey 18
WFlores, NYM Greg Ambrosius 7
LGurriel, Tor Adam Ronis 7 Charlie Wiegert 6
AdGonzalez, NYM Greg Ambrosius 7
SLugo, NYM D.J. Short 5
WDifo, Was Adam Ronis 4
JWendle, TB Adam Ronis 4
IKinerFalefa, Tex Adam Ronis 4 Corey Parson 2
JDyson, Ari Corey Parson 3
CKelly, StL Adam Ronis 3
JPeterson, Bal Corey Parson 1
GBlanco, SF Rudy Gamble 1
RLopez, SD Adam Ronis 0
NHundley, SF Adam Ronis 0
MStassi, Hou Adam Ronis 0
CaJoseph, Bal Adam Ronis 0

Perry Van Hook’s Commentary

With all fifteen teams trying to improve their rosters, three players garnered FAAB bids north of $100. Highest was young Dodger outfielder Alex Verdugo won by Corey Parson for $165. Parson also rostered one of the young pitchers, selecting Pirates Nick Kingham for $123, while Greg Ambrosius spent just two dollars less to add Twins rookie Fernando Romero for a two start week.

I bid on Verdugo and Kingham but not nearly enough as I was just trying to add some depth. I did win SS/OF Chad Pinder of Oakland to replace last weeks’ addition of Kelby Tomlinson who found himself in a time share. With more Dodgers on the DL I also added Enrique Hernandez who qualifies at 2B/SS/OF at $5 each.

Todd’s Take

Mixed Draft agrees Kingham is the best of the available quartet with German the last, however they flipped the middle two, favoring Romero over Caleb Smith.

I like Rudy Gamble’s stealth acquisition of Mitch Garver, now the regular backstop for the Twins with Jason Castro on the shelf for at least a month. Garver was one of my favorite second catchers in AL only as he can hit. Now with regular playing time, Garver is well worthy of mixed league play.

Another AL only favorite was John Hicks as I hoped he’d grab some time behind the plate, picking up catcher eligibility, then finding time at first if/when Miguel Cabrera or Victor Martinez missed time. I wish all my spring calls were this spot-on.

HEAD-TO-HEAD MIXED AUCTION

SUCCESSFUL BIDS

PLAYER WINNING BID
MSoroka, Atl Clay Link 195 Howard Bender 88 Dr. Roto 67
Jake Ciely 52 Michael Rathburn 22
CSmith, Mia Clay Link 89 Dr. Roto 59 Jake Ciely 42
Howard Bender 38 Peter Kreutzer 34
MTrumbo, Bal Dr. Roto 88
HStrickland, SF Howard Bender 48
JBautista, Atl Dr. Roto 44
YGomes, Cle Kyle Elfrink 42 Clay Link 16
FRomero, Min Jake Ciely 42 Clay Link 66 Peter Kreutzer 34
Michael Rathburn 18
MPina, Mil Clay Link 36
NAhmed, Ari Michael Rathburn 18 Jake Ciely 11 Stephania Bell 3
Peter Kreutzer 0
KKela, Tex Howard Bender 18
JHellickson, Was Peter Kreutzer 17 Jake Ciely 12 Stephania Bell 5
Michael Rathburn 5
NKingham, Pit Michael Rathburn 16 Jake Ciely 52
CGreen, NYY Dr. Roto 14
JUrena, Mia Peter Kreutzer 13
RFlaherty, Atl Stephania Bell 11
AHanson, SF Jake Ciely 11 Dr. Roto 39 Peter Kreutzer 0
TAnderson, Col Peter Kreutzer 11
DGerman, NYY Michael Rathburn 6
MAdams, Was Peter Kreutzer 0
ADiaz, Tor Peter Kreutzer 0

UNAWARDED BIDS

PLAYER
GTorres, NYY Dr. Roto 22
JProfar, Tex Jake Ciely 6 Peter Kreutzer 0
WDifo, Was Stephania Bell 5
JCamargo, Atl Stephania Bell 3
JHicks, Det Clay Link 1

Todd’s Take

H2H has spoken: Caleb Smith > Fernando Romero > Nick Kingham > Domingo German. Keep in mind, Mike Soroko was already on a roster in the 15-team formats.

FWIW, I think I rank Kingham > German > Romero > Smith.

interesting, while Peter Kreutzer did bid on some from the above group, he was the only manager in on Jose Urena and Tyler Anderson plus only one of two looking to pick up Jeremy Hellickson. I like this approach, aided by the points scoring system caring more about innings, strikeouts and wins than ratios. It’s all about context.