The trade deadline edition is our busiest weekly report for 2019, summarizing the top free agent bids in each of the five Tout Wars leagues, with links to the detailed bidding action following our 8 p.m. ET deadline each Sunday evening. All prices are on a $1000 base.
After you scan the detail below, please join our live chat, starting at 9 p.m. ET Sunday evening, to discuss these results with Todd Zola of Mastersball and other Touts.
American League
The AL- and NL-only leagues had the most action this week, as expected. In the AL, only one owner had more than $800 FAAB, Larry Schechter. Next at $691 was Mike Podhorzer and Doug Dennis at $482.
22 free agents joined AL-only teams in this week’s bidding.
Schechter used his hammer to acquire new Cleveland outfielder Yasiel Puig for $484. His new outfield mate by way of San Diego, Franmil Reyes, was acquired by Podhorzer for $416. That was a dollar more than Doug Dennis spent to acquire new Astros starter Zack Greinke.
Spreading his cash around, Schechter also nabbed Detroit outfielder Travis Demeritte for $297. For $295, former Brewers-now Rays slugger Jesus Aguilar joined the roster of Jeff Erickson.
No other AL free agents went for more than $77, but as one might guess, the NL-only bidding was even wilder.
National League
Money had been hoarded in the National League with two owners holding more than $1000 – Scott Wilderman at $1085 and Justin Mason with $1055. Next were Derek Carty at $940 and Craig Mish with $810.
It paid off as the biggest quantity of names to be traded headed into the Senior Circuit. In some wild and crazy bidding, a whopping 28 players were acquired this week.
Wilderman picked up new Reds starter Trevor Bauer for $1056. (As one would expect, Mason offered “just” $941.) Not coincidentally, that is what Mason paid for his second choice, new Cubs outfielder Nicholas Castellanos.
Per the unwritten script, Carty picked up new Mets starter Marcos Stroman for $811. Mish took new Braves closer Shane Greene for $709.
A pair of called-up prospects were next in the spending hierarchy. Dodgers starter Dustin May, with additional opportunity now that Hyun-Jin Ryu is out, fetched $602 of Grey Albright’s cash. Brewers outfield prospect Trent Grisham was snapped by Tristan H. Cockcroft for $400.
Steve Gardner added new Cubs second baseman-outfielder Tony Kemp for $204 and new Arizona starter Mike Leake for $145.
Mixed Auction
While the dollar amounts were not higher, with none reaching $100, a whopping 31 free agents joined Mixed Auction rosters this Sunday evening.
Seattle has changed closers this season more often than Spinal Tap drummers (yes, I am dating myself with this reference). Maybe Anthony Bass is back around for another shot. He pitched the ninth Sunday, but the M’s were down by two runs. Scott Pianowski spent $99 to hook Bass.
Another new closer is Archie Bradley in Arizona, replacing (again) imploded Greg Holland. Brent Hershey spent $83 to land Bradley.
Eric Karabell likes shortstop Isan Diaz of the Marlins enough to submit a winning bid of $73. A call-up for the talented prospect is said to be imminent.
Review all 8/4 Mixed Auction bids here.
Mixed Draft
25 players found new homes in FAAB bidding this week in Mixed Draft, but spending was centered on two owners.
Arizona’s closer Bradley led the way, fetching $104 of the bankroll of league co-leader Rudy Gamble. He also acquired Royal Chelsor Cuthbert for $54.
D.J. Short dropped $145 on a trio of players – no-hit Astros starter Aaron Sanchez ($70), the Marlins’ Diaz ($45) and A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty ($30).
Review all 8/4 Mixed Draft bids here.
Head to Head
24 free agents were acquired in the Head-to-Head League this Sunday evening.
Top dollar was the $188 pitching analyst Paul Sporer spent on former Jays-now Astros hurler Sanchez.
From there, the bidding dropped dramatically, to the $41 of Ian Kahn’s FAAB used to acquire new Dodgers starter May.
Next up was the $36 paid by Andrea LaMont for Blake Treinen of Oakland. The results have been there, but the right-hander’s chances to reclaim the closer’s job seem cloudy.