It’s crunch time with several league races coming down to the wire. Below are 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
Three teams are within three points entering the Sunday night game as Rob Leibowitz, Colton and the Wolfman and Patrick Davitt are in a dogfight. As such, it’s no surprise the top bid was submitted by Leibowitz, sweeping up Ryan McBroom for 38 units. McBroom was acquired by the Royals from the Yankees and should be on the strong side of a first base platoon down the stretch. Leibowitz also grabbed Seattle opener Justin Dunn for $36. The next highest purchase came courtesy of Doug Dennis, betting $30 that Seattle Mariners Kyle Lewis continues to muscle up. Dennis also snagged Lewis’ teammate Shed Long.
The next high bid came courtesy of Colton and the Wolfman as the duo went fishing for saves, hooking Anthony Bass for 23 units. Bass has appeared to retake the closer role from Matt Magill. Colton and the Wolfman also added Grayson Greiner and Bubba Starling as a total of 13 players were plucked from the free agent waters.
National League
Brian Walton and Phil Hertz are battling tooth and nail for the league title with both supplementing their rosters. Walton elected to add Stephen Vogt ($4) and Ray Black ($0) while Hertz cycles in four new players, all for $0 — Brent Suter, Jake Arrieta, Alan Minter and Pat Valaika.
Todd Zola was the big spender, emptying his FAAB wallet on a $71 Nico Hoerner. The Cubs called Hoerner up with Jaview Baez and Addison Russell on the shelf.
Grey Albright and Scott Wilderman also added a pair of bodies. Albright entering the second highest bid this week, a $14 try on Magneuris Sierra along with $0 on Yan Gomes. Wilderman rolled a $7 bid on Austin Voth then added Padres hurler David Bednar for $0.
Mixed Auction
Scott Swanay and Brett Sayre are within a point entering the Sunday night game with Brent Hershey within striking distance. As a whole, the Mixed Auction was very diligent with 11 Touts adding 24 players.
The league leaders were front and center with Swanay adding three, lead by Luis Severino for $6 as well as Austin Voth and Miguel Rojas for $0. Sayre took advantage of $0 bids on Devin Smeltzer and Welington Castillo while Hershey followed suit on Mauricio Dubon and Jason Castro.
The high bid belonged to Eric Karabell with a $191 purchase of Nico Hoerner. Karabell was busy, also fortifying his roster with Kyle Lewis for $75 and Dinelson Lamet for $51.
Because you can’t put your excess FAAB on account or a gift certificate, Zach Steinhorn dropped 153 on Nick Markakis and 37 on A’s backstop Sean Murphy. Jeff Zimmerman was also in a spending mood, allotting $37 to Tigers fly chaser Christian Stewart and $26 on both Todd Frazier and Jhoulys Chacin.
Review all 9/15 Mixed Auction bids here.
Mixed Draft
Ray Murphy and Adam Ronis have made the Mixed Draft a two-team race. Murphy took advantage of the FAAB hammer, routing $66 for Kyle Lewis and Nico Horner. Ronis found Brandon Nimmo for $2.
In total, eight players were added with Rudy Gamble’s $77 bid on Rockies closer heading the pack.
Review all 9/15 Mixed Draft bids here.
Head to Head
The results are not official but it appears Clay Link and Ian Kahn will meet for the Tout Wars Head to Head Championship, a two-week finals. Based on the regular season where Link was the top team, Kahn comes in as the underdog, helping to explain his array of moves, all for $1: Austin Romine, Sean Murphy, Wil Myers, Luis Severino, Jairo Diaz, Anthony Bass, Jason Heyward and Todd Frazier.
Good luck to the H2H finalists