Expert League FAAB Report (Tout Wars All-Star Week Special)
Tout Wars FAAB returns to its normal routine on Sunday but last night, before the All-Star break came to an end, we were given an additional opportunity to welcome new players to our squads.
TOP BUYS
Tyler Soderstrom ($137) - Drafted in the first round by Oakland back in 2020, Soderstrom is expected to make his big-league debut tonight when the A's host the Twins. There's a lot to like about him from a fantasy perspective, most notably the power he should provide at the thin catcher position. In 69 games at Triple-A Las Vegas this season, the 21-year-old has slugged 20 homers to go along with 59 RBI. He needs to improve his plate discipline, however, and the woeful A's lineup won't do him any favors when it comes to counting stats. With Francisco Alvarez and Blake Sabol on my roster, I didn't have a need for Soderstrom, but the fact that he received only two bids in total was surprising. Considering his position, I expected a lot more interest in him.
Colton Cowser ($127) - I found it very strange that only two managers placed bids on Cowser and equally strange that the runner-up bid was a minuscule $17, this after six managers in LABR Mixed tried to add him. Could it be that the Thursday night FAAB schedule caught the Mixed Auction Touts off guard? After all, less than half of the league placed any bids last night. Or maybe I'm overthinking this and the answer is simply that less than half of the league had enough roster room to acquire the promising prospect. Lack of roster space was the reason why I passed on him. For more on Cowser, see this week's LABR FAAB Report.
Ryan Mountcastle ($80) - Tout Wars rules allow managers to release drafted players who are on the IL in exchange for a FAAB rebate. This explains why Mountcastle, a proven fantasy asset, was sitting on the waiver wire. After missing roughly six weeks due to vertigo, the Baltimore slugger made his return this past Sunday and is fully expected to slide back into an everyday role. While the AVG/OBP is unlikely to be helpful, his power will be very helpful. I was tempted to bid on Mountcastle but already with a corner-infield logjam, I couldn't justify adding another first baseman to my roster. And it's too bad because I'm fairly confident that he will return a profit on his $80 price.
MY BUYS
Nobody. Mountcastle was the only player I even thought about bidding on but roster spots have value and there wasn't anyone on my current roster who I viewed as expendable.
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