OTW 266 – FAAB #25; September 6, 2026

On The Wire Episode 266 — FAAB 25 (Sunday, September 6, 2026)

Adam and Kevin work through a roster-expansion-heavy news day — IL moves, call-ups, and DFAs across the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Pirates, Cubs, Angels, Mets, Dodgers, Orioles, Padres, Nationals, and Mariners — before getting into hitters (power, speed, opportunity) and pitchers (volume, ratios, saves) with only three FAAB periods left in the season. A recurring theme is stat-category tunnel vision down the stretch: drop anyone you can’t use this week, target cellar-dwelling offenses like the Angels for pitching streams, and pick your spots by ballpark and schedule rather than name value. Kevin closes with a reminder to map out matchups two to three weeks ahead and start trimming bench pitchers you won’t actually use.

Welcome and News 0:00-15:00

Yankees place Trent Grisham on the IL with a hamstring injury, call up Jasson Domínguez, as Aaron Judge nears a return next week
Players Discussed: Trent Grisham, Jasson Domínguez, Aaron Judge, Spencer Jones, George Lombard Jr.

Yankees keep rolling three catchers with no clear timeshare change
Players Discussed: Austin Wells, Alí Sánchez, Ben Rice

Red Sox activate Trevor Story and Roman Anthony, option Anthony Seigler and Mickey Gasper, then bring Gasper right back up when Wilson Contreras hits the IL
Players Discussed: Trevor Story, Roman Anthony, Anthony Seigler, Mickey Gasper, Willson Contreras

Rays lose Shane McClanahan to the IL again with forearm tightness, and closer Bryan Baker exits Friday’s outing with an illness scare as Tyler Wells covers the save
Players Discussed: Shane McClanahan, Bryan Baker, Tyler Wells

Pirates activate rookie Konnor Griffin, DFA Christian Bethancourt to make room
Players Discussed: Konnor Griffin, Christian Bethancourt

Cubs lose Ben Brown for the rest of the season with a neck injury, with Edward Cabrera nearing a return for bullpen duty
Players Discussed: Ben Brown, Edward Cabrera, Matthew Boyd, Colin Rea, Kevin Gausman, Jameson Taillon, Clay Holmes, Jacob Webb, Daniel Palencia

Angels’ Luis Rengifo out for the season with an ACL tear and MCL sprain
Players Discussed: Luis Rengifo

Mets tentatively hoping Jonah Tong returns for a rotation spot start next week, with a possible two-start week to follow
Players Discussed: Jonah Tong

More News 15:00-35:00

Dodgers get healthy all at once — call up Alex Freeland, activate Will Smith, Justin Wrobleski, and Dalton Rushing off the IL, and DFA Alek Thomas and Ben Rortvedt
Players Discussed: Alex Freeland, Will Smith, Justin Wrobleski, Dalton Rushing, Alek Thomas, Ben Rortvedt

Shohei Ohtani working back from a few days off as Miguel Rojas and Alex Freeland’s emergence lets Tommy Edman slide to the outfield, and Hunter Feduccia (not Rushing) backs up Will Smith
Players Discussed: Shohei Ohtani, Miguel Rojas, Alex Freeland, Tommy Edman, Hunter Feduccia, Will Smith, Dalton Rushing, Enrique Hernández

Orioles claim Luis Robert Jr. Jr. off waivers from the Mets and add Heston Kjerstad, crowding an already deep outfield
Players Discussed: Luis Robert Jr., Heston Kjerstad, Colton Cowser, Dylan Beavers

Padres call up catching phenom Ethan Salas as part of their roster expansion
Players Discussed: Ethan Salas, Freddy Fermin, Luis Campusano

Nationals call up power-hitting prospect Yohandy Morales, muddying the first base/DH picture
Players Discussed: Yohandy Morales, Abimelec Ortiz, Andrés Chaparro

Mariners finally call up top prospect Lazaro Montes as rosters expand
Players Discussed: Lazaro Montes

Emerson Hancock hits the IL, Nick Davila is recalled to the bullpen, and Bryce Miller gets another rotation look over Ryan Sloan
Players Discussed: Emerson Hancock, Nick Davila, Bryce Miller, Ryan Sloan

Montes has started three of his first five games and appears to be pushing Taylor Ward into the short side of a platoon
Players Discussed: Lazaro Montes, Taylor Ward

FAAB Recommendations, Hitters 35:00-45:00

Power (RBI, HR)
Players Discussed: Lazaro Montes, Mickey Gasper, Sean Murphy, Andy Ibáñez, Shay Whitcomb

Speed (R, SB)
Players Discussed: Dustin Harris, Richie Palacios, Tyler Tolbert

Opportunity (AB, AVG)
Players Discussed: Dane Myers, Carlos Cortes, Denzel Clarke, Jeff McNeil

FAAB Recommendations, Pitchers 45:00-1:00:00

Volume (W, K)
Players Discussed: Cade Cavalli, Taj Bradley, Bailey Ober, Joe Ryan, Quinn Mathews, Connor Prielipp, Grayson Rodriguez, Jack Kochanowicz, Andre Pallante

Ratios (ERA, WHIP)
Players Discussed: Nate Lavender, Brooks Raley, Brock Stewart, Edgardo Henriquez

Closers (Saves)
Players Discussed: Calvin Faucher, Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith, Kenley Jansen, Justin Martinez, Juan Morillo, Brandyn Garcia

Wild Card and Closing Advice 1:00:00-1:05:00

Wild card stash: Adael Amador’s shortened, more compact swing in Colorado’s ten-game homestand
Players Discussed: Lazaro Montes, Adael Amador

Map out schedules two weeks ahead