Cut List (Week 15): Players to Consider Cutting Bait On In Fantasy Baseball

Josh Leonard informs fantasy owners of which struggling MLB players should likely be dropped in Week 15 to open a free space on fantasy baseball rosters.

The RotoBaller Cut List has been helping fantasy managers make tough decisions all season. Using projections, advanced statistical analysis and potential trade analysis, we are able to make tough fantasy baseball management decisions look easy.

Last week, we highlighted a mix of players including fellow Red Sox; Mike Napoli and Cuban OF Rusney Castillo. We included a bold recommendation to drop San Diego SP Andrew Cashner and then try a pint of Stoneface IPA.

Since then, I've polished off a growler and Cash has thrown 7.2 innings with a 4.70 ERA. If you were able to snag an Andrew Heaney or Erasmo Ramirez in his place, you would be in a better place today. Heaney has been excellent over the last 14 days with a 1.88/.084/7.53 line with 2 Quality starts. He’s been awesome for the Halos.

This week, I am drinking Founder’s All Day IPA out of a can. I was visibly excited to find this uniquely delectable beverage available in 15 packs at my local grocery store. I spent last Saturday on the lake drinking ice cold Founder’s All Day IPAs, and, I am not sure what there is left to look forward to in heaven. I don't want to sound like I am bragging, but it was an awesome day.

Now onto an unfortunate list of names that haven't had an awesome day in a long time. Struggling sluggers Mark Trumbo, Lucas Duda and Brandon Moss are next in line to walk the plank, but not just yet. Of all of the power hitting batting average killers, the time has come for...

The Week 15 Cut List

Chris Carter

I will admit cutting may be a bit harsh, so let me pump the brakes a little. Try trading him first. On the season, Carter's produced a problematic .187/.304/.305 slash with 115 strikeouts in 336 at bats. That's fugly.

Interestingly, 30% of Carter's hits have been home runs. His power has so much potential but I can't handle the fact that 34% of Carters at-bats end in a strikeout.I hate seeing 0-4 lines on my fantasy team, so Carter just drives me nuts.  At the midway point, Carter has caused more harm than good and there are much better options out there. Even Luis Valbuena would be an upgrade. Only fantasy dorks like me and my friend Scott  find humor in that joke. Tonight, Scott is recording the MLB futures game so he can do his own personal scouting.

Drew Hutchison

It seems like an eternity ago, but during spring training,  I was talking about the 1-2 punch Toronto has in a talented young core of pitchers, led by Marcus Stroman and Drew Hutchison. I jinxed them. Stroman, as you probably remember, tore his ACL in March.

Hutchinson is now so inconsistent he can’t be trusted. Over the last 30 days, his 6.35 ERA and 1.98 WHIP didn’t help you win. If you owned Hutch and Zack Greinke your line was inflated from 0.41 ERA to 3.38. That fact is nonsensical, I know, but it takes this kind of raw and instinctive thinking to win in Fantasy Baseball. Quick! drop him and add Taylor Jungmann, SP Brewers.

Ian Kennedy

This dude is toxic. He’s surrendered 20 HR in only 84 innings. Fellow Padre James Shields has given up 19 HR in 119 IP. Andrew Cashner has also given up 13. You can start to see a trend until you consider that Tyson Ross is tops among qualified pitchers, only allowing three home runs in 110 IP. Who knows why these pitchers are giving up so many homers?

Alexei Ramirez

At almost 34 years old, Alexei Ramirez isn't hitting 15 bombs like he did in 2014. On the season, Ramirez is slashing a .224/.249/.292 line with .067 ISO and only two HR. You can dump him if you have decent options available. Check the waiver for Yunel Escobar. With over 300 at bats, Escobar is batting .321 on the year with a .776 OPS. Even All Star Jose Iglesias is only 27% owned in Yahoo leagues. Otherwise, hang on to Ramirez and ride that train to maybe slightly better production. His .245 BABIP should correct over the season closer to his career average .291.

Check out the Rotoballer’s Cut List next week when I sample Earth Eagle Brewery.

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