RADIO
While there's been plenty of disappointment this year among the top 50 drafted bats, Edwin Encarnacion, Carlos Gomez, Yasiel Puig and Adrian Beltre highlight the cream of the crop.
But, instead of bemoaning bad draft investments, I’m going to talk about five fringe players that should be cut. Go ahead and let another, less informed manager take a risk on these bad decisions.
Speaking of bad decisions, did the Nationals really just trade for Papelbon and demote Storen? Storen is the 9th ranked fantasy closer and is having a terrific season. Unless Paps is perfect in the 9th, this will not end well. On to the cuts!
The Week 17 Cut List
Chris Young, SP Royals
Young might be ranked in the top 150 overall in Yahoo leagues. With a league worst 5.06 xFIP he probably can't be traded at this point, but his numbers continue to get worse at a time when the fantasy playoffs are around the corner. You can't afford this kind of risk. Young’s 4.98 ERA over his last two starts should be all I need to say. Cut him and add Nationals starter Joe Ross before it’s too late.
I just dislike Matt Cain in fantasy. He might be a great guy in real life, but I don't really care. I can't think of another more overrated pitcher over the last five seasons. For instance, this season Cain’s ADP (according to fantasypros.com) was 223. That is ahead of arms like Shelby Miller, John Lackey, Danny Salazar and Carlos Martinez. Cain's current Yahoo rank is 517.
He’s been on the decline since 2011 when he had a 5 WAR season. He followed that up with 3.8 WAR in 2012 and 1.7 WAR in 2013. He was injured for most of 2014 but still managed to pitch 90 innings with a 4.18 ERA. More troubling was his career worst 1.3 HR/9. Limited by injuries in 2015, he is again posting a very high 1.29 HR/9 and 4.50 ERA. According to my calculations, he isn’t getting better.
Rafael Soriano, RP Cubs
Soriano has pitched only 4.2 innings since joining the Cubs. He has a 7.71 ERA so far and is 9% owned. If you are that desperate for holds, get the Brewer’s Jeremy Jeffress or Seth Maness from St. Louis. Each are barely owned and get plenty of opportunities.
Wade Miley, SP Red Sox
In shallow leagues, Miley isn’t even worth considering for a spot start. The Red Sox hillbilly handfisher, isn't to be trusted after giving up seven runs in five innings on the night the Red Sox retired Pedro Martinez's #45. What a season for Red Sox pitching though. Porcello, Miley, Masterson, Buchholz, Joe Kelly (Fart Sound).
Tyler Clippard, RP Mets
If you are in a league that counts holds, I would still hang on. Otherwise Clippard will be setting up Jeurys Familia. In other Mets related news, after talking with my buddy who's a Mets fan, he claimed to be happy the Carlos Gomez deal fell through. Not sure if that was the general sentiment among Mets fans, but it's strange either way. I would be happy to land Gomez. I just traded for Gomez in a keeper league and now I am in a panic about his hip. So I am following this story closely. For such a bizarre story, it’s no surprise it involves the Mets.
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