The Cut List - Time To Let Go? Who To Consider Dropping For Fantasy Baseball (Week 22)

August 23, 2026

The fantasy baseball Cut List for Week 22 of 2026. Jamie analyzes potential fantasy baseball busts, overvalued players, and injured players to consider dropping.

Welcome back to The Cut List as we head into Week 22 of the 2026 fantasy baseball season. For those who are not familiar, this is our weekly article looking at players who fantasy managers might be considering cutting from their teams and struggling players who need a closer look.

We'll look at players who are worth monitoring for replacement and someone on the hot seat who should be held onto ... for now. Experienced Cut List readers will know I'm a strong advocate for not making knee-jerk reactions. A bad week or two shouldn't be a reason to push the panic button and dump someone.

If there's ever someone you want me to take a look at, drop their name in the Reddit comments, the RotoBaller Discord chat rooms, or reach out to me on X (@Baseball_Jimbo). Maybe you'll see them included next week. All stats and rostered rates (taken from Yahoo!) reflect when this piece was written.

Pitchers

Edwin Diaz - RP, Los Angeles Dodgers - 72% rostered

It's very rare that a player will feature in The Cut List two weeks running. Last week, I said that despite his struggles, Diaz was worth holding onto as long as he's the Dodgers' closer. Well, plenty has changed in the last few days. Firstly, Diaz has landed back on the IL (injured list).

Diaz was diagnosed with neck inflammation and shouldn't be kept out for too long. There appears to be no structural damage, and Diaz might return when first eligible at the start of September. It's still too early to know when Diaz will be back, but he appears to have avoided a lengthy absence.

Then yesterday came the news many anticipated. Manager Dave Roberts said that Diaz will move into a low-leverage situation when he returns. That's not to say Diaz won't get himself back into the closer mix at some point. Time is running out, and everything is trending in the wrong direction for Diaz's fantasy value.

Verdict:

I was prepared to say Diaz is worth holding, as long as we don't receive any news about his role changing or he has any setbacks. The former has come to pass. Even if Diaz returns when first eligible and works back into the closer role, there's not enough time for him to provide enough fantasy value. He can be dropped.

Luis Castillo - SP, Chicago White Sox - 65% rostered

It's been a real mixed bag for Castillo this year. So it should come as no surprise that he's had an up-and-down time of it since being traded to the White Sox. Mainly down. One excellent outing has been sandwiched by three clunkers, and we can see how much of a roller coaster this year has been.

Castillo struggled to start the year and found himself pitching in relief at one point. That switch in role coincided with a run of form for Castillo. Between May 19 and July 3, Castillo had a 3.03 ERA in five starts and three relief appearances (38 2/3 innings).

Castillo's last three starts in Seattle were not as good, as he allowed 12 earned runs in 17 innings. Castillo then got traded away from the most pitcher-friendly ballpark in baseball. Thankfully, Rate Field is the ninth most pitcher-friendly ballpark according to Statcast Park Factors, so the downgrade isn't too bad.

Yesterday was Castillo's shortest outing as a starter. He failed to get through three innings, allowing four runs against the Mets. That took his record to 4-10. While it was Castillo's first loss with the White Sox, it was the third time in four starts that he's failed to complete five innings.

Verdict:

Castillo's underlying numbers are better than his actual numbers. He has a 5.19 ERA, 4.34 xFIP, and 4.25 SIERA. Still not good enough to warrant rostering Castillo in anything but the deepest leagues. Castillo also only has limited streamer appeal, given how inconsistent he has been.

Justin Wrobleski - SP, Los Angeles Dodgers - 51% rostered

It's been a breakout season for Wrobleski. In 21 appearances (20 starts), he has a 11-5 W-L record, 3.56 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 100 strikeouts (126 1/3 innings). Unfortunately, Wrobleski might not be able to improve upon those numbers. Last Sunday, he was placed on the IL with a forearm issue.

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Like Diaz, it might not be season-ending, as the injury is being described as forearm inflammation. And like Diaz, Dave Roberts delivered disappointing news last night about Wrobleski's role when he returns. The Dodgers manager confirmed that Wrobleski will be used as a multi-innings reliever on his return.

The Dodgers' starting rotation has hardly been a picture of health this year. So Wrobleski could start again this year. But you're banking on too much to happen for Wrobleski to have any more fantasy value in 2026. Even in long relief, Wrobleski's 19.4% K% limits his fantasy appeal in deep leagues.

Verdict:

In dynasty leagues, Wrobleski is worth hanging on to. He could be an interesting name for 2027 drafts. For this year, his season from a fantasy standpoint appears over. Wrobleski isn't worth holding in redraft leagues.

Hitters

Riley Greene - OF, Detroit Tigers - 95% rostered

After hitting 36 home runs last year, hopes were high that the Tigers outfielder could be a prominent power source again in 2026. That's not been the case. Greene has had a solid season, hitting .273/.366/.450 with 16 home runs, 54 RBI, 65 runs, and three stolen bases (117 games).

A hamstring injury sent Greene to the IL last week. Although Greene wasn't expected back when first eligible, the Tigers didn't seem too concerned that it would be a lengthy absence. Earlier this week, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said, “I think we will see him at home,” referring to Detroit's upcoming homestand.

With that in mind, we can be confident Greene will be available for our fantasy teams again sometime next week. Although Greene hasn't replicated his power from last year, he's still had a solid season so far. Greene has cut down on the strikeouts, increased his walk rate, and has a 162-game pace of 22 homers, 75 RBI, 90 runs, and four steals.

Greene's drop in power has been frustrating. But he has still provided some solid help across the board. While a .273 batting average might not stand out, only 15 outfielders with at least 300 plate appearances have a better batting average. Of that group of 83, only eight have a better on-base percentage (OBP).

Verdict:

Greene still has the potential to be a top-20 outfielder in September. Greene hasn't had a month with a sub-100 wRC+this year, highlighting his solid contributions even when he's struggling. As long as there are no setbacks, Greene should be held and activated when eligible.

Cal Raleigh - C, Seattle Mariners - 86% rostered

Has there ever been back-to-back seasons of such contrast as what Raleigh has done over the last two years? After narrowly missing out on the American League MVP Award in 2025, Raleigh's .158 batting average is the lowest among hitters with at least 350 plate appearances.

Even if Raleigh did hit 60 homers this year, a batting average that low will negate the counting stats he produces. Any hopes that Raleigh could rediscover some form after his IL stint for an oblique injury should have faded by now. Raleigh has hit .156/.301/.294 since coming off the IL (55 games).

Even if we say it takes 20 games to get back up to speed, Raleigh is hitting .134/.292/.277 over his last 35 games. After hitting 60 homers in 2025, Raleigh has yet to have 60 hits in 2026, with one week of August left. This month, Raleigh has gone 7-for-55. Three of those seven hits have been homers.

Verdict:

I've mentioned it before, but Raleigh is only worth holding if you really need home runs and his batting average isn't a problem for you. Only nine catcher-eligible players have hit more home runs this year. Outside of that, Raleigh is only being rostered in so many leagues in hope rather than expectation.

Esmerlyn Valdez - OF, Pittsburgh Pirates - 39% rostered

Valdez was one of the most added players in fantasy back in June. He ended that month by homering in four consecutive games and entered July with a .313/.389/.771 slash line, six homers, 12 RBI, 10 runs, and no steals (17 games). Since July 1, Valdez has hit .223/.348/.453 with eight homers in 43 games.

Valdez has a 20.5% Barrel%. Of the 315 hitters with at least 200 plate appearances, only Aaron Judge and James Wood can boast better. But Valdez also has a .199 xBA (expected batting average). That ranks 301st among those 315 hitters.

His last home run came on July 26. Back on July 27, Valdez was hit on the hand by Merrill Kelly. Since then, he's hitting .187/.330/.267 (22 games). Valdez has just five RBI and nine runs to show for it.

It's difficult to know if this is just a prolonged slump, as Valdez's profile does point towards a lot of peaks and troughs over a full season. Given this current slump has occurred after Valdez was hit on the hand, it does seem like he is dealing with some sort of issue as a result of the hit by pitch.

Verdict:

If you need to take a chance at this late stage and require power, Valdez is worth gambling on. As well as the four home runs in consecutive games, Valdez hit seven home runs in eight games either side of the All-Star Break. The problem is, if Valdez is dealing with a hand injury, that power might not be seen again until 2027.

On the Hot Seat

Otto Lopez - 2B/SS, Miami Marlins - 92% rostered

Lopez ranks third among second basemen and shortstops this year. So it seems inconceivable that he'd make it onto The Cut List. Over the last 30 days, Lopez ranks as the 28th best second baseman and 19th shortstop. His numbers have declined enough to worry fantasy managers.

If we look at Lopez's fantasy stats per month, he was extremely consistent in the early goings. After a slight down month in July, August is set to be his worst month of the season. By a considerable margin.

Lopez's struggles actually go back to mid-July. Since the All-Star Break, he's been hitting .224/.265/.264. Five of Lopez's eight steals since the All-Star Break came in the first eight games following the break. There's been little else offered by Lopez.

His batting average has provided a high floor throughout the season. Lopez's .307 batting average ranks sixth among 137 qualified hitters. With a .282 xBA ranking in the 91st percentile, Lopez can be considered one of the best batting average providers in fantasy. But his entire slash line has been in decline.

Lopez's struggles have coincided with the Marlins offense stuttering. The Marlins ranked 13th in runs scored before the All-Star Break and had a collective .253/.330/.411 slash line. Since the All-Star Break, the Marlins are hitting .237/.313/.376 and rank tied-23rd in runs scored.

The Marlins have been moving Lopez around in their lineup. He has been a mainstay at shortstop, but Lopez has played at least 18 games hitting first, second, third, and fifth in the batting order. That has allowed Lopez to drive in and score runs, rather than only contributing in one of the categories.

Verdict:

Lopez has been too consistent for too long to discard him after a tough few weeks. But if that tough stretch doesn't end soon, the case to hold Lopez becomes difficult. So much of his value comes from a high batting average. As that has regressed, so has everything else.

Scoring runs will be harder to come by. He'll drive in fewer runs. And there'll be fewer opportunities to steal bases. With a .257 xBA since the All-Star Break, Lopez needs to rediscover his early-season form soon. Otherwise, it may be worth scouring the waiver wire in a couple of weeks for alternatives.

Reader Requests

As always, we're keen to hear who you want us to analyze. If there is anyone you want to include on next week's Cut List, drop their names on the Reddit thread or in the RotoBaller Discord chat rooms. Alternatively, you can reach out to me on X, and we'll endeavor to cover some requests each week.

Jose Ramirez - 3B, Cleveland Guardians - 99% rostered

Ramirez has been arguably the most reliable early-round hitter in recent years. He's consistently been a five-category contributor and averaged 156 games, 32 homers, 102 RBI, 101 runs, and 32 steals a season since 2021. Ramirez also has a .278/.352/.513 slash line in those five seasons.

Other than the stolen bases, all other facets have been missing this year. Ramirez is hitting .235/.335/.375 with 10 home runs, 39 RBI, 58 runs, and 29 stolen bases. That's come in 97 games, as Ramirez missed more than a month earlier in the season with a left hamate fracture.

It was Ramirez's first IL stint since 2019, when he missed a month at the end of the season with a right hamate fracture. Many hitters have seen their power drop the first few months after suffering a hamate fracture. Ramirez is no exception, as he hasn't homered in the 25 games since returning.

That is a bit of a generalization, however. Ramirez returned for just three games back in 2019. He homered three times. Fantasy managers who were hoping for something similar this year have been bitterly disappointed by this post-injury version of Ramirez.

Ramirez also has only two extra-base hits since returning. On the plus side, Ramirez has scored 16 runs in those 25 games, despite the Guardians ranking 24th in runs scored since Ramirez came off the IL. And he does have more walks (13) than strikeouts (nine) in that time. There's little else of note, however.

Verdict:

The fact that some sites won't allow you to drop Ramirez saves you from making a tough decision. In truth, I'd still be holding him myself, but I would be looking at getting home runs and RBI from elsewhere. It's difficult to see Ramirez providing much help in either category over the last few weeks of the season.

Paul Skenes - SP, Pittsburgh Pirates - 99% rostered

If you used a first-round draft pick on Skenes this year, you likely won't be happy with your return. After having what was one of the best seasons in recent memory last year, Skenes has taken a big step back in 2026. At least, on the surface, he has. Dig a little deeper, and Skenes' 2025 and 2026 aren't too dissimilar.

There's no denying how good Skenes was in 2025. But there was an element of good fortune in his overall numbers. That luck has deserted Skenes this year. The walks are up a bit, but his 7.2% BB% still ranks in the 71st percentile. And Skenes' ERA should be nearer 3.00 than 4.00.

Until four weeks ago, it was. Skenes had a 3.43 ERA after his 21st start of the year on July 19. In his last five starts, Skenes has allowed 17 earned runs in 23 2/3 innings (6.46 ERA). Skenes walked four batters in three of those starts as his control has been letting him down recently.

The underlying numbers have been a little worrisome recently, too. In his last four starts, Skenes has a 4.55 xFIP and 4.67 SIERA. Still better than his 5.89 ERA, but concerning nonetheless. Another concern for Skenes' fantasy managers is his fastball velocity.

In 2024, Skenes' fastball averaged 98.8 MPH. In 2025, it averaged 98.2 MPH. This year, Skenes' fastball is averaging 96.8 MPH. It's also been declining throughout the year. After 12 starts, his fastball averaged 97.2 MPH. In Skenes' last 14 starts, his fastball has averaged 96.6 MPH.

Verdict:

There are enough little issues to cause worry for fantasy managers. But Skenes is still one of the best pitchers in baseball. Few pitchers can rattle off three straight starts, totaling 20 innings and giving up one run while striking out 30 batters. Skenes is one of those pitchers and should be held despite his recent tough spell.

Andres Munoz - RP, Seattle Mariners - 95% rostered

It's been a frustrating season for Munoz's fantasy managers. While he hasn't been bad and has kept his job all season, Munoz hasn't lived up to his ADP (average draft position). He was generally taken as the third to fifth reliever and hasn't been able to justify that pick.

Munoz has a 5-5 W-L record, 4.37 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 75 strikeouts, and 23 saves (47 1/3 innings). The ERA isn't ideal, but Munoz's 2.21 xFIP and 2.23 SIERA suggest he's been unlucky. The biggest disappointment has been the saves. Or lack of them.

There are 12 pitchers with more saves than Munoz, and no one has more blown saves than the Mariners closer (eight). The most recent of which came on Friday, giving up a solo home run to Alex Bregman. That tied the game, which the Mariners ultimately won in the 10th inning. It was Munoz's third blown save this month.

Verdict:

As long as Munoz is the Mariners closer, he should be rostered. Unless you're in a league where saves aren't valued as much and a closer isn't as valuable. No team has scored fewer runs than Seattle (511), which hasn't helped Munoz's fantasy value. Despite that, he should get enough saves in the final weeks to provide fantasy help.

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