Writing a weekly fantasy baseball column for @rotoballer is great fun, but it puts me at a distinct disadvantage in all of my personal leagues. Let’s face it, the cutlist is revealing. It’s a peek inside my mind to discover the inner workings of my elite management strategy and expert level evaluation of fantasy commodities. All too often, I am writing about players on my real team.

Major problems came to light recently when I attempted to trade away Joc Pederson. I was unable to secure any serious offers (despite this being a dynasty league) because everyone read my advice to cut him two weeks earlier. This is a problem, but I came up with a solution:  I am instituting Prison Rules.

The only way I know how to balance the fantasy scales and help correct my loss of power is to get corrupt. From here on out for the remainder of the regular season, I will make cut lists about players that should be cut and also sprinkle in players I might want to acquire in trades. I will use the vast power entrusted to me by Rotoballer to manipulate the fantasy markets and regain my edge.

 

 

The Week 21 Cut List

With the new rules, my readers will need to keep their heads on swivels. You will never know whether I’ll be providing sound advice or devaluing an asset for my own personal gain. I would call you naive if you think ESPN’s Tristan A Cockcroft has never ranked a player much lower just so he could snatch him up cheap in his own personal drafts.

Sorry, but writing the Rotoballer #cutlist doesn’t require a hippocratic oath. Prison Rules are officially in effect until after the playoffs. Trust no one.

 

Mike Trout, OF LA Angels

I never thought I would be writing these words but yes, it is time to drop Mike Trout. After going a career worst .233/.365/.349 over the last 14 days, it is clear to just about anyone that he will never, ever be the same. Currently laboring through a career worst .339 BABIP and only 10 stolen bases, Trout is on a downward spiral.

Reasons are currently unknown, but speculation is deep depression associated with the Angels’ inability to acquire Ben Revere at the trade deadline. Rumors are also circulating that Trout is considering the Josh Hamilton route as a possible alternative to help get out of town sooner.

 

Ubaldo Jimenez, SP Baltimore Orioles

Baldy’s had a few fantastic performances this year but his unpredictability and propensity for blowing up lands him on this weeks Cutlist. On Monday, he gave up seven runs in 5.2 innings. He’s got a 7.65 ERA over the second half with a 5.68 FIP. With a hot hitting Texas Rangers team due up next followed by the Toronto Blue Jays, Ubaldo Jimenez isn't worth owning for a while.   

 

César Hernández 2B, 3B, SS Phillies

At over 30% owned in Yahoo leagues, Hernandez offers some versatility at some shallow positions but after posting a .154 BA and .414 OPS over his past 50 AB’s with only one stolen base, it’s easy to find another super utility man.

Take a waiver on Seattle’s 2B/SS Ketel Marte. Over the same time period, Marte is batting .401 with a 1.046 OPS. He was raking at AAA and he continues to swing a hot bat. He adds speed with 3 SB and Chris Mitchell of Fangraphs even goes to the lengths of drawing batting comparisons to Jacoby Ellsbury.

 

Victor Martinez 1B/Util Detroit Tigers

Victor Martinez has a .234 wOBA over the past 30 days. That’s good for tenth worst in the majors. For such a skilled craftsman in the art of batting, something must be wrong with him. In 2014, Martinez finished second behind Jose Altuve with a.334 BA in 2014. Even more impressive, is he barely edged out Altuve with his miniscule, league leading 6.6 K%.

Heading into 2015, I was under the impression that Victor Martinez was one of the most skilled bats in all of baseball. Nobody hits 32 HR with 103 RBI and 6% strikeout percentage. The next closest slugger with over 30 HR is Jose Bautista with 14.3% K%.

It was a career year for him in 2014, but today Vmart’s K% is double and his average is almost 100 points lower. In a shallow enough league (12 teams) he is very cuttable.  

 

Jeff Samardzija SP Chicage White Sox

Discouraging numbers across the board from the Shark. Over the past 30 days Samardzija has a 1-5 record with an 8.00 ERA and 5.90 FIP. His 6.84 K/9 is down from last season’s 8.28 K/9, which is down from his 9.01 in 2013 and even lower than his 9.27 in 2012. His strikeout numbers decrease as his walk numbers increase. His hard hit ball percentage is up along with his FB% which is typically a recipe for disaster. It’s ok to cut him now.

 

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