The Cut List - Time To Let Go? Who To Consider Dropping For Fantasy Baseball (Week 12)

June 14, 2026

The fantasy baseball Cut List for Week 12 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 12 of the 2026 season. For those who are not familiar, this is our weekly article looking at players whom 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 replacing and someone on the hot seat who should be held on to... 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

Emmet Sheehan - SP, Los Angeles Dodgers - 82% rostered

To say it's been an up-and-down season for Sheehan would be an understatement. It started badly, got better, but has been very inconsistent throughout. Then came last weekend. Sheehan was pulled after throwing 49 pitches and laboring to just four outs.

He wasn't helped by Nick Madrigal's 14-pitch walk. Nor by a missed foul tip, which was called ball four. That loaded the bases, and the next batter drove in two runs before Sheehan left the game. Thankfully, it was just down to the high pitch count and not any injury issue.

Sheehan's 4.70 ERA seems inflated, given he has a 3.66 xFIP and 3.51 SIERA. Sheehan's 25.8% K% ranks in the 75th percentile, and he ranks 64th overall for strikeouts (64) despite being part of a six-man rotation. If we got a consistent run of starts from Sheehan, fantasy managers would feel much better.

Verdict: Expect inconsistencies moving forward. Maybe not like last weekend. But Sheehan has only completed six innings in consecutive starts once. He should lower his ERA as the season goes on. While I'd still hold Sheehan in all but shallow leagues, he's not going to provide the numbers many hoped for.

Daniel Palencia - RP, Chicago Cubs - 73% rostered

For the Cubs, Palencia has been excellent. In 18 appearances (15 2/3 innings), he has a 1-1 W-L record, 2.87 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 16 strikeouts, and three saves. It's those three saves that have made Palencia almost unrosterable in fantasy. But it's not his fault. The Cubs just aren't getting him save opportunities.

Palencia is 3-for-3 in save opportunities, with his last coming on May 14. The last four times Palencia was called out of the bullpen were in tie games. Of his last nine appearances, only once has Palencia pitched with a lead. He still leads the Cubs in saves, despite missing all of April due to an oblique strain.

Verdict: Palencia is a closer without games to close. That will surely change. The Cubs still have a winning record, yet rank 29th in total saves (10). As frustrating as it is, Palencia is still worth holding and could easily end up with 20+ saves over the remainder of the season.

Jack Flaherty - SP, Detroit Tigers - 51% rostered

In case you missed it, Flaherty left Friday's game after three innings due to 'left leg discomfort'. He's since been placed on the IL (injured list) with a 'left peroneal strain.' Flaherty still had time to raise his ERA to 5.35 (65 2/3 innings). He had started to look better recently, completing five innings in three straight starts before Friday.

Jack Flaherty Injures his Leg on Friday Against the Guardians https://t.co/hfKiLtwOnp

— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) June 13, 2026

A quick reminder to download the free RotoBaller app to get all the latest news, updates, and articles.

Flaherty had only gotten through five innings four times in his first 11 starts of 2026. Flaherty does have a 4.52 xFIP and 4.19 SIERA. Both are better than his ERA, but neither is great. Other than his 78 strikeouts (30th overall), nothing has been great from Flaherty this year.

Verdict: If you have a spare IL spot, Flaherty is fine to stick on there and wait. But I wouldn't prioritize him as a stash if you don't have that luxury. In shallower leagues, there will be better options on waivers regardless of your IL situation. Flaherty is only a strikeout helper who will harm your ratios. 

Hitters

Eugenio Suarez - 3B, Cincinnati Reds - 78% rostered

Regular readers will know I preach patience with players who return from injury. Suarez is no exception. He missed a month with an oblique strain and has only played 18 games since returning. Suarez hit .231/.300/.363 in 25 games before going on the IL and is hitting .190/.257/.333 since.

Suarez has been showing signs of life this week. In his three games before yesterday, he went 5-for-13 with a home run and a double. Very small sample and only modest signs of improvement. But signs of improvement nonetheless. That's not to say fantasy managers should hold Suarez no matter what.

If you expected a repeat of last year's 49 home runs, you were always going to be disappointed. Suarez hit 49 homers with the Reds in 2019. In the four full seasons between then and 2025 (excluding the 2020 season), Suarez averaged 28.5 homers in 153.75 games.

Fantasy managers' main issue with Suarez will be the lack of homers. As he gets healthier, we should see more power with 25 more home runs still a distinct possibility. The bigger concern is his batting average. Suarez has a .231 average over the previous five seasons and is unlikely to hit better than that.

Verdict: Suarez has to hit for more power to offset his low batting average. His .216 xBA (expected batting average) shows us what we can anticipate this year. It's worth hanging on to Suarez for at least a couple more weeks to see if his power swing improves as he's further removed from his injury.

George Springer - OF, Toronto Blue Jays - 74% rostered

To be consistent, Springer warranted some time after his IL stint with a toe injury. However, he has played 35 games since returning, and I'm not sure if Springer is still feeling the effects of his injury. Especially after he was hit on the foot by a pitch just a few days after coming back off the IL.

Springer homered on Friday, his first since May 23. In the 14 games between home runs, Springer hit .185/.290/.241. It is worth noting that Springer has been hitting the ball harder recently. When he landed on the IL, Springer had a 32.5% Hard% (according to Fangraphs). Now, he has a 39.9% Hard%.

Verdict: Investing in a 36-year-old coming off his best season since his 20s was unlikely to pay off. Springer is still leading off and will continue to score runs. The returning Alejandro Kirk and Addison Barger might help with that. But runs is really the only category Springer is likely to help fantasy managers with.

Steven Kwan - OF, Cleveland Guardians - 50% rostered

The problem when you draft a player who only specializes in one or two categories is that there's little margin for any struggles. So when you drafted Kwan for his batting average and runs, you needed him to hit ~.280 and score 80+ runs. The steals and double-digit homers would be a little bonus.

None of that is happening. Kwan is hitting .215/.322/.263  with one home run, 13 RBI, 30 runs, and three stolen bases (63 games). With a .241 xBA, even if his luck improves, Kwan still wouldn't be helping fantasy managers. He does have a 162-game pace of 76 runs. But Kwan is now hitting seventh in the lineup.

Saturday was a disastrous day for Cleveland. They lost Angel Martinez, Chase DeLauter, and Jose Ramirez through injury, with Ramirez set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a fractured hamate. That could lead to Kwan moving back up the order, but it will also hurt his run-scoring abilities.

Verdict: Kwan has been hitting better since moving out of the leadoff spot (hitting .258/.367/.288). He may end up back there again soon. Even if he did, Kwan is still a modest two-category contributor. Unless you're in a deeper league and need help with runs and batting average, Kwan is dispensable. 

On the Hot Seat

Andres Munoz RP, Seattle Mariners - 94% rostered

You may have noticed with the Palencia write-up that I don't like dropping closers. If they're in a job share, perhaps. In leagues that count holds, maybe. But if they're the team's main closer, saves are hard enough to come by without dropping someone whose role it is to get them.

So, I'm not dropping Munoz. That doesn't mean he doesn't deserve to be featured here. Munoz has struggled with a 5.18 ERA and five blown saves so far. But he's also tied-13th with 10 saves and has 37 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings. Munoz's three wins have also been of help to fantasy managers.

Munoz recorded his 10th save of the year on Monday. That came a day after his third blown save in his previous six appearances, which led many fantasy managers to look at moving on. It's still too early to say that Munoz is out of the woods, but Monday's save will have provided some reassurance.

A big part of Munoz's struggles is his control. Or lack of it. Only 40% of his pitches have been in the strike zone. The league average is 49.9%. While it's not as simplistic as "throw more strikes," Munoz's stuff is good enough that he can afford to fill up the strike zone more.

Munoz has a 9.3% BB% (42nd percentile) this year, his best since 2022. He also has a 2.68 xFIP and 2.55 SIERA, so we can expect his ERA to fall. For now, the Mariners haven't made a change with Munoz's role, and that's enough to ensure fantasy managers stick with him, too.

Verdict: By all means, handcuff Munoz. He's on the Hot Seat because he has struggled. If those struggles continue much longer, Munoz may not be the Mariners' closer, and then we do need to determine if he's worth rostering. For now, hold Munoz. But prepare for a potential change.

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.

George Kirby - SP, Seattle Mariners - 97% rostered

Has Kirby been good? No. Will Kirby end the season as the SP2 he was drafted? Probably not. Are you dropping Kirby? No. At least, you shouldn't. He's in the midst of a tough stretch, with a 6.67 ERA over his last five starts. However, Kirby also has a 3.43 xFIP and 3.67 SIERA in that span.

Kirby's underlying numbers have been consistent this year. He had a 3.59 xFIP and 3.70 SIERA in his first nine starts of 2026. Kirby's 2.84 ERA in those nine starts was always likely to regress. As we can see below, we've seen an overcorrection.

One thing Kirby has done recently is improve his strikeout numbers. He had a 20.3% K% in his first nine starts. Kirby has a 22.8% K% in his last five starts. If he can just combine the two facets of his game at the same time, Kirby should still be one of the best starting pitchers over the rest of the season.

Verdict: It was a similar story in Kirby's injury-impacted 2025. An inflated ERA compared to his underlying numbers. He's too talented not to right the ship, and it's unlikely his ERA will continue to climb. Unless we find out that an injury or health issue is to blame, Kirby is still someone to hold. 

Manny Machado - 3B, San Diego Padres - 96% rostered

Of the 157 qualified hitters, Machado's .178 batting average is second-worst. There's no sugar coating it: Machado has been brutal to his fantasy managers. Given that those who drafted Machado would have had to use one of their first four picks to take him, I want to try to provide some optimism.

First is the most obvious, and that's Machado's expected numbers are better than his actual numbers. Machado has a .178/.255/.364 slash line, with a .227 xBA and .392 xSLG (expected slugging percentage). Neither is great, but they still suggest that Machado should have better numbers.

Then are the counting stats. Machado has a 162-game pace of 29 homers, 85 RBI, 77 runs, and two steals. Again, nothing amazing but numbers that belie his slash line. Yesterday's home run was his fifth extra-base hit in his last four games. Say it quietly, but Machado may have turned the corner.

Verdict: If you haven't dropped Machado by now, you're not going to. Hopefully, his recent upturn will continue and reward fantasy managers' patience. I'm not sold enough to suggest he's a buy-low option, but Machado is worth sticking with.

Brandon Nimmo - OF, Texas Rangers - 78% rostered

When Nimmo was traded to the Rangers, I removed him from my draft lists. That was purely down to his new home ballpark. Globe Life Field was the most pitcher-friendly ballpark in 2025. It's proving to be that way again in 2026, and that shows in Nimmo's numbers.

On the road, Nimmo is hitting .291/.358/.473. At home, he's hitting .205/.291/.304. Six of Nimmo's seven home runs have been away from Globe Life Field. Nimmo's also been struggling a bit of late, hitting .221/.296/.346 since May 1. Nimmo's Statcast Profile paints a different picture.

Verdict: Nimmo has still been productive, despite recent struggles. My main concern remains his home ballpark, and I'd definitely bench Nimmo when the Rangers are at home. In shallow leagues, there'd likely be better options as a result of that.

More Fantasy Baseball Advice