The Cut List - Time to Let Go? Who to Consider Dropping for Fantasy Baseball (Week 15)

The Cut List for Week 15 of 2025. Jamie analyzes potential fantasy baseball busts, overvalued players, and injured players who you may want to consider dropping.

Welcome back to The Cut List as we head into Week 15 of the 2025 season. For every add, there is usually also a drop. For those unfamiliar, this is our weekly article examining players whom fantasy managers might consider cutting from their teams and struggling players who warrant a closer look.

We'll examine players worthy of a drop, those worth monitoring for potential replacements, and individuals on the hot seat who are worth holding onto ... for now. Those of you 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.

As the season rolls on, there will be stronger cases to drop underperforming players. If there's ever someone you want me to take a look at, drop their name on Reddit, 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.

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Worth Dropping and Replacing?

Austin Wells - C, New York Yankees - 64% rostered

It's been something of an up-and-down season for Wells so far. He was the Yankees' leadoff hitter on Opening Day. He homered in his first at-bat to start what looked like being a breakout year. He homered again from the six-spot in the next game. But things haven't really kicked on from there.

After 72 games, Wells has 12 home runs, 46 RBI, 27 runs, and three stolen bases with a .215/.277/.435 slash line. I was high on Wells coming into the season. The fact that he was set to be the leadoff hitter in that lineup appealed, the short porch at Yankee Stadium appealed, and his excellent walk rate appealed.

Unfortunately, none of those things have come to pass. Wells has only led off once since Opening Day. His numbers on the road (.440 SLG) are similar to those at home (.429 SLG). And his walks have diminished (11.4% BB% in 2024 and 6.7% BB% in 2025).

More worryingly, Wells has been dealing with a circulatory issue in his hand recently. He only missed three games and returned to the starting lineup on Thursday, when he went 1-for-5 with a double. We got some insight into the issue from Wells earlier this week.

Austin Wells provides an update to @M_Marakovits and the rest of the media after undergoing testing for a circulatory issue in his left hand. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/gZ93qFTT4J

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 1, 2025

While the problem seems manageable, it also suggests that it may recur this year, possibly multiple times. The Yankees will no doubt want to tread carefully with the problem, too.

With Ben Rice starting more games as catcher, the Yankees may opt to rest Wells more frequently as the season rolls on. They already have something of a logjam at designated hitter (DH), so we probably won't see Wells hitting unless he's catching.

Only five catchers have more home runs than Wells this year. He also ranks fifth in RBI and tied-sixth in steals at the position. The problem is that the counting stats come with a low batting average.

A total of 26 catcher-eligible players have had at least 200 plate appearances this year. Only three of them have a worse batting average than Wells. That is why Wells is only ranked 12th at the catcher position (according to Yahoo! standard 5x5 rotisserie scoring).

With a .218 xBA (expected batting average) and a .229/.312/.410 slash line in 134 games prior to this year, it's difficult to see Wells improve his batting average much moving forward. Ultimately, that will be the deciding factor in determining what to do with Wells on your fantasy rosters.

Verdict: In two-catcher or deeper one-catcher leagues, Wells is a hold. In shallower leagues, you have to determine what you want from the position. If you're fine with Wells' low batting average and need the counting stats he offers, then hanging onto Wells makes the most sense.

There are currently five catcher-eligible players who are rostered less than Wells but rank higher than him. Four of them have a considerably better batting average. Replacing Wells with one of them if they better suit your team's needs is something you should be looking at.

Taj Bradley - SP, Tampa Bay Rays - 47% rostered

I had concerns about the Rays' starting rotation coming into 2025. That was primarily due to having to play their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field. For the most part, the rotation has performed above expectations. Bradley is an exception to that.

After 18 starts, Bradley has a 5-6 W-L record, 4.79 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 84 Ks (97 2/3 IP). Normally, I would point to Bradley's underlying numbers and tell you he's been unlucky. But his 4.15 xFIP and 4.28 SIERA aren't overly promising that a turnaround is coming.

That would still be enough for me to believe Bradley holds some fantasy value moving forward. However, the huge drop in strikeouts is hindering any possibility of Bradley regaining some fantasy viability.

We can see from the above graph how much Bradley's strikeout rate has dropped. This year, his 20.3% K% ranks in the 38th percentile. Last year, Bradley had a 26.6% K%, which ranked in the 76th percentile. As well as a dramatic drop in strikeouts, we've seen an increase in walks from Bradley.

Last year's 8.1% BB% ranked in the 48th percentile. This year's 8.9% BB% ranks in the 40th percentile. Bradley's 2.27 K/BB ranks 58th among 70 qualified pitchers.

In most leagues, we're looking at an accumulation of strikeouts. Bradley has managed to stay healthy so far, helping him to rank tied-47th overall in strikeouts. But he's been inefficient. The other four Rays starting pitchers have all averaged more innings per start so far.

Bradley has also been very inconsistent of late. In June, he made six starts. Three of them saw Bradley not allow an earned run. But they alternated between starts in which Bradley allowed at least five earned runs. One of his shutouts saw Bradley get tagged for five unearned runs.

Bradley has now allowed five or more earned runs in five of his 18 starts. He's walked three or more batters in six of his 18 starts. It's just become very difficult to trust what Bradley will do between starts.

As alluded to earlier, I was concerned about the Rays' home ballpark this year. With a 5.55 ERA at home and a 4.04 ERA on the road, Bradley has suffered from the hitter-friendly temporary home he's having to pitch at.

Verdict: While Bradley's ERA should come down, there's not enough in his profile to warrant holding in anything but deep leagues. In shallower leagues, Bradley is someone you only want to start on the road in favorable matchups. That doesn't warrant holding on to him.

Hold For Now

Tommy Edman - 2B/SS/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers - 80% rostered

Edman got off to a red-hot start in 2025. Having never hit more than 13 home runs in a season, Edman already had eight dingers by the end of April. Since then, it has been an all-too-familiar story. An April ankle injury saw Edman land on the IL (injured list), and he's only homered twice since returning on May 18.

Thinking Edman was going to maintain his April power was only going to lead to disappointment. But he has maintained fantasy relevancy with double-digit RBI (10) and runs (12) in June. In the year, Edman has a .239/.297/.421 slash line with 10 homers, 38 RBI, 39 runs, and three steals (71 games).

That's left Edman ranked as the 131st hitter (according to Yahoo!). Not bad, considering he missed almost three weeks with the ankle injury. Edman's .284 xBA and .446 xSLG suggest he's been unlucky and should have a better slash line. If that luck turns, Edman's numbers should climb.

Edman has established a reputation as somewhat of a 'leftie-killer.' His career numbers against left-handed pitching (LHP) have always been better. But the switch-hitter has similar splits so far in 2025. Better power against LHP, but more consistent contact against RHP.

It's difficult to see a scenario in which Edman's numbers don't improve. And he's been productive while healthy this year. The emergence of Hyeseong Kim shouldn't eat into Edman's playing time too much now that he's able to play in the outfield again.

While Edman won't boost your fantasy teams in any one category, he's someone who will contribute across the board. As long as he's healthy and a near-everyday player, Edman is worth hanging onto as a versatile bat you can plug into your lineups and forget about.

Chris Bassitt - SP, Toronto Blue Jays - 74% rostered

It's been a tough week for Bassitt. He's allowed 11 earned runs in 7 1/3 innings over his last two starts. That came after Bassitt had thrown three quality starts in his previous four appearances. Before then, Bassitt had back-to-back five-run outings. It's been an inconsistent spell for the veteran starter.

His last two starts saw Bassitt's ERA jump from 3.61 to 4.32. On the year, Bassitt has an 8-4 W-L record, 4.32 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 102 Ks (100.0 IP). While his 23.2% K% only ranks in the 56th percentile, Bassistt's 102 strikeouts are the 29th most in baseball. A reminder that we're after an accumulation.

The issue has been inconsistency. Bassitt started the season well enough. He had a 0.77 ERA after four starts. After 10 starts, Bassitt still had a robust 2.83 ERA. That was supported by his 3.11 xFIP and 3.21 SIERA at that time. The problems have come recently, with a 6.33 ERA in his last eight starts.

Bassitt has a 4.27 xFIP and 4.21 SIERA over his last eight starts, so he has been a bit unlucky. That's mostly been inflated by his shellacking against the Red Sox last week. That also acted as a reminder that it's difficult to trust Bassitt from start to start.

The problem Bassitt has experienced is an ineffective sinker. Although he has thrown eight different pitches this year, the sinker is Bassitt's primary offering, having thrown it 41.6% of the time. Like last year, its effectiveness has been lacking.

The graph above shows the batting average against Bassitt's sinker by year. Like 2024, it's been hit far more frequently than in previous seasons. Like last year, Bassitt is on track to post an ERA north of 4.00. Despite that, there is still fantasy value to be had.

We've already covered the accumulation of strikeouts. That accumulation is aided by Bassitt's durability. Only three pitchers have made more starts than Bassitt (82) since the start of the 2023 season. That has also allowed Bassitt to tally the fifth-most wins (34) over the last two and a half years.

We have seen a slight overcorrection in Bassitt's numbers recently. He still has a solid 3.60 xFIP and 3.64 SIERA on the year. While we may see the occasional blow-up like we did last week, Bassitt still holds fantasy value in all but the shallowest leagues.

On the Hot Seat

Paul Goldschmidt - 1B, New York Yankees - 85% rostered

The offseason signing of Goldschmidt looked like a shrewd move by the Yankees. The veteran first baseman ended April with a .356/.403/.475 slash line. Only teammate Aaron Judge had a better batting average (.427) among qualified hitters in the first month of the season.

May was also a good month for Goldschmidt. He hit .315/.382/.522 with a 152 wRC+. Things then took a turn in June. Goldschmidt only hit .143/.226/.238 last month and started to see his playing time dwindle.

Rice's productive start to 2025 saw him and Goldschmidt split time at first base. Goldschmidt has only started two games as the Yankees' designated hitter. But the return of Giancarlo Stanton meant fewer DH at-bats were available.

When Stanton is in the lineup, and Rice is at first base, Goldschmidt has been sitting. Rice has been catching more frequently than expected lately, so Goldschmidt hasn't seen a complete drop in playing time. It's just his numbers that have been regressing.

Goldschmidt now has a .282/.343/.425 slash line, with eight homers, 32 RBI, 50 runs, and five steals. Given he has a .281 xBA and .477 xSLG, his batting average is now more in line with reality. But we can also anticipate a bit more power from Goldschmidt.

Only four first-base-eligible players have scored more runs than Goldschmidt this year. The runs and batting average have helped carry Goldschmidt to rank 15th at the position. The stolen bases have also offset some of Goldschmidt's lack of power compared to other first basemen.

The main way Goldschmidt can continue to provide fantasy value is through volume. We've already seen Goldschmidt's playing time drop a bit in recent weeks. He's still getting enough at-bats to warrant rostering in all but the shallowest leagues.

We need to monitor Goldschmidt's playing time, position in the batting order, and production. For now, they warrant rostering him. But if we begin to see Goldschmidt starting even fewer games over the coming weeks or struggling at the plate, then it becomes difficult to roster him in any format.

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.

Zac Gallen - SP, Arizona Diamondbacks - 83% rostered

For someone drafted as an SP3, Gallen has been a huge disappointment. After 18 starts, he has a 6-9 W-L record, 5.45 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 98 Ks (104.0 IP). Despite his struggles, Gallen also has six quality starts in 2025. The most recent being last Tuesday.

Zac Gallen strikes out 10 and the @Dbacks clobber 4 home runs en route to a division win. pic.twitter.com/ugETgk9YVG

— MLB (@MLB) July 2, 2025

Tuesday saw Gallen end a streak of four consecutive starts in which he allowed four or more earned runs. It was also the first time since April 2 that Gallen struck out 10 in a game. That was the last time Gallen didn't walk a batter.

Whilst it was promising to see Gallen make such a good start, it's still not enough to trust him. Back on June 3, Gallen allowed just one run over seven innings against the Braves. Following that, he went on a streak of four straight starts of allowing four or more earned runs.

Prior to that June 3 start, Gallen had another four-game stretch of allowing four or more earned runs. He's failed to put a run of good outings together, which has left many fantasy managers exasperated with the Diamondbacks hurler.

What you do with Gallen comes down to your tolerance. We know he's better than the numbers he's put up. Gallen has a 4.22 xFIP and 4.25 SIERA, so he has been unlucky. Even if his luck does turn, that may not translate into fantasy relevancy.

If there's a more appealing option available on waivers, like a high-upside rookie, then I'd have no issue moving on. Just keep in mind that Gallen is better than what we're seeing. You may have to accept that you drop a pitcher who puts up top-50 pitching numbers over the second half of the season.

Tyler Soderstrom - 1B/OF, Athletics - 82% rostered

Stop me if you've heard this, but Soderstrom has cooled off after a hot start to the season. By the end of April, Soderstrom had nine homers, 24 RBI, 20 runs, and one stolen base with a .284/.349/.560 slash line (31 games).

Since May 1, Soderstrom has five homers, 24 RBI, 24 runs, and four steals and is hitting .231/.324/.346 (59 games). He now ranks 14th among first basemen and 37th among outfielders. That's worth rostering, and the dual-position eligibility adds some fantasy value.

The main question fantasy managers have is whether or not April is repeatable. Or are May and June more likely to be the norm? Well, the answer is probably both. Soderstrom's profile lends itself to streaks like we've seen.

Although we may not see another month in which Soderstrom tallies 44 combined RBI and runs, he certainly has enough power to reach double-digit homers in a month. What is interesting is Soderstrom's home and road splits.

Statcast Park Factors has Sutter Health Park as the joint best hitters ballpark along with Coors Field. Yet, Soderstrom is hitting .239/.337/.362 with a 97 wRC+ at home. On the road, Soderstrom is hitting .261/.328/.484 with a 126 wRC+. Of his 14 homers, only four have been hit at home.

It's fair to assume that Soderstrom's numbers will improve at home, given how hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park is. He's got the capability of having a big month again. Even when he does cool off, there's enough from Soderstrom to warrant rostering him for the remainder of the season.

Nate Lowe - 1B, Washington Nationals - 48% rostered

Lowe has brought something of a veteran presence to a young Nationals team, and his production has been good, too. After 89 games, Lowe has 13 home runs, 58 RBI, 41 runs, and one stolen base with a .234/.301/.404 slash line.

Although Lowe is on pace to set a career-low batting average over a full season, he has a chance to beat his career-high in home runs (27 in 2022). Seeing as Lowe also has a 27.2% K% (up from a 22.1% K% in 2024), it seems as though he is selling out for more power.

Lowe's 45.2% Swing% is also up from last year (42.7%). The only time Lowe has had a higher Swing% was in 2022 (52.2%) when he set his career-high in homers. Despite all of that, Lowe's quality of contact hasn't improved from last year, as we can see from below.

Similarly to Goldschmidt, Lowe offers value from his position in the lineup and with volume. He's hitting cleanup for the Nationals, and only Pete Alonso (73) has driven in more runs among first basemen. Lowe also ranks tied-11th in home runs and tied-17th in runs scored at the position.

Lowe won't hit for a good batting average this year, and he won't put up elite numbers. However, his role in the team helps Lowe's fantasy value. Lowe is certainly worth consideration in all but shallower leagues, providing you can take the drag on your team's batting average.

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