The Cut List - Time to Let Go? Who to Consider Dropping for Fantasy Baseball (Week 21)

August 19, 2025

The Cut List for Week 21 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 21 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?

Marcus Semien - 2B, Texas Rangers - 84% rostered

Semien is on course to have his worst full season since 2018. After 122 games, the veteran infielder is hitting .223/.299/.353 with 14 home runs, 59 RBI, 58 runs, and 11 stolen bases. Semien has never had a worse batting average in a year other than the 2020 shortened season.

Semien's slugging percentage is also set to be a career low, while he's on pace to miss out on 20+ homers in a full season for the first time since 2018. Semien got off to an ice-cold start to 2025, hitting .193/.278/.257 with a 55 wRC+ by the end of May. Then came June, and some hope of a recovery.

Semien hit .324/.383/.549 in June and doubled his season home run total to eight. That was as good as things got. While Semien did hit five homers in July, he's hitting .195/.271/.349 with a 73 wRC+ since July 1. A look at Semien's Statcast Profile doesn't offer much hope of a June repeat.

Semien has been hitting third in the Rangers lineup, which generally carries some value. On Friday, he was moved down to sixth in the order. We don't know if that will be the norm moving forward, as he missed Saturday's game due to a sore wrist after being hit by a pitch on Friday.

While Semien can still help with some RBI and runs from that spot, the Rangers' offense ranks 26th for runs scored in August (50). Given his expected stats are below league average, the hope of a productive end to 2025 doesn't seem realistic. That's even if Semien avoids a spell on the IL (injured list).

Verdict: Semien still only ranks 19th among second basemen this year and 47th over the last 30 days (according to Yahoo! 5x5 rotisserie scoring). Second base is not a position of depth in fantasy. But, there's still likely going to be a better option on waivers in all but deep leagues.

Jasson Dominguez - OF, New York Yankees - 48% rostered

Dominguez's first full season in the Majors has been a solid one. After 102 games, he has a .255/.330/.387 slash line with nine home runs, 39 RBI, 50 runs, and 20 stolen bases. Nothing really stands out, but it is a solid foundation to build upon in the future.

For the present, Dominguez has very little fantasy value. After hitting .272/.322/.444 in July, Dominguez got off to a slow start in August. He started the month with a three-hit performance, but went 1-for-19 after that. The slump ultimately led to Dominguez sitting out three games to start this week.

Jasson Dominguez is the odd man out right now in the outfield mix. Aaron Boone: "J.D. is a big part of it. I know it's a few days he hasn't played. It's a little snapshot in a long season."

— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) August 13, 2025

Dominguez did return to the lineup Friday, going 1-for-4. He drove in a run for the first time since August 1, although he did get caught stealing. He followed that up with a 2-for-5 performance on Saturday. Dominquez stole his 20th base of the season and drove in another run.

Even before the struggles, Dominguez was a good, not great, fantasy option. With six weeks of the season left, he's lacking much fantasy upside. Dominguez also misplayed a ball in left field Saturday, turning a single into a triple. His defense has been a problem this year and won't keep him in the lineup.

Verdict: In dynasty leagues, Dominguez is still a certain hold. It's easy to forget that he is only 22 years old and has just 128 MLB games under his belt. For the remainder of 2025, Dominguez holds little value other than in the deepest redraft leagues or if you're in serious need of steals.

Hold For Now

Max Fried - SP, New York Yankees - 98% rostered

Fried was on track for Cy Young Award consideration to start the year. He ended June with a 1.92 ERA (17 starts), and Fried's 10 wins tied with Tarik Skubal for the most in the Majors. When the calendars flipped over to July, things went downhill.

Since July 1, Fried has had a 6.80 ERA (eight starts) and recorded just one quality start. That's after having 13 quality starts in his first 17 outings. We can see from the table below how Fried's numbers have significantly regressed over the last seven weeks.

If we look at Fried's ERA, xFIP, and SIERA, we can see that he was somewhat lucky to start the season, and he's been a bit unlucky recently. But even his xFIP and SIERA have regressed since July. Fried is simply getting hit more, walking more batters, and striking out fewer batters.

Fried doesn't rely on an overpowering fastball, and there hasn't been any drop in his velocity recently. Things just haven't been going his way as of late. That was on display last Sunday. Fried should have had a called strike three to get out of the fifth inning, with two earned runs to his name.

The pitch was called a ball, and the very next pitch was lined into right field to score two more runs. Fried left the game after recording the final out of the fifth inning. Yesterday saw something similar as Fried made it six straight starts allowing four or more runs.

Dominguez's misplay in left field cost a run in the first. Fried then struggled in the second inning before settling in to almost salvage the outing. In the sixth inning, he gave up a two-run homer to Nolan Gorman on a pitch that was closer to hitting the batter than it was to being a strike.

The last two starts have felt indicative of how things have been going for Fried and the Yankees. Despite the recent struggles, he still has a 3.26 ERA this year. Fried has also got a career 3.10 ERA. I wouldn't be dropping him due to a tough few weeks. He warrants a longer leash. For now...

Steven Kwan - OF, Cleveland Guardians - 88% rostered

Kwan is mainly drafted for runs and a good batting average. In his first three years in the Majors, Kwan's season average was 88 runs (142 games) while hitting .285/.359/.396. Although Kwan had a career-low 12 stolen bases in 2024, he more than doubled his career home run total (14).

While Kwan is on track to reach 80 runs for a fourth straight season, he's been struggling for some time. Kwan ended May with a .315/.372/.441 slash line. Since June 1, Kwan has hit .246/.310/.354. Despite the struggles, his counting stats have been consistent.

Kwan had played 56 games by the end of May. He had five homers, 20 RBI, 29 runs, and eight steals. Since June 1, Kwan has played 60 games and has five homers, 20 RBI, 32 runs, and five steals. Kwan has remained productive despite his slash line trending in the wrong direction.

The main reason for that is opportunity. Kwan has been the Guardians' leadoff hitter all year. The Guardians haven't improved offensively. They ranked 23rd in runs scored (231) at the end of May. Since June 1, they rank 29th in runs scored (253).

It has been somewhat of an anomaly that Kwan has been able to maintain decent counting stats, despite his and Cleveland's offensive numbers dropping. Kwan has also shown some life lately, with six hits, two homers, and two steals in his last six games.

That is why Kwan is still worth hanging onto for now. Kwan has been able to score runs at a solid rate and chip in with a consistent number of homers and RBI, while struggling. Unless runs is a category in which you do not need to focus anymore, Kwan is still worth rostering.

On the Hot Seat

Spencer Strider - SP, Atlanta Braves - 94% rostered

It's been a real mixed bag for Strider this year as he's returned from elbow surgery in 2024. Strider made his season debut on April 16. A hamstring strain saw him then shelved for a month. Unsurprisingly, Strider struggled on his return, with a 5.40 ERA in his first five starts of 2025.

Strider then found his groove. His subsequent seven outings had a 2.53 ERA, and six of them were quality starts. Unfortunately, things have taken a bit of a nose-dive recently, with Tuesday seeing Strider tagged for eight runs in four innings.

That's left Strider with a 5-10 W-L record, 4.69 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 100 Ks (86 1/3 innings). The first thing to note is that Strider has been a bit unlucky. His 3.81 xFIP and 3.75 SIERA suggest his ERA is inflated. Strider has a 4.81 xFIP and 4.60 SIERA over his last four starts, so some regression was warranted.

Normally, when a pitcher starts being knocked around, the first thing to check is their velocity. In Strider's case, it's not dropped. In fact, his fastball velocity has actually increased recently.

Strider's average fastball velocity this year (95.6 MPH) is down from 2023 (97.2 MPH) and 2022 (98.2 MPH). Hardly a shock after missing a year following elbow surgery. Although the velocity isn't dropping, Strider might just be running out of steam.

We need to factor in that the Braves' season has been a disaster. With nothing to play for, it wouldn't be a surprise if Strider was pitching within himself. Not wanting to risk aggravating his elbow injury in his first year back in what is a lost year in Atlanta.

Whatever the case may be, Strider isn't helping fantasy managers right now. Unless he can turn around his recent form, he won't help fantasy managers over the remainder of the season. The good news is that Strider will have a good chance to steady the ship.

If the Braves move to a six-man rotation when Chris Sale returns from the IL, Strider could face the White Sox and Marlins in his next two starts. The concern is that he likely faces the Phillies afterwards. If he gets hit hard in his next two starts, could you trust starting Strider against the Phillies?

Strider could then face the Mariners, Astros, and Tigers in September. There's also the chance the Braves shut him down next month. Whatever they choose to do, Strider needs to put in a couple of solid performances over the next 10 days; otherwise, it may not be worth keeping him around.

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.

Wyatt Langford - OF, Texas Rangers - 91% rostered

After last year's productive rookie season, it feels like Langford has taken a step back in 2025. After 102 games, Langford has 16 homers, 48 RBI, 50 runs, and 16 steals while hitting .237/.323/.409. In reality, Langford's numbers are similar to those of last year.

If we compare Langford's quality of contact numbers, he's actually hitting the ball harder this year and barrelling the ball more. The biggest issue fantasy managers have had with Langford is the drop-off in power in recent weeks.

Of Langford's 16 home runs, 11 of them were hit by the end of May. He has been on the IL twice this season, both due to oblique injuries. Given he's got a .248/.352/.384 slash line since returning from the IL a second time, Langford doesn't seem to be experiencing any lingering effects.

The problem may lie with the Rangers' ballpark. Globe Life Field ranked as the most hitter-friendly ballpark for home runs in 2023 (according to Statcast Park Factors). Last year, it ranked 13th for homers. In 2025, only the Pirates' PNC Park has been less hitter-friendly for home runs.

There has been plenty of noise coming out of Texas regarding the ballpark. Players and officials don't seem to know why Globe Life Field has been so different this year. The reality is, things aren't going to suddenly change in the coming weeks.

The ballpark isn't to blame for Langford's increased strikeout rate. Langford has a 25.7% K% at home and 29.1% K% on the road. That feels more like pitchers adjusting to Langford and the sophomore now needing to readjust to how he's being pitched to.

Langford has also been dealing with forearm tightness. It caused him to miss only one game earlier this week. We should still believe in his talent, and he is on pace for a 20/20 season. However, there are enough red flags to justify dropping Langford in shallower leagues if you can find a suitable replacement.

Lawrence Butler - OF, Athletics - 84% rostered

Butler has plenty of similarities with Langford. Both impressed in their first full season as a Major Leaguer last year. Both flashed a speed and power combination that suggested a 20/20 season was likely this year. While both are set to have 20/20, Butler has also disappointed.

After 118 games, Butler has a .230/.303/.404 slash line, with 16 homers, 47 RBI, 66 runs, and 17 steals. The big disappointment is his batting average. Butler hit .262/.317/.490 in 2024, but given he has a .234 xBA, Butler isn't going to come particularly close to matching last year's batting average.

While Butler has maintained a solid number of home runs and stolen bases each month, his batting average has been plummeting. At the end of May, Butler had a solid .258/.320/.448 slash line. He then regressed in June, hitting .234/.311/.402. Since July 1, Butler has been hitting .175/.267/.325.

Butler's struggles have seen him move out of the leadoff spot and hit seventh in recent days. He's also found himself in something of a platoon, seldom facing left-handed pitchers (LHP). Butler has a .176/.219/.341 slash line and 38.5% K% against lefties, so that shouldn't come as a surprise.

That's what also impacts Butler's fantasy outlook. He's still hitting homers and stealing bases enough to warrant rostering. But if you're in weekly lineup leagues, Butler may not have enough at-bats each week to justify keeping. I'd still hold in daily lineup leagues and deep leagues.

Brandon Nimmo - OF, New York Mets - 84% rostered

Nimmo rounds off our trio of requested outfielders this week. Many of the pros and cons we've covered for other players in this Cut List also hold relevance for Nimmo. As far as the pros go, the main one is where Nimmo is hitting in the Mets' lineup.

Nimmo spent time in the middle of the lineup to start the season. He moved up to the leadoff spot for much of July, and this past week has been hitting third. Anytime a player is hitting between Juan Soto and Pete Alonso, they deserve fantasy consideration. Like others, Nimmo has been struggling lately.

However, despite the struggles, Nimmo has consistently provided counting stats. He has homered between four and six times each month, but has just one home run in August. Nimmo has also scored between 11 and 16 runs each month, with seven runs scored this August.

Nimmo only managed to drive in eight runs in May, but has reached 14 RBI in every other month. Again, he has seven RBI in August. Despite hitting just .216/.339/.314 in 14 games this month, Nimmo could still hit four home runs and is on pace to drive in 14 runs and score 14 runs.

If Nimmo continues to hit third in order, we shouldn't expect many more stolen bases. Of his 12 steals this year, 11 came in June and July. Last year's 15 stolen bases were a career-high and the first time Nimmo had reached double-digit steals. He won't help with stolen bases over the remainder of 2025.

While Nimmo has been prone to periods with a sub-.200 batting average in recent seasons, he's still found ways to produce the counting stats. As long as he's hitting between Soto and Alonso, Nimmo is only someone to drop if his batting average is harming your team more than the counting stats are helping.

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