X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

The Cut List - Time to Let Go? Week 8

Paul Goldschmidt - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB Injury News, DFS Picks

Joey's list of busts, overvalued and injured players who fantasy baseball managers may want to consider cutting and dropping for Week 8 of the 2024 MLB season.

Welcome back to The Cut List for Week 8 of the 2024 fantasy baseball season (May 13 to May 19). We are at the point of the regular season where fantasy managers might have to make some tough calls on who to drop. Some decisions will be easier than others, but overall, it's never easy to drop a player who could eventually heat up.

In this article, we will look at nine players and determine whether or not they should be dropped in fantasy leagues. As you read this, remember that every league is different. Potentially dropping a player in an eight-team league will be way different than dropping a player in a 14-team league.

These set of players below are potential cut candidates in most formats as we head into Week 8. If you have any additional questions after reading this piece, feel free to leave a comment on RotoBaller's Reddit page, and I'll get to as many questions before Monday. So, let's dive in and find out if we should cut these nine players listed below.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Worth Dropping and Replacing?

Ke'Bryan Hayes - 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates - 56% rostered

It has been an eventful couple of weeks for Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes to start the season. Hayes was red-hot right out of the gate and was hitting .313 (15-for-48) with three doubles and six RBI through the first 12 games. That start saw his rostership on Yahoo climb up in the mid-80s.

However, Hayes did not continue his nice start and has since struggled at the plate. He is batting just .198 with one home run and five RBI over the last 22 games. On top of that, the third baseman is now headed to the injured list with a back injury. Things aren't certainly trending in the right direction for the 27-year-old, especially considering his expected batting average (.237), expected slugging (.302), and barrel rate (1.9%) all rank in the bottom half of the league.

Verdict: It's a surprise to see Hayes still rostered in over 50% of Yahoo leagues, but that should change very soon. Even though he can be slotted into one of your IL slots for the time being, he should be dropped in most formats. He has looked lost at the plate recently, and this back injury could keep him out for a while as well. 

Jonathan India - 2B, Cincinnati Reds - 51% rostered

It has been an interesting offseason for Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India. He was a potential trade candidate this offseason before the team decided to keep him. Then, starting second baseman Matt McLain (shoulder) suffered a multi-month injury, which moved India right back into a starting spot. As a result, he was a sleeper option in most fantasy leagues heading into the year -- given his potential to hit 20 HRs and drive in over 60 runs.

Nonetheless, India has been one of the most disappointing players in the early going. He is batting just .215 with two HRs and 11 RBI in the first 33 games. The 27-year-old has also moved down in the lineup, most recently hitting ninth in back-to-back games for the Reds.

Verdict: At this point in the season, India can be safely dropped in most formats. He hasn't looked great at the plate for most of the year, and there are likely other players on waivers right now who can contribute more than he is for your fantasy team. Cut him now, and don't look back. 

 

Hold For Now

Lourdes Gurriel Jr.- OF, Arizona Diamondbacks - 78% rostered

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. came out of the gate red-hot. He was hitting .317 with four HRs, three doubles, and 18 RBI over the first 14 games. That pace, though, was likely not sustainable for the 30-year-old veteran. Some sort of regression was surely expected.

That has been the case for Gurriel over the past four weeks, as he is batting just .189 with one home run and five RBI since April 14. However, I'm not entirely worried about the outfielder in fantasy. He is an extremely streaky hitter, and a nice stretch from him on offense will come again soon. It would also be a shock to drop him, considering what he did last season.

In 2023, Gurriel hit 24 HRs with 82 RBI and 35 doubles across 145 games. You won't find those numbers on the waiver wire right now, so be patient with the 2023 All-Star. He also continues to hit atop the Diamondbacks' lineup, which should lead to more opportunities as the season progresses.

Michael Busch- 1B, Chicago Cubs - 71% rostered

A rule of thumb in fantasy is to always be patient with rookies. That surely is the case for Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch. Busch has seen his rostership decrease over the past few weeks and now sits at 71%. However, he is someone who I am not willing to cut at this point in the season.

Busch has been a surprise bright spot for the Cubs' offense in 2024, and up-and-down stretches are likely to happen from rookies throughout the year. However, his ability to get on base, drive in runs, and hit homers makes him a valuable fantasy piece in almost all formats. The left-handed slugger is hitting .254 with seven HRs, seven doubles, and 19 RBI.

One of the main reasons why Busch is even on this list in the first place is because of his recent slump at the plate. He is hitting just .182 with one home run and four RBI over the last 18 games but don't be so fast to drop him. Before that stretch, the rookie was batting .317 with six HRs and 13 RBI in the first 18 games of the season. Hold him for now, and expect another hot streak to come very shortly.

 

On the Hot Seat

Colton Cowser - OF, Baltimore Orioles - 63% rostered

Fantasy managers always need to be patient with rookies. That's why Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser isn't an immediate drop yet in most formats. However, he's certainly on the hot seat in fantasy right now due to his recent cold streak. 

Cowser is batting just .154 with two HRs and five RBI over the past 18 games and continues to struggle at the plate. After a hot start to the 2024 campaign -- in which fantasy managers saw him hit a home run in three of four games from April 11 to April 14 --  the rookie has cooled off big time. 

I wouldn't drop Cowser just yet in fantasy because there is a chance that he eventually heats up, but with Austin Hays (calf) nearing a return from the injured list, the rookie's playing time could be cut in half. So, he's someone to keep an eye on over the next week, especially when Hays returns to the lineup.

 

Can Be Safely Dropped

Reid Detmers - SP, Los Angeles Angels - 49% rostered

There was some hope that Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers would finally break out in 2024 following a mediocre campaign in 2023. He tossed five innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts against the Baltimore Orioles in his first start of the year and then struck out 12 across six innings against the Boston Red Sox in his second outing.

Detmers also continued his strong pitching performances into his next two starts. He gave up just one combined run on 10 hits with three walks and 11 strikeouts across 11 2/3 innings pitched against the Red Sox (April 12) and the Tampa Bay Rays (April 17). However, his last three starts have not been smooth by any means. The southpaw has given up at least five earned runs in three straight outings, including a season-high seven earned runs against the Cleveland Guardians two weeks ago.

Those recent outings make it extremely hard to roster Detmers moving forward. His ERA has jumped to 4.96, and his 3.2 walks per nine innings is not necessarily a great sign for his fantasy value either. There are likely other pitchers to stream in his place over the next few weeks.

 

What Do To Do With These Players?

Xander Bogaerts- 2B/SS, San Diego Padres - 92% rostered

San Diego Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts is a player most fantasy managers don't know what to do with. He has looked awful at the plate for most of the year and entered Saturday's content with a .209 batting average, two HRs, and 11 RBI across 39 games. To make matters worse, manager Mike Shildt has moved the 31-year-old out of the lineup spot with the acquisition of Luis Arraez.

As bad as it has been to roster the Padres second baseman in the early going, he is a player most fantasy managers shouldn't drop right now. With a veteran like Bogaerts, you have to be patient and assume he will figure things out. Last year, he went through a similar rough stretch at the start of the year and hit .191 with two HRs and nine RBI in 34 games from April 22 to June 3.

Bogaerts, though, eventually figured things out and hit .304 with 12 HRs and 37 RBI from June 9 onward. A similar situation could play out for the 12-year veteran, so don't drop him yet in fantasy leagues.

Paul Goldschmidt - 1B, St. Louis Cardinals - 93% rostered

It's getting harder and harder to defend St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in fantasy. He has reached a new low at the plate this year, has struggled to catch up to the fastball, and is batting a mere .190. There also isn't much optimism that Goldschmidt can pick it up. His expected batting average (.234), expected slugging (.356), barrel rate (4.4%), and whiff rate (32%) all rank in the bottom half of the league. 

Despite all that is going bad for Goldschmidt through the first seven weeks, he isn't a must-drop just yet in most formats. Like Bogaerts, we assume that the veteran will break out of this slump and eventually provide fantasy managers with some much-needed fantasy points.

While that could be a struggle for him in 2024, it's too early in the season to drop a player who has totaled 93 HRs and 305 RBI since 2021. Give it some time before dropping Goldschmidt on waivers, or try to trade him to a fantasy manager who believes he'll break out of this slump.

George Springer- OF, Toronto Blue Jays- 83% rostered

After a rough year for Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer in 2023, the veteran has not been much better to start the 2024 campaign. He is batting just .206 with three HRs, four doubles, and six RBI. He also has just a .574 OPS through the first 35 games of the season.

With the way Springer has struggled at the plate over the last 189 games -- dating back to the 2023 season and into this year -- he is a borderline drop candidate in some leagues. There is always the potential that the 11-year vet will eventually pick things up and continue to hit over 20 HRs and drive in at least 70 runs.

If there is someone who is currently on waivers that you believe can be a better fantasy asset for you long-term, then I don't mind dropping Springer. He hasn't looked great at the plate since the 2022 season.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
Levi Onwuzurike

to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
Max Holloway

Set For Main Event
Brandon Lowe

Back From 10-Day Injured List
Dustin Poirier

Set For His Final UFC Fight
Roman Kopylov

Set For Co-Main Event
Paulo Costa

Returns At UFC 318
Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
Dan Ige

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Uchenna Nwosu

Seahawks Place Uchenna Nwosu on PUP List
Taylor Decker

Alim McNeill, Taylor Decker Placed on PUP List
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Clayton Kershaw

Retires Both Batters In ASG Appearance
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Hit In Pinky In All-Star Game, X-Rays Negative
MLB

NL All-Stars Win On Tie-Breaker Home Run Swing-Off
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Oneil Cruz

Ties Home Run Derby Distance Record
Cal Raleigh

Wins 2025 Home Run Derby
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF