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 (Week 12) - Time to Let Go?

Nate Green's list of busts and overvalued players who fantasy baseball owners may want to consider cutting and dropping for Week 12 of the season.

June is more than half over, meaning the season is nearly half over. And, as usual, some players' tenures on your fantasy team should be all over. One thing we're adding this week is a brief overview of the forcefulness of each cut suggestion. A "strong" endorsement means the player can be cut in pretty much any format at the given league size. A "weak" endorsement means there could still be value here, but things are bad enough that you can justify the ax. Weak endorsements can be considered strong ones in the next size down; e.g., a weak 12-team cut is a strong 10-team cut. Also for the weak cases, the kind of leagues the player can most justifiably be cut in are identified.

Stats are through Friday, June 14. Remember these are mixed-league suggestions. Weekly reminders: Recommendations in one league size obviously apply to smaller leagues. You can also feel free to drop a shallower suggestion in a deeper league. Generally, however, the dividing line is there for a reason.

As usual, you can find ideas on how to replace your cut candidates at the Waiver Wire Pickup List.

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

 

10-Team Cut Candidates

Yasiel Puig (OF, CIN)

Cut Endorsement: Weak. Easiest to cut in: points.

Even though Puig is only hitting .222/.264/.393, he has not been a complete roto embarrassment. It's not been good, but he does have 11 home runs, nine steals, and 57 combined R+RBI in playing 62 of 67 Reds games. Points leagues are another story, and he can probably be cut up to 12-teamers in those leagues. But he's given enough in roto to try and wait on better times. And it remains hard to believe there's no upside here: projections still believe in Puig for roughly 15 HR, 10 SB and between a .250-.270 average going forward.

That may not have sounded like an argument to cut, but if you're tired of Puig's act and not willing to wait for projections that may never materialize, you can let go of Yahoo's 306th-rated standard 5x5 player.

Joc Pederson (OF, LAD)

Cut Endorsement: Weak. Easiest to cut in: weekly lineup changes and/or standard BA.

Pederson's overall season line, despite a 1-for-27 stretch since June 3, remains a strong .238/.341/.577 with 18 home runs and 75 R+RBI. His main issue has always been, and continues to be, an inability to hit left-handed pitching: .167/.167/.208 in 24 PA this season and .180/.259/.309 in 349 career PA.

That 1-for-27 run has led to a few cuts already, but it's hard to think Pederson will never turn it around. In OBP or OPS leagues, he should be held, even with 10 teams. He's still a decent play in points as well. But in BA leagues, or weekly leagues where Pederson can miss several AB's if there's a run of left-handed starters or relievers, a 10-team cut becomes easier to suggest.

Zach Davies (SP, MIL)

Cut Endorsement: Strong.

With a 2.60 ERA? You bet. Although Davies has brought back assets like Michael Conforto, Will Smith, and Justin Smoak on the Yahoo trade market lately, the all-too-obvious downside was on display Friday when he allowed three runs with just two strikeouts in five innings to an anemic San Francisco Giants' offense at cavernous AT&T Park.

If Davies continues to be as lucky as he has, he can get wins playing for Milwaukee. But with a rather sad 15.2 K%, a whopping 4.89 xFIP, and an even worse 5.15 SIERA, it takes a lot of luck. As it is, Davies has given pretty much nothing in strikeouts and already has a mediocre WHIP, so he's just a wins-and-ERA guy. But take the ERA you got, not the one you're likely to have by August. If a cut seems off to you, try desperately to sell high, but you may not find takers.

 

12-Team Cut Candidates

Amed Rosario (SS, NYM)

Cut Endorsement: Strong.

Rosario still has his believers, but results remain amiss. He's added a bit of power this year, with eight home runs already after nine all of last year, but some steals have gone away, with six in 66 games in 2019 after 24 in 154 games last season. The slash line is nearly identical: .256/.295/.381 last season is .246/.289/.412 this season; it's .214/.257/.439 the past four weeks and .258/.302/.403 the past calendar year.

That's some consistent mediocrity as signs of development are essentially absent. He's Yahoo's 25th-rated shortstop-eligible player this season. Citi Field, a terrible park for hitting, doesn't help. Other than maybe in leagues with unlimited keepers at low inflation, Rosario can be let go.

Rougned Odor (2B, TEX)

Cut Endorsement: Strong.

Odor is almost assuredly gone already in 10 teams and shallower. The general description -- a power-speed middle infielder who continues to play almost every day and calls Texas home -- sounds like someone who could be of use in 12 teams.

The specific description, however, is a complete disaster: .182/.265/.345 with a 30% strikeout rate. Eight homers, seven steals, and 64 R+RBI make him somewhat Puig-like, but he's a worse version with a worse track record. Hence Odor's rate stat projections are uglier than Puig's: more like a .230's average instead of .260's, also with slightly fewer home runs and steals. Move on.

Pedro Strop (RP, CHC)

Cut Endorsement: Weak. Easiest to cut in: leagues where you're also the Kimbrel owner.

Strop went on the IL on May 8 after allowing three runs on May 6, and since returning on June 4 has allowed one run in 3 2/3 innings. One could easily blame the May 6 appearance on the injury, think everything is okay (his ERA is 2.70 without it), and hold until he officially loses the closer job. (Which may be even easier after save number eight Saturday.)

Because, naturally, this is less about Strop and more about the Craig Kimbrel signing. Even if the Cubs play situations with their new bullpen addition, it will cut into Strop's save opportunities. And you'd like better than the 3.86 xFIP/3.81 SIERA Strop has given if you were to bank on him retaining some save chances. Consider moving on now.

 

14+ Team Cut Candidates

Jesus Aguilar (1B, MIL)

Cut Endorsement: Strong.

Aguilar should be long-gone in 12-teamers, but the 35-homer 2018 campaign has remained a sign of hope for some, especially deeper than 12. He's only started 39 of Milwaukee's 69 games this season, but that includes 18 of 23 to start the year, so it's less than half since then. That might be okay in deeper leagues for someone hitting better than .197/.303/.306.

Projections aren't that pessimistic -- they rarely are -- but Aguilar needs the chance to rebound, which he's not getting (when he does start, he's now only batting seventh), and then the actual rebound. It's fine to let someone else wait up.

Ross Stripling (SP/RP, LAD)

Cut Endorsement: Strong.

Stripling has obvious talent but has not started a game since April 25. When the Dodgers gave Kenta Maeda a brief IL stint from May 17-26, Stripling was used out of the bullpen three times instead of making so much as a spot start.

And yet, his ownership rates suggest several people are still waiting on him to start again. But it may not happen at all this season. It feels like the way the Dodgers handle their pitchers, that he probably will. But it's not good that the Maeda IL trip was not an impetus.

Right now, Stripling is just a rarely used middle reliever; he has only pitched 12 2/3 innings in nearly two months of that role, with a 4.97 ERA and 13 strikeouts. If he does start again, he would probably need a readjustment period, which could get rough. Instead of keeping him around, he should be re-acquired or streamed if the Dodgers telegraph that he will start again at some point. And even if you miss out at that late point, it could just be a spot start.

Blake Parker (RP, MIN)

Cut Endorsement: Strong.

Perhaps a little late here, as Parker has earned all of one save since May 20. His ERA then stood at 1.10 and dropped to 1.04 after a perfect two-strikeout ninth inning with a seven-run lead on May 25. Then things fell apart: two runs on May 28, two on June 2 in a second straight appearance, three more on two homers while blowing a save on June 5.

He finally got that ninth save while protecting a three-run lead on June 7, walking two and striking out one. Then he sat another several days, and the three runs he allowed without getting an out on June 12 are pretty much just icing on the cake. Parker's ERA is now 4.37, the Twins have several relievers who can strike out more than 19.2% of batters faced, Taylor Rogers is up to seven saves. Bye-bye, Blake.

 

Last Week's Updates

Player Last Week This Week Reasoning
Joey Votto Cut in 10 Sell A mini-renaissance since May 14 is .330/.373/.468, .400 BABIP, 22-7 K-BB; maybe it's enough to find a taker
Brad Peacock Cut in 10 Sell Didn't collapse despite mediocre start against Brewers and gets Blue Jays Saturday; if that goes well find a trade for his sub-optimal pitch mix and peripherals
Robinson Cano Cut in 12 Cut in 10 Back on injured list, health a permanent question mark, not worth the stash
Jake Arrieta Cut in 12 Cut in 12 Control issues cropping up (9 BB in last 2 starts, 10 2/3 IP) on top of everything else
Maikel Franco Cut in 14 Cut in 14 Playing time and slumping issues continue
Kevin Gausman Cut in 14 Cut in 14 Pulled in 3rd inning in last start which bumped the ERA up despite two unearned runs; still lacks job security

More Fantasy Baseball Busts and Avoids




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

Yordan Alvarez

Resumes Swinging -- Return Imminent?
Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
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
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
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
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