👉 TAP TO SAVE 30% WITH CODE NEW
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

#1 Expert Projections
Save 30% Now
Import Your Leagues
Top-Rated Accuracy
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

The Cut List (Week 23): Players To Consider Cutting Bait On

It's playoff time folks! If you've made it this far congratulations. Whether you're in the winners' bracket or just playing for pride, it's time to make some tough decisions to end your seasons on a high note.

And with that, if you have someone who is really becoming a waste of roster space, it's time to get rid of him. The longer you hang on, the lower your chances are of making the playoffs and winning your leagues. In that spirit, I'm doing away with the Reverse Jinx section just to stress the urgency of playoff time. Let's take a look at who can be cut.

Editor's Note: Purchase a full season NFL Premium Pass (including Draft Kit + DFS Premium), and also get MLB Premium + DFS for free through the playoffs. Premium DFS lineup picks, expert lineups, tools and more - seven days a week. You can see screenshots of our NFL Premium and MLB Premium and DFS tools. What are you waiting for?

 

Week 23 Players to Consider Cutting

1) Marcell Ozuna (MIA, OF)

Droppable in Most Redraft Leagues

Ozuna has likely buoyed many teams to the playoffs with his long-awaited breakout season. The 22 homers are nice, but a wrist injury has kept him out for multiple games and he won't return until Friday at the earliest. That's a long time to be missing production from one of your power contributors. Worst of all, wrist injuries are tricky, just ask Mark Teixeira. Now is not a bad time to jump ship.

2) Billy Hamilton (CIN, OF)

Droppable in 12 Team Redraft Leagues

The speed demon has done just what most owners would expect: he ran. The average has even been better than expected at .260. However, it looks like BHam is going to miss some time with a strained oblique, an injury which sidelined Matt Carpenter for a few weeks. No timetable has been set yet, but it appears as though it may end his fantasy relevance in 2016. Jose Peraza would be a good add at this point though.

3) Joe Musgrove (HOU, SP)

Droppable in Most Redraft Leagues

I was so psyched to have this guy on my team at one point given his debut. He kept the Rangers and Toronto (twice) under control and it looked like he could be relevant down the stretch. Three of his last four starts since then have not gone well at all though, and it looks like he still has some things to work out as the league's hitters have adjusted to him. He's safe to drop in redrafts.

More Options (Redraft Leagues): Max Kepler, Reynaldo Lopez, Josh Bell, Neil Walker, Matt Shoemaker, Odubel Herrera, Brandon Moss, Matt Duffy, Julio Urias, Corey Dickerson, Fernando Salas

 

Hot Seat - Sending Warning Signals?

So these are some guys you shouldn't cut just yet, but who may be sending out warning signals (either obvious slumps, or more under-the-radar concerns):

1) Dee Gordon (MIA, 2B)

Now that he's off the juice, Gordon has not looked great since returning from suspension. He has one RBI, and no steals over the last two weeks and the average is way down. The sunken cost fallacy, and the fact that he should still be a source of steals will keep many from dropping, but honestly the playoffs (especially in redrafts) are not a time to be too patient.

2) Hernan Perez (MIL, 2B/3B/OF)

Perez has been a nice, not to mention surprising, source of power and speed this season. However, one had to be wondering when the magic would wear off. Over the last nine games he hasn't been producing much and the Brewers also have a weird playing time situation. They're going to be rotating Domingo Santana, Keon Broxton and others around, so there may be some random off days for Perez. It might not be time to totally move on, but if there's a better alternative, go for it.

 

Graveyard - Previously Disposed Of

Jonathan Papelbon, Hector Rondon, Jeremy Jeffress, Taijuan Walker, Sonny Gray, Jason Heyward, Trevor Story, Michael Saunders, Nick Castellanos, Jurickson Profar, Aaron Nola, Jimmy Nelson, Danny Valencia, Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Eduardo Nunez, Gerrit Cole

 

Zombies - Resurrected and Living Well

Yangervis Solarte (SD, 1B/2B/3B)

I may have spoken too soon on "Scurvy." Solarte has a six-game hitting streak going on and has two homers with five RBI over this span. With Wil Myers struggling, Solarte is the main source of offense in San Diego. The versatility makes him a good player to round out your playoff roster.

 

Live Expert Q&A Chats - Every Weekday @ 1 PM and 6 PM EST (DFS)

Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-55" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]


Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

#1 Expert Projections
Save 30% Now
Import Your Leagues
Top-Rated Accuracy
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Pat Bryant

Year 2 Breakout No Longer in the Cards?
Troy Franklin

Set to Take a Step Backward in 2026?
Sam Howell

Joe Milton III to Compete for Backup Role
Cameron Ward

Working in the Building, Making Good Progress
Will Levis

Titans to Trade Will Levis Before the Draft?
Cameron Payne

Out at Least Two Weeks
Duncan Robinson

Iffy for Monday
Jerami Grant

Out Again Monday
Tobias Harris

Questionable Vs. Magic
Karl-Anthony Towns

Back Against Atlanta
Joel Embiid

Available Monday Vs. Spurs
Mike Trout

Exits Early After Getting Hit by Pitch
Brandon Williams

Good to Go Sunday
Marvin Bagley III

Available Sunday Against Lakers
Moussa Diabaté

Moussa Diabate Back in Lineup Sunday
Kirill Kaprizov

Bags Sixth Career Hat Trick Sunday
Stuart Skinner

Nursing Upper-Body Injury
Charlie Lindgren

Gets the Nod Sunday
Pavel Buchnevich

Ready to Play Sunday Night
Jordan Staal

Jordan Martinook Unavailable Sunday
Frederik Andersen

Takes on Senators Sunday
Linus Ullmark

Faces Hurricanes Sunday
Trevor Lawrence

Can a Dynamic Surrounding Cast Lead Trevor Lawrence to Another Career Year?
Malik Willis

Dolphins Want to Build Around Malik Willis
Courtland Sutton

Has Courtland Sutton's Dropping Dynasty Value Made Him a Buy-Low?
Ryan Rollins

Available Against Grizzlies
David Njoku

One of the Top Remaining Free Agents
Leonard Miller

Matas Buzelis Out Sunday, Leonard Miller Joins Starting Lineup
Tyler Warren

Has Room to Grow in Year Two
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Back in Action Sunday
Josh Giddey

Won't Play Against Suns
Trey Murphy III

Out Sunday
Dejounte Murray

Misses Second Straight Game
Anthony Edwards

Won't Play Sunday
Pete Fairbanks

Serving as Opener Before Going on Paternity List
George Klassen

Called Up to Start on Sunday
Stephon Gilmore

Announces his Retirement
Hunter Brown

Placed on 15-Day Injured List with Right-Shoulder Strain
Matthew Stafford

Rams to Put Matthew Stafford on Pitch Count Ahead of 2026 Season?
Isaiah Likely

John Harbaugh "Certain" Isaiah Likely Will Break Out
New York Jets

Jets "Leaning Toward" Arvell Reese at No. 2 Overall
Cleveland Browns

Browns Targeting Carnell Tate at No. 6 Overall?
Tennessee Titans

Titans "Love" Their Running Back Room
Jauan Jennings

Asking for Too Much Money?
Brandon Aiyuk

Nothing Imminent With Brandon Aiyuk
Luther Burden III

Bears Want to Continue to Get the Ball to Luther Burden III
Jesús Luzardo

Jesus Luzardo Dominates Rockies on Saturday
Byron Buxton

Back in Sunday's Lineup
Mookie Betts

Heading to the Injured List With Oblique Strain
A.J. Brown

to be Traded to Patriots on June 2?
Cade Horton

Cubs Place Cade Horton on 15-Day Injured List With Forearm Strain
Isaiah Collier

Out Again Sunday
Immanuel Quickley

Still Sidelined Sunday
Nicolas Claxton

Won't Play Sunday
Evan Mobley

Sidelined Sunday
Jarrett Allen

Won't Play Against Indiana
Clayton Keller

Collects Four Points Against Canucks
Jack Eichel

Records Three Assists in Saturday's Win
Gabe Perreault

Nets First Career Hat Trick
Nicolas Hague

Exits Early Against Sharks
MacKenzie Weegar

Listed as Day-to-Day
Jack McBain

Considered Week-to-Week
Justin Faulk

Questionable Sunday
MarShawn Lloyd

a Dynasty Trade Target with Long-Term Upside?
Adrian Kempe

Delivers a Four-Point Performance
Evgeni Malkin

Collects Four Points on Saturday
Mookie Betts

Considered Day-to-Day, Heading for an MRI on Saturday
Juan Soto

Day-to-Day With Minor Groin Strain, No Decision on IL Yet
Nick Lardis

Available Against Kraken
Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Won't Play Saturday
MLB

Cubs-Guardians Game Postponed on Saturday
Mookie Betts

Leaves Early With Back Injury
Tyler Kleven

Out Week-to-Week
Mason Marchment

Expected to Return Saturday
Aliaksei Protas

Returns on Saturday
Alejandro Kirk

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Thumb Fracture
Juan Soto

Mets Concerned About Juan Soto's Calf Injury
Juan Soto

Removed with Calf Tightness
Byron Buxton

is Day-to-Day with Forearm Contusion
Byron Buxton

Leaves on Friday After Being Hit by a Pitch
Cade Horton

Headed for Injured List Stint
Isaac Paredes

Placed on Bereavement List
Jordan Lawlar

Suffers Fractured Wrist, Set to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Alejandro Kirk

Having X-Rays on his Thumb
Chris Duncan

Set For UFC Vegas 115 Main Event
Renato Moicano

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 115
Tabatha Ricci

Set For UFC Vegas 115 Co-Main Event
Virna Jandiroba

Looks To Bounce Back
Brendson Ribeiro

In Desperate Need Of Win
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev

Looks To Remain Unbeaten
Ethyn Ewing

Set For His Second UFC Bout
Rafael Estevam

Looks To Remain Undefeated
CFB

Gunner Stockton Looking "Great" After Offseason Injury
CFB

Sam Leavitt Showing "Encouraging Signs" at LSU Practice
J.J. Spaun

Needs the Putter to Cooperate in San Antonio
Thorbjorn Olesen

Trending Up in San Antonio
Denny McCarthy

Carrying Momentum into San Antonio
Chris Kirk

Has Course History on His Side in San Antonio
Billy Horschel

a Volatile Option at the Valero Texas Open
Joe Highsmith

Still Searching for Form in San Antonio
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks to Find Form at the Valero Texas Open
Jordan Spieth

a Horse for Course History at TPC San Antonio
Robert MacIntyre

Has One Flaw to Overcome at Valero Texas Open to be a Must-Play
Maverick McNealy

In Exceptional Form This Season
Michael Thorbjornsen

Playing Well But Still Searching For A Win
Hideki Matsuyama

Playing Well Heading to the Valero Texas Open
Si Woo Kim

Heads to Valero Texas Open For Final Tune-Up Before Masters
Collin Morikawa

Withdraws From Valero Texas Open
PGA

Stephan Jaegar Still Looking For Consistency at Valero Texas Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

is Red-Hot Coming to TPC San Antonio
Tony Finau

a Risky Proposition at Valero Texas Open
Ludvig Aberg

Looks to Shake Off Collapse at Valero Texas Open
Patrick Rodgers

Needs to Make More Birdies in San Antonio
Sepp Straka

Seeks Opportunity in San Antonio This Weekend
Nick Taylor

Could Again Struggle at the Valero Texas Open
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF