Fantasy Baseball Cut List: Top 6 Star Drops to Make for Week 24
If a player can't help immediately, he's no longer important to own in fantasy baseball leagues.
Late in the season, several fantasy managers are sleeping on the job. There's no other way to explain injured players remaining owned in more than half of Yahoo Sports league. It may look nice to roster an inactive star, but some no-name getting September playing time will prove more useful.
Then there are also breakout players who have fallen back to earth. After enjoying the ride for months, anyone who missed a buy-low opportunity should admit the magic is over and locate the latest hot hand. Nobody can afford to wait out a slump when only two weeks remain to the 2015 campaign.
These players have either provided massive dividends this season or in prior years, but they won't help any fantasy players cement a championship run. For our purposes, nothing but the next two weeks matter.
6. Edinson Volquez, SP, Kansas City Royals
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OK, Edinson Volquez never should have merited a high ownership in standard mixed leagues. The erratic 32-year-old has enjoyed success over the past two years with manageable walk rates, but he sacrificed his fantasy appeal with depreciated strikeout tendencies.
Even when the veteran righty notched a 3.04 ERA last year, it came with a 4.15 fielding independent pitching (FIP) and 6.54 strikeouts per nine innings. This season's 3.31 first-half ERA was accompanied by a 3.86 FIP and 6.76 K/9. Solid rotation depth, but not much more given the high supply of strikeout pitchers.
Lately, however, the Kansas City Royals hurler has fallen down to earth. Over his last seven starts, Volquez has allowed 24 earned runs, trading strong starts with blow-up outings. Head-to-head players especially can't afford another shelling from someone who has surrendered four or more runs four times over that stretch.
Major downside looms in Saturday's matchup with the Detroit Tigers, who torched him for six runs in each of their last two meetings. While he's playable against the Cleveland Indians next week, it's hardly a no-brainer after Cleveland roughed him up for four runs on Monday.
Add: Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox; Erasmo Ramirez, Tampa Bay Rays; Jhoulys Chacin, Arizona Diamondbacks
5. Gerardo Parra, OF, Baltimore Orioles
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Looking at the full picture, Gerardo Parra has exceeded expectations as a significant fantasy contributor. The outfielder is hitting .293 with 77 runs, 11 stolen bases and a career-high 14 home runs, which isn't bad at all for a widely undrafted player.
Given his red-hot play from May to July, it's disappointing for anyone who added him during the season. Parra entered Aug. 1 batting .328 with nine homers and steals apiece. When a perennial .275, 10/10 hitter goes bonkers, don't expect it to last forever.
The Milwaukee Brewers realized his hot stretch had an expiration date, selling him to the Baltimore Orioles before the non-waiver trade deadline. Hopefully his fantasy owners followed, as he's 10-for-51 with no homers or steals through 13 September games.
Parra rode a .345 first-half BABIP to inflated results, but he has regressed to the mean following an unsustainable stint. Forget the good times and scout the waiver wire for this month's Parra.
Add: Ender Inciarte, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks; Angel Pagan, OF, San Francisco Giants; Mikie Mahtook, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
4. Brandon Crawford, SS, San Francisco Giants
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The regression police left Brandon Crawford alone far longer than expected, but they finally arrived. Since Aug. 1, the breakout shortstop is hitting .215 (23-for-107) with three home runs.
They didn't play nice this time around, as Crawford has battled nagging oblique and calf soreness over the past couple of weeks. Despite never going on the disabled list, the All-Star has only played six games over the past 23 days.
According to the Sacramento Bee's Matt Kawahara, the shortstop is nearing his return for the San Francisco Giants, who have slipped out of the playoff portrait. Unless they quickly diminish their 7.5-game deficit behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, they won't need to push Crawford during the final two weeks.
Mostly known for his glove, the 28-year-old stunned everyone by belting a career-high 19 homers. Yet he hasn't gone deep since Aug. 6, and the .255 hitter doesn't offer a high average or any speed. Thank the breakout star for his contributions, but then find a healthier middle infielder able to fully function during the fantasy playoffs.
Add: Eduardo Escobar, Minnesota Twins; Wilmer Flores, New York Mets; Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees
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3. Yasiel Puig, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
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Few players will prove tougher to appraise next season than Yasiel Puig. Once a national sensation and fantasy monster, the Cuban outfielder's numbers have dipped every year. Every element of his .256/.324/.440 slash line represents career lows, as do his 11 long balls and three steals accrued through just 77 games.
Those aren't drop-worthy stats from someone who warranted a premier pick over the past two seasons. Yet the conversation changes considering he hasn't played since Aug. 27 because of a right hamstring strain. While he has recently starting running in agility drills, the Los Angeles Times' Zach Helfand warned that his progress "doesn't necessarily mean Puig will be ready to return in the regular season."
The Dodgers want him back for the playoffs, but fantasy owners need him now. Believe it or not, the actual team's desires outweigh our wishes. With the Dodgers comfortably controlling the NL West, he may at best return for a tune-up game or two if ready.
As noted by Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer, the Dodgers have registered nearly identical offensive numbers with Puig off the field. If a convincing argument can be made for him becoming an expendable piece of the postseason puzzle, he's certainly not a necessary risk this upcoming week or next.
This is by far the riskiest transaction here, as he's more than capable of returning and wreaking havoc for a few games. At this point, however, it's more likely everyone keeps waiting with no payoff.
Add: Justin Ruggiano, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers; Michael Conforto, New York Mets; Mark Canha, Oakland Athletics
2. Anibal Sanchez, SP, Detroit Tigers
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Click on this link, and read the Detroit Free Press' Anthony Fenech's first sentence. What more needs to be said?
Didn't look? Here's his update on the starting pitcher's shoulder issues. "Anibal Sanchez is done for the season." Not "Anibal Sanchez may not pitch again this season." Done. Anyone who spent a month storing him on the bench has unfortunately wasted a roster spot.
Even before landing on the disabled list, he wasn't helping anyone out. His 4.99 ERA offset any gains from his 10 victories and 7.91 K/9 through 25 starts, and his 4.74 FIP places fifth-worst among all qualified starting pitchers.
If he stays healthy and normalizes a career-high 16.0 home run-fly-ball (HR/FB) percentage, he'll satisfy 2016 drafters as a bounce-back sleeper. Right now, he's loitering on too many rosters, unable to help in any way. This is coming a month too late, but drop Sanchez.
Add: Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins; Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox; Jake Peavy, San Francisco Giants
1. Mark Teixeira, 1B, New York Yankees
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Mark Teixeira will go down as one of 2015's finer value picks. Following an injury-plagued 2013 and free-falling 2014, the first baseman pressed rewind with a .255/.357/.548 slash line and 31 homers. Such power comes at a premium, but he either cost a late-round flier or nothing off the waiver wire.
Even without recording a September plate appearance, he finished 2015 as a prominent slugger. Thanks for everything, but it's time to say goodbye.
After delaying the inevitable, the New York Yankees shut Teixeira down last week due to a fracture in his right leg. He'll sit out the rest of the season and any ensuing postseason games for the Bronx Bombers.
Despite the definitive prognosis, he remains owned in 58 percent in Yahoo leagues. Such laziness is all the more frustrating given the ease of locating a replacement. Just stay in town and snag Greg Bird, who's doing his best Teixeira replacement with a .248/.330/.505 slash line and seven homers in 29 games.
When it's as easy as swapping a Yankees lefty first baseman with pop for a younger Yankees lefty first baseman with pop, what's the problem? Baseball doesn't end the second football starts.
Add: Greg Bird, New York Yankees; Mike Napoli, Texas Rangers; Justin Bour, Miami Marlins
Note: All advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs.
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