So we're officially into the second half of the season. Those fantasy pennant races are heating up, and it's no time to coast. Every win matters and there's no point in hanging on to dead weight anymore. If you have someone who is really becoming a waste of roster space, it's time to get rid of them.
Here are the cuts for Week 16 of the fantasy baseball season!
Editor's Note: RotoBaller has the best Premium MLB Subscription for only $1.99 per week. We have all the tools to help win your seasonal and daily leagues: Hitter & Pitcher Streamers, Matchup Ratings for every player, Sleeper Surgers for AVG, HR, Ks, PLUS Daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids.
Week 16 Players to Consider Cutting
1) Steven Moya (DET, OF)
Droppable in Most Leagues
With Justin Upton coming back from the bereavement list, Moya was sent back down to the minors. The youngster displayed impressive power at times, but was not ready for the show. He still struck out at a very high clip and the Tigers thought he'd be better off to get some more seasoning in AAA.
2) Jung Ho Kang (PIT, SS/3B)
Droppable in Redraft Leagues
Alright enough is enough. I wanted to give this guy the benefit of the doubt because of the position he plays and the power he possesses. That being said, he's been terrible for quite some time now. His average is down to .240, and he just looks lost at the dish. If there's a better option like a Yangervis Solarte out there, I say go ahead and make the swap.
3) Nomar Mazara (TEX, OF)
Droppable in 12 Team Leagues and Redrafts
Mazara burst onto the scene, but has faltered lately. I guess he had to hit the rookie wall at some point. His power has dissipated and his counting stats have been non-existent over the last few weeks. In keeper leagues, don't even think about dropping this guy. However in redrafts, there is nothing wrong with dropping Maz and riding the hot hand. Outfield is the deepest position in fantasy, so it shouldn't be hard to replace Mazara.
More Options (Redraft Leagues): Julio Urias, Joakim Soria, Justin Bour, C.J. Cron, Sean Doolittle, Matt Adams, Cody Reed, Kevin Pillar, Gio Gonzalez.
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) Michael Saunders (TOR, OF)
Saunders has been featured here before, and I'm doing it again. He can be tough to own when he's cold because he strikes out at a healthy clip. I won't advocate dropping him just yet, because he isn't far removed from a hot streak that he had going before the break. However, because of the depth in the outfield position, it wouldn't hurt to have a backup plan for the streaky and oft-injured slugger.
2) Tim Anderson (CHW, SS)
This is another case where those in keeper leagues don't need to listen necessarily. In redrafts though, Anderson is someone who is very close to being "cuttable." The All Star Break came at a bad time for Anderson, who was in the midst of a hot streak. The high K rate and absent walk rate are coming back to bite him so far in the second half. He is still very talented, and could be productive down the stretch. He is still a rookie though so it would be wise to temper expectations and to scout potential replacements already.
3) Rajai Davis (CLE, OF)
Davis is so tantalizing because of his speed and the fact that he was actually hitting well in the first half. His random days off are maddening though, and he tends to be pretty streaky. He and Saunders would actually make a great ballplayer if you combined them. Davis would bring the speed, Saunders the power. Hang tight on Davis for now, because his stolen base potential still puts him a cut above what's likely available in most leagues. Should the playing time continue to be an issue, and if his offense doesn't pick up, it could be time to make a change.
Reverse Jinx - Brighter Days Ahead?
Michael Conforto (NYM, OF):
He's back! The young slugger tore up AAA in his short stint down there, and it looks like the Mets are ready to give him a chance to prove himself in the MLB again. There's obviously a huge difference between AAA and the big leagues, but we all know Conforto is better than he was playing since May. If he can return to anything close to the form he displayed last season, watch out. Let's hope this reverse jinx takes and gets him going.
Graveyard - Previously Disposed Of
Matt Harvey, Joe Panik, Trevor Rosenthal, Travis Shaw, Tommy Joseph, Jhonny Peralta, Dan Straily, Trayce Thompson, C.C. Sabathia, Brad Ziegler
Zombies - Resurrected and Living Well
Adam Wainwright (STL, SP)
Well if it isn't Mike Honcho himself! (Name that reference) After looking totally washed up earlier in the season, Wainwright has been very good over the last two months. I like to pretend that my scathing blurb back in April may have lit a fire under him. Whatever the cause though, Waino has only given up more than three earned in one of his last eight starts. He has four wins over that span too, so it looks like he's returned to form and he could continue to be a dependable starter the rest of the way.
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!