This week, I could make an entire #Cutlist about catchers. Savvy owners that don't employ Buster Posey, Russell Martin, Brian McCann, Carlos Santana or the great Kyle Schwarber might just consider leaving the position empty for a while. Other than Buster Posey, no catcher is ranked in the top 100 and only three are ranked in the top 150. To compare, in 2014 there were five catchers ranked in the top 150. Jonathan Lucroy, Evan Gattis, Devin Mesoraco and Carlos Santana are all having down years. Also the emergence of Stephen Vogt has only been sullied by his recent megaslump.
Just when he was needed most, Kyle Schwarber emerges and lights the #FBBcatching world on fire. If you are lucky enough to own him, you probably actually have the best offensive catcher in baseball. He might not have the strike zone discipline of Carlos Santana or MVP talent of Buster Posey but with Catcher being so shallow, Schwarber is a hero. This is the fantasy baseball equivalent of when Bruce Willis escapes from the gimp in Pulp Fiction. He saved the day.
Catchers, such as Sal Perez, Wilson Ramos, Evan Gattis, Jonathan Lucroy and Yadier Molina are not helping your team. Hang on to Perez, Lucroy and Gattis but its time to cut Ramos and sadly, my favorite catcher of all time, Yadier Molina. He gets a hit here and there (he’s batting .282) but that’s about it. Molina has only two home runs and 28 runs scored in 106 games.
The Week 20 Cut List
Wilson Ramos (WAS, C)
The 28 year old Wilson Ramos is batting .235/.265/.354 on the year. Over the last 30 days, he struggled to the tune of a .126 BA with a .409 OPS. You are better off leaving the position open rather than taking the 0-4. Dropping Molina might be a little drastic, actually I take it back, don't drop him He is still batting a decent .282, but if you have Ramos, cut his ass and add Miami Marlin rookie JT Realmuto or Wellington Castillo of Arizona.
Brett Lawrie (OAK, 2B/3B)
With an OPS of .563 over the last 30 days, there are certainly better options on the waiver wire. Rest assured no one will race to add him after you drop him. He is striking out more and hitting for less power with both a career high 23.6 K% and career low .131 ISO. Lawrie is not trending in the right direction. Cut him and add Logan Forsythe or Odubel Herrera.
Ervin Santana (MIN, SP)
Fresh off his roids suspension Ervin Santana is showing all of us why he needed steroids to begin with. Ervin needs to speak with Arod and Tex’s trainer and get some of what they got. With a 10.05 ERA over his last three starts, “Voodoo” needs to strike out more batters. His career low 13% strikeout rate coupled with a career high .270 BABIP and a HR/9 rate that has doubled, its probably safe to assume Santana was juicing last season with the Braves.
Kyle Gibson (MIN, SP)
I guess we will just keep cutting Twins pitchers. Gibson’s been gross lately and he isnt a power pitcher that gets you a juicy K/9. He relies on command and he doesn't have it right now. Spot start and risk blowing up your ERA. His 8.44 ERA and 1.94 WHIP over the last 14 days is enough to banish him. If Martin Perez is available, take a waiver on him, he just came back from TJ surgery and should be the source of some decent inning down the stretch. Or better yet, grab fellow Rangers pitcher Derek Holland, who is finally coming off DL this week. That guy has one of the nastiest cutters in baseball and a sweet moustache to match.
MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat Room
[iflychat_embed id="c-12" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]