Welcome back to the Cut List. Each weekend from now until the end of the season, I’ll be offering my thoughts on players who don’t deserve to keep drawing a nonexistent salary on your fake baseball teams.

A column like this can be a tricky thing early in the year. While the sample sizes are growing, they’re still small enough to be subject to plenty of noise. There’s a lot of season left, after all.

In addition to the players on the Cut List, we'll also spotlight a player on the Hot Seat: Someone who may not be a cut yet, but whose situation is worth monitoring.

Editor's Note: Our friends at Fantrax have even more fantasy baseball advice columns and videos to help improve your teams. Be sure to also check them out!

The Cut List: Week 9

Addison Russell, SS, Chicago Cubs

On April 24, after a four-hit game, Russell’s slash line was a healthy .289/.341/.461. He’s managed just 13 hits since, dropping his line to .213/.283/.341. He’s logged just three home runs after hitting 21 a year ago. Russell’s extended slump has resulted in him being dropped from the middle to the bottom of the Cubs’ lineup, where he’ll have a tough time maintaining solid run production.

Odubel Herrera, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

After a sophomore season in which he improved virtually across the board, Herrera has fallen off a cliff in 2017. He’s given back all the gains he made in plate discipline last year, culminating in his five-strikeout game on Thursday. Herrera is hitting just .222/.269/.335, and hasn’t hit a home run in nearly a month. He has also struggled on the bases, succeeding in just four of his seven attempted steals thus far.

Jerad Eickhoff, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

A pleasant surprise last season, Eickhoff has struggled to replicate that success this year. He’s 0-5 with a 4.74 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. After logging quality starts in his first three turns, he has just one in his last seven appearances. While his strikeout rate has held steady and he’s seen a modest improvement in home run rate, Eickhoff is allowing more contact and his walk rate has spiked. Only six qualified starters have a lower first-pitch strike percentage.

The Hot Seat: Week 9

Danny Salazar, SP, Cleveland Indians

Salazar has piled up strikeouts, but he’s been a complete trainwreck otherwise. After laying another egg against the hapless Royals on Saturday, he now sits on an ugly 5.50 ERA and 1.59 WHIP. All the whiffs in the world can’t make up for a complete inability to limit walks or homers. With Corey Kluber due back from injury next week, there’s reportedly talk of demoting Salazar to the bullpen. That seems unlikely to be more than a temporary measure, but it speaks to how frustrating he’s been to watch this year.

Last Week

Kole Calhoun continued to struggle, collecting just three hits to bring his season line down to .212/.289/.328

Ben Zobrist hit three homers in four games, though he’s now dealing with a sore wrist.

Masahiro Tanaka was spectacular on Friday, striking out 13 in a tough-luck loss to the Athletics. So, uh…you’re welcome for the reverse jinx.

Aaron Sanchez remains out with a blister issue. This is his third stint on the disabled list already this season, and there is currently no timetable for his return.

More Week 9 Lineup Prep