Every so often on-air or in a column, we preach it's not just who you pick up, it's who you decide to cut becomes a critical decision. Often the decision is easy - you have an injured player and no DL slots, or a player is sent to the minors, etc... But in tighter leagues, especially the NFBC where there are no DL slots, who you cut becomes important as well. So if we're going to list pickups in our various leagues, why not list the drops as well?
NFBC Main (15tm Mixed)
Team Type Player Position Date
Hungry Hippos Waiver Release Smyly, Drew P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Hungry Hippos Waiver Release Quinn, Roman OF 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Cali Cartel Waiver Release Hand, Brad P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Cali Cartel Waiver Release Pina, Manny C 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Cali Cartel Waiver Release Williams, Trevor P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Hungry Hippos Waiver Release Vizcaino, Arodys P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Cali Cartel Waiver Release Pivetta, Nick P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Bronx Yankees (ME2) Waiver Release Rupp, Cameron C 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Texas Connection Waiver Release Triggs, Andrew P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Cali Cartel Waiver Release Revere, Ben OF 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Team Withrow Waiver Release Schimpf, Ryan 2B 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Team Erickson Waiver Release Ellsbury, Jacoby OF 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Team Robinson Waiver Release Garza, Matt P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Team Robinson Waiver Release Mondesi, Raul 2B 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Wags Warriors Waiver Release Liriano, Francisco P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Hungry Hippos Waiver Release Rasmus, Colby OF 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Slappy and Pentaw Waiver Release Finnegan, Brandon P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Bronx Yankees (ME2) Waiver Release Marquez, German P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Texas Connection Waiver Release Capps, Carter P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Man In Black Waiver Release Margot, Manuel OF 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Bronx Yankees (ME2) Waiver Release Kiermaier, Kevin OF 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Team Erickson Waiver Release Andriese, Matt P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Team Erickson Waiver Release Paulino, David P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Bronx Yankees (ME2) Waiver Release Tomlin, Josh P 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Cheaper cigs Waiver Release Martin, Leonys OF 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
BaBaBaBANDY AND THE JETT Waiver Release Cordoba, Allen SS 6/11/2017 10:30 PM ET
Frankly, my releases aren't that interesting. I held onto Ellsbury for too long. Aaron Hicks has taken away his job even when Ellsbury returns from his concussion, and that date doesn't appear imminent. Paulino was a two-step gone wrong, and Andriese is out until August. Ben Revere has been picked up and dropped multiple times - and I was the original transgressor, drafting and dropping him. But despite the promise of more playing time and those elusive stolen bases, he still can't hit.
NFBC Online - "Beat Jeff Erickson" (12tm)
Team Type Player Position Date
Team Walker Waiver Release Andriese, Matt P 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
Team Walker Waiver Release Rodriguez, Eduardo P 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
The Road Warriors Waiver Release Rupp, Cameron C 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
The Road Warriors Waiver Release Franco, Maikel 3B 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
This American Carnage Waiver Release Cervelli, Francisco C 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
3Point1416=Pie Waiver Release Miller, Brad 1B 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
Billyhaze Waiver Release Kiermaier, Kevin OF 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
3Point1416=Pie Waiver Release Schimpf, Ryan 2B 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
3Point1416=Pie Waiver Release Harris, Will P 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
3Point1416=Pie Waiver Release Colon, Bartolo P 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
The Road Warriors Waiver Release Bonifacio, Jorge OF 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
MustSeeTV314{OLJE} Waiver Release Gomez, Carlos OF 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
The Dirty Pearls Waiver Release Urena, Jose P 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
Billyhaze Waiver Release Marquez, German P 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
Billyhaze Waiver Release Triggs, Andrew P 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
The Dirty Pearls Waiver Release Lackey, John P 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
Troynado Waiver Release Happ, Ian 2B 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
The Road Warriors Waiver Release Kahnle, Tommy P 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
Troynado Waiver Release Miranda, Ariel P 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
Collins & Fitz Forever Waiver Release Ellsbury, Jacoby OF 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
Stricks SlumpBusters OLC 03/22 Waiver Release Zobrist, Ben 2B 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
Space Cowboy Waiver Release Velasquez, Vince P 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
Space Cowboy Waiver Release Bandy, Jett C 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
Troynado Waiver Release Gausman, Kevin P 6/11/2017 10:25 PM ET
This is where the names get more interesting. Not my team, of course - hi, Jacoby! But look at some of the other drops - there are some interesting names, players once highly sought after (Ian Happ, Ariel Miranda), and also others where their respective owners finally gave up (Maikel Franco, Ben Zobrist, Kevin Gausman). This is so good for a league's waiver wire, though - we'll actually have decisions to make, players to buy low if you still believe, guys that are getting playing time that you can sub in when your inevitable injuries hit.
NFBC Online 2
Team Type Player Position Date
The Krukster Waiver Release Ross, Tyson P 6/11/2017 10:28 PM ET
Cheez Its Waiver Release Maeda, Kenta P 6/11/2017 10:28 PM ET
Dumpster Fire OC3 Waiver Release Duda, Lucas 1B 6/11/2017 10:28 PM ET
Team Brody Waiver Release Kepler, Max OF 6/11/2017 10:28 PM ET
Dark Mariners Waiver Release Tillman, Chris P 6/11/2017 10:28 PM ET
FitzCollins17 Waiver Release Margot, Manuel OF 6/11/2017 10:28 PM ET
Dem Brooklyn Bums Waiver Release Liriano, Francisco P 6/11/2017 10:28 PM ET
The Beers Waiver Release Santiago, Hector P 6/11/2017 10:28 PM ET
Cheez Its Waiver Release Rosenthal, Trevor P 6/11/2017 10:28 PM ET
Lone Star Waiver Release Morton, Charlie P 6/11/2017 10:28 PM ET
The Beers Waiver Release Triggs, Andrew P 6/11/2017 10:28 PM ET
The Beers Waiver Release Davis, Rajai OF 6/11/2017 10:28 PM ET
Last Shot 11 Waiver Release Kiermaier, Kevin OF 6/11/2017 10:28 PM ET
Again, while we have our various injury-related drops (Margot for me, Kiermaier, Triggs), we also have some interesting names based on player performance. Kenta Maeda was a trendy "helium" pick in draft season, going as early as the eighth round as a lot of sharps wanted to jump on the Dodgers' rotation bandwagon. Seeing Max Kepler getting dropped makes me want to go re-examine what he's done so far this season.
Mixed LABR (15tm, unlimited DL)
Fantasy Fix: Matt Davidson
Baseball HQ: Danny Santana
Baseball HQ: Jorge Soler
Baseball Prospectus: Lucas Giolito
Baseball Prospectus: Tyler Glasnow
Baseball Prospectus: Michael Lorenzen
Fangraphs: Sweet Jesus Sucre
MLB.com: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Razzball: Brandon Moss
USA Today: Nick Hundley
USA Today: Wade Miley
Because of the unlimited DL slots, there were eight pickups that were not accompanied by a drop, including my two pickups. The drops thus are far less interesting, as of course the pickups are also less interesting and impactful.
AL Tout Wars (12 tm, unlimited DL):
Jeff Erickson: Will Harris
Nando Di Fino: T.J. House
Steve Moyer: Alex Wilson
Rick Wolf & Glenn Colton: Deven Marrero
Rob Leibowitz: Frankie Montas
Seth Trachtman: Mark Canha
Chris Liss: Michael Kopech
Chris Liss: Melvin Upton Jr.
Mike Podhorzer: Lucas Maile
Be still my beating heart. Failed closer speculations, backup catchers, minor leaguers and Mark Canha.
RotoWire Staff League (18tm mixed, no DL spots, 7-man reserve):
| Effective Date | Player (Team-Pos) | Move | Team | Status | Position | Date/Time Change was made (PT) |
| 6/12/2017 | Sandoval, Pablo (BOS-3B) | Dropped From | Tuffy's Goats | 6/12/2017 10:55 PM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Barnes, Jacob (MIL-P) | Dropped From | Wakanda Panthers | 6/12/2017 9:01 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | O'Day, Darren (BAL-P) | Added To | Browns | R | P | 6/12/2017 9:00 AM |
| 6/12/2017 | Rodney, Fernando (ARI-P) | Added To | Tuffy's Goats | R | P | 6/12/2017 12:20 AM |
| 6/12/2017 | Rodney, Fernando (ARI-P) | Dropped From | Browns | 6/12/2017 12:20 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Tillman, Chris (BAL-P) | Dropped From | Wakanda Panthers | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Farmer, Buck (DET-P) | Added To | Wakanda Panthers | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Canha, Mark (OAK-1B) | Dropped From | High-A West Madison | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Albers, Matt (WAS-P) | Added To | High-A West Madison | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Pinder, Chad (OAK-3B) | Dropped From | Wakanda Panthers | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Torres, Ramon (KC-SS) | Added To | Wakanda Panthers | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Boyd, Matthew (DET-P) | Dropped From | Shoe and Liss' Dynasty | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Phillips, Brett (MIL-OF) | Added To | Shoe and Liss' Dynasty | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Urena, Jose (MIA-P) | Dropped From | McLovin's Spoonful | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Neshek, Pat (PHI-P) | Added To | McLovin's Spoonful | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Feliz, Neftali (MIL-P) | Dropped From | Erickson | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Moore, Tyler (MIA-1B) | Added To | Erickson | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | O'Day, Darren (BAL-P) | Dropped From | Browns | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Doolittle, Sean (OAK-P) | Added To | Browns | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Holland, Derek (CWS-P) | Dropped From | Frozen Ropes | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Slater, Austin (SF-OF) | Added To | Frozen Ropes | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Markakis, Nick (ATL-OF) | Dropped From | Anderson | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Cron, C.J. (LAA-1B) | Added To | Anderson | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Vazquez, Christian (BOS-C) | Dropped From | Tuffy's Goats | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Freese, David (PIT-3B) | Added To | Tuffy's Goats | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Andriese, Matt (TB-P) | Dropped From | Diamond Dogs | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Johnson, Brian (BOS-P) | Added To | Diamond Dogs | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Petit, Yusmeiro (LAA-P) | Dropped From | Anderson | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Fiers, Mike (HOU-P) | Added To | Anderson | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Turner, Jacob (WAS-P) | Dropped From | Wheeler in the Sky | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Montgomery, Mike (CHC-P) | Added To | Wheeler in the Sky | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Aguilar, Jesus (MIL-1B) | Dropped From | Frozen Ropes | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Pirela, Jose (SD-2B) | Added To | Frozen Ropes | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Moss, Brandon (KC-OF) | Dropped From | Anderson | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Chisenhall, Lonnie (CLE-OF) | Added To | Anderson | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Phelps, David (MIA-P) | Dropped From | Wakanda Panthers | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Turley, Nik (MIN-P) | Added To | Wakanda Panthers | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Cain, Matt (SF-P) | Dropped From | Anderson | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Smith, Joe (TOR-P) | Added To | Anderson | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Arroyo, Christian (SF-3B) | Dropped From | Shoe and Liss' Dynasty | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Robertson, Daniel (TB-SS) | Added To | Shoe and Liss' Dynasty | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Jones, Nate (CWS-P) | Dropped From | McLovin's Spoonful | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Smith, Kevan (CWS-C) | Added To | McLovin's Spoonful | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | |
| 6/12/2017 | Santiago, Hector (MIN-P) | Dropped From | McLovin's Spoonful | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM | ||
| 6/12/2017 | Sogard, Eric (MIL-2B) | Added To | McLovin's Spoonful | R | 6/12/2017 12:16 AM |
I apologize for the formatting here, but I couldn't find a way to isolate just the drops without doing all sorts of manual entry.
I held onto Neftali Feliz for a few weeks, just in the off-chance that he would regain his form and thus recapture the Brewers' closing job, at least until the trade deadline. That train has left the station, as Corey Knebel is probably a top-15 (top-10?) closer now.
Nick Markakis was the interesting drop for me - he's hitting in the heart of the Braves' order on an everyday basis. That will become more valuable again once Freddie Freeman returns, though Matt Adams has been good since arriving from the Cardinals.