It was a brutal week for fantasy GM’s who lost some of the top offensive players in baseball.  The timing could not be any worse as league trade deadlines are approaching and GM’s have lost all bargaining power due to the desperate need to compensate for the loss of some key players.  As I said last week on the Fantasy Alarm podcast (which you can listen to every Wednesday night at 9:30 PM EST on Blog Talk Radio), you cannot replace the production of injured superstar players.  It is highly unlikely that a five tool player is just sitting on the waiver wire to be had.  So you must make adjustments, reorganize your priorities, and be aggressive with making transactions.  Without further adieu, here is the next edition of the walking wounded.

Andrew McCutchen (OF-PIT)

It has been over a week since Andrew McCutchen has played as a result of a fractured rib after being drilled with a retaliation pitch against Arizona.  The Pirates are holding out as long as possible to avoid putting him on the DL, but that decision could be made very soon.  This is almost an even worse scenario for fantasy GM’s in weekly leagues who need to make lineup decisions soon.  My guess is that he does land on the DL with a retroactive date that could actually see him return by the beginning of next week if everything goes well in his recovery.  Any time he has missed or will miss is catastrophic for GM’s who likely spent a top five draft pick on the reigning National League MVP.

Carlos Gonzalez (OF-COL)

Carlos Gonzalez earned by empathy after he had a frickin’ tumor removed from his hand a few months ago.  I have been ripping on him all year for being an injury-prone fantasy bust, but I admittedly did feel bad that he needed such a procedure to remove a tumor.  But after he finally came back in July, he finds himself right back on the DL with tendinitis in his knee on the heels of an ankle injury which has cost him several games since returning.  Even when he was playing, CarGo has been essentially useless.  I am glad his true health issue with the tumor is all taken care of because now I can resume telling him to go f*** himself as one of fantasy baseball’s biggest busts.

Hanley Ramirez (SS-LAD)

It has been agonizing of late for fantasy GM’s to have Hanley Ramirez miss so many games and not have any definitive plan of action for him.  Now the Dodgers have finally put Ramirez on the DL with an oblique injury which is believed to be minor.  It is reported that the Dodgers expect Ramirez to be ready to play once he is eligible to return, so fantasy GM’s are crossing their fingers that the elite shortstop is ready to go for the stretch run.

Brian McCann (C-NYY)

It looked like Brian McCann was finally beginning to hear up offensively when he sustained a concussion in last Friday night’s game against the Indians.  As a result, the Yankees have placed McCann on the 7-day concussion DL which means he will have to pass a battery of tests before being allowed to resume baseball activities.  GM’s in weekly leagues should stash him on the bench or a DL slot for the upcoming week.

Anibal Sanchez (SP-DET)

Anibal Sanchez would be many teams number one or two starter in a rotation.  For the Tigers, he is now their fourth starter after the acquisition of David Price at the non-waiver trade deadline.  Sanchez was removed from his last start on Friday and has been placed on the DL with a strained right pectoral muscle.  Unfortunately it looks like he could be out up to a month which puts his return in the midst of many leagues’ playoffs.  He is definitely worth stashing on your DL because he could come back for a few crucial starts at the end of the year which could have a significant impact on your fantasy baseball league’s playoffs.

Jacob deGrom (SP-NYM)

Jacob deGrom is one of many pitching prospects the Mets are banking their future on.  He has pitched terrifically since being called up in May despite only a 6-5 record.  There is no question he has been the victim of poor run support and a shaky bullpen at times.  His peripheral numbers are outstanding with a 2.87 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 94 strikeouts in 100.1 innings.  Now deGrom is being sent back to New York for some tests on his sore shoulder which he began experiencing a few days after his last start.  Given how protective the Mets are with their pitchers, there is a very good chance he is shut down for the season irrespective of what the test results show.  He is an interesting keeper option, but his days as a valued pitcher in redraft leagues are numbered.

Adam Eaton (OF-CHW)

The White Sox have placed speedy outfielder Adam Eaton on the DL with a right oblique strain after he had to come out of the last couple games.  Eaton had been tearing it up lately raising his batting average to .303 to go along with 55 runs scored and 12 stolen bases in only 94 games.  It is tricky to diagnose these oblique injuries, but you can expect to be without him for more than two weeks.

Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service.  He is also the co-host of the Fantasy Alarm podcast which can be heard every Wednesday night at 9:30 PM EST on Blog Talk Radio.  You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment),