Cubszone.com | Chicago Cubs News, cubs Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div><h3>KEY</h3></div><p></p><b>Discard</b> - Drop player (in most circumstances)<br><b>Stash</b> - Hold player if roster space is available; consider dropping if trend continues<br><b>Hold</b> - Do not drop player (in most circumstances)<p><h3>Catchers</h3><p><h4>Gerald Laird, Texas</h4><p>Laird (hamstring) couldn't have picked a worse time to injure himself, as he was batting .429 in June before suffering a severely strained hamstring that is expected to keep him out until after the All-Star break. Laird's .306-4-25 line this year is solid, especially considering he has been splitting time for much of the season with <b>Jarrod Saltalamacchia</b>. However, despite his strong play of late, Laird is a career .257 hitter and shouldn't be kept on any rosters outside of AL-only leagues.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>AL-only</i>: Hold<p><h4>Mike Napoli, Los Angeles Angels</h4><p>Since going 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI May 18, Napoli has managed just two hits in his last 38 at-bats. The 50-50 split with catcher<b> Jeff Mathis</b> has gone out the window as well with Mathis notching 40 at-bats in June to Napoli's 18. He's no longer worth stashing in mixed leagues.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>AL-only</i>: Hold<p><h3>Second Basemen</h3><p><h4>Robinson Cano, New York Yankees</h4><p>An awful April (.151-2-7) gave way to a respectable May (.295-2-12) for Cano, but the 25-year-old has failed to build on it and is hitting just .250 with no homers in June. Historically, Cano's been a much better hitter after the All-Star break, batting 56 points higher with 12 more home runs in nearly 300 fewer at-bats. Still, he has never struggled to put things together for this long and can at least be considered for release if you have severe roster limitations. However, keep in mind that another owner will likely snap him up if you cut him.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Stash<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Hold<br><i>AL-only</i>: Hold<p><h3>Shortstops</h3><p><h4>Freddie Bynum, Baltimore</h4><p>A one-time candidate to be Baltimore's starting shortstop this season, Bynum has been designated for assignment by the club. The former second-round pick hit just .192 in 34 games (29 starts) this season and was 6-for-44 (.136) in June. He is not worth retaining regardless of format.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>AL-only</i>: Discard<p><h3>Outfielders</h3><p><h4>Kevin Mench, Toronto</h4><p>Once considered one of the league's emerging power hitters, Mench has managed just nine home runs at the major league level since being traded to the Brewers in July 2006 (476 at-bats). He went without a home run in 62 at-bats for the Blue Jays this season and has been sent back down to the minors. He is a stash candidate exclusively in deeper AL-only setups.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>AL-only</i>: Stash<p><h4>Justin Ruggiano, Tampa Bay</h4><p>Despite doing a solid job in limited opportunities (6-for-19 with one home run this month), Ruggiano was optioned to Triple-A Durham by the team to open up a spot for infielder <b>Ben Zobrist</b>. The move was likely made because shortstop <b>Jason Bartlett</b> is expected to be away for the next day or two for the birth of his child. Ruggiano can be stashed in deep AL-only leagues considering he played well when given the chance.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>AL-only</i>: Stash<p><h3>Starting Pitchers</h3><p><h4>Randy Johnson, Arizona</h4><p>The 44-year-old southpaw has been a train wreck in June, going 0-4 with a 7.77 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP in four starts. This has to be disconcerting for fantasy owners, particularly after he looked borderline dominant (3-0, 3.19 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) during May. If you have pitching woes in shallow leagues you can certainly get rid of Johnson, but make sure you realize another owner will probably pick him up and try to ride out his struggles.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Stash<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Hold<br><i>NL-only</i>: Hold<p><h4>Jose Contreras, Chicago White Sox</h4><p>After sitting at 6-3 with a 2.76 ERA following his June 5 start, Contreras has been knocked around in two of his last three outings. His most recent start, a nine-run shelling at the hands of the Cubs on Saturday, June 21, seems to have been the tipping point for many owners as he is hitting waiver wires at an alarming rate. Don't overreact to that bad start as the Cubs are offensive juggernauts at Wrigley Field. Retain him for now in all leagues.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Hold<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Hold<br><i>AL-only</i>: Hold<p><h4>Jesse Litsch, Toronto</h4><p>Litsch generated a lot of buzz by winning seven of his first eight decisions, but his 0-3 record, 6.46 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in June has many owners pulling the plug on the young right-hander. Granted, Litsch has struggled. However, bear in mind he has faced two of the NL's top-three scoring clubs along with the Yankees over his last four starts. While owners in shallow leagues can go ahead and release him until he starts putting things together again, those in deeper formats should be a bit more patient.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Stash<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Hold<br><i>AL-only</i>: Hold<p></p>

KEY

Discard - Drop player (in most circumstances)
Stash - Hold player if roster space is available; consider dropping if trend continues
Hold - Do not drop player (in most circumstances)

Catchers

Gerald Laird, Texas

Laird (hamstring) couldn't have picked a worse time to injure himself, as he was batting .429 in June before suffering a severely strained hamstring that is expected to keep him out until after the All-Star break. Laird's .306-4-25 line this year is solid, especially considering he has been splitting time for much of the season with Jarrod Saltalamacchia. However, despite his strong play of late, Laird is a career .257 hitter and shouldn't be kept on any rosters outside of AL-only leagues.

Shallow mixed: Discard
Deep mixed: Discard
AL-only: Hold

Mike Napoli, Los Angeles Angels

Since going 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI May 18, Napoli has managed just two hits in his last 38 at-bats. The 50-50 split with catcher Jeff Mathis has gone out the window as well with Mathis notching 40 at-bats in June to Napoli's 18. He's no longer worth stashing in mixed leagues.

Shallow mixed: Discard
Deep mixed: Discard
AL-only: Hold

Second Basemen

Robinson Cano, New York Yankees

An awful April (.151-2-7) gave way to a respectable May (.295-2-12) for Cano, but the 25-year-old has failed to build on it and is hitting just .250 with no homers in June. Historically, Cano's been a much better hitter after the All-Star break, batting 56 points higher with 12 more home runs in nearly 300 fewer at-bats. Still, he has never struggled to put things together for this long and can at least be considered for release if you have severe roster limitations. However, keep in mind that another owner will likely snap him up if you cut him.

Shallow mixed: Stash
Deep mixed: Hold
AL-only: Hold

Shortstops

Freddie Bynum, Baltimore

A one-time candidate to be Baltimore's starting shortstop this season, Bynum has been designated for assignment by the club. The former second-round pick hit just .192 in 34 games (29 starts) this season and was 6-for-44 (.136) in June. He is not worth retaining regardless of format.

Shallow mixed: Discard
Deep mixed: Discard
AL-only: Discard

Outfielders

Kevin Mench, Toronto

Once considered one of the league's emerging power hitters, Mench has managed just nine home runs at the major league level since being traded to the Brewers in July 2006 (476 at-bats). He went without a home run in 62 at-bats for the Blue Jays this season and has been sent back down to the minors. He is a stash candidate exclusively in deeper AL-only setups.

Shallow mixed: Discard
Deep mixed: Discard
AL-only: Stash

Justin Ruggiano, Tampa Bay

Despite doing a solid job in limited opportunities (6-for-19 with one home run this month), Ruggiano was optioned to Triple-A Durham by the team to open up a spot for infielder Ben Zobrist. The move was likely made because shortstop Jason Bartlett is expected to be away for the next day or two for the birth of his child. Ruggiano can be stashed in deep AL-only leagues considering he played well when given the chance.

Shallow mixed: Discard
Deep mixed: Discard
AL-only: Stash

Starting Pitchers

Randy Johnson, Arizona

The 44-year-old southpaw has been a train wreck in June, going 0-4 with a 7.77 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP in four starts. This has to be disconcerting for fantasy owners, particularly after he looked borderline dominant (3-0, 3.19 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) during May. If you have pitching woes in shallow leagues you can certainly get rid of Johnson, but make sure you realize another owner will probably pick him up and try to ride out his struggles.

Shallow mixed: Stash
Deep mixed: Hold
NL-only: Hold

Jose Contreras, Chicago White Sox

After sitting at 6-3 with a 2.76 ERA following his June 5 start, Contreras has been knocked around in two of his last three outings. His most recent start, a nine-run shelling at the hands of the Cubs on Saturday, June 21, seems to have been the tipping point for many owners as he is hitting waiver wires at an alarming rate. Don't overreact to that bad start as the Cubs are offensive juggernauts at Wrigley Field. Retain him for now in all leagues.

Shallow mixed: Hold
Deep mixed: Hold
AL-only: Hold

Jesse Litsch, Toronto

Litsch generated a lot of buzz by winning seven of his first eight decisions, but his 0-3 record, 6.46 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in June has many owners pulling the plug on the young right-hander. Granted, Litsch has struggled. However, bear in mind he has faced two of the NL's top-three scoring clubs along with the Yankees over his last four starts. While owners in shallow leagues can go ahead and release him until he starts putting things together again, those in deeper formats should be a bit more patient.

Shallow mixed: Stash
Deep mixed: Hold
AL-only: Hold