Who Is Being Dropped and Why (Week 1)

After using the NFBC Online Championship transactions last week to find those players on the decline, it’s time to get back to analyzing the 38 NFBC Main Event leagues. I like using this overall competition because of the number of identical leagues. Additionally, these leagues stay engaged longer since each owner spent over $1000 for a team.

Also, if anyone forgot about the original series, I tried to find that sweet spot between obvious and bizarre. Just those players who are a tough choice.  I’m mainly going to focus on players dropped in six to nine leagues. Here are those players on the move.

Pitchers

General

• Yusei Kikuchi (9): The results in his first start were horrible with half the 18 batters he faced reaching base (5 H, 4 BB). He didn’t throw almost anything but fastballs (81%). Even with it up over 2 mph, MLB hitters can still crush 95 mph especially if they know it’s the only pitch coming. He threw 30 cutters and not one generate a swing-and-miss. His four-seamer had a 14% SwStr%, the same as his slider from last season. I think there is a pitch combination that could work with him, but the season may be over until he settles in.
• Ryan Weber (7): Those owners hoping to stream his start against the Orioles were rewarded with 6 Runs, 6 Hits, 3 Walks, and 0 strikeouts over 3.2 innings of work. Congrats.
• Jonathan Loaisiga (7): I’m not sure why he was owned to begin with. He didn’t have a rotation spot. I guess I’m missing something.
• Jake Arrieta (7): Can these seven owners who draft Arrieta please join my leagues?
• Drew Pomeranz (7): Looks like several owners just had Pomeranz to fill in some non-starter innings.
• Adam Wainwright (6): Owners streamed him for the first start and correctly moved on.

No longer a Saves candidate.

• Pedro Báez (9): Kenley Jansen is back with the Dodgers, so Baez won’t close.
• Kevin Ginkel (9): The Archie Bradley hedge is no longer needed.
• Ty Buttrey (8): Hansel Robles’s handcuff is still interesting since Robles is down 3 mph with a 7.71 ERA.
• Tony Watson (8): Looks like Trevor Gott is the closer in San Francisco.
• Michael Lorenzen (8): He got lit up in his one outing with a current 16.20 ERA. I think more was expected from him with his velocity up 2 mph.
• Will Harris (8): He got lit up in his one outing but could eventually in line for Saves with Sean Doolittle struggling.
• Scott Oberg (8): He’s out of the Saves picture with Wade Davis getting two Saves this past weekend.
• Ryan Helsley (7): Kwang-Hyun Kim has the closer’s role and Giovanny Gallegos is returning. Reasonable drop.
• José Alvarado (7): Diego Castillo returned from the IL and Oliver Drake recorded a Save, so owners must not think Alvarado will get any Saves.
• Diego Castillo (7): I’m not 100% sure why he was drafted if owners were going to immediately drop him.
• Blake Treinen (7): Kenley Jansen is back with the Dodgers, so Treinen won’t close.
• Andrew Miller (7): Kwang-Hyun Kim has the closer’s role and Giovanny Gallegos is returning. Reasonable drop.
• Corey Knebel (6): Interesting. If I thought Knebel was going to steal some Saves, I’d held him for another week.

On the IL

• Yoshihisa Hirano (8): Owners can’t wait around for his possible return.
• Cole Hamels (7): Suspect talent and injured. Understandable drop.

Hitters

General

• Nick Ahmed (9): Just a boring bat who should dart on-and-off the waiver wire all season.
• Hunter Pence (9): With the four-game week over, he was expendable.
• Michael Chavis (8): He’s struggled at the plate striking out five of eight times.
• Maikel Franco (7): Surprise. He struggled at the plate facing Cleveland’s top three aces.
• Albert Pujols (6): Pujols may be done as a contributing player, but he remains in the lineup. Seems like the first baseman desperate teams will add when an injury occurs.
• Roman Quinn (6): Another player I wonder why he was rostered to begin with. Not a useful fantasy option.
• Marwin Gonzalez (6): With Byron Buxton out, he’s started in two games. I thought he might be an option for some team.

Change in Lineup Position

• Cameron Maybin (9): There were rumors of him leading off, but those ended. Maybin is hitting 6th or later
• Jarrod Dyson (7): Earlier off-season reports had him leading off, but now his batting 9th in a sad lineup.

Limited Playing time

• Mike Tauchman (9): He’s just not playing, so he has no fantasy value.
• Harrison Bader (8): The high strikeout hitter isn’t playing every day.
• Franchy Cordero (8): Three plate appearances over the weekend isn’t going to cut it.
• Franklin Barreto (7): He’s not playing and doesn’t have the talent to break into the A’s lineup.
• Dee Gordon (7): He’s playing some. That’s more than was expected before the season started.
• Edwin Rios (7): I’m not sure why he was rostered. No playing time.

On the IL

• Luis Urías (8): Just got off the COVID IL and transferred to the alternate training site.
• Jorge Alfaro (8): On COVID IL, but probably must roster once he returns.
• Travis d’Arnaud (6): I struggled on what to do with d’Arnaud and I kept him. The waiver wire catching options were horrible.
• Hunter Dozier (6): With an extra week for Dozier to get a negative COVID test, the bidding for these shares could be significant.