Who is Being Dropped and Why (Week 2)

Transactions are up as teams try to fill their rosters. With every player added, someone becomes available. Some players are duds but a few have some value on the right team. Here is a look at some players who may be heading to the waiver wire.

For this analysis, I use the NFBC Main Event because of the number of identical leagues. Additionally, the owners stay engaged longer since each spent over $1000 per team. I tried to find that sweet spot between obvious and bizarre and will focus on players dropped in six to nine leagues.

Hitters (leagues)

• Jay Bruce (9): I don’t follow the drops. I know the Phillies didn’t play last week but they are expected to now. They should have several weeks with over seven games so I might be buying Bruce instead of selling.
• Josh VanMeter (9): Added as a Moustakas replacement and no longer needed.
• Curt Casali (8), Martín Maldonado (8), Mike Zunino (8), Yan Gomes (8), Jacob Stallings (6): All of them will likely be on the catcher carousel the entire season.
• Franchy Cordero (8): After the trade hype died down, his owners realized he’s a bad hitter needing a complete overhaul.
• Garrett Cooper (8): A Marlin with an unknown future.
• Josh Naylor: I’m guessing some owners were rolling the dice hoping on his Colorado games.
• Kevin Kiermaier (8): With steals and playing time at a premium, he’ll get picked up soon.
• Albert Pujols (7): He’s getting to the point where he’s not even streamable since he’s not playing every day.
• Ji-Man Choi (7): A first base streaming option.
• Stephen Piscotty (7): Just a streamable bat to add when I team needs a player.
• Dee Gordon (6): A bad hitter and not playing. He should have never been drafted.
• Jesse Winker (6): .100/.308/.100 in 26 PA
• José Osuna (6): He’s only played in five games so far. Just not enough counting stats
• Mauricio Dubón (6): A Giant dropped before the Coors series? Weird. He’s been fine besides the 30% K%.
• Travis Shaw (6): He has not been with the team for personal reasons.

Starters (leagues)

• Jonathan Loaisiga (9): I never understood why he was initially rostered. Who wants a below-average bullpen long man?
• Kevin Gausman (9): I just didn’t buy the hype behind him a starter coming into the season. He’s living up to his projections … and going to Colorado.
• Kyle Wright (9): Another player I’ve never understood why he was owned. His 7.50 ERA on the season lowers his career mark.
• Pablo López (9): Reasonable cut for not knowing if he has COVID or not.
• Joey Lucchesi (8): Interesting. Besides a high ERA (8.44) driven by his BABIP (.524), his results are right in line with his projections. I’m intrigued if available.
• Tanner Roark (8): A suspect starter with no usable match ups. Reasonable drop.
• Trevor Richards (8): He’s just not starting and has limited value until he does.
• Danny Duffy (7): He’s just not good and the team around him is worse.
• Drew Smyly (7): I liked some of the changes he made, but a strained finger has him on the IL.
• Freddy Peralta (7): He’s not good enough to lose 2.5 mph off his fastball.
• John Means (7): It’s going to be tough holding him every week.
• Johnny Cueto (7): Fantasy owners didn’t like the two-step at the Rockies and at the Dodgers (Kershaw).
• Julio Teheran (6): He’s performing as expected with an ERA below his ERA estimators. I don’t follow this move.
• Kendall Graveman (6): While he’s made adjustments for more strikeouts, the walks and home runs have also gone up.
• Mike Montgomery (6): Lat Injury
• Trent Thornton (6): He’s not a sexy name but he’s a decent pitcher. I expect some team in each league will be interested.

Relievers (leagues)

• Corey Knebel (9): These drops are a little weird. Knebel has one blown Save and a 13.50 ERA, so owners might be leery of him. Still, he should eventually get some Saves and help with strikeouts. With all the high bids for potential closers, I’m surprised he is heading to the waiver wire.
• Michael Lorenzen (9): In 2.2 IP, he has as many strikeouts as home runs allowed (3).
• Will Harris (9): Groin injury
• Yusmeiro Petit (7): He normally provides above-average counting stats for a reliever by going extra innings. This season, he’s appeared in six games and only thrown 4.2 IP.
• Aaron Bummer (6): He’s just a backup so I guess expendable.
• Bryan Abreu (6): He’s not closing. He’s not starting. He’s not pitching well. Now, he’s on six fewer teams.
• Greg Holland (6): He still might get some Saves in KC. Usable until then.
• Hunter Harvey (6): Elbow injury.
• Zach Eflin (6): Looks like his owners wanted nothing to do with his start against the Yankees.