Who is Being Dropped and Why (Week 21)

Today’s list is a weird group of players. Most should have been dropped last week once the ramifications of the trade deadline were known. Discrepancy Theory #1 is that about 20% of the owners blew off the post-trade deadline FAAB period (tough to miss this one) and finally caught up. If there was any week to be paying attention, it was the previous bidding period.

Or Theory #2 is that these owners were sheep waiting to see what other owners did with their drops. Most of the drops (e.g Tim Beckham) I would consider obvious, but maybe these owners need confirmation on making their moves. Or they use the platform’s ownership rate to see who to drop. I’m not sure if it’s wrong or right to wait a week on dropping someone. Waiting might be the correct move. It’s interesting and I’ll ponder the delay a bit more.

Also, if anyone happened to missed the last few articles, I’ve been trying to improve this article’s content. The major change is that I’m concentrating on players dropped in six to nine leagues. For now, this range seems the most useful for fantasy owners.

Injury

• Brad Peacock (8): With the additions of Aaron Sanchez and Zack Greinke, Peacock will be moved to the bullpen once off the IL
• Andrelton Simmons (7): As one of those who dropped Simmons, I was transitioning my team and going with more starting pitchers. Simmons was just taking up room on the bench. Injury + limited upside = waiver wire.

Demotion

• Tony Gonsolin (9): He was called up to make one spot start and demoted. I expect him to be back up once rosters expand but I am not sure of his role.
• Félix Peña (6): Out for the year with a torn ACL.
• Jose Urquidy (6): Demoted to the minors after the addition of Zack Greinke and Aaron Sanchez.

Other

• Blake Treinen (9): I’m not sure why teams were still holding onto him. He can’t find the strike zone (5.6 BB/9) and has a 4.84 ERA to show for it. I don’t get it at all (see intro).
• Mychal Givens (9): I was one of the owners dropping him. After pulling it together in June and July, he’s been horrible in August (6.75 ERA) and has lost his closer’s role.
• Jesse Chavez (8): He recorded a Save when Liam Hendriks was struggling so owners rostered him but now are quickly retreating.
• Freddy Peralta (8): Reading between the lines, it seemed like Peralta may have been in line to close games over Josh Hader but that window quickly closed with Peralta’s 5.1 BB/9 as a reliever.
• Chris Martin (8): I was looking to pick up Martin in leagues where I needed Saves with the Braves bullpen imploding. For owners with plenty of closers, he’s a drop but might be worth a gamble in deeper leagues where owners need Saves.
• Nick Pivetta (8): Why was he still owned? Sunk Cost Exhibit #534.
• Zach Eflin (8): He’s been demoted to the bullpen.
• Daniel Hudson (8): Looks like a few owners were a little slow dropping Hudson after he was traded to Washington.
• Shaun Anderson (7): While Anderson was acceptable (4.23 ERA) in the first half of the season, he has a much earned 7.57 ERA in the second half.
• Adam Duvall (7): While he had a hot start after being called up (1.565 OPS in July), he’s cooled off with a .401 OPS in August. Most of the struggles stem from no plate discipline (33% K%, 5% BB%).
• Clint Frazier (7): I can understand why fantasy owners want to take a chance on him. The major league team can’t stay healthy but the Yankees just aren’t promoting him.
• Nathan Eovaldi (7): Brandon Workman has been given the vote of confidence to be the Red Sox closer so Eovaldi won’t be getting many Saves.
• Chance Sisco (6): He was on fire when called up hitting .283/.394/.667 in the first half of the season. He’s fallen apart since then batting just .167/.257/.182.
• Jaime Barria (6): He had a two-start week the previous week but owners held on to him and Boston scored five runs off him in five innings. A perfect example of a player held for one week too long.
• Adrian Sampson (6): He’s been moved to the bullpen.
• Greg Holland (6): Released by the Diamondbacks after losing his closer’s role but has since signed a minor league deal with the Nationals.
• Garrett Hampson (6): He’s started only two of the last eight games. It’s tough to start with someone with a .600 OPS.
• Roenis Elías (6): Again, why was he being owned after being traded?
• Tyler Naquin (6): He sat for a bit with sore ribs but has still been productive (.284/.316/.483). He seems like he should be owned by some team in each league.
• Tim Beckham (6): Owners being a week behind with the news of his suspension.
• Tommy Milone (6): Struggled against the Rays allowing five runs and three home runs in four innings of work. Milone is just too much of a flyball pitcher to be successful in this Happy Fun Ball era.
• Pablo Sandoval (6): With Even Longoria off the IL, Sandoval heads to the bench.