Who Is Being Dropped & Why

I had some doubts about this list’s usefulness a couple of weeks back and yesterday I tried to find ways to improve it. I came to the conclusion that players in the 10% to 25% dropped range were the most interesting. This works out to players dropped in four to nine leagues. Before, I was just looking at those in 10 or more leagues. I was way off target.

After looking over the players, I’m going to squeeze the range a little more from those dropped in six to nine leagues which works out to 34 players this week. I’d like to focus on 20 or so players each week but know that there was a post-deadline frenzy pushing the total up.

That’s enough background. It’s time to get started going through the drops.

Injured

• Tyler Mahle (9): On the IL (hamstring).
• Shawn Kelley (8): Jose LeClerc will close games for the Rangers when Kelley returns.
• Edwin Encarnacion (8): Owners felt they couldn’t wait a month for his return from a broken wrist.
• Zach Davies (8): On the IL (back) but should be off soon.
• Ryan Pressley (7): He needed a short IL stay for a bad knee.
• Christin Stewart (7): Suspect talent on the IL. He gone.
• Dominic Smith (6): He has a stress reaction and will be in a walking boot for a bit.
• Luke Voit (6): He’s dealing with a sports hernia and might need surgery. An easy drop.
• CC Sabathia (6): He’s out at least a few weeks with a bad knee.
• Jameson Taillon (6): Out for the season and will need eventually need elbow surgery.

Demoted

• Daniel Mengden (9): He and his 4.85 ERA are back in the minors.
• Robel Garcia (8): Demoted to AAA after the Cubs traded for Nicholas Castellanos
• Daniel Ponce de Leon (8): Optioned to the minors to make room for Adalberto Mejia.
• A.J. Minter (7): He was spent to AAA to make room for Shane Greene.
• Greg Allen (7): It’s tough to speculate on Steals from a subpar hitter (.230/.296/.381).
• Harrison Bader (7): Demoted after struggling in the majors (.195/.309/.339).

Other

• Elieser Hernandez (9): Since returning to the rotation, he’s had one good (0 runs vs. AZ) and one bad (5 Runs allowed vs TBH) start. His 5.66 ERA is too much for some owners to roster.
• Tommy Edman (8): After leading off for a few weeks when Matt Carpenter was on the IL, Edman’s playing time is now unknown. Edman has started two of the three games at second and right field to give some hope. Owners in need of steals must track his playing time closely since Edman had six steals in 143 plate appearances.
• Howie Kendrick (8): When he’s played, he’s been productive (.316/.367/.526) but the playing time as been irregular at best.
• Reyes Moronta (8): The Giants did not trade Will Smith so Moronta isn’t inline for Saves.
• Greg Holland (8): The Diamondbacks have decided to remove Holland from the closer’s role and go with a closer by committee.
• Yairo Muñoz (8): The Cardinals had a few holes on the team but with several players back from the IL, Munoz is back to being a bench bat.
• Pablo Sandoval (8): Evan Longoria returned from the IL on Friday so Sandoval lost his third-base job.
• Clint Frazier (8): Several rumors surround Frazier getting moved at the deadline. When no moves happened, he was jettisoned.
• Freddy Peralta (7): I think owners were hoping he’d get some Saves but all they’ve gotten is a bloated ERA.
• José Suarez (7): He faced the leagues worst offense in Detroit and allowed 4 runs in 4 innings with no strikeouts and three walks. Ouch.
• Matt Wieters (6): I’m not sure why he was owned. Not at all. He’s provided some power (10 HR) but that’s it.
• Trevor Richards (6): He was traded from Miami to Tampa and then Tampa sent him to AAA. He should join the Tampa rotation soon.
• Tim Locastro (6): Trade rumors surrounded Jarrod Dyson and Locastro looked to be his replacement. When Dyson wasn’t moved, Locastro’s value shrunk.
• Seth Lugo (6): I think owners should still gamble on Lugo (2.59 ERA) taking Edwin Diaz’s (5.32 ERA) closer’s role, especially with the Mets resurgence.
• Ariel Jurado (6): His owners were hoping to take advantage of a matchup with Seattle and recieved three runs and three strikeouts over four innings of work.
• Kyle Tucker (6): The major league promotion has never come and owners can no longer reserve a roster spot for him.
• Billy Hamilton (6): The speedster isn’t playing because he’s a bad major league hitter (.209/.276/.262).
• Mitch Keller (6): He hasn’t gotten a major league promotion and was dropped as owners picked up other players.