Who is Being Dropped & Why

I’m experimenting with a new article format this year. Instead of concentrating on the most added players, I’m going to concentrate on those poor souls owners are throwing in the towel on. Most of the discarded players will have been demoted to the minor or dinged up. It’s the few who don’t fit into either of these two categories who I will focus on. Sadly, there aren’t many this first week.

To find which players are being dropped, I’m going to use the NFBC Main Event leagues. They are 15-team roto leagues which have some depth and most of the owners will be trying since each posted a $1K+ entry fee. The league will contain active owners making overall trends easier to spot. This week, I have the adds and drops from only 18 leagues since some leagues haven’t drafted yet and included my top-three choices at the end.

Injured List

Jason Kipnis: 7

Kipnis and the scrubs the Indians are using in the infield should be monitored closely. Kipnis should get his job back once healthy and he could be a reasonable buy a week early for a team needing infield help.

Ryan Borucki: 6

CC Sabathia: 5

I may jump and roster Sabathia if he becomes available in one of my leagues. He’s a perfectly usable streaming option once healthy.

Corey Knebel: 5

Dellin Betances: 5

Michael Fulmer: 5

Danny Duffy: 4

Duffy’s talent is borderline usable and the injury just makes him expendable. He may be worth a look once he’s back in the majors.

Kyle Seager: 4

Bradley Zimmer: 3

Demoted List

Chance Sisco: 11

Austin Hays (and now also hurt): 9

Ian Happ: 8

I read/heard some reports that Happ is mad about his demotion. Until he figures out a way to hit major league fastballs, he deserves the demotion.

Jonathan Loaisiga: 4

He won’t last on the wire very long. He was only demoted to the minors so CC Sabathia can serve his suspension. Owners should pick up Loaisiga in case he breaks out.

Touki Toussaint: 3

His demotion is a little weird and I’m wondering if the Braves want to keep him on a regular rotation with all the early off days and carry an extra bullpen arm. While I’ve never been as high on him as the rest of the fantasy community, he’s a decent arm and it could take quite a bit of FAAB to own him when he gets promoted back to the majors. Buy a week early instead of a week late.

Others

Chase Anderson: 5

The move to the bullpen killed any value he had. Monitor Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes production since neither has been a productive major league starter and Anderson could take their rotation spot at some point.

Marco Estrada: 5

His blowup in Japan (3 ER, 1K in 5 IP) destroyed what little value he might have had. He’s still an extreme flyball pitcher whose home park has the most foul-ball space in the majors. There are going to be many games where he’s a streamable option.

Alex Verdugo: 3

He’s a fourth outfielder at this point until A.J. Pollock gets hurt.

Carl Edwards Jr.: 3

I think some owners gambled on the Cubs closer role but Pedro Strop has quickly returned from his hamstring injury to close.

Eric Thames: 3

Thames is a part-time backup until someone on the Brewers goes on the DL (see Ryan Braun).

Jake Odorizzi: 3

I was one of the Odorizzi droppers, so I understand this move. Odorizzi is an accumulator but the results are just getting worse by the year. He ERA has climbed each of the past three seasons (3.35 to 3.69 to 4.14 to 4.49).

Robbie Erlin: 3

Erlin got moved to the bullpen so his value is gone for now.

Yoshihisa Hirano: 3

With Greg Holland getting ordained the Diamondbacks closer, Hirano’s value plummets.

My top three adds are:

1. Jonathan Loaisiga
2. Touki Toussaint
3. Jason Kipnis