To drop or not to drop? That is the question that fantasy managers are consistently faced with during the season. In this week’s question to our Featured Pros analysts, we delve into the pivotal question: which underperforming fantasy baseball players deserve a spot on your roster, and which ones should you drop? Our comprehensive breakdown provides invaluable insights to help you make informed decisions and optimize your team for success. Discover actionable strategies backed by expert analysis, ensuring your fantasy baseball roster is primed for victory. Get ready to elevate your game with Featured Pros’ expert guidance.
Fantasy Baseball Hold or Drop?
Who is one player off to a slow start who you’re giving up on (either trying to sell low or cut them from your team), and why?
Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B – PIT)
“After delivering some exciting Grapefruit League numbers, Ke’Bryan Hayes was one of my targets this season. Hayes has the athletic ability to produce a 20-20 campaign, and the hope was that he was ready to take a step forward this season. However, Hayes slashes only .248/.331/.328 with one homer, 11 RBI, and zero stolen bases after producing 30 across the past two seasons. His .296 xwOBA and 1.9 Barrel % combined with .05 WAR displays that Hayes is not winning at the plate and not providing production for fantasy managers. It’s time to sell Hayes on his potential.”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)
Spencer Torkelson (1B – DET)
“Spencer Torkelson is nothing but deadweight at this point. With awful surface numbers and bottom-five expected statistics, nothing is pointing to a bounceback for Detroit’s former top-three pick anytime soon. The process that led to drafting Torkelson was not bad, considering his uptick in barrel rate and elite hard-hit percentage in 2023, but he’s a complete bust who belongs on the waiver wire. Better options at 1B on the wire, like Ryan O’Hearn or LaMonte Wade Jr., are readily available. ”
– Kev Mahserejian (RotoBaller)
Gleyber Torres (2B – NYY)
“Gleyber Torres has been truly awful in 2024, and the middle infield position is too deep to keep him. He is underperforming in every category. Torres has one home run, three stolen bases, and an ISO of 0.50; his xwOBA is .272. While this is higher than his current, it is still awful. I drafted Torres in many leagues, thinking he might bat at the top of the order in front of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, but that now looks like a pipe dream. You can try to sell low if you want, but either way, free up a roster spot. If he weren’t a Yankee, everyone would have dropped him by now.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)
Nolan Gorman (2B – STL)
“I’ve never been a Nolan Gorman guy. For years, I’ve railed against him in prospect debates. He’s always been a guy who strikes out too much and doesn’t make enough contact. The Cardinals are looking to compete this season after a disappointing 2023, and the leash for Gorman may not be as long as one may think when you look at the 40-man roster. Gorman simply cannot remain an everyday player hitting .175. You can and should drop him.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Kenta Maeda (SP – DET)
“It pains me to say it, but I’m ready to move on from Kenta Maeda. He was a favorite mid-to-late-round target of mine this draft season, but he just doesn’t look right. It looked recently like he might be turning a corner, but then he got knocked around yet again in his most recent start. The velocity on his fastball, which was already on the low side, has been down. And the expected numbers on his best pitch, his split finger, which he throws 34.1% of the time (more than any other pitch) are worrisome despite some early success with the pitch. He’s been tinkering with a cutter, but it has been getting obliterated. I’d like to see him ditch that and lean more into the sweeper, which has been his most successful pitch this season. Unfortunately, I won’t be rostering him to see if he turns things around. His strikeout percentage is way down, and there are a surprising number of mid-tier pitchers available right now who are getting better results. I’ll keep him on my scout team as I prepare to get hurt again, but I’m cutting him loose for now.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)
Who is one player off to a slow start who you’re holding onto despite their early struggles and why?
Corey Seager (SS – TEX)
“Corey Seager is off to an awful start, hitting just .227/.229/.311 with three homers and 14 RBI through the first 33 games. Despite his struggles, fantasy managers should not panic. Instead, they need to hold on to the Rangers shortstop, whose metrics and upside tell a different story. His expected batting average (.255) is 20 points higher than his current average. His plate metrics are eerily consistent with his career numbers, with his 8.8% current walk rate (9.2 career) and keeping pace with his 17.7 % strikeout rate. Add his barrel rate (10.3%) and exit velocities, and Seager continues to make hard contact, which will project to better overall numbers and an upcoming fantasy explosion. ”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)
Lars Nootbaar (OF – STL)
“Lars Nootbaar entered 2024 on IL due to a fractured rib in Spring Training yet has made good contact all season. The results are not there (though he did homer on Tuesday), but the Cardinals’ OF is worth holding or picking up off the wire. The biggest concern for Nootbaar is the struggling offense around him, especially with Willson Contreras out for two months. Nevertheless, a .263 xAVG and .449 xSLG are very solid while Nootbaar’s incredible plate discipline keeps him fantasy-viable in all formats.”
– Kev Mahserejian (RotoBaller)
Bo Bichette (SS – TOR)
“This is a toss-up between Bo Bichette and Nick Castellanos, but unfortunately for me, Bichette is the winner. Nothing about his Statcast page suggests his season will get better, yet I struggle with the idea of a career .293 hitter suddenly hitting .189 without any hope of improvement. Bichette’s BABIP is a ridiculously low .219 (career .341), so any bump in this could result in a return to form. Besides, his value is so low that trading him isn’t worth it. Bichette is a “hold and hope” player for me at this point. ”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)
Spencer Torkelson (1B – DET)
“Spencer Torkelson has been downright terrible and has ZERO homers YTD with a paltry .218 BA. However, last April Torkelson hit .206 in April and has just two dingers. 19 of his 31 homers last year came after the All-Star break, and he’s still just 24. He may never help with BA nor grow into the “can’t miss star” he was touted to be once upon a time, but to give up on a kid this young with an everyday job and a 30-homer ceiling is just bad practice. ”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
George Springer (OF – TOR)
“George Springer is off to a really slow start, batting just .206 with a .580 OPS through 34 games. The batted ball data and his expected numbers are mostly down across the board. AND he’ll turn 35 years old before the end of the season. But I don’t believe this is the beginning of the end for Springer, and I don’t think you should panic and sell low on him. He’s gone through rough patches like this in the past, and he’s a career .243 hitter in April, the worst month of his career, statistically speaking. He isn’t going to bat .300, but he’s more than likely going to finish with an average north of .250 to go with 20+ HR, at least 15 SB, and something in the range of 150 combined RBI and R (assuming he stays healthy or at least mostly healthy). This is part of the George Springer experience, and the Blue Jays as a whole are in the funk right now. The expected numbers are down, but they aren’t down by THAT much. Hold or buy low and wait for Springer to heat up, like he always does.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)
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