Are you struggling with your fantasy baseball lineup? Deciding which players to drop can be tough, but we’re here to help. In this Featured Pros article, five of our top fantasy baseball experts weigh in on which slumping players you should consider dropping to make your team more competitive. This week, we’re focusing on players who have underperformed, including Gleyber Torres, Nolan Gorman, and Kenta Maeda. Along with insights on these three, our experts will also discuss two additional players who might not be pulling their weight on your roster anymore.
Whether these players are dealing with injuries, losing playing time, or just hitting a rough patch, our experts provide detailed analysis to help you make informed decisions. Keep reading to find out if it’s time to let go of these players and explore better options available in your league. Make the smart move now to strengthen your lineup as you push for the playoffs in your fantasy baseball league.
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)
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