Players to Drop in Fantasy Baseball Leagues Right Now
A closer look at early-season underperformers who are quickly becoming expendable in standard fantasy leagues.
We just went over a round of fantasy baseball waiver wire/streaming options, and now are going to take a look at some drop candidates.
Here's the last drop story we did. I think it's important to do drop stories more often at the start of the year, as we are learning things, so let's go over another round here.
More droppable player data can be located on the waiver wire trends most dropped tab, which can be found on any fantasy baseball page here at FantasySP.
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Luis Garcia Jr. - Washington Nationals
Garcia is rostered in 48% of fantasy leagues today. He's down from over 60% at the start of the regular season.
Garcia has played in all six of the Nationals' games, but only started three of them. The left-handed hitter is sitting when the team faces a left-handed pitcher.
Garcia still has logged 20 plate appearances, but has only has five hits, and only one has gone for extra bases (a double). He has two runs scored, three RBIs, no walks and two strikeouts as well.
Garcia is hitting near the top of the order when in the lineup, but if he's not starting against every starting pitcher, then he's a better deep-league fantasy asset, unless he's really hot at the plate. Garcia hasn't been hot so far, so I get dropping him.
Keep tabs on Garcia and stream him in more leagues if his bat heats up.
Kerry Carpenter - Detroit Tigers
Carpenter is rostered in 54% of leagues. He was near 65% at the start of the season.
Carpenter has started all six games for Detroit, but the team has faced nothing but righties so far. He just isn't producing, with only two singles over 25 plate appearances. Carpenter has walked three times, drove in one run, scored once and struck out a whopping 12 times already.
It's great that Carpenter is playing every day, and he's mostly hit near the top of the order, but he did drop to fifth and sixth in the order for his past two contests. If he continues to struggle at the plate, I doubt he moves back up, and he might start getting benched.
He's had good fantasy seasons in the past, but also has dealt with injuries and strikeout issues. Carpenter isn't worth rostering in standard leagues if he isn't producing, so dropping him today makes sense.
Watch his gamelogs and be ready to add him back if his production picks up.
Marcus Semien - New York Mets
Semien is owned in about 80% of fantasy leagues at the moment. He is down from over 85% at the start of the year.
The big name infielder has hit near the bottom of the Mets' order across six games (all starts), but he's not producing at the plate. Semien has two hits (including a double) over 25 plate appearances. He has three walks, two RBIs, no runs scored and eight strikeouts.
He's just not producing, which has been an issue over the past few seasons. Semien is overrated as a fantasy asset because of his big name and playing for a big market team.
He's droppable in standard leagues, especially if he's your go-to starter at second base. Keep tabs on Semien, but he's just not worth owning/playing right now. We'll see if he can ever turn things around.
Yainer Diaz - Houston Astros
Diaz has slipped to 81% rostered. He was over 90% rostered to start the season.
He's appeared in five of the team's first seven games. Diaz has hit near the bottom of the order when he's started.
Diaz has three hits (all singles) over 21 plate appearances. He's also had one walk, three RBIs, one run scored and five strikeouts.
Diaz regressed in 2025, and he's really struggling to open 2026. He will improve eventually, but right now, he's not worth rostering/utilizing in all leagues.
Look elsewhere for help in standard leagues, while benching Diaz in other leagues, and maybe even some deep ones. Be ready to add him if he finds a groove at the plate, but don't hold out hope for super long.
Sal Frelick - Milwaukee Brewers
Frelick is sitting near 54% owned right now. He was over 60% this season after a nice start, but has trended back down.
Frelick has hit in the bottom half of the Brewers' order over the first six games. He's started each contest, but struggled at the plate.
Frelick had a homer on Opening Day, but has just two other hits. He has two RBIs, three runs scored, four walks and five strikeouts.
The on-base percentage is fine, but the average is not. Frelick will have better showings ahead, but he's still droppable right now, especially because there's so many fantasy outfielders available.
Be watching his gamelogs, but he'll continue to be dropped until his bat heats up.