Time to Cut Ties? Six Fantasy Baseball Drop Candidates

After going over fantasy baseball waiver wire options (hitters, pitchers, weekly projections), let's discuss some drop candidates 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. 

Explore the best in-season tool to manage lineup/start decisions including waiver pickups, projections, trade suggestions, trade value charts, rest of season rankings, power rankings, and tons more with Fantasy Assistant.

Dillon Dingler - Detroit Tigers

Dingler sits around 69% rostered right now. He was close to 80% back on April 24.

He's gone hitless over his past two appearances, and did not play on Sunday. Catchers get off days more often than other position players, but it still impacts the fantasy value of a player.

Dingler is down to a .238 average, but has a .319 on-base percentage over 24 games and 96 plate appearances this season. He has five homers, four doubles, 20 total hits, 19 RBIs, 11 runs scored, six walks and 16 strikeouts.

I think Dingler is on the rise as a player, and could be a long-term asset for Detroit in real life. In fantasy baseball right now, he's a bit inconsistent, which is why he's been added and dropped at points this season. He's worth ownership in deeper leagues, but is a fantasy C2 at best in standard leagues, which makes him droppable in those leagues if he's just a backup, especially if your top guy plays daily.

Keep tabs on Dingler in case he heats up again going forward. 

Jeremiah Jackson - Baltimore Orioles

Jackson is down to 73% owned at this time. He was closer to 80% the past several days.

Jackson has one hit over his past three games, so he's trending down ever so slightly. He still owns a .270 average and .290 OBP over 26 contests and 93 plate appearances for the season.

He has five homers, two doubles, 24 total hits, 19 RBIss, nine runs scored, a stolen base, two walks and 21 strikeouts. Jackson has delivered in a daily starting role, mostly filling in for Jackson Holliday, who is still a ways away from returning.

Jackson is a very good deep-league asset, and has done enough to own/utilize in standard leagues, but only if he keeps delivering. Fantasy owners are going to move off him quickly if he fades a bit, and that's what's happening now.

Keep tabs on him until he's no longer starting daily. Don't be afraid to drop him if there's a can't miss waiver wire asset out there.

Jordan Romano - DFA

Romano is way down to 30% rostered. He was closer to 80% just a couple weeks ago.

You can see that I didn't list a team for him. He was on the Angels, but was designated for assignment on Sunday.

In 11 appearances this season, he was 0-2 with four saves and two blown saves. Romano allowed nine runs on 11 hits and six walks over eight innings for a 10.13 earned run average. He struck out 12 batters.

He's droppable in all leagues, especially if he doesn't land on a team's active roster. Romano isn't likely to close games elsewhere, at which point he could be dropped in all leagues.

So if you missed him being DFA'd this weekend, here's your alert to drop Romano now.

Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays

Hoffman is owned in about 68% of fantasy leagues right now. He was above 90% earlier this season.

He struggled in the closer role for Toronto, and lost that role to Louis Varland. Hoffman has pitched in 13 games so far, going 1-2 with three saves, three blown saves and two holds. He's allowed 11 runs (nine earned) on 16 hits and seven walks, while striking out 25 batters over 11 2/3 innings.

With him no longer closing, Hoffman can be dropped in a lot of leagues. He's definitely droppable in standard leagues, and there's a decent amount of deeper leagues that he can be let go in.

He's one to watch in case he ever gets the closer role back. The longer he isn't getting save opportunities, the more leagues Hoffman can be dropped in.

Seth Lugo - Kansas City Royals

Lugo was at 90% rostered for his last start, but is now trending down after a poor showing.

Lugo had been excelling early on, allowing just five runs over his first five starts. In start six though, he was tagged for seven runs on 14 hits and a walk over 6 1/3 innings - he struck out only three in that one as well.

Lugo still has a 2.63 ERA over 37 2/3 innings pitched this season, and has better days ahead. After that disastrous start though, he'll be dropped in a good amount of leagues, and rightfully so.

Treat Lugo as a deep-league hold and standard league streaming until more good results come. He's one to stash, as better days are surely ahead for the veteran.

Aaron Nola - Philadelphia Phillies

Nola is sitting near 77% owned right now. He's been over 90% at points this season.

Nola was solid over his first four starts, allowing three or fewer runs in each contest. He was tagged for five runs in his fifth start and then six runs in start No. 6 - hopefully that trend doesn't continue.

Anyways, Nola has a 6.03 ERA over 31 1/3 innings this season, so he's not delivered nearly like Lugo has. He has 35 punchouts and a 1-3 record.

His past two starts are making Nola another guy who is a deep-league hold and standard league streamer for the time being. Nola has had better days in his past, but has struggled for the past year-plus now.

It might be time to move on from Nola for good, so be very cautious of starting him in standard leagues going forward. Time is running out for Nola to turn things around.