Struggling Fantasy Baseball Hitters: Players to Drop, Trade, or Hold

Today, I wanted to check in on some struggling MLB players. These could be droppable or tradeable fantasy baseball assets as a result.

We will go over hitters in this article, then pitchers in an article later today. Later in the week, we will cover some excelling hitters and pitchers, so also check back for that!

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Adolis Garcia - Philadelphia Phillies

Garcia is just a deep-league fantasy asset after struggling most of the season. He's really struggled of late, and now it's getting hard to justify rostering him even in deeper leagues.

Garcia has a .051 average over the past two weeks (May 11-25), collecting two hits over 39 at-bats and 48 plate appearances. He has two runs scored and RBIs over that span, plus six walks and a whopping 23 strikeouts.

He's failed to make a big impact for Philly this season, but he's worth tracking still, as he's been a decent fantasy asset in the past, especially when he's hot at the plate and hitting for power. For now though, he's not rosterable in many fantasy leagues, so don't be afraid to drop him.

Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado - San Diego Padres

Merrill has a .079 average over the past two weeks, while Machado has just a .109 average in that span.

Merrill has three hits over his past 41 plate appearances. He has two runs scored, an RBI, three walks and 13 strikeouts, while also stealing two bases.

Merrill has disappointed so far in 2026, and is starting to be let go in some standard leagues. He needs to get going soon in order to not be let go in most standard leagues.

It makes now a time to buy low on Merrill, but it's a risky acquisition after how Merrill has looked this season. I think better days are ahead, but nothing is certain and he could keep struggling, which could make him a better deep-league asset, and only worth streaming in standard leagues when he's doing better at the plate.

Machado is another player who has struggled most of the regular season so far. He's been let go in a few standard leagues as well, but most are holding out hope on the proven veteran, who has been one of the more consistent hitters in the game over the past decade.

Machado has five hits over his past 51 plate appearances. He also has four runs scored and walks, five RBIs and 14 strikeouts in that span.

The Padres' third baseman is in a funk, and I still believe he will emerge as a high-end fantasy asset at third base, but the longer he struggles, the harder it is to justify rostering him in all fantasy leagues.

He's a buy-low trade target right now, and there's plenty of reasons to go after him - do it now before he heats up. Trading him away now isn't a great idea, but the longer he struggles, the easier it will be to part ways with him.

Keep close tabs on Machado and Merrill.

Kazuma Okamoto - Toronto Blue Jays

Okamoto has struck out 22 times over the past two weeks. He has just five hits over 46 at-bats and 51 plate appearances for an ugly .109 average.

Okamoto has five runs scored, just one RBI and four walks in that span as well. He's been an up-and-down hitter in 2026, and he's certainly in a lull right now.

Okamoto has been a very good fantasy asset at times too, so it's hard to drop him now, but definitely easier to make that move than drop a guy like Merrill or Machado. 

Okamoto might just be a guy to add and drop throughout the season as he goes in and out of hot/cold stretches at the plate. Right now, he's a much better deep-league asset, and he isn't worth many roster spots in standard leagues.

Keep tabs on Okamoto throughout the season and utilize him in more leagues when his bat heats up.

Ian Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong - Chicago Cubs

Happ is down to 89% rostered right now. He opened the season at 100% and has been owned in most leagues for several straight years.

PCA hasn't been let go in many fantasy leagues yet, but it could be coming if he keeps struggling at the plate. He's even struggled in the field of late, as the Cubs hit an early-season wall.

Happ has 20 strikeouts over his past 47 plate appearances in the past two weeks. He too has five hits, along with four runs scored, two RBIs, and eight walks.

Happ simply isn't producing enough right now, and at a loaded fantasy outfield spot, some fantasy owners are bailing on him. I'd try to trade him away (even if you are selling low) before outright dropping him, as the return should still be better than what you can find on the waiver wire.

I'm not a big fan of acquiring Happ in standard leagues through a trade, but would be open to that move in deeper leagues. He should get going at the plate at some point, so don't write him off for good.

Crow-Armstrong has a .143 average over the past two weeks, with six hits over 53 plate appearances. He has four runs scored, six RBIs, eight walks, three stolen bases and 14 strikeouts.

PCA was a great asset early in 2025 before falling off late. He's started this season a bit slow, and has really not done well of late. He's bound to bounce back, even if it's just a bit, but he's still a risky fantasy asset to take on with not a long history of success to his name.

I'm also more of a fan of adding PCA low in deeper leagues, not standard ones. I think he will eventually be dropped in more standard leagues, so be ready to make that move yourself if he doesn't heat up here soon.