Fantasy Baseball Roster Drops: Players to Cut Before the Weekend

It's time to discuss another round of fantasy baseball drop candidates.

Here are drop articles we did on Monday and Wednesday of this week. We won't cover players from those articles.

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.

Brayan Bello - Boston Red Sox

Bello is rostered in just 25% of leagues right now. That's going to go way down after he was optioned to the minor leagues.

He was tagged for eight runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings on Thursday. Bello is being sent to the minor leagues to figure things out after a rough go of things most of this season.

Bello had a 3.35 earned run average over 29 appearances in 2025, but has a 6.34 ERA over 12 outings this year. He's 2-6 and has just 44 strikeouts over 61 innings pitched. Bello has given up 47 runs (43 earned) on 78 hits and 24 walks.

Bello can safely be dropped in most redraft leagues. He's one to keep an eye on in case he figures things out in the minor leagues and returns to the big leagues and succeeds later in the season. For now though, there's no reason to roster him outside super deep leagues.

Brent Rooker - Athletics

Rooker is down to 90% owned at this time. He could continue to be dropped, especially because of a knee injury he's dealing with.

He's dealt with injuries on and off all season, and struggled when healthy. Rooker has a .195 average and .276 on-base percentage over 44 contests and 185 plate appearances. He has a career .254 average and .331 OBP, so he's really fallen off in 2026 so far.

Rooker has just three doubles and eight homers among his 32 total hits - extra-base hits made him a big-time fantasy asset the past few seasons. Rooker has 26 RBIs, 16 runs scored, two stolen bases, 17 walks and 57 strikeouts as well this season.

Rooker should be eligible in the outfield, even though he's mostly been the team's designated hitter so far this season. I'm surprised he's owned in as many leagues as he is. The injury should force that own percentage down a bit, especially if he misses extended time. Keep tabs on Rooker, but don't be afraid to drop him, as he's struggled to produce in 2026.

Shota Imanaga - Chicago Cubs

Imanaga is sitting at 96% rostered right now, but that's likely to go down after another poor start.

He was tagged for six runs on six hits and a walk over six innings on Thursday. Imanaga has allowed five or more runs in four straight outings, so he's really struggling right now.

Imanaga had a 4.74 ERA over 13 starts and 76 innings this season. He is 4-6 and has 74 strikeouts so far. He's allowed 41 runs (40 earned) on 63 hits and 19 walks - Imanaga has allowed 17 home runs.

Imanaga has been a good fantasy asset in the past, but he's really struggled, especially of late. He's not worth owning in all standard leagues, so he's fine to drop now. Keep him around in deeper leagues, and maybe look to buy low on him in a trade if you believe in him bouncing back. For now, be wary of starting him until his results improve, especially in tougher tests.

Max Muncy - Los Angeles Dodgers

Muncy is sitting at 86% owned at this time. He's likely to be dropped after suffering an injury on Thursday.

He collided with Arizona's Ildemaro Vargas, and was evaluated for a concussion. Muncy doesn't have a concussion, but he's expected to miss at least Friday's game, and maybe a few more contests after that.

Muncy has a .254 average and .347 OBP this season over 57 games and 216 plate appearances. He has 14 homers and seven doubles among his 48 hits, plus 22 RBIs, 40 runs scored, 26 walks and 55 strikeouts.

He's been injured a few times this season, which holds his fantasy value back a bit. Muncy has delivered pretty well when out there, so be ready to add him back when he's starting again. He is droppable in some standard leagues if he's not playing, and you need that roster spot to go get immediate help.

Nick Martinez - Tampa Bay Rays

Martinez is owned in about 82% of leagues right now. He's been a big-time fantasy surprise this season, but is starting to trend down.

He was roughed up for six runs on nine hits and a walk over just four innings on Wednesday. That was easily his worst start of the year.

Martinez still has a 2.29 ERA over his 12 starts this season. He's 5-2 and has covered 70 2/3 innings. Despite only having 42 strikeouts, Martinez has allowed just 18 runs on 71 hits and 13 walks to be a good fantasy asset.

He was bound to regress, and that hit a bit in his last start. Martinez is still a very good fantasy asset, at least for now. I like him in all leagues, and as a standard league streamer, so at least utilize him in those leagues/fashions.