5 Fantasy Baseball Drop Candidates: Marte, Swanson, Valdez & More

Let's now turn our fantasy baseball attention to some drop candidates.

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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Dansby Swanson - Chicago Cubs

Swanson is rostered in 59.36% of fantasy baseball leagues right now. That should keep dropping after he hit the 10-day injured list.

He has an oblique strain that is expected to hold him out at least four weeks. That's almost the remainder of the regular season, so it's easy to see why he's being let go today.

Swanson is hitting .216 and getting on base at a .300 clip over 119 games and 458 plate appearances this season. He has 87 total hits, including 18 home runs, 16 doubles and three triples. Swanson has also posted 66 RBIs, 78 runs scored, 17 stolen bases, 48 walks and 106 strikeouts.

The shortstop had been performing better of late, so his injury is a blow to fantasy owners. He's only worth stashing in deeper leagues in my eyes, as he won't be back for much of the fantasy season. Drop him in all standard leagues, and a good amount of deeper leagues too. He's just not worth stashing for several weeks.

Shane McClanahan - Tampa Bay Rays

McClanahan is sitting at 85.39% owned after his most recent start. It didn't go too well, so he's being let go today.

He recently missed some time with an injury, then worked just 3 1/3 innings in his first game back. McClanahan gave up three runs on four hits, while striking out three and walking none.

McClanahan has a 3.25 earned run average over 21 starts this season. He's 9-6 and has 94 strikeouts over 102 1/3 innings.

In time, his pitch count should increase again, and with how he's pitched this season, McClanahan can be a decent fantasy asset at that point. He should be held in all deeper leagues, but maybe be treated as a standard league streaming option until he gets back on track and is functioning like a starting pitcher again.

Ezequiel Duran - Texas Rangers

Duran is rostered in 73.06% of leagues, after sitting over 80% earlier this month.

He has gone hitless in two straight games, and has four strikeouts over that span. Duran has two hits over his past five games and 20 plate appearances - he has no RBIs, just one run scored and seven punchouts in that span.

Duran is enjoying a career season, with a .263 average and .317 on-base percentage over 116 contests and 443 plate appearances. He has 13 homers, 23 doubles and three triples among his 106 total hits, plus 64 RBIs, 55 runs scored, 31 walks, nine stolen bases and 106 strikeouts.

Add in some position versatility, and Duran is a pretty solid fantasy asset. He needs to be producing daily though, and that hasn't happened of late. Duran is droppable in some standard leagues, especially if you need immediate help, but hold him if you can afford to stash a player - definitely hold him in deeper leagues yet.

Framber Valdez - Detroit Tigers

Valdez was at 88.58% owned for his last start. He didn't pitch very well, so now he's being dropped.

He worked 5 2/3 innings against the Pirates on Monday, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks. Valdez struck out five to work out of more trouble.

Valdez allowed four runs in the start before that, and now sits with a 4.35 ERA over 25 starts this season - his career ERA is 3.48, so it's been a very disappointing year for the first-time Tiger. Valdez is 8-8 with 111 strikeouts over 138 2/3 innings this year.

Valdez is a better standard league streaming option at this point, so I don't mind dropping him right now. He's one to hold in deeper leagues, but these lackluster starts probably aren't over for the year, so keep them in mind.

Ketel Marte - Arizona Diamondbacks

Marte is still owned in most leagues, but that could change depending on what happens over the next couple days. 

He was placed on the restricted list before the team's game on Monday. Marte didn't show up due to a personal reason. It's being reported that he's getting an MRI on his knee, so that's why he wasn't with the team.

Marte has underwhelmed in 2026, only sitting with a .249 average and .314 OBP over 118 games and 519 plate appearances. He has 21 homers, 23 doubles and three triples among his 117 total hits, plus 67 RBIs, 65 runs scored, 41 walks, four stolen bases and 78 strikeouts.

He has been a draft bust despite playing most of the season. If he misses more time, it will become easier and easier to drop Marte in redraft leagues. I'd wait to see if we get a clearer indication on how long he'll be out before dropping him, but if you need help immediately and cannot stash him somewhere, then I'd also be OK dropping Marte today.