Throughout this baseball season, I have been writing weekly articles on the players that are the priority pickups. It occurred to me that in order to add anyone, there are players that need to be shown the door. Often, these decisions can be as difficult as who to pick up. With that in mind, players needing to be cut will be the focus this week. Please join with me as we dive into this week’s fantasy baseball players must drop edition!

Ramon Laureano, OF, Oakland A’s, 49.5% Owned

There must be a lot of fantasy managers who don’t keep up with what is happening in the real world of baseball. That can be the only explanation of why Ramon Laureano is on so many fantasy rosters. For those that don’t know, Ramon Laureano was suspended 80 games for PED use. He is not eligible to return this season and will miss the beginning of next year as well. This fact has been known for over a week now. Even so, Laureano is still owned in almost 50 percent of leagues. All that can be said of that statistic is- what gives?

Without question, the fact that Laureano has 14 home runs and 12 stolen bases means nothing. He will not see the field again this year. There is no possible reason to have Laureano on a roster the rest of the way. This is true in every format, but especially true in redraft leagues. Send Laureano to the waiver wire dog house today.

Nick Solak, 2B, Texas Rangers, 45.3% Owned

Even though the reason is quite different than Laureano, the fact is that Nick Solak is not in the major leagues. The Rangers sent Solak to AAA on July 23. Yet, here we are in the middle of August and he is still on 45 percent of leagues. He had a solid enough beginning of the season for Texas, but that is far in the rear view mirror now.

Since the start of June, Solak was hitting only .192. That fact alone should have had Solak off quite a few fantasy rosters. Now that he is in the minors, there is no reason for him to be anywhere near a fantasy squad. Even in the largest of leagues, there has to be another player that managers can add that would give a bigger return the rest of the way than Solak. Whatever future Solak has, it isn’t this year. Send him to the wire without delay.

Dylan Moore, OF/2B, Seattle Mariners, 33.4% Owned

The past few weeks, and indeed the entire season, have not gone well for Dylan Moore. The calendar sits in the middle of August and Moore has all of three hits. That wasn’t a misprint. In fact, Moore has had only 18 at bats since July moved on. Moore is not a regular any longer in the Seattle lineup and isn’t producing.

There simply is no reason for him to be on over 30 percent of rosters. For the year, Moore is hitting just .181 with an absolutely woeful .275 OBP. His 18 steals are nice but he only has two of those this month. The Mariners as a team have hit better as the season has gone along. However, Moore has gone completely the other way. Seattle has to have him on their roster. Fantasy managers don’t have that problem and Moore needs to be sent to the wire with maximum speed.

Christian Walker, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks, 28.7% Owned

Another player struggling mightily in August is Christian Walker. He began the month with a six game hitting streak, but his bat has gone stone cold since. Walker had just one hit all of last week and that is the sum of his production. He has also had two days on the bench in that span. Except for in the very largest of leagues, there are first baseman on the wire that will give a manager more production than Walker.

For the year, Walker is hitting just .227 with all of five home runs and 29 RBI. First base is a position that demands hitting production and Walker is just not providing it. Since defense provides nothing to a fantasy manager, it is best to leave that to Arizona and replace Walker with a better hitter. Trust me, they are out there. Walker has earned his placed on this fantasy baseball must drop players list.

Eugenio Suarez, 3B/SS, Cincinnati Reds, 77.5% Owned

When it was announced that Cincinnati planned to play Eugenio Suarez at shortstop before the season began, many a fantasy manager was excited. Suarez is well known to provide power and that skill would be a huge asset at the shortstop position. What is the saying about the best laid plans going sideways? That is certainly what happened this year with Suarez. He began the season in a funk and hasn’t shaken himself out of it with just six weeks or so left in the season.

His best batting average month of 2021 was June and that was with only a .200 average. It took a three game hitting streak at the end of last week to get his August average up to .175. He does have 23 home runs, but only three this month. His 142 strikeouts against just 42 walks is impossible to ignore. Suarez simply gives managers too many negative nightly point totals to justify a placed on the roster. Perhaps another owner will see that three game hitting streak and think a hot stretch is coming. The fantasy trading deadline is coming fast. If there is a deal to be made, now is the time. Don’t let Suarez drag down your fantasy team when the playoffs roll around.

Garrett Hampson, 2B/OF, Colorado Rockies, 34.8% Owned

Even on the best of days, Colorado’s hitters are almost universally unplayable when the team hits the road. That has been a problem for the Rockies all season and Garrett Hampson is not immune. Colorado is coming off of a six game road trip and Hampson had just two hits the entire trip in 17 at bats. The team returns home for six games starting Monday. That is usually much better news for those managers that own any of the Rockies’ hitters.

However, that fact doesn’t really help those that have Hampson on their squad. In the six games before the trip, Hampson had three hits and didn’t start two of the games. For the entire month of August, Hampson’s bat has disappeared to the tune of a .161 average. For the year, Hampson is hitting .231-6-21. His versatility is nice but that doesn’t make up for his vaporized bat. There are players that can help a fantasy roster. Find one and send Hampson out.

Tyler Glasnow, SP, Tampa Bay Rays, 48.6% Owned

Unfortunately, there are times when a player is available to their teams is completely out of their control. Such is the case with Tylor Glasnow, who had Tommy John surgery August 4. Glasnow is done for the season and probably for 2022 as well. Those managers holding on to him in an injured slot need to realize he won’t help them this season.

The injury is truly unfortunate for everyone involved. Glasnow was pitching well when he was hurt with a 5-2 record and a 2.66 ERA in 14 starts. None of that matters now, however. Managers need to wish him well in his recovery and send him to the wire. As he most likely won’t pitch next season, either, dynasty and keeper managers need to let go of him as well.

Sixto Sanchez, SP, Miami Marlins, 32.3% Owned

Those noticing a recurring theme in this fantasy baseball must drop players edition would be correct in doing so. There are far too many injured players that are out for the season on fantasy rosters. The latest example of that is Sixto Sanchez. In fact, it has been known that Sanchez will not return in 2021 because of an injured right shoulder since early July.

Even with that news, he is still on 32 percent of rosters. Miami is hopeful for a return in 2022, but that is far from certain. Given that fact, dynasty and keeper managers need to think long and hard about retaining Sanchez on their rosters. He was solid in 2020 with a 3.46 ERA. However, Sanchez carried an injury history with him from the minor leagues. Add it all up and his place on the fantasy baseball must drop players list and the wire is assured.

Rich Hill, SP, New York Mets, 42.3% Owned

The fantasy managers that own Rich Hill should be holding their breath this week. Hill and his Mets teammates hit the road this week to take on the team with the best record in baseball. Of course, that would be the San Francisco Giants. New York acquired Hill before the trade deadline thinking he would upgrade their starting pitching. It hasn’t exactly worked out as planned.

Hill comes into that game against the Giants not having won a decision since June 23. Further, Hill hasn’t pitched more than five innings in a start since June 29. Quite simply, Hill isn’t in a game long enough to give fantasy managers a chance at any meaningful stats. In the last two months, Hill has scored more than five fantasy points in just three games. If Hill somehow pitches well against San Francisco, it would be wise to see if another manager will make a deal for him. If it doesn’t go well, the waiver wire is a worthy place for Hill. In any case, keep a sharp eye on his and make a move one way or another as soon as possible.

Jon Gray, SP, Colorado Rockies, 45.6% Owned

When the season was leaving July behind, everything was looking up for Jon Gray. In his final two starts of the month, Gray faced two of the best hitting offenses in baseball in the Padres and Dodgers. The numbers were sparkling for him in those two games. In 14.1 innings, Gray allowed just four runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts. Most likely, despite pitching for Colorado, there were plenty of managers taking a chance on Gray as August rolled around.

Unfortunately, the good news ends right there. Gray has made three starts so far this month and has lost all of them. In 14.1 innings, Gray has allowed ten earned runs. Even worse, Gray has scored all of four fantasy points in those games. It is certainly a disappointing outcomes for Gray and his fantasy managers as well. Despite that stretch, Gray is still owned in almost 50 percent of leagues. That needs to change before he derails a lot of teams and their playoff chances. Don’t let that happen to you. Gray truly belongs on this fantasy baseball must drop players list.

Other players to consider dropping:

Greg Holland , RP, Kansas City Royals, 19.1% Owned

Jesus Luzardo , SP/RP, Miami Marlins, 43.6% Owned

The Final Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy baseball must drop players edition! As always, I welcome input and suggestions from all of my readers. Have other players to include? Disagree with the selections? Let’s discuss! Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea, and be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports and Picks for all the latest MLB and sports news!

The Belly Up Fantasy Live baseball show is on every Monday at 8 est. If you haven’t checked out the show yet, scoot on over to Facebook, YouTube or Twitter and give it a look. Our episode from last week is available here. This week, Belly Up’s own Graeme Wallace will join us to discuss all the trade deadline related news and other baseball topics. Hope to see you there

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