Well-Known Fantasy Baseball Players - Drop, Hold, or Sell Low? (Week 19)

The trade deadline is one of the craziest times for fantasy managers. Just this past week, players like Erick Fedde, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Zach Eflin were all moved to contending teams. With the deadline set for July 30 at 6:00 p.m. EDT, expect more big moves to happen. 

As a result, the fantasy value of players will change. Tommy Edman going to the Los Angeles Dodgers surely helps his fantasy value the rest of the season. Since he plays all over the field, he could be a sneaky addition in most formats. That leads to some fantasy managers dropping certain players who have struggled recently. 

So, let's look at five well-known players who have struggled as of late. Should you drop, hold, or sell low on these players? Let's find out. 

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SP Gavin Stone, Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Gavin Stone has been a surprising fantasy option in 2024. He made the team's Opening Day roster and threw eight quality starts in his first 15 outings. However, the right-hander has been inconsistent for fantasy managers in the month of July. 

Stone has given up 13 runs across 18.2 innings in four July starts (6.27 ERA) while failing to record a quality start in any of those outings. The rookie has also given up at least four earned runs in three of his last four starts. As a result, his rostership in all leagues continues to drop. 

However, managers should be holding onto the Dodgers pitcher in fantasy. While he hasn't been as consistent of an option recently, he has put up solid numbers for most of the season. He owns a 3.34 ERA and 82 strikeouts across 19 starts. There are also reasons to believe he will finish with great numbers in 2024. 

Gavin Stone, 95mph Fastball and 89mph Changeup, Overlay pic.twitter.com/Kr0ykTpWcv

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 20, 2024

His average exit velocity (87.7 mph), chase rate (31.8%), walk rate (6.7%), and barrel rate (5.1%) all rank in the top half of the league. With a start against the Oakland A's upcoming, keep him on your roster because we could see a dominant outing from the rookie in Week 19. 

C Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves

It has been a year to forget for Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy. He injured his oblique on Opening Day, which caused him to miss almost two full months. Even when he's been healthy, though, he hasn't been a great catcher option. He has just a .208 average with five home runs, three doubles, and 12 RBI across 37 games this season. 

Murphy has certainly taken a step back in his second year with the Braves. After hitting 20 HRs and driving in 68 runs in 2023, the veteran has not been able to build on that campaign. On top of that, the playing time is also a problem for the 29-year-old catcher. He has started back-to-back games just once in July (July 8 and July 9). 

SEAN MURPHY TIE GAME#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/MsN6wktNjF

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 9, 2024

As a result, it might be time to drop Murphy in fantasy. The numbers aren't there for him this year, and he is playing every other day. There are better catchers on waivers who are putting up consistent numbers, like Austin Wells (21% rostered), Connor Wong (42% rostered), and Shea Langeliers (40% rostered). 

SP Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies

For the first three months of the season, Philadelphia Phillies starter Ranger Suarez was the best pitcher in baseball. Through June 25, Suarez had a 1.83 ERA and 99 strikeouts in his first 16 starts of the year. During that stretch, the left-hander threw 11 quality starts. 

But since then, Suarez has not pitched as well. Over his last four starts, the southpaw has given up 18 runs across 21 innings pitched (7.71 ERA). In all four of those outings, the All-Star pitcher gave up at least three runs, including a season-high six runs against the Miami Marlins on June 30.

To make matters worse, Suarez just recently landed on the injured list with a back issue. Manager Rob Thomson said that the left-hander's back injury is not serious but he will miss some time and can't be activated off the IL until August 8. So, given his recent stretch on the mound and this injury, what should fantasy managers do with the Phillies pitcher? 

It's tough to give up on Suarez after just a couple of rough outings. He has posted elite numbers for most of the year and still owns a 2.87 ERA in 2024. That's why it's best to hold onto the left-hander and hope his time off will help get him back into a groove. 

OF James Wood, Washington Nationals

Fantasy managers need to be patient with rookies. More than any other player in baseball, rookies tend to have very up-and-down seasons. Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood certainly falls under that category in 2024. 

Wood started his major league career by hitting .273 (9-for-33) with one home run, one double, six walks, and six RBI through his first nine games. The outfielder also got on base in eight of those nine contests. However, things haven't been as easy for the 21-year-old over the last 14 games. 

Dating back to July 10, Wood is hitting just .214 (12-for-56) with one home run, two doubles and nine RBI. During that span, the rookie has also struck out 25 times while walking just twice. As a result, his rostership has dropped all the way down to 53% in Yahoo! leagues. But if you still own him, he is definitely someone you should be holding onto. 

MLB's No. 2 overall prospect James Wood (@Nationals) hits the accelerator on his first big league triple!

29.7 ft/sec sprint speed (94th percentile in MLB)
11.38 sec home to third (92nd percentile) pic.twitter.com/NxaUAvtq61

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 28, 2024

He just had the best game of his young career on Saturday, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, one walk, and two RBI. That's the type of upside that Wood has in fantasy the rest of the year. While he might not be a consistent fantasy option right now, he does have the potential to be one over the final two months. So, keep him on your roster and watch the rookie become a star. 

C Francisco Alvarez, New York Mets

The potential is there for New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez to be a great fantasy option. He hit 25 HRs and 63 RBI in his rookie season in 2023, and there have been instances of that power on display in his second year. In a five-game span from June 21 to June 26, the slugger hit three HRs while driving in five runs and drawing seven walks.

However, Alvarez has not been a strong option as of late. Since July 12, the 22-year-old is batting just .139 (5-for-36) with one home run, one double, and two RBI. Yes, it has been hard to start him in fantasy over the past 10 games, but there are not many catchers with that type of power in the league.

That's why Alvarez should not be dropped ahead of Week 19. He is a young catcher who is still improving at the plate. A hot stretch will come again for him, and when it does, you'll be happy you held onto him in fantasy.