Fantasy baseball: Know when to move on from underperforming players

Hope can be a dangerous drug in fantasy baseball. You draft players with visions of breakout seasons, banking on projections and hype. But as the season progresses, some players simply fail to deliver, dragging your roster into the abyss.

When the numbers scream mediocrity — or worse — it’s time to cut bait and move on.

Two players epitomizing this painful reality in 2025 are Rockies first baseman Michael Toglia and Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker.

Their struggles are a stark reminder that clinging to preseason optimism can sink your fantasy squad.

Since Toglia’s home park is the hitter’s paradise of Coors Field, you’d expect a first baseman to feast on power opportunities.

Yet, his season has been a disaster. With just five home runs and a paltry .150 ISO, his power output is anemic for a corner infielder.

His .205 batting average and .271 OBP are black holes in your lineup, sapping your team’s ability to compete in categorical formats.

Worse, his 35-percent strikeout rate — among the highest in the league — shows no sign of improvement. Toglia’s approach at the plate is a mess, swinging through pitches and failing to make consistent contact.

Colorado’s thin air can’t save a player who’s missing the ball a third of the time. At this point, holding onto Toglia is like waiting for a rainstorm in the desert — optimistic, but futile. There are better options on the waiver wire, even in shallow leagues, who can provide power without tanking your batting average.

Michael Toglia heads back to the dugout after striking out to end the eighth inning during the Rockies’ loss to the Reds on April 26, 2025. AP

Then there’s Walker, who once dazzled fantasy managers with his power-speed potential. Drafted as a breakout candidate, his season has been a crushing disappointment. With just two home runs and two stolen bases, he is nowhere near the 20-20 threat many projected.

His .196 batting average and .262 OBP are eerily similar to Toglia’s, offering little value in five-category formats. A 31.1 percent strikeout rate underscores his struggles, as he is chasing pitches out of the zone and failing to capitalize on his raw athleticism.

Once heralded as a cornerstone for St. Louis, Walker looks lost at the plate, and his lack of production is a liability for fantasy rosters. The promise of youth and upside is tempting, but when a player’s stats are this dismal halfway through the season, it’s time to stop dreaming and start acting.

Jordan Walker reacts after striking out during the Cardinals’ win over the Pirates on April 8, 2025. Imagn Images

Cutting players such as Toglia and Walker stings, especially if you invested high draft picks or traded for them. But fantasy baseball rewards pragmatism over sentimentality. Every roster spot is valuable, and carrying dead weight in hopes of a turnaround can cost you a playoff spot.

The lesson? Don’t let preseason hype blind you to present reality. Monitor strikeout rates, batted-ball profiles and playing time trends. If a player’s peripherals — like Toglia’s and Walker’s — show no signs of life, it’s time to move on.

Fantasy championships are won by those who adapt, not those who hope. Drop the dead weight, scour the wire, and keep your roster lean. Your season depends on it.

Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting

• Read about the Best Baseball Betting Sites
• Learn all about How to Bet on Baseball

Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy baseball news and advice.