Catchers are the main topic this week on the 2022 Fantasy Baseball Week 9 Drop List. To begin we have a question that some Fantasy Baseball managers should ask themselves. Why do I roster a catcher providing little to no production?
According to FantasyPros Consensus Roster%, there are 12 catchers with a roster percentage above 50%. This makes sense because most Fantasy Baseball leagues have 12 teams each with one catcher spot. However, not all of these catchers are worthy of that roster spot, and they should be dropped.
Fantasy Baseball managers can employ the zero-catcher strategy to better their team. The strategy is simple: drop your catcher and use that extra roster spot for streaming pitchers.
Fantasy managers should drop Yasmani Grandal, Adley Rutschman, and Sean Murphy in 12-team leagues. However, not all leagues allow the zero-catcher strategy so here are three catchers with a roster percentage below 50% that can replace the drops. William Contreras, Alejandro Kirk, and MJ Melendez are all swinging a hot bat, but Fantasy managers are slow to add them.
2022 Fantasy Baseball Week 9 Drop List
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Connor Joe, DH/OF/1B, Colorado Rockies
Joe is the only non-catcher to make the drop list but is still struggling enough to be dropped in 12-team leagues. The 29-year-old started off the season on a tear by slashing .272/.359/.506 in April with 10 extra-base hits as well. During this time, he recorded an impressive 129 wRC+ and he was quickly labeled as a breakout player.
Unfortunately, since the start of May, he hasn't been near as good. Since May 1st, Joe is slashing .263/.359/.333 with just six extra-base hits and a below-average wRC+ of 89. It's obvious here that Joe has lost his power after his slugging percentage dropped considerably. Baseball Savant lists his HardHit% (30.1%) and Barrel% (5.9%) as being well below league average.
This lack of power has led to a lack of RBIs from Joe as he has just 13 on the season, placing him 86th among all outfielders.
It's possible Joe still has it in him to be a solid contributor in Fantasy Baseball. His strikeout (18.8%) and walk (11.7%) rates are both above league average and his on-base percentage is top-15 among qualified outfielders. However, until Joe can drive in more runs, Fantasy managers can drop him.
Yasmani Grandal, C, Chicago White Sox
This is the second time Grandal has made the drop list this season. He first appeared on the week 6 drop list when he was slashing .165/.287/.216 with four runs and six RBIs. He is now slashing .163/.274/.213 with six runs and 11 RBI.
Grandal should be dropped for the same reasons he was dropped three weeks ago. His run production is terrible and the power is at a career-low.
Drop Grandal for the zero-catcher strategy or add one of the catchers listed above.
Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles
Rutschman has been a disappointment for Fantasy Baseball managers thus far. The number one overall prospect is off to a slow start through the first 13 games of his career. Normally a top prospect would get extra time before making the drop list but it's time to move on from Rutschman.
The Orioles' catcher has just seven hits in 57 plate appearances with five runs and zero RBI. Fantasy managers should not wait until Rutschman starts to produce, they should drop him immediately and grab someone that is already producing.
Sean Murphy, C, Oakland Athletics
Murphy has produced the most out of these three catchers but has the lowest roster percentage (61%). Despite having the best season of these three so far, his 87 wRC+ is still below league average and there are better options on the waiver wire.
In 203 plate appearances, Murphy is slashing .193/.271/.365 with five homers, 21 runs, and 22 RBIs. Along with the poor slash line and limited power, Murphy is striking out 27.6% of the time, hurting his Fantasy production even more.
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Performance Review
Yoan Moncada, 3B, Chicago White Sox
Moncada made 14 plate appearances this week and recorded just two hits and two RBIs while striking out three times. Not much to look at here, Moncada is still a drop.
Javier Baez, SS, Detroit Tigers
Baez made 19 plate appearances and recorded three hits, including one double. He failed to score any runs or RBI and is still worth a drop. Baez roster percentage fell from 83% to 80% but expect that number to drop to around 70% next week.
Kyle Hendricks, SP, Chicago Cubs
In his lone appearance this week Hendricks faced off against the Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched five innings, allowing six hits, and three earned runs but struck out just one batter. It's the same stuff from Hendricks, he allows too many runs for a pitch to contact pitcher and can be dropped.
To make matters worse, Hendricks is lined up to face the New York Yankees this weekend, who currently sport the best record in MLB.
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