Every single season there are a handful of projected top-100 fantasy players that end up being tremendous busts. Everybody knows to expect it heading in to the year but it’s still extremely difficult to predict which players will end up with that label. While there is still time for some of these players to turn things around, we decided to highlight the players that fall in to the bust category based on their first-half performances. Here is a look at the biggest MLB fantasy disappointments so far this season.
3B: Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
Machado was considered a top-15 batter option heading in to the 2017 season. After a brutal first half, he isn’t even ranked in the top-300 in standard fantasy baseball leagues. Machado has hit a respectable 18 home runs in 330 plate appearances. The problem is that he is batting just .230 with a .741 OPS. The lower average has resulted in fewer RBI and fewer runs scored this season. While Machado still has time to turn things around over the second half, there is no doubt he has been a major fantasy bust so far this season.
SP: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
At 34-years-old, regression seemed likely for a veteran pitcher coming off a Cy Young-worthy 2016 season. However, Verlander has taken a bigger drop than most expected. Verlander posted 16 wins with a 3.04 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in 2016. So far in 2017, he has five wins with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. A projected top-50 fantasy asset heading in to the season, Verlander isn’t even in the top-700 right now. With just one win since May 20th it’s unlikely Verlander will turn things around over the second half of the season.
The latest reports suggest that the Tigers are looking to move Verlander. That might be difficult, though, given his performance and the fact that the has a hefty contract with more than $60 million remaining on it. However, if he did get moved, that would likely give his MLB fantasy value a boost. The Tigers aren’t going anywhere this season and that will hurt his motivation as the season progresses.
3B: Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays
Injuries have taken their toll on the 2015 American League MVP this season. Donaldson has been limited to just 161 plate appearances, which is two less than Mike Trout for the fewest among the top-20 ranked players heading in to the season. Donaldson hasn’t excelled when he is in the lineup either as he has hit just .261 with nine home runs and 25 RBI. The Blue Jays have been a major disappointment so far this year and Donaldson’s injuries and poor performance at the plate have been a major factor.
1B: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
The second entry on this list from the Tigers is another victim of time. The 34-year-old Cabrera hit .313 or better in each of his previous eight seasons but he has hit just .264 so far in 2017. Cabrera’s other projected totals are also down from before the season as he has hit just 11 home runs with 41 RBI. The potential is there for Cabrera to improve his batting average over the second half if he can stay healthy. However, to this point he has to be considered a fantasy bust based on his first-half numbers.
SP: Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants
Bumgarner has been solid on the mound so far in 2017. The problem is that he has been limited to just 27.0 innings of work because of a freak accident that was absolutely devastating for both the Giants and his fantasy owners. Bumgarner injured his shoulder while riding a dirt bike during a day off and will end up missing more than three months before making his return. Bumgarner, who was a top-five pitching option before the season, has missed enough time for a dumb enough reason to include him on this list. While he is slated to return after the All-Star break, there is no guarantee he will be able to pick up from where he left off as one of the most dominant starting pitchers in all of baseball.
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