Fantasy Baseball Digest: Let 2-way players be the unicorns they are

Welcome back to the digest! This week, we look at the ideal method to deploy two-way players in fantasy baseball, as well as some struggling veterans who can justifiably be dropped and a few options to replace recently suspended right-hander Frankie Montas.

Ownership percentages courtesy of Yahoo Fantasy Sports.
Numbers updated Sunday, June 23.

Two-way players shouldn't be split in fantasy

Yahoo Fantasy Baseball announced this week that it will add a second version of Tampa Bay Rays two-way prospect Brendan McKay. He's been available only as a first baseman to this point, but with most of his minor-league success coming on the mound, the platform will feature a pitching version, too.

However, as was the case with Shohei Ohtani, McKay being broken up into two independent players removes perhaps one of the most unique fantasy experiences imaginable.

Other platforms, such as CBS and ESPN, have implemented two-way players as a single, dual-positioned card.

The ability to roster a true two-way player can change the dynamic of an entire league. It alters the value - real and perceived - of the player, in usage and any trade negotiations.

And though McKay has struggled at the plate in the minors this year, he's 6-0 with a 1.22 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and 88 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings as a pitcher. The ability to use the pitching version and perhaps also the hitting version - if his bat plays at the major-league level - would be a tremendous advantage for whoever uses their waiver priority or FAAB to snag the exciting prospect.

The Drop Zone

It's time to make some tough decisions. At this point in the year, you have a decent idea of the value you're getting from players on your roster. There is room for rebounding with a strong second half, but the reality is you may not be in a position to wait, and trying to trade these players would likely be a waste of effort considering you'll be met with an underwhelming return.

• Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto has been a fantasy bust all season and is battling a lingering back issue of late. A shell of his former self, it's hard to justify starting him, even in OBP leagues. While his power outage in 2018 (12 homers in 145 games) was a tough pill to swallow, it still came with a solid .284 batting average and .417 OBP. He's slashing .251/.347/.388 this year.

• Seattle Mariners second baseman Dee Gordon has 13 stolen bases on the season, which is helpful in a world where so few players still swipe bags. However, he has only one in June after eight in April and four in May. Diminishing returns. And let's say he starts running more; his .291 OBP severely limits his ability to exploit his one true talent at this stage of his career. He's too one-dimensional to be arbitrarily rostered unless you're desperate for stolen bases.

Replacing Frankie Montas

• Jesus Luzardo (31 percent owned), A.J. Puk (3 percent owned), Athletics: After breakout right-hander Montas received an 80-game suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, you could probably hear a collective burst of profanity from outer space. The first move for those who lost Montas should be to look at fellow Athletics pitchers. Left-handers Luzardo and Puk are nearing full health and could get the call relatively soon. Luzardo is further along in his recovery and was on the fast-track to the majors before a shoulder injury set him back to start the year.

• Trent Thornton, Blue Jays (6 percent owned): The Toronto rookie may lose the strike zone with too much regularity, but he's worth a look for his strikeout proficiency. He has 87 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings (9.47 K/9) and doesn't have anyone breathing down his neck in the rotation. The walks will keep him on a short leash, and he should probably not be trusted at Yankee Stadium in his next outing, but Thornton's upside is enough to warrant a flier.

• Brad Keller, Royals (19 percent owned): It happens all the time. An otherwise solid pitcher on a terrible team goes unrostered in fantasy. Like Thornton, Keller's command leaves a lot to be desired (4.45 BB/9), but the Royals are treating him like an anchor to the rotation. Entering Sunday's start, Keller is 14th in the majors with 97 innings pitched. His 4.45 ERA is inflated a bit after he allowed seven runs in four innings against the Mariners on June 19. Prior to that, he'd allowed three or fewer runs in four of five starts. He's a durable, volume-based pitcher, and while it's not sexy, it can be effective.

Jason Wilson is theScore's resident fantasy baseball obsessive and has watched "Bull Durham" 89 times. He can be found on Twitter at @Jason_C_Wilson or jason.wilson@thescore.com for any fantasy-related questions or requests.