Dynasty baseball managers will understand how hard this can be.
Did you ever have one of those old flames that are just so hard to quit? Those kinds that, for several years, everything just kept getting a little worse each year. You knew where this was going, but then just as you were ready to let them go, they came back and made you so happy that you forgot that the relationship was on the decline. And now, after a year, you are right back where you were. You know deep down that you will never see those good times again, but you keep hoping.
Sometimes you just need someone to say it’s OK to let go. Here are three players who, if you are in a dynasty league, it’s OK to let go of. If you don’t, they will break your heart.
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3 Veteran Hitters to Let Go in Dynasty Baseball
Trevor Story (SS, Boston Red Sox) 89% Rostered
Between 2018 and 2021, Story never hit fewer than 24 home runs and never stole fewer than 20 bases, except for the COVID season. He also had a .289 or higher batting average for all but one of those years. From 2019 to 2021, he was a first or second-round draft pick in your fantasy baseball draft. He was one reason i won several dynasty leagues.
The Decline (2022–2024): Story’s early years in Boston were defined by significant injuries (elbow, shoulder) and a massive spike in strikeouts. Stolen base totals went from 20 to 13 to 10 to six. Between 2022 and 2024, he rarely stayed on the field and hit closer to the Mendoza line than his All-Star form in Colorado.
The 2025 Bounce Back: Story finally stayed healthy for over 130 games in 2025, racking up 25 home runs and 96 RBIs. It was his most productive season since 2021, leading many to believe his mechanical adjustments had finally stuck.
The 2026 Regression: To start 2026, Story has looked lost at the plate. He currently holds a batting average under .200 with five walks through his first 100 at-bats. While his defense remains elite, the offensive resurgence of last year has vanished.
George Springer (OF, Toronto Blue Jays) 97% Rostered
Springer was an all-star between 2017 and 2019. His on-base percentage (OBP) was never below .342 between 2015 and 2022. Between 2016 and 2021, he never hit fewer that 22 home runs except for the Covid season. In the years between 2018 and 2020, he was a first, second, and fifth-round draft choice.
The Decline (2022–2024): Springer’s exit velocity and sprint speed dropped every year during this window. By 2024, he had been moved down from the leadoff spot and struggled to drive the ball to the opposite field, finishing with a career-low .220 average.
The 2025 Resurgence: Springer was arguably the Blue Jays’ MVP in 2025. He posted a 166 wRC+ (3rd best in MLB) and hit several clutch postseason home runs. Springer seemingly found a way to “work smarter,” focusing on a contact-heavy approach that led to a massive spike in his OBP. He also won his third Silver Slugger Award.
The 2026 Regression: The spark has faded. He is currently hitting below .190 in the early 2026 season. While he is still an asset in the clubhouse, the bat speed that returned last year has vanished again, leaving him vulnerable to even average-speed fastballs. He could have one more great year left in him, but that goes against the odds.
Giancarlo Stanton (DH, Yankees) 89% Rostered
In the years between 2018 and 2020, Stanton was a first, second, and fifth – round draft choice. From 2014 to 2018, he never hit fewer than 27 home runs. In 2017, he hit 59 home runs.
The Decline (2022–2024): Stanton’s availability and production cratered during this span. He became a three-true-outcome extreme, with his batting average bottoming out at .191 in 2023 and .202 in 2024. Lower-body injuries (hamstrings/quads) made him look immobile on the bases and sluggish at the plate.
The 2025 Resurgence: Entering 2025 with a leaner physique and a revised swing path, Stanton remained remarkably healthy. He hammered 34 home runs and kept his average respectable, serving as the primary protection for Aaron Judge and helping the Yankees to a deep playoff run.
The 2026 Regression: At age 36, the old version of Stanton has returned. Through late April, he is hitting with a strikeout rate exceeding 35%. The elite bat speed he briefly recaptured last summer seems to have slowed again, as he is consistently late on high velocity. This may be ok in a redraft league if you think you can squeeze one more year of good production from him, but not if you are in a dynasty league. You can read about him on the injury report here.
Summary
What is the common thread among these three players? Age. Story is 33, Stanton, and Springer are all past their prime years of production. While players have different rates of decline and start the decline at different ages, they all decline. Driveline Baseball did an excellent study on the effect of age on power.
While all fantasy leagues are unique, especially dynasty leagues, there is one thing you need to ask yourself. Did you draft any of these players expecting last year’s numbers to repeat? If so, you need to rethink.
The good news is that all three are rostered in almost 90% of all leagues. The best thing you can do is wait for them to get on a hot streak and find a trading partner.
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