The positional flexibility across baseball has allowed many players to gain eligibility at secondary positions. Shortstop is no different with many clubs holding over players that can cover the position if they aren't able to secure one of the top Free Agents at the position.
That could limit the overall price tag on the top Free Agent available at shortstop, but make no mistake, there will still be plenty of interest in the likes of Xander Bogaerts especially with a lack of impact talent available behind him.
Top Shortstop Free Agents 1. Xander Bogaerts, BOS 2. Gio Urshela, NYY 3. Didi Gregorius, PHI 4. *David Fletcher, LAA (Fish) 5. Paul DeJong, STL 6. Nick Ahmed, ARZ 7. *Kyle Farmer, CIN (Fringe) 8. *Ramon Urias, BAL (Heads) 9. Eugenio Suarez, CIN 10. Andres Gimenez, CLE | Top Trade Candidates 1 Trevor Story (2/$38), Fish 2. J.P. Crawford (2FA/$5), Fish 3. Adalberto Mondesi (3/$13), Falcons 4. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2FA/$5), Devils |
Team Needs: Alamo Short Stacks, Las Vegas Aristocrats, Lunatic Fringe, Mission Viejo Maulers
Activation Candidates:
It's hard to top the 1-2 activation punch of Wander Franco (Devils) and Bobby Witt, Jr. (Grapes) who both can immediately slot in as Top 10 players at one of the game's most talented positions. While Franco and Witt, Jr. have the upside, few activations have been as accomplished as Willy Adames (Fightin' Fish) who was acquired Tuesday from the Mission Viejo Maulers. With over 1,500 big league at-bats, Adames will step right into a Fightin' Fish club with eyes on their third RDBL Title. While we covered them in the second base market overview, Brendan Rodgers (Taters) and Jazz Chisholm (Ducks) carry shortstop eligibility as well.
Oneil Cruz (Clovers) looked like a lock to be activated but the Pirates appear to be tipping their hand that they would like him to start 2022 in Triple-A making an early season activation possible under the "Tatis Jr. Rule".
Top Free Agent:
Xander Bogaerts finished the 2021 season with a .295/.370/.493 batting line to go along with 34 doubles, 23 home runs, 79 RBI, and five stolen bases over 144 games. The 29-year-old slashed .321/.385/.545 with 15 home runs, 51 RBI, and five stolen bases (85 games) prior to the All-Star break. A 30-100-10 campaign was within reach but he struggled in the second half with a .255/.347/.414 batting line, eight home runs, 28 RBI, and zero steals (59 games). He missed a handful of games with a nagging wrist injury and was placed on the COVID list in early September as well. The wrist issue likely bothered him and factored into his second-half struggles despite never being placed on the IL for it. He did produce the worst strikeout rate of his career (18.7%) but also put up a solid xBA (.279), xwOBA (.358), and xSLG (.467). He notched a 43% Hard Hit Rate, 9.7% Barrel Rate, and rock-solid 113.6 mph Max Exit Velocity as well. Bogaerts' counting stats have varied from year-to-year; he's only topped more than 24 homers once and 100 RBI just two times in his nine seasons but he's the clear top player at the position and will see a sizeable contract on Draft Day.
Under the Radar Free Agent:
Jeremy Pena would have been excused for having a lost season in 2021 after undergoing wrist surgery in April, but he returned in August and did enough damage at Triple-A to be firmly on the redraft radar with the offseason departure of Carlos Correa. Seen as more of a glove-first, light-hitting shortstop in 2019, Pena transformed his body over the last two seasons and he's now a ripped 6-foot, 202 pounds and has a chance to regularly impact the baseball. Pena hit .287/.346/.598 with 10 home runs, five steals (on six attempts), a 26.3 K% and a 4.5 BB% in 30 games at Triple-A, good for a 126 wRC+. As an above-average runner with improving power and a clear path to playing time, Pena is a viable starter.
Top Trade Candidate:
Trevor Story agreed to a six year, $140 million deal with the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, clearing the way for an RDBL deal of Story before Sunday. With the Fightin' Fish facing a cap space crunch as they clear room for Gerrit Cole and Shane Bieber, Story's days with the club appear over. With Xander Bogaerts entrenched as the team's starting shortstop, Story is expected to play second base in Beantown. The 29-year-old was inevitably going to lose a bit of fantasy shine with the move away from Coors Field, but Fenway Park is not a terrible landing spot for the power/speed shortstop. Story, a two-time All-Star, hit .251/.329/.471 with 24 home runs, 75 RBI, 88 runs and 20 stolen bases in 142 games in his final season in Colorado. Adding second base eligibility will be an added value to whatever club lands him.
Under the Radar Trade Candidate:
In a sign of just how deep the Fightin' Fish roster goes, GM Michael Tirabassi could also deal away J.P. Crawford (2FA/$5). A .273/.338/.376 line led to a strong 358.0 point season with 37 doubles. He's penciled in as the starting shortstop again in 2022 and should be well worth the $5 investment with his .376 slugging percentage likely netting the Fish a mid-round pick in return if he's dealt.
Potential Deal Before Draft Day:
Devils Acquire SS Trevor Story (3/$38) and C Mitch Garver (2/$8) from Fightin' Fish for OF Jesus Sanchez (Minors) and 2022 5th Round Pick (63rd Overall)
In many ways, this deal is awfully similar to the one the Fish pulled off with the Maulers on Tuesday. Dealing away a pair of players likely off their Keeper Roster, the Fightin' Fish can land an activation outfielder to further ease their salary cap woes while the Devils can land an impact middle infielder while using a portion of their league-high cap space. Additionally, Garver could serve as an upgrade over current projected starter Luis Torrens.
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