The top five projected players with shortstop eligibility are set return to RDBL clubs, but plenty of depth remains in the 2023 Free Agent class at the position. Francisco Lindor tops the class, but the likes of Carlos Correa, Corey Seager and Marcus Semien follow closely behind as candidates to receive the top contract at the position.
The Cloverdale Clovers have cornered the market in the Minors at shortstop with three of the top five prospects at the position led by the electric Elly De La Cruz while also getting set to active Oneil Cruz.
Top RDBL Free Agents | Top Trade Candidates |
1. Francisco Lindor, Mets 2. Carlos Correa, Twins 3. Corey Seager, Rangers 4. Marcus Semien, Rangers 5. Gleybar Torres, Yankees | 1. Tommy Edman (3/$6), Goutfish 2. Jorge Polanco (3/$15), Clovers 3. Ha-seong Kim (2/$1), Maulers |
Top Available Prospects | Top RDBL Prospects |
1. Jackson Merrill, Padres 2. Ezequiel Tovar, Rockies 3. Colson Montgomery, White Sox 4. Masyn Winn, Cardinals 5. Zach Neto, Angels | 1 Elly De La Cruz, Clovers 2. Anthony Volpe, Clovers 3. Jordan Lawlar, Grapes 4. Marcelo Mayer, Taters 5. Marco Luciano, Clovers |
2022 Rankings | 2023 Projections |
1. Trea Turner (Jokers), 466.5 2. Bo Bichette (Devils), 432.5 3. Xander Bogaerts (Clovers), 428.5 4. Francisco Lindor (FA), 428.0 5. Dansby Swanson (Falcons), 414.5 | 1. Fernando Tatis (Goutfish), 480.5 2. Trea Turner (Jokers), 450.5 3. Xander Bogaerts (Clovers), 446.0 4. Bo Bichette (Devils), 425.0 5. Tim Anderson (Goutfish), 403.0 |
Team Needs
Alamo Short Stacks, Idaho Taters, Honolulu Hammerheads, Mission Viejo Maulers, Burlingame Blue Ducks
Top Free Agent
Francisco Lindor's first year with the Mets in 2021 was the worst of his career, but he rebounded last season with a 127 wRC+ in 161 games. The 29-year-old totaled 26 home runs, 107 RBI, 98 runs and 16 stolen bases, and it's the first time in his career he's driven in more than 100 runs. The shortstop's resurgence played a major role in pushing New York to 101 wins and back to the playoffs, as he looked more like the player he was for Cleveland from 2017-19 than the player the Mets got in Year 1. However, Lindor also had a career-worst 18.8 percent strikeout rate and career-high .301 BABIP, which could temper expectations on him building on the 2022 production.
Under the Radar Free Agent
Ezequiel Tovar has only played nine games in the majors and five games at Triple-A, but the Rockies have been invested in him as their shortstop of the future since they bought him a house in 2020 when he couldn't return home to Venezuela during the pandemic. He had impressed at times in the minors prior to last season, most notably logging a 119 wRC+ as a 19-year-old at Single-A in 2021, but 2022 was certainly his breakout campaign. Tovar hit .318/.386/.545 with 13 home runs, 17 steals on 20 attempts and a 64:25 K:BB in 66 games as one of the youngest players at Double-A. Hip and groin injuries sidelined Tovar from late-June until mid-September, when he returned and went directly to Triple-A for a week before spending the final two weeks of the year with the big club. An over-aggressive approach has been the one offensive knock on Tovar, but so far he has mostly made it work. There's a chance he goes through a significant adjustment period against MLB pitching as a 21-year-old, but it seems pretty clear the Rockies will give him every opportunity in spring training to break camp as the starting shortstop which is further evident following the injury to Brendan Rodgers. Tovar isn't a burner (57th percentile sprint speed) and doesn't hit the ball very hard (22.5 Hard% in the minors, 106 mph max EV in the majors), but he has been productive in games while being extremely young for most of his minor-league levels.
Top Trade Candidate
Lake Merced Goutfish second baseman Tommy Edman has become one of the most prominent base stealers in the game over the last couple of seasons, swiping 62 bases the previous two years, including 32 in 2022. He did this with 86th-percentile sprint speed and was caught only three times. Edman's value wasn't just dependent on his baserunning, though, as he hit .265, scored 95 runs, and swatted 13 home runs while driving in 57. The 27-year-old saw career highs in multiple power metrics such as barrel rate (6.2%), exit velocity (88.6 MPH), and hard-hit rate (37.8%). If he can pull the ball more than 20.8% on flyballs and closer to his career mark of 24.6%, he might crack 15 HRs for the first time. Edman can easily maintain his numbers from a season ago, especially if he bats second, as projected which make him an appealing trade candidate if GM Ryan Atkinson finds a match on the market.
Top Prospect Available
Jackson Merrill showcased one of the best combinations of high-end contact skills and burgeoning power in the minors last year. Indeed, for a time, he had a contact rate (not just zone-contact rate) around 90%! At the same time, Merrill posted quality of contact metrics at or above MLB average (though, with a 59.6% ground-ball rate in Low-A). And, as noted above, the cement hasn’t dried on his frame. Merrill is a fast-rising, top-50 dynasty prospect with substantial offensive upside—.300 with 20+ homers—and even some speed.
Top RDBL Prospect
Elly De La Cruz has near top-of-the-scale power projection and speed, edging out Oneil Cruz, Anthony Volpe, Marcelo Mayer and Jordan Lawlar for this title. Both were on display last year en route to a 28-45 season across 120 games between High- and Double-A. His ungainly 30.8% strikeout rate, driven by poor swing decisions and an aggressive approach, is problematic, however. Yet, De La Cruz has made strides correcting his approach, and his zone-contact rates are actually solid. His frame, questionable hit tool, and raw tools are reminiscent of Oneil Cruz. If he hits his ceiling, he is a potential fantasy superstar.
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