2016 Shortstop Rankings
Time for some All-Star break fun: here are my very, very preliminary 2016 player rankings. I’ve done my best to list players where they’ll be eligible next year, and the free agents-to-be are listed without teams. Players with options for next year are still listed with their current teams if those options are likely to be exercised.
Along with the position rankings is a top 300 list for 2016. Click to see other preliminary 2016 rankings:
Top 300 | SP | RP | OF | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | C | DH
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2016 Shortstop Rankings
2016 | Shortstop | Team | 2015 | July |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Troy Tulowitzki | Rockies | 2 | 2 |
2 | Carlos Correa | Astros | 51 | 5 |
3 | Xander Bogaerts | Red Sox | 11 | 9 |
4 | Ian Desmond | 4 | 4 | |
5 | Jose Reyes | Blue Jays | 3 | 3 |
6 | Jhonny Peralta | Cardinals | 18 | 6 |
7 | Corey Seager | Dodgers | 77 | 45 |
8 | Alcides Escobar | Royals | 10 | 13 |
9 | Brad Miller | Mariners | 16 | 19 |
10 | Starlin Castro | Cubs | 5 | 7 |
11 | Jean Segura | Brewers | 14 | 10 |
12 | Marcus Semien | Athletics | 22 2B | 12 |
13 | Alexei Ramirez | White Sox | 9 | 11 |
14 | Elvis Andrus | Rangers | 6 | 16 |
15 | Erick Aybar | Angels | 12 | 14 |
16 | Francisco Lindor | Indians | 37 | 25 |
17 | Wilmer Flores | Mets | 22 | 24 |
18 | Jung-Ho Kang | Pirates | 26 | 21 |
19 | Javier Baez | Cubs | 23 | 42 |
20 | Brandon Crawford | Giants | 29 | 18 |
21 | Andrelton Simmons | Braves | 15 | 22 |
22 | Jimmy Rollins | 13 | 15 | |
23 | Jed Lowrie | Astros | 17 | 33 |
24 | J.P. Crawford | Phillies | 62 | NR |
25 | J.J. Hardy | Orioles | 20 | 23 |
26 | Adeiny Hechavarria | Marlins | 27 | 27 |
27 | Zack Cozart | Reds | 25 | NR |
28 | Jose Iglesias | Tigers | 36 | 30 |
29 | Trevor Story | Rockies | NR | NR |
30 | Didi Gregorius | Yankees | 28 | 32 |
31 | Stephen Drew | 24 | 28 | |
32 | Asdrubal Cabrera | 19 | 29 | |
33 | Eugenio Suarez | Reds | 39 | 31 |
34 | Danny Santana | Twins | 8 | 37 |
35 | Trea Turner | Nationals | NR | NR |
36 | Daniel Robertson | Rays | 67 | NR |
37 | Christian Colon | Royals | 34 2B | 46 |
38 | Nick Ahmed | Diamondbacks | 40 | 41 |
39 | Tim Anderson | White Sox | NR | NR |
40 | Mike Aviles | 39 2B | 38 | |
41 | Freddy Galvis | Phillies | 30 | 36 |
42 | Orlando Arcia | Brewers | 79 | NR |
43 | Jonathan Villar | Astros | 47 | 49 |
44 | Everth Cabrera | 33 | 47 | |
45 | Jordy Mercer | Pirates | 31 | 43 |
46 | Jorge Polanco | Twins | 73 | NR |
47 | Ruben Tejada | Mets | 49 | 44 |
48 | Eduardo Nunez | Twins | 41 | 39 |
49 | Luis Sardinas | Brewers | 52 2B | NR |
50 | Chris Taylor | Mariners | 44 | NR |
50 | Tyler Saladino | White Sox | 78 | NR |
51 | Gavin Cecchini | Mets | NR | NR |
52 | Wilmer Difo | Nationals | 84 | NR |
Shortstops
o Should I have just gone ahead and placed Correa No. 1 now? I almost certainly would if Tulo were traded.
o Bogaerts at No. 3 doesn’t seem ideal, given that he doesn’t steal bases and he still isn’t showing much home run power. However, he does seem to be the safest choice, particularly now that he’s established himself as a guy who should hit in the top half of Boston’s order for a long time. If Desmond bounces back in the second half and lands in a comfortable situation in free agency, I’d probably push him back ahead of Bogaerts.
o Seager could be a top-five shortstop if things break right, but his fantasy upside is limited somewhat by his lack of steal ability (3 SB this year, 6 last year). He’s also not going to be a big-time home run hitter right away; I’d project him for right around 15 next year.
o I doubt the Nationals will go right to Turner at shortstop if Desmond exits in free agency, but he should be an option by mid-2016. He’s hit .276/.300/.448 in his first 16 games in Triple-A, putting him at .318/.368/.472 in 324 at-bats for the year. The Nationals could get by with Danny Espinosa at short until Turner shows he’s ready.
