Today let's take a look at the free agent market for shortstops.
- Marco Scutaro is the OBP leader at .377. He's racked up 83 walks in 639 plate appearances. After him we get down to Omar Vizquel and Miguel Tejada in the .330 range. Scott Boras client Alex Cora was at .371 in limited duty last year, but he's down to .320 in '09.
- Good luck finding power – you've got Tejada with a .435 SLG, and then Scutaro at .409.
- Defense is crucial at shortstop. UZR/150 likes Jack Wilson (club option), Alex Gonzalez (club option), Scutaro, and Adam Everett (of course). In his top ten heading into the season, the Fielding Bible's John Dewan ranked Wilson, Everett, Omar Vizquel, and John McDonald in his top ten.
- Felipe Lopez last spent significant time at shortstop in 2007; it'd be a big gamble to use him there consistently.
- If you're looking for youth, Lopez, Bobby Crosby and Khalil Greene will be 30 years old next season.
- Scutaro, Orlando Cabrera, and Lopez project as Type A free agents. Wilson and Tejada project as Bs. Given his contributions on offense and defense, Scutaro is the prize of the free agent shortstop class.
