Shortstop has been a tough position to fill around the league this year, as the average player at the position has averaged just an 83 wRC+. Eight teams have received composite sub-replacement-level production at short, though it’s not clear that any of those clubs — with the possible exception of the Twins (though we’ve not really heard that suggested) — are really in the market at the position. The Dodgers, Nationals, and Cubs have not fared well there, but they all seem likely to stick with their veteran incumbents or turn to other internal options.
All said, then, it’s not clear that there is significant demand at shortstop. The Mets, perhaps, are the clearest buyer, particularly now that they’ve moved Wilmer Flores to second. And the Pirates have at least a short-term need with injuries to Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer. While the Padres certainly have looked at times like they could play in that market, San Diego will (if anything) likely be weighing a long-term option given its place in the standings. Likewise, it’s possible to imagine the Reds as a future-oriented buyer. Other teams that could consider an addition, potentially while shifting their current regulars to other roles, are the Angels and Mariners (if the latter can be considered an acquiring team at this point).
Let’s see where things stand on the supply side:
Current Starters
Alexei Ramirez (White Sox), Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies), Elvis Andrus (Rangers), Jean Segura (Brewers), Asdrubal Cabrera (Rays), Jimmy Rollins (Dodgers), Starlin Castro (Cubs), Brad Miller (Mariners), Chris Owings (Diamondbacks), Freddy Galvis (Phillies)
- The veteran Ramirez may be the single shortstop who is most likely to change hands. Now 33, Ramirez has scuffled to a .224/.251/.298 batting line after a strong campaign last year, and he’s playing on a not-insignificant $10MM salary this season. (Plus, his $10MM option for next year comes with a $1MM buyout). Ramirez makes sense for a team in need of a veteran presence, but he doesn’t have the kind of cachet he might have carried last summer.
- Since hip surgery last year, Tulo has not matched his career output — not to mention his huge first half of 2014 — but he’s still been productive and remains a top-end talent. But with nearly 31 years under his belt and $98MM left on his contract (through 2020, plus an option), it’s far from clear that other teams will give up the kind of premium prospect value that Colorado would demand to even consider moving its franchise icon. And he has made clear that he won’t be publicly requesting a deal.
- Andrus’s struggles have been so pronounced that his $120MM extension (which just kicked in this year) now looks like one of the worst obligations in baseball. He’s not without function on a big league roster, and has yet to turn 27, but at this point Texas will almost certainly hang on and hope for a turnaround before even considering an attempt to move him.
- Segura is controllable through 2018, but he’s about to start getting paid and the Brewers don’t have an immediate replacement. He hasn’t been all that productive since his breakout first half in 2013, so it’s hard to see another club doing what would be necessary to pry him loose from Milwaukee.
- Heading into the season, the major question was whether Cabrera could play a productive enough shortstop to match his sturdy (if unspectacular bat). That script has flipped thus far. Regardless, it seems unlikely that the Rays will move him absent a total collapse over the next ten days.
- Rollins is in an analogous position to Ramirez — an aging, expensive veteran who hasn’t matched his 2014 performance — except that he plays for a definite contender. It would take a bold stroke for the Dodgers to move their shortstop and replace him with younger, higher-upside options, but it isn’t entirely out of the question.
- We’ve heard chatter about the possibility of a trade involving Castro for some time, but nothing has gotten done and his value is down after a mediocre first half. While the solid play of Addison Russell makes it plausible for him to take over at short, the team may not be comfortable relying on other young infielders at second. The odds of an offseason deal seem much better.
- Miller has had his ups and downs, particularly with the glove, and may offer more future than present value. He looked more like a trade piece when it seemed that Seattle might be a buyer than he does with the team struggling to gain traction.
- The Diamondbacks continue to surprise, plugging the less-touted Nick Ahmed at shortstop and seemingly branding him as the long-term solution there. Owings, 23, has not matched his promising previous output in the big leagues, but could have more value to another club that wants to us him at short.
- Galvis is cheap, young, versatile defensively, and reasonably useful. And the Phillies are obvious sellers. But the club may see more value in keeping him on board as a flexible stop-gap than in achieving some relatively meager return.
Backups/Utility Options
Clint Barmes & Alexi Amarista (Padres), Jonathan Villar & Marwin Gonzalez (Astros), Eduardo Escobar & Eduardo Nunez (Twins), Ruben Tejada (Mets), Andres Blanco (Phillies), Pedro Ciriaco (Braves), Mike Aviles (Indians)
The first three teams listed possess a series of utility types that are probably available and could conceivably provide some function to other clubs in need of a utility option or temporary fill-in at short. The veteran Barmes has paired a solid .284/.324/.440 slash with his typically sturdy defense, while Villar and Gonzalez may have some upside left that another club might take a chance on (with Houston soon to be lacking a need for either with the ascent of Carlos Correa and nearing return of Jed Lowrie). Nunez has put up career-best batting numbers but has done so only in part-time duty. While Aviles might be a useful veteran piece, it’s unclear that he’d be moved with his daughter dealing with serious health questions in Cleveland.
Currently in the Minors
Deven Marrero (Red Sox), Jose Ramirez (Indians), Javier Baez & Arismendy Alcantara (Cubs), Christian Colon (Royals), Luis Sardinas (Brewers), Josh Rutledge & Ryan Jackson (Angels)
Players like Marrero, Ramirez, Baez, and Alcantara offer some upside and appear blocked (to greater or lesser extent) within their organizations. They could be involved in deals that send back some prospect value for likely sellers (in the case of the first two) or dangled as bait for MLB-level upgrades (in the case of the two Cubbies). The other players listed look more like utility options at this point, but could conceivably change hands.
The Brewers don’t have an immediate replacement for Segura? Hector Gomez and Hernan Perez can both play there, or they could call up Sardinas or Herrera (my guess would be Sardinas) and Arcia will be the starter by next year. Any of those 4 guys would be serviceable to get us through the season. Not sure why you think teams would have to “pry him away” when it’s been reported over and over that the Brewers are ready to move on from him.
Every team has those kinds of replacements. None have proven themselves even as utility guys at the MLB level. Sure, they can plug in, but it isn’t optimal.
Is it optimal? No. But this is not going to be a contending team for the next couple years and Arcia is ready to go in a year or so, Sardinas can play defense at an MLB level and hit about .250, and even Gilbert Lara is progressing much quicker than they planned on (as is Yadiel Rivera to a point). And are any of those guys really that big of a step back from Segura’s .270 4 HR and 14 errors for the rest of what is pretty much a lost season anyway? They have SS coming, what they need are 3B, 1B, C and SP prospects and they’d be more than willing to pack his bags to get a couple of those back.
I certainly agree they could and would deal him. But I think they place some value on having a reasonable option there, and MIL’s near-term replacements are essentially what you’d find on the waiver wire (where they found most of them in the first place). Then, there’s the fact that Segura still has some upside and might have better trade value in the future. It’s not like many teams will view him as the kind of immediate impact player that would make a big difference in the playoff picture. So, all said, I think a trade is less likely at present.
I guess it’s plausible. My bigger concern is the longer they wait the further he’s going to be removed from that 1st half of 2013 and people are going to realize more and more that those numbers came from a combination of batting 2 a lot and seeing good pitches to hit, the fact that teams didn’t have a scouting report on him yet to know that he’ll chase the high heat or the breaking ball down and in every time, and a couple of very lucky wall-scraping HRs. Right now his value all seems to be on potential, which I fear he will never reach if he doesn’t learn to take an occasional pitch.
Sardinas would be- at minimum- serviceable.
Disagree that Brewers don’t have immediate replacement for Segura. Their top prospect is Orlando Arcia who from all accounts is just about ready, But they don’t need to rush him. They have many stopgap possibilities, Hector Gomez, Hernan Perez, Luis Sardinas, Yadiel Rivera or Elian Herrera. My guess is if Segura gets dealt but Ramirez isn’t, that they’ll stick Perez at SS and he’ll move to 3B when Arcia becomes a Brewer early in 2016. If Ramirez is traded, Herrera could fill in there the rest of this year. Herrera’s hitting a cool .366 at AAA.
Again, this is the case for basically every team … which is why they were able to claim Gomez, Perez, and Herrera off waivers.
By the way, Segura’s batting .429/.458/.482 in July. The laser throw he made last night to double up Michael Bourn had to impress scouts.
But the 14 lasers that he’s thrown pretty much into the first row of the stands is not impressing anyone, nor was his streak of 38 straight singles before finally getting an extra-base hit lat night. His trade value is not through the roof or anything, but they should take what they can get for him now.
A. Not all his errors are throwing errors
B. Adam Lind is not good at saving errant throws from Infielders.
The vast majority are throwing errors and it doesn’t matter if Lind is not a gold glover, Segura has a bad tendency of rushing throws and being terribly off target. He’s an average at best defender, hits for little power, and is too much of a free swinger. They won’t get a haul for him, but he’s still probably an improvement for about half the teams in the league.
11 of his 14 errors were throwing errors… that’s enough to make the comment that was made.
Now, that certainly doesn’t take away what’s been done at the plate the past couple of weeks by Segura.
That’s nice, don’t get me wrong, but we’re looking at a pretty large sample since that outstanding first half in 2013.
Could the Cubs even give away Castro at this point? I think they’d have to eat some of his contract for someone to take a flier on him.
They probably should move him before the playoffs. He never had the right mentality for this team (too many brain farts) and he has been terrible this year. Last year he was a 2 win player though so maybe the Cubs wouldn’t have to eat too much of his salary.
He’s 25, under control til 2020, and while his contract is a little high it’s not unworldly. They could definitely find a taker for him, probably wont get huge return unless they pay some of that salary though.
I’d agree with this assessment. Don’t think he’d pass through waivers unclaimed, but also doesn’t have much trade value right now.
I would image that they’d have to eat a bit of that salary and only receive a mid-level prospect at best. He’s owed $44MM+ over the next four and a half years. He’s been among the worst everyday SS in baseball this year.
Whatever they’d get, though, the Cubs would be selling low. imo, they should hang on to him and hope that he turns it around in the second half and maybe try to trade him in the offseason or at next year’s deadline.
Maybe Boston will take him and move him to LF
Given Clint Hurdle’s long time man-crush on Barnes….here we go again.
I would much rather have Barmes eating up a roster spot than Brent Morel
Why not Stephen Drew? He’s competent in the field, his bat is bizarre but given the production coming from the position generally, maybe his pop has some value, and he’s not extremely expensive.