For those teams looking to improve at second base, many free agent options have already gone. Marcus Semien went to the Rangers, Javier Baez to the Tigers, Eduardo Escobar to the Mets, Cesar Hernandez to the Nationals and Rougned Odor to the Orioles. Chris Taylor and Leury Garcia returned to their clubs from 2021, the Dodgers and White Sox, respectively. It seems some people in the industry believe Trevor Story should be moved to second base, but it’s unclear if Story himself agrees with that assessment. It’s also possible that another shortstop could be moved to second, such as Jose Iglesias, though he has only 21 games of second base experience in his career thus far and hasn’t matched Story’s offensive production. For teams looking to upgrade at the keystone, who’s still available to be signed after the lockout?
Josh Harrison, 34, had an awful campaign in 2019 but has been solid over the past two seasons. Over 2020 and 2021, he got into 171 games and hit .279/.343/.402. That amounts to a wRC+ of 104 and 1.8 fWAR. Of those 171 games, he played second base in 114 of them, as well as lesser time at third and shortstop, with brief stints at all three outfield spots and even one inning at first base. Statcast doesn’t like his defensive work at those tertiary positions, but he was worth 8 OAA as a second baseman in 2021.
Jed Lowrie, 38 in April, only played nine games over 2019 and 2020 due to injuries. 2021 was a solid bounceback, however, as he played 139 games, hitting .245/.318/.398, for a wRC+ of 100, exactly league average. However, almost half of those games saw Lowrie slotted in at DH or appear as a pinch hitter, as he only played second base in 71 of them, along with three innings at third.
Donovan Solano, 34, is coming off the best three years of his career. From 2019 to 2021, he played 236 games, hitting .308/.354/.435 for a wRC+ of 114. In most of those games, 172, he appeared at second base, while also seeing some limited action at third and short. Statcast pegged his defense at second base as close to average over those three seasons.
Jonathan Villar, 31 in May, has alternated hot and cold in recent years. In 2019, he hit 24 homers, stole 40 bases and slashed .274/.339/.453 for a wRC+ 107 and 3.9 fWAR. In the shortened 2020 campaign, he hit just two dingers, stole 16 bases and hit .232/.301/.292 for a wRC+ of 65 and -0.3 fWAR. He turned things around again in 2021, with 18 homers, 14 stolen bases and a line of .249/.322/.416, 105 wRC+ and 2.1 fWAR. He only played nine games at second, as the Mets largely used him at third and short. Statcast wasn’t enamored with his defense in 2021, pegging him at -3 OAA overall.
Matt Duffy, 31 in January, had a rough 2019 and couldn’t crack the big leagues in 2020. Signed by the Cubs to a minor league deal prior to the 2021 season, he was able to crack the Opening Day roster and stick with the club all season long, except for a two-month stint on the IL. He got into 97 games and hit .287/.357/.381, for a wRC+ of 102 and 1.5 fWAR. He played 56 games at third, 21 at second, five at shortstop, three in left field, two at first base and even logged one third of an inning on the mound. Statcast graded him as being -4 OAA at second base in that small sample.
Matt Carpenter, 36, had a tremendous run from 2012 to 2018, putting up a wRC+ of at least 117 for seven straight seasons. However, it’s been a straight slide downwards since then. He finished 2018 at 140 but dropped to 96, 85 and 70 over the subsequent three campaigns. His strikeout rate also gradually ticked upwards, from 23.3% in 2018 to 26.2%, 28.4% and 30.9% in the three following years. He played 34 games at second base this year and was considered around average by Statcast. There’s no questioning it’s been a rough few years, but if he could get anywhere near his previous peak, he could be an intriguing bounceback candidate.
Each of these players have warts, but none of them should command a huge financial commitment. Villar was the only one to crack MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents, being predicted to get a contract of $14MM over two years. But which one would you prefer? Have your say in the poll below.
(poll link for app users)
This article reminds me that it may not have been a good idea for the Friars to trade Adam Frazier to the Mariners. Gave up on him too soon. Thankfully Jake Cronenworth is around.
Actually the bad idea was to acquire him in the first place without a need in 2022
With the prospects we gave up for him and his career success especially when he was with the Pirates before us I would have liked to have run him out there just a wee bit longer regardless.
I kind of agree. They should have never traded for him but it seems they gave up too quick. They should have at least waited the market out to see which team really needed a 2ns baseman once they were all gone. Someone would have probably given them more once they knew he was the only 2ns baseman left. That guy beat out Ozzie Albies to be the starting 2nd baseman in the All-Star game last year. He has to have some value. Not that they are anywhere near equal but imagine what Albies would get in a trade. The guy who beat him out in the All Star race has to be considered more valuable than what the Mariners gave up. Especially in the weak second base market.
These days you don’t need a 2nd baseman. You need two shortstop and one plays second
3 shortstops really. Preferably you have a really talk one at 3rd base.
Actually need 5 SS⚾️
He’s barely better than these guys if at all lol
At this point, calling Matt Carpenter anything than a DH is probably a misnomer.
A very poor DH at that.
He has turned much more into a designated out than a hitter. Took him til the end of April to get above .100 for his BA. Carpenter is sadly done.
Carpenter unfortunately isn’t even a DH? Seeing Kyle Segear hang up his cleats yesterday just illustrated it further? If he doesn’t hang it up at 36 a minor league deal is the best I forsee him being offered? With a invite to spring training to earn his way onto the team? But I think he’s minor league depth at this point?
Forget DH! He’s questionable as even an MLB bench player now! Heck, his defense (especially his versatility) might actually be more reliable than his offense at this point!
I see the Carpenter family voted in the poll
And they have only just begun.
Was a thinking more of a ‘They Live’ Carpenter reference. His family is trying to use media to make us think he isn’t terrible. Only we don’t need special glasses to see he is garbage.
But I love the pun and can’t believe I didn’t make the connection earlier haha
I appreciate the “They Live” reference. Calling another person “garbage?” Not so much.
Fair enough gbs. I assumed “garbage” would be understood as a second baseman and not just as a person in general.
I’m garbage at second base, too. I’m also garbage at replacing the brake lines on my bike. It’s not that big of a deal.
Beans, I’ve seen that word used here so many times to describe players, and often not just referring to their play on the field, so I frequently call people out for it. We’re talking about a human being playing a game, and we take it far too seriously.
I hope you hange your brake lines soon. That really could be serious.
@gbs. I don’t think I’ve ever commented on a player beyond their play, but I can see where you are coming from.
However, I won’t alter my vernacular. The description of his play is apt and if anyone looks more into it, that’s on them.
I pay someone that is qualified to change my brake lines. Someone that is good at their job. They definitely aren’t the Matt Carpenter of bike brakes.
@Beans – fair enough. I dropped a “c” in “change” in my last post. I hope your mechanic is the Willie Mays of bike brakes.
@gbs. Haha thanks man. He’s no Willie Mays, more of a Bartolo. So, I can’t complain.
Rangers are going to destroy this year.
Not with that rotation. Good adds on the position side, but if they don’t put up 7+ a game, they’re not destroying anything.
True Jimmy.
They will have to rely on their ACE Jon Gray to carry that squad. He may be their only consistent innings eater.
And, of course (as I think you said tongue in cheek), Jon Gray is no ace.
I’m thinking they still lose about 90 games next year.
Rangers adding Semien and Seager was “huuuuuuuuuuuge” though. Probably something the Yankees and Astros didn’t want to see happen…
They’ve definitely have a line up to produce 5 plus runs a game on average? Will they do it? Who knows?
They were third last at 3.86 runs per game last year. You think they are going to improve to too t in the mlb to average 5 runs per game in one offseason?
The Rangers bullpen is also mediocre as it currently stands, but if Leclerc and Hernandez come back full strength at some point next season they could be fairly good.
Best in the game up the middle, but possibly worst everywhere else. They have them two for a long time though so they have time.
who the heck voted Carp?
His family……(see response below).
The poll’s infested with Carpenter aunts
Me. For sure. I’ve kicked that guy enough on here. Now that he’s not my problem I thought I’d throw him a bone for old time’s sake.
Villar last year was a horrible base runner One one the worst I’ve ever seen
He’s been an good baserunner his entire career and he graded out well last year as well, so I’d maybe think about having your eyes checked.
Previous years too. Uses no common baseball sense
So you’re basically saying you watched about 2-3 games last year, lol?
I thought this was a Royals middle infielder article…
I voted Other Terry Shumpert if you need your Royals fix.
Me too!
Carp is a beast in MLBnineinnings
Gotta beStory. If you’re serious enough about improving you offer him enough to make the move, in part because among the listed players none of them have shown every day durability. The stats and history provided don’t really show who else can stay on the field at that age..
I saw maybe 30 Mets games and several Villar blunders, two really brutal.. If his grades were good he probably cheated off the next guy’s paper.
Donny Bats….loved his time in San Fran…he was consistent when it mattered these past three years
Those outside SF don’t realize how good Solano is. I wish there was still room for him on the Giants roster, but Donovan is a professional hitter and an everyday player. Some team is going to do quite well signing him.
2B has been a terrible position free agent wise for a while. Jonathan Schoop was smart signing an extension with the Tigers even though he would have been the second best available after Semien.
I think Harrison or Villar fit the White Sox as far as being 2B with versatility.
Solano is an inexpensive option for maybe a team like Oakland?
Duffy was solid as a utility player with the Cubs and i wouldn’t be surprised if he went back.
Lowrie can only stay healthy in Oakland. Question would be if the A’s want him back
Carpenter is done unless he’s willing to accept a minor league invite to spring training somewhere
Villar would be a great fit for the M’s if they are unable to land either Story or Bryant. I could see him playing mostly 2nd but also some at 3rd and SS. With Frazier playing both 2nd and some OF.
No love for WS champ and Gold Glover Joe Panik…
JOE PANIK, A FOREVER GIANT !!
He and Crawford won us the 2014 WORKD SERIES with the best double play in
World Series History !!
Easy on the stimulants.
Giants please get Story to play second base and to give Crawford an occasional rest. Need a Jeff Kent type of player at second base, good defense and right hand power that can hit 25 home runs !!!
Talking Baseball – I am squarely in this line. Story should be a n0brainer for Farhan and Scott. Behind him you have Estrada and LaStella; maybe even Dubon. That way Longoria and Crawford can be rested without causing a major hole in the lineup.
problem is his hitting at Oracle. he’ll cost too much I’m afraid. I thought the same thing as you 2 until I checked his stats. Lastella lefty at second and Duffy righty. Plays all over. Was a great giant.
According to this poll, I’m betting the cheap, multi-billionaire owner of the A’s who claims the Bay Area is a small market will sign “Other”
The player to be named will be manning the 2nd bag….
Cash Considerations is the their future ace
Nielsen ranks the Bay Area the sixth-largest sports TV market in the country.
…which is the smallest one shared by 2 teams, with the Giants taking the significant majority of the fan base.
I wouldn’t give Carpenter more than a minor league deal with incentives at this point. He’s declined that badly.
Dear Mr Carpenter, Please for the dignity of the sport and reputational standards of the St Louis Cardinals organization please consider retiring and calling it a day. Your buddy, Ignorant from Seattle
We could sign Rogers Hornsby and drop Texas into the third tier…Blue Jays fan here….we will look for a good field no hit 2b and sign or trade for a decent 3b with Vladdy, Bo, Teoscar, Springer, Gourriel Jr, A. Kirk catching…anyone want to put a lineup that comes to close to that…and everyone is under 30 except Springer. Vladdy and Bo are under 23