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2010 Fantasy Baseball Preview: Shortstops
Written by TG Fantasy Baseball Staff
February 10, 2010

Feature Article

Arizona Diamondbacks

Stephen Drew (Projected Value: $10)
Drew (27) finished the 2009 season with a .261 average (30-point drop from 2008), 12 home runs (nine home run drop), and 65 RBI. Blame some of the problem on his hamstring injury, and expect a rebound in 2010.

Willie Bloomquist (Projected Value: $5)
Bloomquist (32) got to play virtually every day with the Royals last year. He batted .265 – a drop of 10-15 points from what was expected, but he stole 25 bases, which was expected. He might get fewer at-bats in 2010, but you can look for him to steal 20 bases again.

Tommy Manzella (Projected Value: $0)
Manzella (27) will get his chance to play shortstop on Opening Day for the Astros. He has convinced analysts that he is a Major League-ready defensive player. He does have open questions about his ability to hit – he has a career Minor League average of .268.

Atlanta Braves

Jack Wilson (Projected Value: $1)
Wilson (32) missed weeks of playing time last year with a hamstring injury and a bruised right heel. After being traded from the Pirates to the Mariners, he got into just 31 games and hit .224 with one homer. Consider drafting him in AL-only leagues.

Baltimore Orioles

J.J. Hardy (Projected Value: $11)
Hardy (27) averaged a stat line of .280-25-77 over the 2007-2008 seasons. His performance - or lack of - last year should make you think "comeback." He is entering his peak athletic years. Consider him a buy-low option at shortstop.

Chicago White Sox

Alexei Ramirez (Projected Value: $21)
Ramirez (28) had a .277 average with 15 homers, 68 RBI, and 14 stolen bases in 2009. He has 20-20 potential and should hit closer to .300 than he did last year. When you think of breakout candidates, he should come to mind.

Cincinnati Reds

Paul Janish (Projected Value: $0)
Janish (27) had a .211 batting average, one homer, and 16 RBI over 256 at-bats for the Reds last year. He took over at shortstop for the Reds after they traded Alex Gonzalez in August. He has to improve that batting average to stay in the lineup.

Cleveland Indians

Asdrubal Cabrera (Projected Value: $11)
Cabrera (24) batted over .300 and had 17 steals in 2009. He showed that he can hit, and surprisingly, can steal. Don’t expect a power surge, but he can drive in close to 75 runs. That he can play good defense does not hurt the amount of playing time that he will get.

Colorado Rockies

Troy Tulowitzki (Projected Value: $18)
Tulowitzki (25) rebounded from 2008 injuries to hit .297 with 32 homers, 92 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 101 runs scored – and all that after his typical slow start. Rank him among fantasy's top shortstops.

Marco Scutaro (Projected Value: $14)
Scutaro (34) has a full-time gig with a premier contending team. Playing for the Jays last year, he had a .282 average with 162 hits in 574 at-bats, 12 home runs, 100 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. What kind of a follow-up do you expect from a player who had his breakout year in his early thirties?

Brandon Wood (Projected Value: $1)
Wood’s time has come – Chone Figgins is no longer blocking him at third base - besides Wood (25) has no options left. He has long-term potential for .270-35-100, but he needs regular playing time to prove that he can do it.

Detroit Tigers

Jhonny Peralta (Projected Value: $12)
Peralta (27) hit .254 with 11 home runs and 83 RBI last year for the Indians. Except for RBI, which dropped off slightly, Peralta’s stats dropped off noticeably. He had more value as a power-hitting shortstop than he has as a third baseman.

Ramon Santiago (Projected Value: $0)
In a utility role, Santiago batted .267 with seven home runs and 35 RBI last year. He might get significantly more time at second base in 2010 if rookie Scott Sizemore needs to spend more time to develop in the Minors.

Kansas City Royals

Alcides Escobar (Projected Value: $12)
Get Escobar (23) because of his ability to steal 40 bases and to score runs. He stole 42 bases at Triple-A and then four for the Brewers after they called him up in August. He might also hit close to .300.

Yuniesky Betancourt (Projected Value: $5)
Betancourt (28) had a letdown at the plate last year. He batted 30 points lower than his career average (.275). (He did sit out for over a month because of a strained hamstring.) You can expect him to bat closer to .280 in 2010, but he has never been a run producer or a stolen base guy. If you draft him, he might help your team’s batting average. Management types have been questioning his attitude.

Los Angeles Angels

Erick Aybar (Projected Value: $15)
Aybar hit .312 with five home runs, 58 RBI, 70 runs, and 14 stolen bases for the Angels in 2009. Expect him to duplicate his 2009 performance as the Angels’ full-time shortstop in 2010.

Miami Marlins

Hanley Ramirez (Projected Value: $32)
Ramirez (26) batted an NL-leading .342 with 24 homers, 106 RBI, 27 stolen bases, and 101 runs scored in 2009. Consider him among the fantasy's best all-around contributors. Draft him first or second.

Jose Reyes (Projected Value: $12)
Reyes (26) had an injury-shortened 2009; the speedster ruptured his right hamstring tendon in May, tore the hamstring while rehabbing, and later had surgery to eliminate scar tissue. He had stolen 78 bases in 2007 and 56 in 2008. He had only 11 in 2009 while batting .279. He expects to be fully recovered by Spring Training. Reyes still has the upside to be a top tier player, but draft him at your own risk.

Emilio Bonifacio (Projected Value: $0)
Bonifacio (24) stole 21 bases last year and batted .252. He stole far fewer bases and batted much lower after the ASG, so he did not play regularly in the second half of the season. You can take a flier on him because of his speed. He does not offer power.

Milwaukee Brewers

Alex Gonzalez (Projected Value: $3)
Gonzalez (33) gets regular playing time because of his exceptional glove skills. Do not consider his offensive skills a great fantasy asset. He can hit double-digit home runs without affecting the other offensive categories.

Cesar Izturis (Projected Value: $0)
Izturis (30) hit .256 with two homers, 30 RBI, and 12 stolen bases last year. The Orioles – and his fantasy owners - expected more speed production. He had an appendectomy last summer – and since he can’t get that again – maybe he can steal 15-20 bases for his fantasy team this year.

Minnesota Twins

Alexi Casilla (Projected Value: $0)
Casilla (25) has a solid Minor League track record, but he sat on the Twins' bench a lot last year after the ASG. He might show that he can be a sleeper source for steals.

New York Mets

Ronny Cedeno (Projected Value: $0)
Cedeno (27) has had the "potential" moniker for years, but has yet to change that with a real solid performance. He did hit 10 HR last year that was belied by a .337 slugging percentage. Consider him a flier.

New York Yankees

Derek Jeter (Projected Value: $34)
How did Jeter do it? He put up MVP-like numbers last year, with a .334 average, 18 HR, 66 RBI, and 30 SB. (He even got a Gold Glove.) He is coming into a contract year, so you have every reason to expect him to put up similar great numbers in 2010.

None

Miguel Tejada (Projected Value: $23)
Tejada (35) finished 2009 with a .313 batting average, 14 home runs, and 86 RBI. He cannot hit for power like he used to. He does remain a threat to hit for average and to drive in runs.

Orlando Cabrera (Projected Value: $13)
Cabrera (35) maintained his high level of performance in ’09 in all categories except stolen bases. He can probably hit close to .290 again and drive in his share of runs. Though age might take its toll on him overall, expect him to contribute to the categories of average, runs, and RBI.

Cristian Guzman (Projected Value: $10)
Guzman (32) played shortstop in 2009 for Washington, but he will move to second base in 2010 (to accommodate his limited range after Off Season shoulder surgery). He batted .284 and scored 74 runs last year and can probably help your team with average in runs in 2010.

Edgar Renteria (Projected Value: $8)
Renteria (34) finished ’09 with a .250 average, five homers, and 48 RBI. He had surgery to remove bone spurs and chips from his right elbow. You should not pay a premium price for him.

Craig Counsell (Projected Value: $0)
Counsell (39) made 90 starts at three different positions in 2009. He started at second base (44 games), third base (27 games), and shortstop (19 games). He batted .285 with four home runs and 39 RBI over 130 games - totally unexpected good production. He does not plan to retire yet.

Khalil Greene (Projected Value: $0)
The Rangers signed Greene (30) to serve in a utility role. He batted .200 with six homers over 170 at-bats in '09. (He had hit 27 HR for the Padres in '07.) Greene has been working out personal issues recently; he had served as a front-line shortstop for the Padres for many years.

Oakland Athletics

Cliff Pennington (Projected Value: $0)
Pennington (25) took over at shortstop for Oakland after last year’s trade deadline and he will probably get the starting gig there this year. He does not offer much power or a robust average, but he might steal 20 bases. Consider him a late-round pick.

Philadelphia Phillies

Jimmy Rollins (Projected Value: $20)
Rollins (31) hit .250 with 22 homers, 100 runs, 77 RBI, and a team-leading 31 stolen bases in 2009. He hit 14 of his homers after the All-Star break. Consider him a valuable shortstop in '10 because of his speed and power (he hit 30 HR in 2007) potential.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Clint Barmes (Projected Value: $5)
Despite a marginal .245 average (.205 after the ASG), Barmes (31) showed nice pop (23 HR and 76 RBI) with some speed on the base paths (11 SB) in his first full season of action. Check to see how well he does during Spring Training before drafting.

Anderson Hernandez (Projected Value: $0)
Hernandez started at shortstop for the Mets during their stretch run while the regular shortstops were injured. He batted .251 with three homers, 37 RBI, and 7 seven stolen bases for the season. He probably will not play regularly this year.

San Diego Padres

Jason Bartlett (Projected Value: $21)
Bartlett (30) had a career year last year with his batting average well over .300 (.320) and 30 stolen bases. If he had not injured his ankle, he might have stolen another dozen bases. Consider him a good source for average and steals, and a speculative source for power.

Everth Cabrera (Projected Value: $9)
After recovering from a hand injury, Cabrera (23) ended ’09 with a .255 batting average, two homers, 31 RBI, and 25 stolen bases. He once stole 73 bases in a minor league season. Consider him a source for steals, especially as he will probably open the season as the Pads’ opening day shortstop.

San Francisco Giants

Ryan Theriot (Projected Value: $12)
Theriot (30) hit .284 in 2009 with seven homers, 54 RBI, 81 runs, and 21 steals. He has a .288 career average and has swiped at least 20 bags in each of the last three seasons. Get him in the later rounds of your draft.

Mike Fontenot (Projected Value: $0)
Mike Fontenot is more than willing to take a few grounders at shortstop. Whether or not he can handle the position could determine who will make up the Cubs' bench. The Cubs' starting eight is set, with the exception of second base. Fontenot and Jeff Baker are competing for regular playing time there. Piniella also said if shortstop Ryan Theriot was out for a significant amount of time, 19-year-old Starlin Castro would get the call.

Mike Fontenot (Projected Value: $0)
Fontenot earned the starting second base job with the Cubs last year, but lost it to Jeff Baker. Fontenot (29) had shown promise the prior year, and he still has time to show that he can hit .300 and provide some pop.

Seattle Mariners

Brendan Ryan (Projected Value: $4)
Ryan (28) reached career highs in at-bats (390), runs (55), stolen bases (14), and average (.292) in 2009. He might repeat those numbers in 2010, but he has competition and minimal power.

St. Louis Cardinals

Rafael Furcal (Projected Value: $9)
Furcal (32) had the lowest batting average of his career in '09. He hit .269 with nine homers, 47 RBI, 92 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. Consider him a marginal shortstop but no longer an elite option.

Tyler Greene (Projected Value: $0)
Greene (26) performed well at the minor league level last year, hitting 17 home runs and stealing 34 bases. He can fill in as a utility player who offers speed and power potential. Consider him a sleeper at shortstop.

Tampa Bay Rays

Reid Brignac (Projected Value: $0)
Brignac (24) will report to Rays’ camp with his first legitimate chance to make the team's Opening Day roster. He has shown enough potential in the minors to deserve monitoring. Scouts have long considered him to be the Rays’ shortstop of the future.

Texas Rangers

Elvis Andrus (Projected Value: $14)
Andrus (21) added speed to the Rangers lineup, in addition to playing excellent defense as a rookie. After last year’s ASG he kept up the momentum as he batted .280 and stole 17 bases. He might develop into a fantasy star sooner rather than later.

Toronto Blue Jays

Yunel Escobar (Projected Value: $13)
Escobar (27) hit .299 with 89 runs, 14 homers, and 76 RBI in 2009. He set career marks virtually across the board. He has excellent plate discipline – he might even hit .300 this year.