5 Affordable Free Agent Shortstops
But for teams that either miss out, or simply can't afford to drop anywhere from $150M-$350M on a single player, there are some budget options if you need to fill a hole at short. Following are five affordable SS free agents.
Elvis Andrus
The Oakland A's released the 14-year veteran in August as he struggled with a .237 average and a meager .301 on-base percentage. But the timing couldn't have worked out better for Andrus, as that was the time the Chicago White Sox just happened to be in need of a starting shortstop as Tim Anderson went down for several weeks. Andrus stepped in and did surprisingly well, hitting .271 with a .773 OPS and hitting nine home runs in just 43 games.
The 34-year-old will now hit the open market with a little momentum after a couple of dreadful seasons.
Jose Iglesias
The 11-year veteran has shown the occasion flash of offensive ability, hitting over .300 on three separate occasions in his career, and finished at .292 this season in Colorado. His lack of any power however leaves the rest of his stat line fairly barren. He mustered a one-year, $5M deal with the Rockies last offseason, and might be able to score something close to that for a team looking for a cheap starter at short.
Aledmys Diaz
Although he's been a valuable utilityman in Houston the past few seasons, Diaz has demonstrated offensive chops that usurps anyone on this list. At 32, is he destined for the utility role or will some team give him a shot at a starting job and take the offense?
Didi Gregorius
Injuries and weak production have sapped most of Gregorius's market value the past couple of seasons, and the Philadelphia Phillies actually released him in August. Defensively, he's also among the worst shortstops in baseball according to advanced stats. It's a question at age 33 what kind of deal he can scare up this winter.
Andrelton Simmons
Once the top fielding shortstop in the majors, the 4-time Gold Glover has slipped a bit and at age 33, his range isn't what it used to be. His bat, definitely, is weaker than it used to be, and his .173 average this season led the Chicago Cubs to release him in August. Perhaps he's suitable as a backup for some team in need.
Photo: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
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