Keepers to snag: Shortstops
I could go through all of the positions here, but I’ll stick to the ones which are hard to fill every year.
SHORTSTOP
Locks
Carlos Guillen, DET. Guillen is proving that 2004 was no fluke. He’s had a great and consistent year, including a very nice .331/.406/.533 second half. His post-ASB OPS of .939 leads all shortstops in the majors. He’s just 30 years old, so he’s got a few quality seasons left in him. If he can stay healthy, he can produce about 35 2B, 20 HR and 90 RBI, plus steal about 10-15 bases, all while hitting well over .300. Forget about Julio Lugo. This guy’s a better fantasy play.
Jason Bartlett, MIN. It’s been awhile since the Twins had someone at this position who could hit. Since taking over the starting job mid-season, Bartlett has been slapping the ball all over the field. He won’t produce much power, but boy can he hit, to the tune of .347/.391/.457 in 173 second-half ABs. The Twins’ future looks bright with Bartlett joining Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau as a core of young hitters.
Sky’s the Limit
Hanley Ramirez, FLA. Guess which shortstop leads the majors in steals this half? If you said Jose Reyes, you’d almost be right. Hanley Ramirez, in the midst of a great rookie campaign, has swiped 18 bases since the ASB, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down. Combine that with a .302/.368/.532 second half line, and you’ve got yourself a heck of a player. There’s no telling what kind of numbers he’ll be capable of in his second and third years.
Stephen Drew, ARI. One of the top-rated shortstop prospects in recent years, Drew has had a very successful taste of the bigs, and will almost certainly stick, even at just 23 years old. His line: .309/.347/.494, and he’s got plenty of upside left. He’s still young though, so next year will either be really good or really bad for Drew.
Under the Radar
Yuniesky Betancourt, SEA. The production numbers are not there (just 59 R and 42 RBI), but Betancourt has been solid at the plate for the M’s. Post-ASB numbers: .324/.346/.454. Seattle’s offense has been pathetic for most of the year, but at least he can make contact. If he can learn the strike zone a little better, and get a better slot in the lineup, he could do very well.
