Shortstop preview: Hanley is the man

Previews: C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | OF2 | DH | SP1 | SP2 | MR | CL1 | CL2

Shortstop is one of the top-heavy positions that warrant additional consideration during the draft preparation process.

There are few five-category producers at this position, and then owners pick and choose between power or speed contributors.

In leagues using the middle infield (MI) position in their setup, the premium placed on the upper-tier options is huge.

1. Hanley Ramirez, Florida
2009 Stats: .342, 24 HR, 106 RBI, 27 SB
What needs to be said? Ramirez is in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick in fantasy drafts for 2010. He’s one of the few five-tool players on the board. In the past four years, Ramirez has posted mind-boggling statistics. He owns a .316 lifetime batting average while averaging 25.75 home runs, 78.3 RBI, 41 stolen bases and 117.5 runs scored per year. Ramirez owns Land Shark Stadium. Well, he could probably get a piece in his next deal.

2. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado
2009 Stats: .297, 32 HR, 92 RBI, 20 SB
Tulowitzki rebounded brilliantly from his self-imposed injury-shortened 2008 season. He eclipsed nearly all of the statistical marks set in his breakout 2007 campaign. Tulowitzki ripped 66 extra-base hits and stole a career-best 20 bases, a total nearly triple his 2007 total. We can reasonably expect more of the same in the power and batting average categories this season, although I suspect that he steals fewer bases.

3. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
2009 Stats: .334, 18 HR, 66 RBI, 30 SB
There were questions about whether Jeter’s best days were behind him following his downturn in production during the 2008 season. “The Captain” rebounded in grand fashion, posting his highest home run output since 2005 and his second 30-stolen base campaign since 2002. I do expect those numbers to regress this season, but his five-category contribution cannot be discounted.

Jeter owns a lifetime .317 batting average and has generated double-digit output in home runs and stolen bases for 14 consecutive seasons. Do I need to remind you that the New York lineup is loaded for another big run toward the post-season?

4. Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia
2009 Stats: .250, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 31 SB
The former NL MVP experienced an uneven year in 2009. Rollins rediscovered his power stroke following a down 2008 campaign, but his .250 batting average was his worst output since 2002. Rollins still amassed 31 stolen bases, his sixth straight season (eighth overall) with at least 30 stolen bases. As Rollins’ contact rate did not change substantially, I anticipate that his batting average rises back toward his .274 career mark.

5. Jason Bartlett, Tampa Bay
2009 Stats: .320, 14 HR, 66 RBI, 30 SB
Bartlett burst onto the fantasy season in his second full year with the Rays. He’d been on the radar because of his speed and batting average contribution in prior seasons. Last year, he put it all together and became a five-tool contributor. He established new career marks across the board and completed his third straight season with at least 20 thefts. Bartlett improved his batting eye and improved his walk rate. I can’t wait for the follow-up campaign.

6. Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox
2009 Stats: .277, 15 HR, 68 RBI, 14 SB
Ramirez started the season poorly, and fans and fantasy owners began to jump off the ship. He turned things around and nearly matched his rookie production for the White Sox. Ramirez has tremendous power (37.5 extra-base hits per season) and flies on the basepaths (13.5 stolen bases per season).

The portion of the stat line that stands out to me is Ramirez’s marked improvement in his overall batting eye. He vastly improved his walk rate and his contact rate improved. Ramirez could push toward .300 and provide fantasy owners with five-tool production barring another disastrous April.

7. Stephen Drew, Arizona
2009 Stats: .261, 12 HR, 65 RBI
Drew battled through a difficult season for the Diamondbacks in 2009. He started slowly and ended weakly. In the early part of the summer, Drew tore the cover off the ball (.307 with 25 RBI) on a relative basis. He still finished the season with 53 extra-base hits and 65 RBI (two behind his 2008 total).

Fantasy owners might get themselves a bargain if their leaguemates simply review his 2009 stats and his .261 batting average. His strikeout rate was actually marginally lower than his 2008 mark, so I suspect that he earns back a good chunk of the 30-point drop he experienced.

8. Yunel Escobar, Atlanta
2009 Stats: .299, 14 HR, 76 RBI
Escobar made moderate improvements in each of the standard fantasy categories and has established himself as a steady roster option. He’s got good gap power and could still generate a moderate up-tick in the home run category in his third full season. Escobar has a keen batting eye and walks nearly as often as he strikes out.

9. Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland
2009 Stats: .308, 6 HR, 68 RBI, 17 SB
As expected, the versatile middle infielder took a giant leap forward in his production in 2009. He vastly improved his contact rate, drove the ball well into the gap and was active on the basepaths. Cabrera is still adjusting to the major leagues, so there is some hope that his high doubles total (42) will translate into more home runs as he matures. Will the rest of the lineup stay healthy and help him along?

10. Elvis Andrus, Texas
2009 Stats: .267, 6 HR, 40 RBI, 33 SB
Andrus made a smooth transition to the big leagues at the plate. He’ll still need some work on his defense, but that doesn’t impact our fantasy world. Andrus exhibited decent pop (31 extra-base hits and 40 RBI) with a solid contact rate. Obviously, Andrus’ speed is his calling card for the moment, as the Rangers let him fly. He’s still part of a packed lineup in Arlington and should develop his power stroke to match that speed.

11. Jose Reyes, New York Mets
2009 Stats: .279, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 11 SB
Reyes has been shut down indefinitely and could miss opening day or more because of his hyperthyroid condition.

A  media briefing on March 11 was conducted by the New York Mets to advise of the status of Reyes. As is quoted from the briefing, “(Reyes) to rest, refrain from athletic activity and make changes in his diet.”

This period of inactivity will range anywhere from 2-8 weeks.

Note that the 2-8 weeks isn’t a notice of when Reyes can return to action. No, that is the range of the expected inactivity (read: video game playing and rolling through the Netflix queue) before Reyes can begin to get ready for baseball. So, that puts us on a timetable from opening day through the middle of May … <i> as a starting point </i>.

That isn’t to say that Reyes can’t get his thyroid condition in check, get back onto the field and start flying around the bases again. It just compounds the questions about his health (hamstring) that you had coming into the reporting period for camp.

Light-hitting Alex Cora (.251 with one home run, 18 RBI and 8 stolen bases last season in 82 games) or 20-year old Ruben Tejada (.289 with five home runs and 46 RBI in Double-A) will slide in for Reyes during his absence. Neither player offers value in the fantasy realm. Tejada is likely 1-2 years away from being a contributor.

As for Reyes, he may ultimately represent a bargain on draft day if he can get his health in check. But if I were entering a draft room today, Reyes slides to No. 11.

12. Rafael Furcal, Los Angeles Dodgers
2009 Stats: .269, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 12 SB
Furcal returned from his injury-shortened 2008 campaign and fell right back in line with his career totals. The one piece missing was the robust stolen base total, as Furcal’s stolen base total was half that of his 2007 efforts. I expect to see Furcal given the green light more frequently this season and get back toward his previous lines. He’d stolen at least 25 bases in six consecutive seasons prior to the injury shortened 2008 campaign.

13. Miguel Tejada, Baltimore
2009 Stats: .313, 14 HR, 86 RBI
Tejada rejoins the Orioles on a $6 million contract and will be the starting third baseman in a rebuilt lineup. Save the jokes about his age and past transgressions. Tejada remains a solid contributor in-between the white lines and in fantasy lineups.

He’s batted .278 or better in eight consecutive seasons and still drives the ball into the gap effectively (46 doubles last season). Tejada has also driven in at least 80 runs in 10 of the past 11 seasons. He won’t hit 30 home runs any longer, but the XX-year old (OK, it had to be done) can still be a viable fantasy contributor.

14. Ryan Theriot, Chicago Cubs
2009 Stats: .284, 7 HR, 54 RBI, 21 SB
Theriot has established himself as a solid middle infield contributor to fantasy lineups. He’s registered a lifetime .288 batting average in five seasons with the team and has logged three consecutive years with at least 21 stolen bases and 80 runs scored. Theriot won’t offer much in the power categories, but the baseline numbers are certainly there.

15. Everth Cabrera, San Diego
2009 Stats: .255, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 25 SB
Cabrera’s game is clearly tied to his speed. He stole 25 bases in 33 attempts last season and showed an ability to stretch things on the basepaths (18 doubles and eight triples). Cabrera also displayed solid plate discipline with 46 walks in 423 plate appearances. I’m not looking for power numbers here at all. Cabrera is a table-setter and speed merchant.

16. J.J. Hardy, Minnesota
2009 Stats: .229, 11 HR, 47 RBI
Hardy experienced a miserable final season in Milwaukee. His batting average dropped by 54 points, and his home run and doubles output dropped by half. Hardy also missed significant time and was limited to 115 games played.

He’ll look to rebound in a new home. I suspect that Hardy’s power numbers and batting average return in line with his career marks (.262 batting average).

17. Erick Aybar, Los Angeles Angels
2009 Stats: .312, 5 HR, 58 RBI, 14 SB
Aybar represents a solid three-category option for fantasy owners. He won’t produce much in the power categories, but he possesses a good eye at the plate and is active on the basepaths. Interestingly, Aybar was a much more consistent hitter on the road last season, posting a batting average 61 higher away from the “Big A.”

18. Marco Scutaro, Boston
2009 Stats: .282, 12 HR, 60 RBI, 14 SB
Scutaro experienced a breakthrough season with the Blue Jays in 2009, and will be the shortstop in Boston while the team awaits Jed Lowrie’s arrival. He established new career marks in four of the five traditional fantasy categories. He tied his 2008 total of 60 RBI and walked more than he struck out. Scutaro’s ability to get on base is obviously an exciting prospect in a loaded Boston lineup. I’m looking at his total of 35 doubles from 2009 and imagining him slamming balls off  “The Monster.”

19. Jhonny Peralta, Cleveland
2009 Stats: .254, 11, 83 RBI
There are two fundamental truths about Peralta. He strike outs a ton, but he also plates a good amount of runs, having averaged 86 RBI in the past two years. Peralta has also averaged 57.6 extra-base hits per season over the past five years. He’s a lifetime .266 hitter with zero speed who will offer solid production in three categories. The Indians might not make a push to the top of the AL Central, but this lineup should score more runs.

20. Clint Barmes, Colorado
2009 Stats: .245, 23 HR, 76 RBI, 12 SB
Barmes started his path toward becoming a fantasy superstar in 2005, but his hot start was derailed by a stairway and deer meat. He’s rediscovered his stroke in the years since and has paid his dues. Barmes rapped out 58 extra-base hits in 2009, including 23 home runs.

He’ll continue to put up strong power numbers and swipe a few bases along the way. However, Barmes’ high strikeout rate drags his batting average into the abyss. He struck out nearly four times per walk in 2009. On the plus side, we can add Barmes to the long list of fantasy options aided by the Rocky Mountain air. His career batting average is 72 points higher at home.

21. Orlando Cabrera, Cincinnati
2009 Stats: .282, 9 HR, 77 RBI, 13 SB
Cabrera joins the Reds for 2010, the seventh team of his career. He’s a career .275 batter that hits 8-10 home runs, drives in 60-70 runs and logs a double-digit stolen base total annually. Cabrera’s a good offensive producer, and he’ll hold the spot with Paul Janish in the wings.

22. Alcides Escobar, Milwaukee
2009 Stats: .304, 1 HR, 11 RBI
Escobar played in 38 games for the Brewers last season and acclimated well to big league pitching. Obviously, there’s some question about facing other late-season call-ups, but one has to be encouraged by his minor-league resume. Escobar batted .298 at Triple-A Nashville last season (.328 at Double-A in 2008) and demonstrated good gap power and speed. In his past two minor league seasons, Escobar amassed 48 doubles and 76 stolen bases. He could become a solid three-category contributor as a first-year starter.

23. Edgar Renteria, San Francisco
2009 Stats: .250, 5 HR, 48 RBI, 7 SB
The well-traveled veteran shortstop joined his sixth team for the 2009 season. Renteria produced an uncharacteristic .250 batting average and appeared in fewer than 130 games for the third straight year. He’ll still launch doubles into the gap (19 last year), but the solid home run and stolen base production of the past is gone. You may see double-digit output in both categories, but Renteria will need to improve on last year’s abysmal .307 OBP.

24. Luis Valbuena, Cleveland
2009 Stats: .250, 10 HR, 31 RBI
Valbuena started the 2009 season slowly and struck out with great regularity (one per 3.4 at-bats). He turned things around once the calendar flipped to July and batted .281 for the balance of the season. Valbuena also reduced his strikeout rate during this period. There’s obviously still room for improvement, but his extra-base hit total is encouraging (one per 10 at-bats). Valbuena is eligible at both middle infield slots.

25. Ian Desmond, Washington 
2009 Stats: .280, 4 HR, 12 RBI
Desmond appeared at three positions for the Nationals following his call-up from Triple-A Syracuse (2B, SS and RF). He’s penciled in as the starting shortstop for Washington. Desmond had struggled at the plate during his minor league career, but experienced a huge breakthrough before getting the call. He batted .330 split between Double-A and Triple-A with seven home runs, 32 RBI and 21 stolen bases.

I’m intrigued by the stolen base total, and the fact that Desmond ripped 24 doubles last season. There’s power in the offing, and he might prove to be a bargain in leagues using the MI position.