Shortstops close to free agency

[Eye Black]

It is sort of amazing this is the class of shortstops currently scheduled to be available in free agency following next season.

 

2022 Free Agent Shortstops: Francisco Lindor, Corey Seager, Trevor Story, Javier Báez, Carlos Correa

 

The following year Trea Turner is also slated to become a free agent.

 

The Brewers likely view Luis Urias as their shortstop of the future, but it’s tough not to get a little excited looking at that free agent class. With the market flooded with so many top end options, I am curious to see how it effects the players ability to secure large multi-year deals. All of them will get paid, but it’s sort of tough luck to hit the market at the same time as several other high end options at the position.

 

With just one year of control remaining Lindor has received the majority of the potential trade headlines (as he should), but we could certainly see Trevor Story available as a trade candidate this season in his final year of team control as well.

 

Is there any chance one of those players end up in a Brewers uniform on their next contact?

[Soupbone]

If Urias is not the SS of the future there is no one in our minor league system close. I guess Turang could be the next in line. For all of the attention paid to up the middle players by our front office it still doesn't seem like a strong point for us. I doubt we look at any of the guys mentioned but is there a lower level that would work for us?

[sveumrules]

Think the big names set to hit FA next year will probably end up out of our price range, but wouldn't be surprised if we're in on Simmons or Semien this winter depending how their markets develop.

[Eye Black]

Think the big names set to hit FA next year will probably end up out of our price range, but wouldn't be surprised if we're in on Simmons or Semien this winter depending how their markets develop.

I agree regarding this year’s free agents, I think it’s reasonable to believe that Marcus Semien and Andrelton Simmons (and Didi Gregorius) may not get big long-term offers this offseason somewhat in part due to the shortstops potentially available on the horizon.

[Soupbone]

So if it was going to happen and Simmons and Semien were the available guys which one would you want?

[sveumrules]

For 2021, ZiPS has them projected at...

 

Semien | 111 OPS+ | +3 DEF | 4.2 WAR | MLBTR: 1/14

Gregorious | 106 OPS+ | +1 DEF | 2.6 WAR | MLBTR: 3/39

Simmons | 89 OPS+ | +12 DEF | 2.5 WAR | MLBTR: 1/12

 

If they each come in around the MLBTR contract projection I would probably roll the dice on Marcus. I think ZiPS is a little hot on his OPS+, but even if he ends up closer to a 100 OPS+ he'll still come in about the same value wise as Didi or Andrelton.

[Soupbone]

Again if it happens do we just DFA Arcia?

[wibadgers23]

Again if it happens do we just DFA Arcia?

 

Some team would probably give us a low level prospect for him (similar to the Knebel trade).

[TURBO]

I just don't see us signing a SS when we still have black holes at 1B and 3B. I am not buying that we are going into the season with Vogelbomb as our every day 1B.

 

As much as I'd love to replace Arcia I just don't view that position as out greatest need, especially if it is at all possible that Urias emeges as the guy we thought we had when we traded for him. (I'm in the camp that he is never going to be that guy)

[JohnBriggs12]

Arcia was one of the bright spots in 2020

[Brewers Numbers]

I just don't see us signing a SS when we still have black holes at 1B and 3B. I am not buying that we are going into the season with Vogelbomb as our every day 1B.

 

As much as I'd love to replace Arcia I just don't view that position as out greatest need, especially if it is at all possible that Urias emeges as the guy we thought we had when we traded for him. (I'm in the camp that he is never going to be that guy)

If you can improve and get more runs and get a better player than the available options at 3B/1B then I think you do it. If it is only a slight improvement over Arcia then I agree with you.

[HiAndTight]

If Urias is not the SS of the future there is no one in our minor league system close. I guess Turang could be the next in line. For all of the attention paid to up the middle players by our front office it still doesn't seem like a strong point for us. I doubt we look at any of the guys mentioned but is there a lower level that would work for us?

 

I think Turang may be closer than some expect. Last year he would have spent potentially half the year in AA, which would put him on the doorsteps.

 

It's fair to assume he didn't progress as much as you'd hope(though that may not be true) but it's not like his progress was set back a full year due to injury.

 

His speed, his ability to draw walks, make contact, I think we see him up potentially late this year or the following year.

 

But I've been a huge fan of his for a while. I think he could be a Trea Turner like SS for us, hopefully settling in as a legit leadoff hitter with Hiura and Yelich right behind him.