There’s no way around it, fantasy baseball shortstops are a mess this season. Of the sixteen shortstops ranked within the top 200 in Yahoo! preseason ranks, only five rank inside the top 200, and only four rank within the top 100, as well. Only Francisco Lindor, Addison Russell and Corey Seager lived up to expectations in the first few weeks of the season. It’s likely time to move on from upside draftees like Javy Baez, but where to go from there? Below are three fantasy baseball free agents available in 50% or more of Yahoo! league for your consideration. The third has availability in 90% of leagues, meaning that he should be available in even the deepest of leagues.
[Jeff]
Asdrubal Cabrera, Mets (47% owned) (for the third straight week…)
The #5 shortstop on the season sits on waiver wires in over half of Yahoo! leagues, which is a travesty. Cabrera is one of only four shortstops with 20 combined runs and RBI, which puts him at the top of the position. It’s not like he fell off, either; over the last week, Cabrera has a .313 average with 4 runs, 3 RBIs and a dinger. With the injuries racking up for the Mets, Cabrera’s runs and RBI may struggle, but he should still hit for a high average with decent power.
Zack Cozart, Cincinnati (37% owned)
In fantasy baseball, it used to be that shortstops hit for a high average with a ton of stolen bases. Now it’s a power position, and Cozart is a standard bearer of that change. The league leader among shortstops in slugging (.640) sits on the waiver wire in nearly two-thirds of Yahoo! leagues, despite being #7 overall in OPS. He missed a few games with a wrist injury, but Cozart is legit. He is a quick fix at shortstop if your drafted starter struggles but he may not be a long-term solution. Cozart usually starts strong but has traditionally fallen off as the months heat up.
Bonus: Taylor Motter, Seattle (17% owned)
Motter filled in exceptionally well in Jean Segura’s absence. He has one of the best exit velocities in baseball, so he’s hitting the ball extremely hard. He gets a bonus rather than a full recommendation as he may lose out once Jean Segura returns from injury. If the Mariners choose to sit one of their scuffling outfielders or get Motter five or six days of playing time in a super-utility role, his 15/15 capabilities mean he should find a way onto your roster. For now, though, be wary of Jean Segura slotting back in at shortstop.
Freddy Galvis, Philadelphia (6% owned)
Galvis dragged and clawed his way up to a .220 average this week, getting hits in five straight games. He went 20/15 last year but didn’t get the benefit of the doubt this season. Galvis has a mix of speed and power that needs to be owned in deeper leagues. Doubly so if he gets his average up over .250. He’s sitting at .220 right now, but with a decreased BABIP. He strikes out a lot and doesn’t walk, so he’s not going to have a huge breakthrough, but his power and speed will return this season and he deserves more than 6% ownership.