Middle of the Road

Here’s a run down on the middle infielders. There is depth at the middle and lower levels of these positions. But, at the top, there are very few players: with 10 of top 15 top 2B kept and 9 off 13 and maybe 11 of 13 top SS kept. Could mean we definitely should keep Eckstein, unless we’re comfortable with the guys left.

2ND BASE:

This is a deep position. There are a lot of keepers, but still a lot of value and low priced players available.

TOP TIER:
1) Alfonso Soriano – AVAILABLE He’s in a war of position with the Nationals, refusing to play OF. So, he could be dealt at any time. Still he’s had 3 years with 30-30 at least in last 4 yrs. He’ll get the 30 SB’s, at least 25 HR even in Wash. He’ll be expensive, $35+
2) Jeff Kent Any9 25-07 – PROBABLY AVAILABLE Another studly 29 HR, 100 RBI, 6 SB, .289 year. But, he had wrist surgery in January, so is a risk. Otherwise Ken would keep him. He will still go the same though around $25. I’d rather go with a cheaper guy
3) Chase Utley Rips 13-07 – KEEPER Coulda, woulda, shoulda. And we shoulda. Though he wouldn’t be a Peckler right now if we had. He’s a stud. Future $18 contract extention next year
4) Marcus Giles Falkuhns 15-06C – KEEPER He was healthy and great, with 15 HR, 16 SB, .291. He’s now the leadoff hitter in front of Renteria, so will get few more steals.

2ND TIER
5) Jose Vidro Pounders 24-07 – AVAILABLE He’s actually only 31 yrs old. But, he’s been hurt past 2 seasons with 412 then 309 AB’s past 2 seasons. But, he’s a professional hitter. If he gets 450 AB’s, he’ll hit .290-.300, 15 HR, 65 RBI.. So, he’d be worth $12-15.
6) Todd Walker Bats 9-06 – KEEPER He’s solid, with 12-15 HR, 50 RBI, .280-.300 stats every year. Should be kept
7) Craig Counsell Falkuhns 5-07 – KEEPER He’s 35, but just gets better. Increased SB 7 to 11 to 17 to 26 past 4 years. He even had 9 HR’s last year. He’s got to be kept as a starting SS with SB’s
8) Ryan Freel Doyle 8-06 KEEPER, possibly extendable After 37 and 36 SB’s past 2 years, he’s a no brainer. Could be extended.
9) Craig Biggio ANY9 13-06 – Could be Ken’s only KEEPER 40 years old, and also playing great. He’s had 24/26 HR’s past 2 years and even 7/11 SB’s. He’ll probably lose a little, but still worth the $13.
10) Bill Hall Rips 2-06 - KEEPER, probably extended 7-07C Already in the 3B lists. No brainer keeper, even without a position to start at.
11) Rickie Weeks Doyle 5-07F - KEEPER He’ll be a 20-30 guy in the future, could be this year.

3rd TIER
12) Orlando Hudson – AVAILABLE He’s been decent in AL, but not studly. He’s a 10-15 HR, 7 SB, .275 hitter. Solid #’s, but no star. He’ll go $10-12.
13) Jerry Hairston Bums 17-07 - 2B/OF - AVAILABLE Needs to get AB’s. In 380 AB, got 4 HR, 8 SB, .261 last year. If Walker got traded, he’d be worth more, with .275, 20-25 SB potential. As backup, only worth $5-7
14) Damien Jackson Wash – 2B/SS AVAILABLE Hurt in 2004, otherwise has had 15-34 SB every year since 1999. He had 15 SB in 275 AB 2005 and 16 SB in 161 AB in 2003. He’ll be good cheap SB guy, could be $3-5 for 15 SB’s.
15) Ray Durham - AVAILABLE Not the leadoff hitter with SB’s the Giants paid for. Has had more HR then SB all 3 Giant years. So, should be .285, 10-14 HR, 60 RBI, 6 SB guy. Worth around $10
16) Hector Luna – 2B/OF AVAILABLE He’s 26 years old, will get AB’s as the utility. Really should be starting at 2B, but Junior Spivey will probably get the job. Still, had .285 with 10 SB in 137 AB last year. Could be a 20 SB guy if gets 250-300 AB’s. Worth going for in cheap slot. I’d rather buy him then Spivey for the $3-5
17) Junior Spivey – Lickers 10-07 – AVAILABLE He’s never been healthy since career year in 2002. Still he had 7 HR, 9 SB in 259 AB’s though with a .232 Ave last year. He could be starting in StL, so could be 10 HR, 8 SB in 350+ AB. Worth $5-7. Bave could hurt.
18) Tony Womack – AVAILABLE He’s now in Cinci. He can steal bases, stole 26+ every year since 1997 except his stint with Cubs. Bave is always suspect, .250-.270. Could be $2-5 if he’s not declared the starter, and could be $10+ if declared starter.
19) Luis Gonzalez – PECK 1-06 – KEEPER .292, 10 HR, and will qualify elsewhere. All for an open spot. Pretty good trade.
20) Josh Barfield – Doyle 5 – 08F – KEEPER He’ll be really good. But, still not worth Valverde.
21) Rich Aurilia – 2B/SS AVAILABLE He was pretty good last year, .282, 14 HR, 68 RBI, but he doesn’t have a set position. He’s behind Lopez at SS and Freel/Womack at 2B. So, AB’s could be tough to get. Still could be decent $3-5 guy.

3RD TIER
22) Alex Cintron – TRADED TO AL
23) Jose Castillo – Falkuhns 2-06 – Keepable, may not make the cut .268 with 11 HR in 370 AB is certainly worth keeping or going for $5
24) Kaz Matsui – AVAILABLE And we could have had Utley and Eckstein for his money. Still, if gets 450-500 AB in NY, he could get 7 HR, 15 SB, .270. He’ll certainly drop in price, but how far? $3-7??
25) Mark Bellhorn – AVAILABLE Looks like he’s losing the job to Barfield. He’s had big years in 2002 and 2004, but sucked last year .210, 8 HR with Yankees. Not a guy to gamble on, no long term upside.
26) Dan Uggla FLA – probable starter now that Pokey Reese was released Currently the starter, but we’ll see if Florida signs someone else. He hit .297 with 21 HR and 15 SB in 498 AB in AA last year. May be overmatched if is in the majors this year. But, looks like he has tools. Could be guy with upside for cheap $$

4TH TIER - The Rest
27) Aaron Miles – Falkuhns 10-06 – AVAILABLE He’s behind Spivey and Luna right now. He’s a $1-2 guy.
28) Damion Easley – AVAILABLE 36 yrs old, behind Hudson in Arizona. Can’t hit. He’s a .240 hitter with 8-10 HR potential. $0-1. Not worth drafting
29) Neifi Perez – 2B/SS Cappers 5-07X – AVAILABLE Got AB’s last year and wow: 572 AB, .274, 9 HR, 8 SB. All better then 3 years before combined. He’s functional I guess for $1-2. Depends on whether gets AB’s or they go to Cedeno
30) Eric Brunlett – AVAILABLE He’s behind Biggio and Everett in Houston, so doesn’t get AB’s. But, he has speed, 7 SB in 109 AB last year. He’ll go $0-1.
31) Abraham Nunez – PHI – 2B/SS/3B AVAILABLE Backup to Bell, who’s hurt now. Still got 421 AB in StL last year, 5 HR, .285 isn’t much to get excited about.
32) Freddy Sanchez – 2B/3B AVAILABLE He got 453 AB last year with .291, 5 HR. that’s pretty much his upside. $1 33) Marlon Anderson – Wash 1B/2B/OF AVAILABLE He’ll be backup and pinch hitter. .250+, 7 HR guy. $0-1

SHORTSTOPS:

Not much left at top, but there is some guys in the middle group left. And some upside guys like Hardy, Hanley Ramirez, Damian Jackson

TOP TIER
1) Jose Reyes – Cappers 15 – 06C, KEEPER He’s now an elite SB guy in NL, had 60 SB last year
2) Felipe Lopez – Rips 2 – 07, KEEPER He really broke out last year with 23 HR, 15 SB, .291 year
3) Rafael Furcal – Lickers 30-07 – KEEPER, at price He started to steal again, had 46 SB last year. And he has 10 HR, .285 stats to go with it. He’s at his price, but SB’s get bid up
4) Jimmy Rollins – Bats 27 – 06, KEEPER I don’t think you extend him, but 12 HR, 41 SB, .290 is worth his price
5) Billy Hall – Rips 2 – 06, KEEPER, likely extend to 7 – 07 See above 2B

2ND TIER
6) Nomar Garciaparra - 3B/SS ANY 9 – 35 – 07, AVAILABLE He’ll be 1B and maybe OF during season also. Has become an injury risk with only 230 AB last year and 550 over past 2 years. If he could ever stay healthy, he could be 20 HR, 80 RBI, .290+ hitter. Will be $20+. Not worth the risk
7) Edgar Renteria - AVAILABLE He sucked in Boston last year. No reason to expect him to not be good back in NL in Atlanta. .290-.300, 10 HR, 15+ SB
8) Jack Wilson – Available He reverted to the .257 Bave he’d had 2002 and 2003 (not the .305 in 2004), but still had 8 HR and 7 SB. Should be similar, with hope for higher Bave as he played better last 2 months.
9) Clint Barmes – Rips 11 – 06X, KEEPER Started out huge, then got hurt. Still he’s a 15-20 HR, .300 potential
10) Adam Everett – Busch 6 – 06, KEEPER Getting better every year, up to 11 HR, 21 SB last year, but only .248 Bave. He’s a keeper, could be extended with the SB’s
11) David Eckstein – PECK 11 – 07, Possible KEEPER .294, 8 HR, 11 SB were solid. Though the HR’s were higher then usual, maybe due to being in a lineup that gets him more fast balls.
12) Khalil Greene – Bums 5 – 06F, KEEPER He’s good, 15 HR, 70 RBI, but .250 Bave. Still keeper, but extend to $15 isn’t worth it

3RD TIER
13) Cesar Izturis – HOBO 5-06, KEEPABLE, ? makes Hobo’s cut with injury He’s hurt, then when returns, will he start at SS or 2B? had 25 SB in 2004, but was only .257, 8 SB in 444 AB last year. Not as good as I thought.
14) Hanley Ramirez – AVAILABLE Was in the trade of Beckett to Boston. This guy could be big in the future. He only was in AA, but looks like he’ll be starting SS in Florida. He could be 20 SB guy with .270+
15) JJ Hardy – Bums 4-07 - Not going to make the cut for the Bums He learned on the job. Had .308 with 8 HR after the All Star Break. He’d be good guy to get, with upside. His .247 with 9 HR totals may scare people away
16) Ronny Cedeno – Doyle 7-07X, Almost worth Valverde , not KEEPER He looks like he could be the starter. He hit .300+ in AAA and majors last year, but don’t expect much else 5-8 HR and SB, though has upside.
17) Rich Aurliia – 2B/SS Available He was pretty good last year, .282, 14 HR, 68 RBI, but he doesn’t have a set position. He’s behind Lopez at SS and Freel/Womack at 2B. So, AB’s could be tough to get. Still could be decent $3-5 guy
18) Omar Vizquel – Any9 – 17-07, Not going to Keep, AVAILABLE He had good year, 24 SB, but slowed down in 2nd half. Still could be .275, 10-15 SB. He’ll be overpriced by the SF Homers
18a) Damien Jackson – Wash – 2B/SS AVAILABLE Hurt in 2004, otherwise has had 15-34 SB every year since 1999. He had 15 SB in 275 AB 2005 and 16 SB in 161 AB in 2003. He’ll be good cheap SB guy, could be $3-5 for 15 SB’s.

THE REST
19) Damion Easley ARIZ 36 yrs old, behind Hudson in Arizona. Can’t hit. He’s a .240 hitter with 8-10 HR potential. $0-1. Not worth drafting
20) Omar Quintanilla COL You have to like guys in Colorado. Though, he can hit for Bave, he’s not a HR or SB guy in minors. He’s a $1 guy.
21) Neifi Perez CHC – Capper 5-07X - NOT Got AB’s last year and wow: 572 AB, .274, 9 HR, 8 SB. All better then 3 years before combined. He’s functional I guess for $1-2. Depends on whether gets AB’s or they go to Cedeno
22) Royce Clayton WASH – Busch 14 – 07X, We can hope, but NOT He’s old, and lots of guys in Wash. He can still steal 10 SB with .270 if he gets 500 AB as a starter. Otherwise, forget it.
23) Alex Gonzalez PHI – The ex Cub, not the ex-Marlin He’s the bad Alex. He’ll get .230-.245 with 7+ HR
24) Wilson Betemit SS/3B ATL Not much upside being behind Chipper unless he gets hurt. Betemit did hit .300 with 4 HR in 246 AB’s. He’s worth $1, with upside if gets any AB’s
25) Ramon Martinez LA He’s got no upside. Not worth drafting
26) Alfredo Amezaga FLA He’s in the mix at SS and 2B, but can he hit?? He’s not shown anything in the past.
27) Oscar Robles LA This team is deep with infielders, and he’s low on the depth chart. He’ll drop further when Izturis returns. Not worth drafting.
28) Deivi Cruz STL He’s behind a lot of guys. So AB’s will be tough to get. Probably only a $0-1, likely not drafted
29) Cristian Guzman WASH He’s currently the starter at SS, but the worst guy. I’d rather start Clayton or Damian Jackson. Hit .219 last year. Though he’s really a .265 guy. He’s stopped stealing bases also.