Initial 2009 rankings: Shortstops
In preparation for our early mock draft, we go position-by-position with some preliminary rankings for Draft Day 2009. We continue here at shortstop.
Our rankings are based on position eligibility for next season, which requires 20 games at a position to be eligible. If a player has not played 20 games, his primary position will be defined as what position he has played the most games at -- unless it is a current AL player that will be classified as DH-only.
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| RK | Player | TM | The thinking is as follows … |
| 1 | Hanley Ramirez  | FLA | Shoulder questions are cause for concern but 30-30 shortstops are a real rare breed. |
| 2 | Jose Reyes | NYM | Power might never become elite, but he is as steady as they come at the position. |
| 3 | Jimmy Rollins  | PHI | It must be nice having a 45-plus steal season qualify as an "off year," but he was an MVP. |
| 4 | Stephen Drew | ARI | He is just the third shortstop in history to hit 40 doubles, 10 triples and 20 homers. |
| 5 | Derek Jeter | NYY | Disappointing year should finally drop his Draft Day value down to a reasonable level. |
| 6 | J.J. Hardy | MIL | He might be reaching his ceiling in the eyes of many, but if he can extend those hot streaks ... |
| 7 | Troy Tulowitzki | COL | Improvement in the second half post-injury shows he wasn't a fluke as a rookie. |
| 8 | Jhonny Peralta | CLE | One of the few Indians to have a plus season by his standards. He earned his 2009 job. |
| 9 | Michael Young | TEX | He played injured and still will reach 150 games again. Reliability at this position is huge. |
| 10 | Miguel Tejada | HOU | We figured the power would rebound in Houston, but it was disappointing after quick start. |
| 11 | Yunel Escobar | ATL | A favorite sleeper on Draft Day 2008 wound up being a relative dud, but he will improve. |
| 12 | Orlando Cabrera | CHW | He's one of those who annually outperforms his draft position, but age is a factor now. |
| 13 | Mike Aviles | KC | This 27-year-old breakout can really hit, but you have to be cautious without a track record. |
| 14 | Edgar Renteria | DET | Unlike Cabrera, Renteria seems to underproduce his Draft Day value, but he can rebound still. |
| 15 | Rafael Furcal | LAD | He looked like a Fantasy MVP before his bad back cost him his season. He will remain a risk. |
| 16 | Ryan Theriot | CHC | A poor second half was an overdue market correction, but he does the little things well. |
| 17 | Jed Lowrie | BOS | Rookie proved to be an instant run producer, which portends big things for future. |
| 18 | Cristian Guzman | WAS | Rebound year was nice, but a lack of true pop or steals potential weighs him down still. |
| 19 | Bobby Crosby | OAK | We have just about given up on him ever reaching his potential, but at least he was healthy. |
| 20 | Khalil Greene | SD | He went from being an annual 30-homer shortstop to being an annual question mark. Flaky. |
| 21 | Brandon Wood | LAA | Power potential is immense, but you cannot guarantee the Angels will give him a full-time job. |
| 22 | Yuniesky Betancourt | SEA | Known for his glove, but that is what makes him valuable, full-time slap-hitting at-bats. |
| 23 | Brendan Harris | MIN | He has more pop in his bat than he showed this year, but Twins appear committed to him. |
| 24 | Clint Barmes | COL | He won't be the player he was before he fell down the stairs, but he proved to be solid again. |
| 25 | Nomar Garciaparra | LAD | Injuries will remain a weight on his value the rest of his career, but he can be decent in spurts. |
| 26 | Jeff Keppinger | CIN | We are not sure he has an everyday job next year. That is a nice hitter's park, though. |
| 27 | Jason Bartlett | TB | He was voted the playoff-bound Rays MVP this season, but it wasn't what he did at the plate. |
| 28 | Jerry Hairston | CIN | Speedy utility man will have value with his versatility and steals potential in Rotisserie leagues. |
| 29 | Julio Lugo | BOS | Boston career is over, but he should be able to find a full-time job somewhere this winter. |
| 30 | Marco Scutaro | TOR | One of the best utility men in baseball needs to be on this list. He is merely AL-only, though. |
| 31 | Nick Punto | MIN | Slap-hitting base-stealer won't ever play full-time, but his versatility comes in handy. |
| 32 | Maicer Izturis | LAA | We would rise him up this list more than a dozen spots if he had ever started a full season. |
| 33 | Erick Aybar | LAA | He has more steals potential than similar teammate, but he ranks behind him in experience. |
| 34 | Ben Zobrist | TB | Former opening day starter's power came around this season, so move him up if he will play. |
| 35 | Cesar Izturis | STL | His glove gets him at-bats and his steals are about all that gives him NL-only Rotisserie value. |
| 36 | Emmanuel Burriss | SF | Another slap-hitting base-stealer that would move up list if he was given a full-time job. |
| 37 | Ronny Cedeno | CHC | He is honestly a better speed-and-power shortstop talent than the one that starts in Chicago. |
| 38 | Aaron Miles | STL | If you need someone that can slap his way to .300, he is your man, but is he the Cards' man? |
| 39 | David Eckstein | ARI | If he doesn't play every day and lead off, there is little reason to own him in any format. |
| 40 | Jack Wilson | PIT | His days in Pittsburgh are over, so we think too his days as an everyday player will be, too. |
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