Speed is plentiful in the shortstop pool

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by Pat Cloghessy

Speed is a precious commodity. In this year’s player pool, speed paired with another asset is in short supply. There are 33 full-timers who can claim another asset in addition to speed. Thirteen of these have shortstop eligibility. So, if you are going to stock up on stolen bases, the place is here.

Want full-timers with BABS-sanctioned speed? There are 15 of them. Multi-position eligibility can be found in six full-timers and one notable mid-timer (Marwin Gonzalez). Much like the last two years, the position is flush with multi-asset talent. (21 players, 20 full-time)

With six shortstops being taken inside the top 20, the price to get a star can be steep. Fear not. Many of the multi-asset speedsters can be had after the big names are off the board. Of the top 13 SS off the board, 12 have a BA asset, and eight come with above average power metrics.

Here are BABS ratings for the shortstop position:

ASSETS: PT (Playing time), Pw (Power), Sp (Speed), Av (Batting Effectiveness), * (OBP help), Pk (Park help), Rg (Regression help). LIABILITIES: Av (Batting Ineffectiveness), Inj (Injury), Ex (Inexperience), Nw (New team), Pk (Park hurt), Ag (Age decline), Rg (Regression hurt)

Trevor Story (P+,s,a) is one of only two batters in this year’s player pool with extreme power (P+) and a speed asset. The other is Mike Trout. Story is not Trout (duh), but Trevor is being drafted in the middle of the 2nd round. An uncommon skill set such as this, in Coors Field? Paul DeJong is the only other SS with (PW) or better skills, but his ADP is 191.

In this exercise, Trea Turner (S+,a) will be the BABS poster boy for potential market inefficiency. This scarce asset pairing is held by only four MLB players. Amed Rosario (ADP 141) and Garrett Hampson (ADP 197) also belong to this esteemed group, offering comparable skills at a discounted price, albeit with experience liabilities.

Adalberto Mondesi (p.S+) and Javier Baez (p,SB,a) offer the in-demand power/speed profile. Chris Taylor checks in with (p,s) after pick 200.

The depth of the SS position is evidenced by the fact we haven’t yet mentioned the (p,AV) group. Nothing to sneeze at, members of this set (Lindor, Bregman, Machado) are expensive. Corey Seager must prove healthy, but at pick 86 he offers skills approximate to the big boys, who go much earlier. Perennial fantasy producer (and perennial afterthought) Asdrubal Cabrera moves to the AL and can be had near pick 300!

Last  year, Gleyber Torres (p,a) put up strikingly similar numbers to Carlos Correa’s 2015 rookie campaign. The following season, Correa was a top 10 pick. Torres’ ADP is 50. While Correa was certainly overhyped back then, is it possible that Torres is underhyped? Or is his ADP just right? Eduardo Escobar has the same BABS profile at pick 172.

“Late speed” is a buzz-worthy term. Shortstop offers some options after pick 200 that might fulfill the quest for it. Ketel Marte is the only SS with (SB,AV) assets. At pick 228, he is right near Andrelton Simmons (s,AV). Simmons ADP is 219. Both are primed to be SB back-fillers.

The end-game finds top prospects Bo Bichette (p,s,AV) and Fernando Tatis, Jr. (p,s). If roster space allows, these are stash-and-hold worthy assets.  Orlando Arcia (s) will likely need to replicate his playoff success to secure regular AB. Former top prospect J.P Crawford (s) gets a fresh start in Seattle. Nick Ahmed and Jordy Mercer (a) offer full-time AB.

The 50% Off discount to The Athletic is available through Monday, February 18.