The 2022 Replacement-Level Killers: Second Base and Shortstop

Whereas nonetheless focusing upon groups that meet the free definition of contenders (a .500 report or Playoff Odds of not less than 10%), and which have gotten about 0.6 WAR or much less to date — which prorates to 1.0 WAR over a full season — this 12 months I’ve included our Depth Charts’ rest-of-season WAR projections into the equation for a further perspective. Generally which will counsel that the workforce will clear the bar by a big margin, besides, I’ve included them right here as a result of the workforce’s efficiency at that spot is value a glance.

As famous beforehand, a few of these conditions are extra dire than others, notably when taken within the context of the remainder of their roster. I don’t count on each workforce to exit and monitor down an improve earlier than the August 2 deadline, and I’m much less involved with the options – a lot of which have extra transferring components concerned than a single commerce — than the issues.

Rays

After hitting for a 137 wRC+ with 39 homers en path to a 5.0 WAR season in 2021, Brandon Lowe helped the Rays prime this 12 months’s preseason Positional Power Rankings. However he hit simply .177/.250/.316 (66 wRC+) with three homers in April and was sidelined by a stress response in his decrease again in mid-Might, lacking two months. The Rays used 5 different gamers on the spot in his absence, with Vidal Bruján (.189/.229/.233), Isaac Paredes (.164/.282/.377), and Taylor Walls (.125/.204/.188) all various levels of dreadful in making 14–24 begins at second.

Fortunately, Lowe was activated off the injured checklist simply earlier than the All-Star break and has hit .435/.458/.652 in 24 PA since returning, lifting his line to .248/.318/.454 (123 wRC+). Between him and Paredes, who has homered 13 instances in 191 PA and hit .216/.293/.485 (123 wRC+) total whereas enjoying third, second, and first base, the Rays in all probability have sufficient protection on the place. The more pressing infield need is definitely at shortstop, the place Partitions (.173/.254/.282, 59 wRC+ total) is enjoying commonly whereas Wander Franco recovers from July 12 surgical procedure to restore a fractured hamate bone; he’s in all probability out for one more three to 6 weeks.

Thus, a shortstop who might additionally assist at second could be an excellent commerce goal. The Rockies’ José Iglesias is a pending free agent, and the Marlins’ Miguel Rojas is signed by means of subsequent 12 months, albeit at simply $5 million. Paul DeJong, who fell out of favor with the Cardinals and was despatched to Triple-A Louisville, the place he just lately received Worldwide League Participant of the Week honors, could possibly be a buy-low candidate if St. Louis is keen to eat a few of of his remaining wage (about $13 million together with a buyout of his 2024 possibility). An even bigger deal that additionally helps to cowl for the season-ending accidents of catcher Mike Zunino (thoracic outlet syndrome) and heart fielder Kevin Kiermaier (torn hip labrum) might shake further choices free.

White Sox

The Josh Harrison/Leury García tandem at second base didn’t seem prone to work, provided that the workforce ranked twenty seventh in our preseason Positional Energy Rankings, but it surely didn’t venture to be this dangerous. Harrison has began 47 instances on the place and hit a decent .238/.311/.372 (97 wRC+) with robust defensive metrics throughout the board, however García, who has began 42 instances, has hit simply .212/.222/.301 (43 wRC+) with two walks in 163 PA in that capability, which even his average-ish protection can’t cowl up. Garcia hit for a 98 wRC+ with 1.8 WAR in 474 PA final 12 months, however he’s right down to 40 total in 249 PA this 12 months and a degree 80 wRC+ in opposition to pitchers of every hand since 2020, which for a multipositional switch-hitter doesn’t precisely counsel a lot utility.

Enjoying Harrison extra commonly, which has basically been the case since mid-June, represents some enchancment. Given the lack of utilityman Danny Mendick, who hit .289/.343/.443 in 106 PA earlier than tearing his ACL [which I missed before this was first published], the White Sox would in all probability profit extra from some exterior assist. The Marlins’ Jon Berti (.271/.365/.375, 118 wRC+) and the Reds’ Brandon Drury (.274/.333/.523, 132 wRC+) and Donovan Solano (.329/.383/.471, 136 wRC+ since debuting on June 22 after a hamstring damage) are all versatile and within the midst of profession years for groups going nowhere; any of them could possibly be helpful additions.

Mariners

The Mariners traded for Adam Frazier in November, however he merely hasn’t performed properly, hitting .238/.298/.309 (78 wRC+) total in 71 appearances at second, 15 in proper, and 12 in left (although simply 11 mixed begins on the outfield corners). Abraham Toro hasn’t been useful both, hitting .176/.239/.324 (61 wRC+) in 39 video games at second, 17 at third base, and 21 appearances because the DH. A possible outfield surplus might maintain the reply, although the phrase “surplus” admittedly sounds farfetched provided that supervisor Scott Servais began Frazier, Dylan Moore, and Sam Haggerty — all primarily second basemen, although the final two have seen much more outfield responsibility than the keystone this 12 months — within the outfield on Monday evening. Jesse Winker was out with a proper ankle sprain after colliding with the Astros’ Jeremy Peña on Sunday, and Julio Rodríguez sat for his fourth straight recreation resulting from left wrist soreness. Servais additionally bypassed Kyle Lewis, who returned from an eight-week absence resulting from a concussion on Friday in proper discipline however hasn’t performed the outfield since (he’s DHed and pinch-hit).

Anyway, Lewis is within the outfield pool, and each Mitch Haniger (excessive ankle sprain) and Taylor Trammell (hamstring pressure) are prone to return quickly. That frees up Moore, who’s hitting .204/.349/.380 (117 wRC+) and owns a profession 107 wRC+ in opposition to lefties, to play extra second base, not less than in a platoon capability reverse the lefty-swinging Frazier. If Winker, Rodríguez, Haniger, and Lewis are all out there, one outfielder might additionally DH, with Carlos Santana enjoying first base and Ty France, who earned All-Star honors at first, sliding over to second base, the place he performed 52 instances over the past three seasons however has but to take action this 12 months.

All of which is to say that there are methods the Mariners can piece collectively an improve if the aforementioned outfielders are within the combine, although given common supervisor Jerry Dipoto’s penchant for wheeling and dealing, a commerce can hardly be dominated out, notably with Frazier and Haniger each pending free brokers.

Phillies

The Phillies re-signed Didi Gregorius to a two-year, $28 million deal after a robust 2020 season, which looms as a big mistake on the a part of membership president Dave Dombrowski. After producing only a 68 wRC+ and -0.9 WAR final 12 months and lacking time resulting from a proper elbow impingement, Sir Didi has hit simply .225/.284/.332 (72 wRC+), supplied shaky protection (which appears to be a job requirement for this workforce), and missed a month resulting from a knee sprain. Because of a 4-for-50 hunch in July, he’s netted 0.0 WAR.

Rookie Bryson Stott, who entered the season thirty fourth on our Top 100 Prospects list, has performed 32 video games on the place, primarily in Gregorius’ absence, however largely he’s performed second with Jean Segura out resulting from a proper index finger fracture. At both place, he hasn’t been a lot assist with the bat (.196/.268/.332, 69 wRC+) or the glove, producing 0.1 WAR. Utilityman Johan Camargo, who has performed 32 video games at quick and hit .242/.302/.322 (77 wRC+) total, hasn’t supplied the reply both.

With Segura starting a rehab project on Monday and prone to return in early August, the Phillies will in all probability give Stott an extended have a look at quick, as his offense has been trending upwards (.234/.312/.426, 106 wRC+ since June 1). Middle discipline could also be an even bigger precedence, provided that Philadelphia has gotten -0.4 WAR there, the worst amongst contenders. Fortifying the center infield depth appears extra doubtless than dealing for a starter forward of Gregorius and Stott, notably as there aren’t any game-changers on dropping golf equipment.

Yankees

With prospects Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza topping their prospect list and rating tenth and thirty ninth, respectively, on this spring’s High 100, the Yankees stayed out of the deep finish of the free-agent shortstop market this previous winter, as a substitute buying and selling for Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The 27-year-old ex-Ranger has been first rate defensively (although his 6 DRS is an outlier in comparison with his -.0 UZR and -1 RAA), however his 82 wRC+ (.272/.316/.322) is his lowest mark since 2019.

The chances appear excessive that the Yankees, who’ve cooled off a bit however are nonetheless enjoying at a 110-win tempo and lead the AL East by 12.5 video games, received’t do something to enhance the spot. The bullpen and the outfield usually tend to be their focus, provided that they’ve misplaced Chad Green and now Michael King to season-ending accidents and that they’re nonetheless not getting a lot from Joey Gallo.