Free-Agent Shortstops

Now for the 2004 free-agent crop of Shortstops.

I believe this is a very good crop. It includes one of the best shortstops in recent memory in Garciaparra, as well as a 40 year old whose career is on the upswing (according to EqA)--Barry Larkin.

As always, players are ranked by whom I believe is the best available.

Players age for 2005 season in parthesees.

1. Nomar Garciaparra (31): Signed with Cubs, 1 year ($8 million) 2004 Statistics- .301/.365/.477, 9 HR, 30/24 K/BB, 29.7 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .305/.361/.479, .287 EqA////Career batting line of .322/.370/.549--////Translated Career batting line of .322/.374/.563, .308 EqA////Great career K/BB of 1.42/1--////In his last full healthy season(2003), Garciaparra stole 19 bases, and was caught 5 times////Spent entire career in Boston (Slight hitter's park), before midseason trade last season sent him to the Cub's Wrigley Field (slight pitcher's park)////

2. Edgar Renteria (29): Signed with Red Sox, 4 years ($40 million) 2004 Statistics- .287/.327/.401, 10 HR, 78/39 K/BB, 26.5 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .291/.335/.409, .255 EqA////Career batting line of .289/.346/.400--////Translated career batting line of.292/.348/.403, .265 EqA////Very good career K/BB of 1.55/1--////Last four seasons of career spent in St. Louis (moderate pitcher's park)////Has stolen 17-41 bases every year of his 9 year career////Career SB/CS of 237/89 (72.7%)////2004 was Renteria's worst season according to EqA since 2001 (.245)////

3. Rich Aurilia (33): Signed minor league contract with Reds 2004 Statistics- .246/.314/.353, 6 HR, 71/37 K/BB, 5.8 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .250/.320/.370, .248 EqA////Career batting line of .275/.329/.435--////Translated career batting line of .280/.333/.446, .266 EqA////Career K/BB of 1.94/1--////Spent last 4 seasons in San Francisco (severe pitchers park), San Diego for half of 2004 (severe pitcher's park), and Seattle for half of 2004 (severe pitcher's park)////Aurilia has only put up an EqA higher than .280 once in his career (2001 - .314)////

4. Jose Hernandez (35): Signed with Indians, 1year ($1.8 million) 2004 Statistics- .289/.370/.540, 13 HR, 61/26 K/BB, 24.7 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .292/.372/.550, .305 EqA////Was a backup in Los Angeles in 2004////Career batting line of ..253/.313/.424--////Translated Career batting line of .250/.308/.421, .250 EqA////Horrible career K/BB of 3.61/1--////Spent last four seasons in five different cities: Los Angeles (severe pitcher's park), Pittsburgh (neutral park), Colorado (severe hitter's park), Milwaukee (neutral park), and Chicago Cubs (slight pitcher's park)////2004 was best of Hernandez's career according to EqA, his previous best was .284 in 2002 with Milwaukee////

5. Barry Larkin (41): 2004 Statistics- .289/.352/.419, 8 HR, 39/34 K/BB, 23.1 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .292/.356/.422, .271 EqA////Career batting line of .295/.371/.444--////Translated Career batting line of .295/.373/.462, .289 EqA////Amazing career K/BB of .870/1--////Has spent entire 19 year career in Cincinatti (moderate pitcher's park through 2003, a slight hitter's park last year in new stadium)////Believe it or not, even at his age, Larkin's recent EqA trend is going upward, (02'-.238, 03'-.260, 04'-.271)////Four of last five years, Larkin has had an injury(s) keep him out of at least part of every season (except 2002)////

6. Cristian Guzman (27): Signed with Washington (4 years-$16.8 million) 2004 Statistics- .274/.309/.384, 8 HR, 64/30 K/BB, 14.8 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .273/.312/.386, .245 EqA////Career batting line of .266/.303/.382--////Translated Career batting line of .263/.302/.383, .240 EqA////Very bad career K/BB of 2.96/1--////Has spent entire career in Minnesota (neutral park)////Can steal bases, but has a bad career SB/CS of 102/52 (66.2%)////Guzman's recent EqA trend is going upward (02'-.237, 03'-.242, 04'-.245)////

7. Orlando Cabrera (30): Signed with Angels, 4 years ($32 million) 2004 Statistics- .264/.306/.383, 10 HR, 54/39 K/BB, 13.7 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .257/.299/.378, .247 EqA////Career batting line of .268/.316/.409--////Translated Career batting line of .262/.310/.402, .249 EqA////Very good career K/BB of 1.32/1--////Can steal a base (12 in '04, career high of 25 in '02)////Career SB/CS of 97/30 (76.4%)////Spent last four seasons in Montreal (severe hitter's park), and Boston (slight hitter's park)////

8. Jose Valentin (35): Signed with Dodgers, 1 yr/$3.5 million 2004 Statistics- .216/.287/.473, 30 HR, 139/43 K/BB, 17.0 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .211/.287/.478, .255 EqA////Career batting line of .243/.321/.452--////Translated Career batting line of .240/.320/.456, .265 EqA////Career K/BB of 2.11/1--////As can be seen very clearly in his career numbers, Valentin supplies a lot of power, with very little potential to get on base////Homerun totals have gone up in last three years (02'-25, 03'-28, 04'-30)////Spent last four years in Chicago Whitesox (slight hitter's park)////AVG has gone down in each of last three years (02'-.249, 03'-.237, 04'-.216)////

9. Omar Vizquel (38): Signed with San Francisco (3 years-$12.25 million) 2004 Statistics- .291/.353/.388, 7 HR, 62/57 K/BB, 35.5 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .296/.365/.400, .271 EqA////Career batting line of .275/.341/.358--////Translated Career batting line of .281/.349/.371, .258 EqA////Spectacular career K/BB of 1.01/1--////Spent last 4 seasons, and most of career, in Cleveland (neutral park) ////Throughout career has shown ability to steal bases (19 in 2004, career high of 43 in 1997)////Career SB/CS of 318/129 (71.1%)////Besides career high of 14 HR in 2002, has never hit more than 9 HR in any season during his career////

10. Alex Gonzalez (28): Signed with Devil Rays, 1 year deal 2004 Statistics- .232/.270/ .419, 23 HR, 126/27 K/BB, 10.9 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .236/.273/.426, .238 EqA////Career batting line of .242/.287/.395--////Translated Career batting line of .244/.287/.400, .236 EqA////Riduculous career K/BB of 4.22/1--////Throughout career has shown very little ability to get on base, while showing a decent amount of power////Every year Gonzalez has had more than 500 AB, he has struck out more than 100 times////Has spent entire career in Florida (severe pitcher's park)////HR totals in last 3 healthy seasons is going up (01'-9, 03'-18, 04'-23)////

11. Ramon Martinez (32): Signed with Tigers, 1 year/$1.025 million 2004 Statistics- .246/.313/.387, 3 HR, 40/26 K/BB, 2.8 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .242/.310/.341, .234 EqA////Was a backup with the Chicago Cubs in 2004////Career batting line of .268/.330/.387--////Translated Career batting line of .272/.335/.391, .255 EqA////Very good career K/BB of 1.55/1--////Always has been a backup throughout career////Recent EqA trend is going downward (02'-.270, 03'-.253, 04'-.234)////Spent last four seasons in Chicago Cubs (slight pitcher's park), and San Francisco (severe pitcher's park)////

12. Craig Counsell (34): Signed with Diamondbacks, 2 yrs/$3.1 million 2004 Statistics- .241/.330/.315, 2 HR, 88/59 K/BB, 5.8 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .238/.325/.312, .237 EqA////Career batting line of .262/.345/.344--////Translated Career batting line of .258/.341/.340, .346 EqA////Great career K/BB of 1.14/1--////Went against his previous career numbers and stole 17 bases in 2004, and was only caught 4 times (80.1%)////Career SB/CS of 49/25 (66.2%)////Spent last four seasons in Arizona (severe hitter's park), and Milawaukee (neutral park)////

13. Desi Relaford (31): Signed with Rockies, 1 year/$950,000 2004 Statistics- .221/.296/.305, 6 HR, 56/34 K/BB, (-14.7) VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .216/.296/.299, .215 EqA////Career batting line of .246/.322/.351--////Translated Career batting line of .244/.321/.349, .242 EqA////Career K/BB of 1.67/1--////Stole 5 bases in 2004 after stealing 20 in 2003////Career SB/CS of 78/24(76.5%)////Each of last four seasons Relaford has hit either 6 or 8 HR////Recent EqA trend going downward (02'-.270, 03'-.244, 04'-.215)////Spent last four seasons in Kansas City (severe hitter's park), Seattle (severe pitcher's park), and New York Yankees (slight pitcher's park)////

14. Jose Vizcaino (37): Signed with Houston (1 year)2004 Statistics- .274/.311/.374, 3 HR, 39/20 K/BB, 6.5 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .268/.304/.369, .235 EqA////Career batting line of .272/.319/.347--////Translated Career batting line of .275/.322/.353, .238 EqA////Career K/BB of 1.95/1--////Spent last four seasons in Houston (moderate hitter's park)////Not a full time player since 1997 (568 AB)////

15. Rey Sanchez (37): Signed by Yankees, 1 year/$600,000 2004 Statistics- .246/.281/.337, 2 HR, 28/12 K/BB, (-3.5) VORP////2004 Translated Statistics- .249/.288/.342, .220 EqA////Career batting line of .271/.308/.334////Translated Career batting line of .271/.310/.336, .229 EqA////Career K/BB of 2.22/1--////Career high of 6 HR (1999, KC)////Spent last 4 seasons in six different cities: Tampa Bay (neutral park), Boston (slight hitter's park), Seattle (severe pitcher's park), New York Mets (severe pitcher's park), Kansas City (severe hitter's park), and Atlanta (slight pitcher's park)////


Other notable free agents who have already signed with their former teams: Deivi Cruz (1 yr. deal with San Francisco), Neifi Perez (1 yr. deal with Chicago Cubs), and Tomas Perez (2 yr. deal with Philadelphia).

Next up, free-agent third basemen.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.