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MLB: Ranking the top 5 free agent shortstops

By Jennifer Rainwater

Oct 6, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez (13) catches a pop up by St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams (not pictured) during the third inning in game three of the 2014 NLDS baseball playoff game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez (13) catches a pop up by St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams (not pictured) during the third inning in game three of the 2014 NLDS baseball playoff game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 29, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees second baseman Stephen Drew (33) forces out Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Colby Rasmus (28) and throws to first base during the third inning in a game at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 29, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees second baseman Stephen Drew (33) forces out Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Colby Rasmus (28) and throws to first base during the third inning in a game at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Stephen Drew, New York Yankees

Age: 31

2014 Statistics: .162/.237/.299, 7HR, 26RBI

Stephen Drew didn’t accept his qualifying offer from the Boston Red Sox after the 2013 season and lived to regret it. He found himself in a market where there were not a lot of teams needing a shortstop. The ones that did, did not need one badly enough or wanted someone other than Drew, to forfeit a draft pick to get him. So Drew ended up having a shortened season and ended up back with the Red Sox for less than their original qualifying offer. They were the only team who didn’t have to give up a draft pick to sign him. So was not taking the qualifying offer a major backfire? Absolutely, which is is why I believe that there will be players who, this season will accept their qualifying offers, mainly because of stories like Drew’s.

After hitting just .179 for the Red Sox during the first part of the season, they traded Drew to the Yankees midseason. He did not hit better in New York. His batting average with the Yankees was .150. That kind of offense is just not desirable for, well, any team. He is better defensively than pretty much everyone on this list which is why he comes in at number three.

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