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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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Sep 5, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez (13) singles to left field against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez (13) singles to left field against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Hanley Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age: 30

2014 Statistics: .283/.369/.498, 13HR, 79RBI

Purely based on his 2014 offensive numbers as well as his career slashline .300/.373/.500, Hanley Ramirez steals the number one spot on the list of most desirable free agent short stops. He’s be an asset to any lineup, that is for sure. However it’s questionable as to whether or not Ramirez can stay healthy or not. This season he played in 128 games and was consistently listed as day to day with one ailment or another. He’ll also turn 31 before next season and as Snyder points out “not many shortstops still play at a high level into their mid-30s these days.”

Ramirez will likely go for the most money of all five of the shortstops on this list. He’s a three-time All-Star who won the National League batting title in .2009 hitting .342 on the season. If you’re a team with money and need offense Ramirez is the one for you, but beware because with the crop of shortstops being so tiny, you’ll probably end up over paying what Ramirez is actually worth.

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