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2016 AL East Rankings by Position: Shortstop

By Nate Wardle

Jun 10, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy (2) tags out Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) at second base during the second inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 10, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy (2) tags out Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) at second base during the second inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 6, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics second baseman Brett Lawrie (15) turns a double play against Seattle Mariners second baseman Brad Miller (5) during the third inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 6, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics second baseman Brett Lawrie (15) turns a double play against Seattle Mariners second baseman Brad Miller (5) during the third inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Tampa Bay Rays – Brad Miller, Tim Beckham, Nick Franklin

Brad Miller will be the third starting shortstop in Tampa Bay in three years, as Asdrubal Cabrera started last year. Miller had an ok year last year for the Mariners, hitting .258/.329/.402 with 11 HRs, 22 2Bs, 46 RBIs, 44 runs and 13 stolen bases. This came playing all over the field for the Mariners.

Coming to Tampa, Miller will be forced to do a little more offensively, and I’m not sure he is capable of that. The other issue is that he rates below average defensively. He finished 2015 with a -1.5 dWAR. Now, this could partly be due to the fact that he played all over the field. However, he committed 14 errors in 89 games at shortstop, a fielding percentage of .964. That isn’t very good.

As we round out the infield rankings, do you agree?

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