A rare insightful MLB.com article looking at the top 4 shortstops defense this year and how it compares to their careers. The focus is on Outs Above Average though DRS is sometimes used. Wonder if this changes opinions for anyone regarding who the twins should sign https://www.mlb.com/news/which-2022-free-agent-shortstop-star-is-the-best-defender

... saw that article and it made me look back at some other numbers for these four shortstops. My preference has been Correa, Turner, Swanson, Bogearts but I'm going to boost Bogearts ahead by two spots. Correa still looks like the best shortstop for the next half decade. 

The money has become ridiculous and something most of us just need to accept as a cost of business. While Bogearts might be available for 6/$180 and the Twins could sure use his steady presence in the lineup, I'm still thinking that Correa might be worth a 10/$300 contract. The years are less important but Correa will want $300 million. The ten years allows the Twins to throw down $30 million per year as a cost of filling a position of need as opposed to an increased figure like $35-40 million annually for a shorter term. The sooner a decision is made, the better. This year waiting could be a sign that the Twins may rebuild.

Very good article which disects the defense of the big four pretty accurately. But you have to look beyond stats & look at fit, leadership and mentorship which all points to Correa. IMO Correa comes the closest to earning his money. If we don't land Correa, I'd skip the others and go a different route that doesn't include Andrus or Iglesia. And spend the money else where.

I read this article and thought the same thing.  Correa is still #1 but I'd move Bogaerts up to #2.  It appears Bogaerts would be a solid second baseman if Lewis or Lee blossom into the SS we all hope for.  There is nothing not to like about Bogaerts BAT !

1 hour ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I read this article and thought the same thing.  Correa is still #1 but I'd move Bogaerts up to #2.  It appears Bogaerts would be a solid second baseman if Lewis or Lee blossom into the SS we all hope for.  There is nothing not to like about Bogaerts BAT !

This is my take as well. Correa is the entire package. Boegarts has the bat to be good for quite some time and can move to second down the road while remaining very productive. 

Bogaerts, despite one good year,  is putting a whole at SS.

He has never played 2nd base so ya-sure just move him to 2nd base, and pray.

Twins need defense at SS, not a good bat, Simmons is still rated at 81 OAA, if Correa leaves.

 

25 minutes ago, RpR said:

Simmons is still rated at 81 OAA

He has joined a team already - Men's Senior Baseball; it's pretty good baseball.

6 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

He has joined a team already - Men's Senior Baseball; it's pretty good baseball.

Your sources.

It's true that Bogaerts has never played 2B.  The data and metrics come from all his chances while fielding on the RF side of 2B in shifts.  It's imperfect, I agree, but not outlandish to project that Bogaerts would be able to make a smooth transition to 2B.  

Anyone who watched the Twins fail time and again in situational hitting and hitting in general last season knows that a consistent bat like Bogaerts hitting 2-3 or 4 in our lineup would be a good thing.  And I keep coming back to Lewis, Lee and even Miller.  It's not like we have just ONE decent prospect for SS, we have several.  Miller may be a long shot, but Lewis and Lee are the real deal.  Any move we make at SS needs to be done with a clear plan of where Lewis and Lee would end up if someone like Correa was signed for 8 years, $288 million ($36 million average annual value) because that's probably the low end for someone like Correa.  

Ranking the 5 best MLB shortstops of the last decade

By Daniel Santiago

Modified 22 May 2022

https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/ranking-5-best-mlb-shortstops-last-decade

 

Twins need to keep Correa or sign number 4 or number 3.