MLB: The most valued shortstops of 2019
By Bill Felber
6. Nick Ahmed, Arizona Diamondbacks, $6.3 million value; $3.663 million salary
This was a year of discovery for the Arizona Diamondbacks middle infield. Ketel Marte blossomed out of relative nowhere to become MLB’s most valued second basemen, and Nick Ahmed stepped up his shortstop game.
Ahmed’s .254 batting average along with his other offensive numbers – 19 home runs, 82 RBIs – weren’t as eye-catching as Marte’s. Yet they still translated to a 4.5 WAR, seventh best among qualifying shortstops. That set Ahmed’s offensive value at a hair over $3 million.
Defensively he was consistent, if not spectacular. At .979, he tied Lindor for eighth in fielding percentage, equating to $991,000 in value. He got to 4.03 chances per game, ranking him 12th in range and good for an additional $1.015 million.
Ahmed logged 1,381 innings on the field in 2019, the second highest workload of any shortstop in the game. That generated a final $1.243 million.
The third arbitration year, Ahmed’s status entering 2020, often represents a decision-point for franchises because it’s where the relatively big money begins to step in. The Diamondbacks paid Ahmed $3.663 million in 2019, but as a third-year arbitration eligible player, it would be no stretch to envision Ahmed commanding twice that amount in 2020.
That fact made his solid 2019 season especially well-timed. Were he bringing more questionable numbers to the arbitration table, Arizona’s front office might be more open to the question of whether they needed to find a new shortstop. No such concern now.