Free agent or trade: Which market prevails for shortstops this offseason?
By Travis Koch
Three high-caliber free agent shortstops merge with three higher-caliber trade candidate shortstops this offseason. How will the markets play out?
It’s not the most opportunistic time to be a free agent in Major League Baseball. With revenues slashed from a short and fanless season, teams are likely to forgo big spending this offseason and instead seek to build their rosters through trades. The circumstantial strategy adjustment will have the worst impact on free agent shortstops.
Only four shortstops are partaking in free agency: Marcus Semien, Didi Gregorius, Andrelton Simmons, and Freddy Galvis. Each player will compete against the others for money and employment over the next few months. They’ll also face off against two shortstops on the trade block and a third that might as well be.
Four against three, the free agents must like their chances. Though, not when the three consists of Francisco Lindor, Javier Baez, and Trevor Story.
The Cleveland Indians gave every club the green light to bargain for Lindor, who is under contract for one more season. He headlines all available position players, and with several teams already expressing interest, it’s all but certain he’s wearing a new uniform come April.