Both the Cardinals and Mets are in the market for a quality shortstop, but the market is only starting to take shape and more teams are expected to enter the mix.
Stephen Drew is the top shortstop available, coming off a World Series victory and a season where he posted a .253/.333/.443 with 13 home runs and 67 RBIs in 124 games. The Red Sox signed him to a one-year, $9.5 million deal last winter so he will seek a raise and a long-term deal. His above average defensive skills make him the top shortstop available this winter, ahead of Jhonny Peralta and Rafael Furcal.
The Cardinals are looking for a shortstop but appear to be eyeing the trade market before looking at the free agent market. Jed Lowrie is on the short-list of trade targets after a solid year in Oakland, but it would likely cost the Cardinals an up-and-coming pitching prospect, perhaps Tim Cooney or a package of mid-level arms.
The Cardinals are also expected to look into Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar, but both will have an even higher price-tag than Lowrie. The Cardinals can afford to make a move but they are not desperate, so expect them to tread carefully. One thing is clear - Pete Kozma is not the future at shortstop for the Cardinals.
The Mets are also getting their feet wet in the trade market but don't match up well with teams given their minor league system is not as deep as others. However, Joel Sherman of the New York Post is reporting the Mets will make it a priority to add a shortstop after the frustrating year they had trying to fill the position.
On the trade market, there are actually several serviceable players with reasonable contracts who could fill in nicely. Erick Aybar of the Angels has three-years, $25 million left on his contract and is a .277 career hitter with speed on the base paths.
Jed Lowrie is also an option and someone the team could look into signing long-term. Lowrie, who hit .290 with 15 home runs and a .344 OBP in 154 games in 2012, had never appeared in more than 100 games prior to the 2013 season. Whether or not he can stay healthy is a serious question, so his price tag may not be as high as going after a free agent like Stephen Drew or Jurickson Profar.
Sherman notes that the Mets may look at high-risk, high-reward options such as Rafael Furcal. Furcal, who missed the entire 2012 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, would fit that criteria. He would be a nice platoon option with Ruben Tejada, but hopefully he can stay healthy enough to produce 400+ at-bats, which he has only done twice in six seasons.
There aren't many options like that on the free-agent market but there are few trade options. Stay tuned as the market develops.
The general manager meetings will be a good indication of the interest and urgency teams have to engage one another before next months Winter Meetings.
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