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Baltimore Orioles: Three Veteran Free Agent Shortstop Options

By Nick Stevens

BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 10: Fans enter the stadium prior to the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles home opener at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 10, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 10: Fans enter the stadium prior to the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles home opener at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 10, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 21: Second baseman Adeiny Hechavarria #24 of the Atlanta Braves turns a double play over second baseman Cristhian Adames #14 of the San Francisco Giants in the fifth inning during the game at SunTrust Park on September 21, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

Adeiny Hechavarria- 31 years old

Jose Iglesias may be one of the top options for a team looking for a cheap, quality defender at the shortstop position and wouldn’t be a terrible stopgap for the Orioles if Villar is out of the picture. The last two guys on this list aren’t full season options to take over at shortstop, but are solid depth options who bring a quality glove.

Hechavarria doesn’t bring much at the plate with his career .253 average and .290 OBP, but he is coming off a season where he recorded a wRC+ of 93, surpassing his previous high of 89 back in 2015 with the Miami Marlins. But we aren’t here for his offense.

His glove has helped to keep him around on seven different franchises in eight big league seasons, but there may be a slight cause for concern. Looking at his defensive metrics, Hechavarria’s numbers have declined in each of the last five seasons.

Since he recorded a 1.7 dWAR, 9 Defensive Runs Saved, and an UZR of 10.6 in 2015, each of those numbers have steadily dropped. He had a successful stint to close out 2019 with the Atlanta Braves, so maybe he’s not done yet.

However, with Hanser Alberto in the lineup, it might make more sense to have a depth option who has more success against right-handed pitching. Hechevarria posted a wRC+ of 124 against lefties, but just 85 against righties.

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