Ranking the best 15 shortstops in Major League Baseball for 2016 – CBSSports.com

As we continue with our series of ranking each position (Previous rankings: C | 1B | 2B), we now move on to shortstops, and it’s position crowded with young stars.

As was the case with previous rankings, let’s keep these things in mind:

1. We are ranking the players based upon which ones we’d most want to have for the 2016 season only, ignoring salary. Quite simply, if money were no object and you were trying to win the World Series this season, which player would you most want to have?

2. These are subjective, as voted on by Matt Snyder, Dayn Perry and Mike Axisa. We ranked the players at each position individually and averaged out the results.

3. These aren’t fantasy baseball rankings. All-around play matters.

And now, the top 15 shortstops in MLB as we head into the 2016 season …

	1. Carlos Correa, Astros
As a 20-year-old rookie in 2015, Correa absolutely thrived. He batted .279/.345/.512 (132 OPS+) with 22 homers and 14 steals in 99 games. Needless to say, that’s outstanding production for a shortstop, and at age 21 Correa has yet to reach his ceiling. Consider him an AL MVP candidate for the upcoming season.
	2. Brandon Crawford, Giants
Crawford has long been a standout defender at the position, and over the course his big-league career he’s methodically developed into a productive hitter. Last season, Crawford batted .256/.321/.462 with 21 homers and 33 doubles. He just turned 29, so decline shouldn’t be in the immediate offing.
	3. Troy Tulowitzki, Blue Jays
After the deadline trade to Toronto, Tulo didn’t hit up to his usual standards. However, moving forward he still projects as a quality hitter, especially as shortstops go. He remains one of the best defensive shortstops around.
	4. Francisco Lindor, Indians
Speaking of the best defensive shortstops around, the 22-year-old Lindor is already very much in the discussion. He’s a true difference-maker with the glove — arm, range, knack for the routine; it’s all there. While he hit a bit over his head last season, there’s enough offensive upside to dream on. If he’s able to capitalize on the progress he made with the bat during his rookie season, then we may be having Correa-Lindor debates for years to come.
	5. Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
The Red Sox left Bogaerts alone in 2015, and he responded in a big way: .320/.355/.421 with 35 doubles and 10 steals. We’ve been talking about Bogaerts for quite a while, but he’s still just 23. Plenty of excellence yet to come.
	6. Addison Russell, Cubs
After Starlin Castro played his way out of favor in Chicago, Russell switched back to his natural position and didn’t flinch. Going forward, he profiles as a plus defender with plenty of power upside. He turned 22 mere days ago.
	7. Corey Seager, Dodgers
Yes, yet another young shortstop. Is a golden age at the position forthcoming? The foundation for just that is in place. Seager absolutely raked in his 27-game audition for the Dodgers down the stretch last season. While he hit a bit over his head during said audition, he is a “high-floor” hitter with enough glove to stick at the position long-term. He’s going to be a useful big-league regular for a long time.
	T-8. Jung Ho Kang, Pirates
Kang, upon his return from his late-season knee injury, figures to slot in as the Buccos’ primary shortstop. Assuming his range isn’t diminished post-injury, he’ll continue being an average defender at the position with a bat that comfortably exceeds shortstop standards. Kang will be 29 by the time he comes off the DL, so he lack the long-term upside of many of the guys ahead of him. In the here and now, though, he’s quite valuable. His ranking drops a bit because of the uncertainty surrounding his injured knee.
	T-8. Andrelton Simmons, Angels
Simmons is probably the best defensive shortstop in the game today, and that obviously has tremendous value. He’s yet to tap into the power potential that he showed back in 2013, when he hit 17 homers as a 23-year-old for the Braves. However, the tremendous value he provides in the field makes up for any offensive shortcomings.
	10. Jhonny Peralta, Cardinals
Peralta’s been a steady and productive hitter for years with an underrated glove. Insofar as 2016 is concerned, the Marcel projection system tabs Peralta for a line of .269/.331/.427 with 17 homers. That, obviously, will put him in the upper tier of offensive shortstops. He’ll turn 34 in late May, so there’s risk of sudden decline. However, the long track record suggests continued near-term value.
	11. Alcides Escobar, Royals
Escobar is a true difference-maker with the glove, and he’s also plus base-runner. No, he’s not much of a hitter (career OPS+ of 76), but the remainder of his game is strong enough to make him a useful contributor. Escobar is entering his age-29 season.
	12. Ian Desmond, free agent
Desmond has a lot of swing and miss in his game, and he’s declined significantly from his offensive peak of 2012. That probably explains why he’s still on the market at this writing. That said, Desmond still profiles as an asset with the glove, and he’s more than capable of running into one every now and then at the plate.
	13. Didi Gregorius, Yankees
Decline-phase Derek Jeter made Yankee fans forget what it was like to have an adequate defensive shortstop on the field. Gregorius has reminded them, although he’s far better than “adequate.”
	14. Jose Iglesias, Tigers
Iglesias last season bounced back nicely from the leg injuries that cost him all of 2014. He’s an above-average defender at the position, and he can be a useful hitter if he sustains his high-average ways from 2015. That high aveage is essential, as Iglesias doesn’t have the plate discipline or raw power to remain productive in the event of a batting average decline.
	15. Asdrubal Cabrera, Mets
Cabrera these days is merely acceptable with the glove, but he’s an established quality hitter by the standards of his position. That figures to again be the case in his age-30 season.

Coming Friday: the top third basemen of 2016.