Fantasy Baseball 2008 Shortstop Sleepers

The shortstop position in fantasy baseball has quickly and quietly evolved into one of the deepest fantasy baseball positions out there. The names at the top of the position include a variety of young, up-and-coming superstars, as well as household veteran names. Shortstops used to provide speed and batting average help, but there are now a significant number of shortstops who can also provide power and RBIs from the position.

Who are the top shortstops, and where should I draft my starter?

Jose Reyes (New York Mets), Jimmy Rollins (Philadelphia Phillies), and Hanley Ramirez (Florida Marlins) are the three names you should be on the lookout for in your fantasy baseball draft. This trio represents the cream of the crop of shortstops. Be prepared to pay a premium, or use a top draft spot, in order to get these guys on your roster.

Like second base, it is important to give a lot of thought to who you draft for your shortstop position if you miss out on the top tier. Try to find a player from the middle tier that can fit your team and cover areas of need. However, if a top-tier shortstop drops to you in the fourth or fifth round, do not hesitate to draft your position player there.

Who are the best values at shortstop for fantasy baseball owners this season?

Ryan Theriot, Chicago Cubs

Ryan Theriot took ahold of his starting opportunity and certainly delivered in a big way for the Cubbies last season. He is one of the top speed/stolen base options in the game, as he stole 28 stolen bases and clearly had a great amount of opportunities in addition to his successes. Theriot will also produce a solid number of runs (expect around 75-90 runs) and a decent batting average (around .275). Overall, he is a solid deal if you need to add speed and runs.

His skill set looks similar to that of Luis Castillo (New York Mets second baseman), with a slightly lower batting average. Theriot can produce for fantasy teams this season, and he has the ability to improve to a new level of production. Take him late in your draft, and enjoy the statistical boost he will provide.

Julio Lugo, Boston Red Sox

Sure, he had an off season last year. However, in his previous three seasons before 2007, he had never posted less than 21 stolen bases, a .275 batting average, or 69 runs in any of those seasons. Look for him to rebound, and in a scary good way. Remember, he bats for the Boston Red Sox, and if he gets off to a fast start, he could easily become a middle-to-top tier choice for fantasy baseball owners.

His value will never be lower than it is now, so try to draft him late in your draft. He could become a lineup regular with little time.

Other shortstop values: Felipe Lopez (Washington Nationals), Jason Bartlett (Minnesota Twins), Stephen Drew (Arizona Diamondbacks)