Think you know which MLB teams got the most impact for their shortstop dollars in free agency last winter?
Wrong.
Of the four, Trea Turner officially got the most money ($300 million over 11 years from the Phillies), and Carlos Correa unofficially did (deals of $350 million and $315 million before failed physicals eventually led to a return to the Twins for $200 million).
But with two weeks left before the MLB season starts, it’s starting to become clear which teams got the most bang for those bucks — for their team’s biggest needs.
Even taking the financial comparison out of the evaluation, these are the teams that look like they got the most for their targeted shortstop this winter, pending actual games being played and assuming continued good health.
1. Chicago Cubs, Dansby Swanson
You can’t spell Dansby with a capital D. And nobody who spent big bucks on position players over the winter needed D more — or targeted it more. With a few exceptions last year, the Cubs’ fielding was subpar to say the least. It’s no coincidence that the Cubs added former Gold Glove winners Cody Bellinger, Eric Hosmer and Tucker Barnhart during the offseason despite each one looking for bounce-back offensive production.
But the Cubs’ fielding renaissance starts at shortstop with the 2022 Gold Glove winner who got $177 million for seven years. What puts Swanson over the top in this ranking (at least until the games start to count) is that he brings a competitive edge to the clubhouse with a ring to back it up, and — more tangibly — he actually turns two Cubs positions into Gold Glove-contender quality by joining the infield. That’s because he pushes 2022’s good-fielding shortstop, Nico Hoerner, back to second base — where Hoerner was a Gold Glove finalist in 2020.
That was the last time the Cubs made the playoffs — a pandemic-shortened season in which they had two Gold Glove winners, five finalists and won Rawlings’ first Gold Glove team award.
Five of those seven stellar fielders from that playoff group are no longer with the club, underscoring what this shortstop means to this team.
2. Philadelphia Phillies, Trea Turner
Turner might offer the most sheer performance value of the four big-bucks shortstops, as a two-way threat whose value got a big boost with rules changes that emphasize his athletic ability in the field (extreme shift bans) and his top-of-the-sport speed (larger bases, pickoff restrictions). The Cubs had him at the top of their wish list early.
For a defending National League champ with visions of World Series title this year, Turner represents a sizable upgrade at the position and overall influence for the Phillies. But he just misses having the level of difference-making impact for a Phillies club that already fielded a lineup with stars, compared to level of upgrade to the Cubs he — or Swanson — would represent.
3. Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins
A case could be made that Correa represented the best total-value package among the four big shortstops, especially considering he’s the youngest of the group. And his return to the Twins that six-year deal was a surprising boon to the Minnesota roster
But they missed the playoffs with him on the roster last year, and while part of that issue might have involved his time on the injured list, the Twins’ bigger roster needs involved pitching. How well they addressed that will have the biggest impact on their season.
4. Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres
This back-end ranking says little about Bogaerts and everything about the embarrassment of riches — emphasis on rich — up and down the Padres’ expensive, star-studded lineup.
At $280 million, dude’s a distant third in total-value contract on this roster — a roster that also happens to have already included a $340 million shortstop (Fernando Tatis Jr.) and another who was a Gold Glove finalist last year (Ha-Seong Kim).
These guys were going to handle their infield business — and outfield and hitting business — with or without him this year. Maybe he puts them over the top? Maybe he turns out to be supremely valuable if they experience a key injury somewhere else?
If so, then “the road to excess [indeed] leads to the palace of wisdom” (William Blake). Until then, he’s a another nine-figure luxury item on a roster full of them.
Honorable Mention: Elvis Andrus, Chicago White Sox
If you think the Cubs’ fielding was lacking in 2022, check out the lack of glove work on the other side of town.
The late, cheap signing of the two-time All-Star — who excelled as a late-summer injury replacement for Tim Anderson last year — adds a significant upgrade to the Sox’ middle infield as a 2023 second baseman (for now). He also provided an offensive boost in his Sox stint a year ago.
This guy has the potential to have as much impact for this team as any of the others if he’s at the top of his game — especially if the Sox get wise and move him over to short in a position swap with Anderson. Stay tuned.
Gordon Wittenmyer covers Major League Baseball for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at @GDubCub.