There hasn’t been any significant movement at the shortstop position in the National League East unless, of course, you consider the Mets adding Joey Wendle and the Braves adding Luis Guillorme to their respective depth charts. But beyond depth moves, the shortstop position in the NL East has been relatively tame this offseason after undergoing several changes the offseason beforehand, in which Atlanata lost Dansby Swanson and Philadelphia locked up Trea Turner long-term.

While the lack of blockbuster moves might seem tame compared to last year’s offseason movement, it also indicates a sense of confidence and security in the existing rosters. With that, MMO decided to rank the shortstops in the NL East division for the 2024 MLB season.

No. 5 – Jon Berti, MIA

The Marlins likely haven’t added their starting shortstop for the upcoming season just yet, as The Post’s Jon Heyman indicated Tuesday that Miami was still in the market for one, with Adalberto Mondesí as a name of potential interest. We can likely operate under the assumption that if the season started today, Jon Berti would serve as Miami’s starting shortstop rather than the likes of Xavier Edwards and Jacob Amaya, who have minimal MLB at-bats under their belt.

The 34-year-old Berti is not a power threat, but he’s coming off his best season to date. In 133 games in 2023, Berti slashed .294/.344/.405 with seven home runs, 33 RBIs, and an OPS of .748. Known as a base stealing threat, Berti seemingly didn’t take advantage of the MLB’s new rules last season, swiping 16 bags, despite stealing a career-high 41 a season before, in which the new rules had not been instituted yet. He also played in 31 more games and was on base significantly more, so the number discrepancy certainly raises some eyebrows.

Berti is known primarily for his offensive versatility and speed, but his defense at shortstop is also a valuable asset to the Marlins. While not considered a Gold Glove contender, Berti’s defensive skills are generally above average, making him a reliable option. The advanced metrics paint a better picture, as Berti had a 5 OAA, which landed him in the 89th percentile for OAA. However, his arm strength at the position (80.2) ranked in the 21st percentile, which doesn’t bode well for an aging middle infielder.

No. 4 – CJ Abrams, WSH

Despite a discouraging start to his MLB career, CJ Abrams made a remarkable comeback and established himself as a starting big league shortstop. However, he doesn’t rank higher in these rankings because the NL East division is filled with many talented shortstops.

The second-year shortstop slashed .245/.300/.412 and recorded a 95 OPS+. The unfortunate thing for Abrams is that he struggled to make hard contact, and his 87.4 average exit velocity and .412 slugging percentage indicate room for improvement in driving runs, which is often desired from a leadoff hitter. While he’s not a power hitter, Abrams showcased how valuable he can be in the leadoff spot, where his offense finally started to come around instead of being lower in the order.

As the centerpiece in the Juan Soto trade, Abrams hit 18 home runs and stole 47 bases in 151 games, finishing fifth in MLB behind Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr.Before this past season, there were only two players who managed to hit at least 18 home runs and steal at least 47 bases by the age of 22. They were César Cedeño and Mike Trout. However, this season, Abrams and Corbin Carroll joined them, making the 18/47 club a four-member group.

Abrams lacks on defense, and he showed no signs of significant improvement in his second season manning Washington’s middle infield. He committed 22 errors — more than double what he committed with the Nationals a season prior — and recorded a .966 fielding percentage. The advanced metrics were even worse, as Abrams had a -9 OAA, ranking him in the 4th percentile for OAA.

Photo by Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 – Orlando Arcia, ATL

Orlando Arcia usurped Vaughn Grissom as the unquestioned shortstop, earning an All-Star nod and solidifying the Braves’ offensive dominance. Losing Dansby Swanson didn’t sting. Instead, Arcia silenced his doubters in 2023, seizing the starting shortstop job from the highly-touted prospect Grissom and emerging as a key contributor to the Braves running away with the NL East. He slashed .264/.321/.420 with career highs in runs (79), RBI (64), home runs (17), doubles (28), and hits (153), earning a well-deserved All-Star selection.

Arcia is a Gold Glove-caliber defender known for his agility, range, and strong arm. He was a defensive stalwart for the Braves in 2023, committing just 12 errors in 142 games at shortstop. The advanced metrics painted even better pictures, as Arcia had a +5 OAA, ranking him in the 89th percentile for OAA.

No. 2 – Trea Turner, PHI

A standing ovation seemed to change Trea Turner‘s career trajectory in Philadelphia. After inking an 11-year contract in the offseason, Turner was miserable — to put it mildly — in his first few months with the team. After a 0-for-5 performance, in which he committed two errors, Turner received a standing ovation at Citizen’s Bank Park. He finished the remainder of the regular season, hitting .337 with 16 home runs and 42 RBIs.

The shortstop position was seemingly the only hole in Philadelphia’s lineup, and they plugged in a player who slashed .266/.320/.459/.778 and recorded a 111 OPS+ and 3.8 fWAR. Turner hit 26 home runs, drove in 76 runs and swiped 30 bags. He took a step back from a previous season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, in which he slashed .298/.343/.466/.809 and recorded a 121 OPS+ and 6.3 fWAR.

He’s still one of the premier players at his position, even if his defense fell off a cliff with a -3 OAA, ranking him in the 18th percentile for OAA.

Photo by Roberto Carlo

No. 1 – Francisco Lindor, NYM

This was a relatively easy choice. Despite missing out on his fifth All-Star nod, Francisco Lindor orchestrated a remarkable comeback in the 2023 season. Shaking off a sluggish start, the Mets’ cornerstone player put together a year for the ages. He joined an exclusive club, becoming only the fourth Met to achieve the coveted 30-30-30 feat – hitting 30 home runs, swiping 30 bases, and smashing 30 doubles in a single season.

Lindor wasn’t just the top home run hitter among National League shortstops (31); he also reigned supreme in RBIs (98) and on-base plus slugging percentage (boasting an impressive .806 mark). He showcased his well-rounded offensive game while ranking third in stolen bases (31). To cap off a remarkable season at age 29, Lindor finished with a .254/.336/.470 slash line, in addition to a 120 OPS+.

And to top it all off, Lindor was one — if not the best defensive player at his position — he recorded a +6 OAA, ranking him in the 90 percentile for OAA.

Previous NL East Position Rankings