Unlike other positions, there has been little to no movement at shortstop within the National League East this offseason. All five teams are expected to begin the year with the same player that finished 2024 as the starter.
With that, let’s continue our series of ranking each player at the position within the division ahead of the 2025 campaign.
NO. 5 – ORLANDO ARCIA, ATL
The Braves, to the surprise of many, have been pretty quiet this offseason. They have made a few moves here and there, but nothing substantial outside of signing Jurickson Profar. That more than likely means Orlando Arcia will be the team’s starting shortstop in 2025.
After being named a first-time All-Star in 2023, he failed to replicate that level of success the following season. In 2024, Arcia slashed .218/.271/.354 with 17 home runs, 46 RBIs and a .625 OPS over 157 games. It was a step in the wrong direction for him, at least on the offensive side of things.
Arcia struggled at the plate, but to his credit, he was still a solid defender. His .981 fielding percentage ranked fourth, while his four Outs Above Average ranked ninth among qualified players at shortstop. In terms of errors, Arcia’s 11 was tied for the 14th-most in 2024. He did some good things defensively, but it’s hard to overlook where he is at offensively entering 2025, which is a big concern for the Braves.
Can he bounce back this season and be more of a force offensively? Potentially, but it’s difficult to project he will do just that. He is a career .242 hitter with a .669 OPS and 78 OPS+. Arcia is entering the final year of a three-year, $7.3 million contract. The Braves do have a club option for 2026 as well worth $2 million. If he can’t find his way offensively, it’s hard not to wonder if the team will look to add another option at shortstop. But for now, he comes in at the No. 5 spot.
NO. 4 – XAVIER EDWARDS, MIA
There isn’t a lot to be excited about for Marlins fans. After making the playoffs in 2023, the team has focused on selling off their most coveted assets. It looks like Miami is in for another losing season, but they do still have some nice pieces to potentially build around.
One of them is Xavier Edwards, a first-round pick by the San Diego Padres in 2018. He only played in 70 games last year, but he certainly made a positive impression by slashing .328/397/.423 with one home run and 26 RBIs.
He didn’t offer a ton of power, but he did chip in with 12 doubles, five triples and 31 steals, meaning he does have something to offer with the bat in addition to being a factor on the base paths.
Edwards struggled defensively, however, as he logged -10 OAA and -8 Defensive Runs Saved in 590 innings at shortstop. It should be mentioned that most of his time in the minor leagues came at second base, which may be his best position long-term.
A lack of experience at this level is a fair argument against Edwards. A total of 100 major league games over the last two years is not a lot. Pitchers may very well be able to make the correct adjustments against the 25-year-old, leading to some regression. Still, Edwards has all the offensive qualities necessary to be a real force at the top of the Marlins lineup moving forward. For that reason, he lands at No. 4.
NO. 3 – CJ ABRAMS, WSH
The Washington Nationals are young and ascending, with one of their key guys being CJ Abrams.
He is entering his age-24 season on the back of a campaign in which he was a first-time All-Star. Abrams is hoping to build upon that and help lead the Nationals to their first winning season since capturing the World Series over the Houston Astros in 2019. It could certainly be an important season down in D.C.
On the whole, Abrams’ stats from the 2024 season don’t look all that impressive. In 138 games, he slashed .246/.314/.433 with 20 home runs and 65 RBIs, but a lot of that has to do with the poor second half he endured.
After the All-Star break, the shortstop hit .203 with a .586 OPS across 204 plate appearances. On the other hand, Abrams slashed .268/.343/.489 throughout the first half. Consistency should be a point of emphasis for him. If that first half was a sign of things to come, Abrams could head to the Midsummer Classic once again.
Defense is an area of concern, however. Among the 18 qualified shortstops in 2024, Abrams ranked last with -17 OAA. On the other hand, his one DRS ranked No. 13. Abrams needs to improve that part of his game, and I believe he has the physical tools to make that happen. He lands at No. 3.
NO. 2 – TREA TURNER, PHI
This is where the list moves to the next tier.
Trea Turner is one of the premier talents in the Phillies lineup. After a slow start to his time in Philadelphia, the shortstop has been crucial to its success. In 121 games last year, he slashed .295/.338/.469/.807 with 21 home runs and 62 RBIs. His numbers on the whole looked great, but he did struggle down the stretch. After hitting .349 with a .941 OPS in the first half, Turner followed that up by batting .247 with a .687 OPS in the second half.
Some would have Turner in the conversation for the best shortstop in the division. For me, his defense is the main reason why I don’t think it is much of a discussion. His -3 OAA and -14 DRS do not rank well among qualified shortstops, and his 17 errors tied with Abrams for the eighth-most among all players at the position.
Despite that weakness, Turner is still one of the game’s best, and he checks in at No. 2.
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NO. 1 – FRANCISCO LINDOR, NYM
If it wasn’t clear already, Francisco Lindor is unquestionably the best shortstop in the division.
In four seasons with the Mets, he somehow has yet to be an All-Star. Last season though, he finished second in National League MVP voting. The two years prior, he finished ninth. It’s nice to finally see Lindor getting recognition for just how good he is. The start of the 2024 season was tough for every Met, but Lindor was able to bounce back in a big way, slashing .273/.344/.500 with 33 home runs and 91 RBIs.
He rose to the occasion in the massive moments down the stretch. On the final day of the regular season, he hit a go-ahead, ninth-inning home run in Atlanta to put New York in the playoffs. In 13 postseason games, he hit .275 with a .877 OPS, including two home runs to go along with eight RBIs. After a quiet, and short, stint in the playoffs in 2022, Lindor proved to be a big-game player as a Met two years later.
Not to mention that Lindor is also an elite defender at shortstop. His 16 OAA ranked second among qualified players, only trailing Dansby Swanson of the Chicago Cubs last season. He also had a very impressive .979 fielding percentage, the fifth-best mark at the position.
Lindor is as well-rounded as it gets at shortstop. He is, without a doubt, the best player in the division at the position.
