After years of drafting and trading for a bunch of young middle infielders, the Guardians are struggling to find the right fit to pair with Andres Gimenez in the post-Amed Rosario era.
The Guardians are 25th in MLB with a 69 wRC+ from the shortstop position, they are 25th overall with 0 fWAR there, and 18th in defensive value at short.
First, let’s look at the current candidates: Brayan Rocchio has a 75 wRC+, 17.6/11.6 K/BB%, .060 ISO, .294 xWOBA with a .269 wOBA, 1 OAA and 5 DRS. A key for Rocchio will be finding a way to pull more balls in the air (ala Jose Ramirez and David Fry) as he did in Double-A.