Fantasy Baseball Sleepers 2012: Ranking the Top Shortstop Sleepers

Shortstop is one of the trickier positions to pick on your fantasy team in 2012.  

Gone are the days of Derek Jeter, Nomar Garciaparra and Alex Rodriguez hitting 30 home runs and approaching 100 RBI.

Today’s shortstop is more defensive minded, with an emphasis on making contact at the plate. That’s not what you want from a fantasy perspective, which means aside from the stars like Troy Tulowitzki, Jose Reyes and Starlin Castro, you have to dig deep to find some legit producers.

Here are a few sleeper options that have the potential to be some of the more productive players at a position where it is difficult to find big fantasy value.

Erick Aybar — L.A. Angels

The 28-year-old is finally ready to breakout.

He will likely be the leadoff hitter for a team that just signed the best run producer in the game in Albert Pujols.

Last year Aybar wasn’t exceptional (.279/.322/.421), but he did steal 30 bases and smack 33 doubles.

Expect him to shatter his career-high 71 runs scored and end up being one of the 10 best shortstops fantasy-wise in 2012.

Zack Cozart — Cincinnati Reds

Very high risk/high reward, but Cozart has star potential.

In 37 AB’s last year, he compiled an impressive .324/.324/.486 line with two homers and six runs scored.

He was a three category star in the minors (HRs, runs, steals) and has been given the Opening Day nod by manager Dusty Baker.

In the middle of one of the best lineups in the NL, Cozart is in a prime position to produce.

Sean Rodriguez — Tampa Bay Rays

This is a complete roll of the dice, but being a utility man that plays in a potent lineup should give the 26-year-old ample opportunity to put up big numbers.

His .229 career average is certainly not ideal, but he’s showing signs of serious improvement. He improved his K-rate from 25 to 20 percent and he did hit 20 doubles.

The ability to play him at other positions with the likelihood of playing the vast majority of games means Rodriguez is a terrific gamble to take a flyer on.

Dee Gordon — L.A. Dodgers

It’s all about upside with the 23-year-old.

Gordon only has 224 MLB AB’s to his name, but he did hit .304 and swipe a ridiculous 24 stolen bases.

If he plays 140 games this season, hitting the 70 steal plateau is not only possible, it’s very likely to happen.

Obviously there is a risk taking a guy in a poor lineup without much experience, but the potential payoff is too good to pass up. 

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