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Cincinnati Reds: Four options to play shortstop in 2021

ByDrew Koch|
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 15: Jose Garcia #6 of the Glendale Desert Dogs (Cincinnati Reds) plays his position at shortstop during an Arizona Fall League game against the Mesa Solar Sox at Camelback Ranch on October 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. Glendale defeated Mesa 4-3. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 15: Jose Garcia #6 of the Glendale Desert Dogs (Cincinnati Reds) plays his position at shortstop during an Arizona Fall League game against the Mesa Solar Sox at Camelback Ranch on October 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. Glendale defeated Mesa 4-3. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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Cincinnati Reds
MIAMI, FLORIDA – AUGUST 28: Freddy Galvis #3 of the Cincinnati Reds (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

1. Freddy Galvis

The easiest option to play shortstop in 2021 would be Freddy Galvis. Cincinnati Reds fans saw little of Galvis at shortstop last season, as José Iglesias was busy putting together a career-year during his lone season in Cincinnati. Galvis started 27 games for the Reds in 2019 after coming over from Toronto, only four of which were at shortstop.

Recently, Scott Boyken of Blog Red Machine outlined some noteworthy stats that should make Reds fans happy. Freddy Galvis is the career active leader in fielding percentage (.9846) among shortstops. Also, the only National League shortstops who hit more home runs than Galvis’ 23 in 2019 were Chicago’s Javier Baez and St. Louis’ Paul DeJong.

If Galvis can maintain the power that he found in 2019, the middle of infield he and Mike Moustakas could wreak havoc on the National League. Galvis may only have a career-OPS of .675, but another year of .700-plus OPS could go a long way towards Cincinnati initiating contract talks with Galvis in the offseason.

Freddy Galvis is an above-average defensive shortstop with power. Those types of players don’t grow on trees. If Reds Country was happy with the play of Iglesias at shortstop last season, what they see from Galvis is 2019 might get the fanbase excited enough to see another season of the 30-year-old in a Cincinnati Reds uniform.

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