J.J. Hardy

2013

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2012

Hardy finally found a long-term home in Baltimore last season, as the Orioles inked him to a three-year deal. Look for him to make it worth their while again, though it's unlikely that he'll continue to be deployed as their leadoff man given his lack of speed and that his power would be better served farther down in the order. Hardy delivered a mammoth 30 home runs from the shortstop position in just 129 games and provided a solid .269 average, 76 runs and 80 RBI. His injuries have a tendency to linger, but even with the missed time he is one of the more reliable power sources at shortstop.

2011

Hardy will be the starting shortstop for Baltimore after he was traded from Minnesota following an injury-plagued season. Hardy spent six weeks on the DL after hurting his left wrist while sliding in early May and it remained a problem all season. When healthy he was productive (.714 OPS) while putting up his usual strong defense (8.1 UZR last season). He also posted a .791 OPS in September when his wrist was finally close to full strength. Hardy has power and the move away from Target Field could make him a bargain, but he'll need to stay healthy.

2010

Hardy suffered through his worst season in Milwaukee during 2009, hitting .229/.302/.357. The Brewers then traded him to Minnesota shortly after the season ended. His Gold Glove caliber defense makes him valuable to major league teams even if he doesn't hit very well, but it doesn't help his fantasy value. Hardy offers zero value in the stolen-base department so unless he's hitting for power, he doesn't have much to offer. It's possible that his perceived value will drop far enough during this offseason where he'll be a bargain in drafts and auctions. He's still just 27 years old so there is some upside here, just don't overpay for it.

2009

Hardy solidified his spot as one of the top fantasy shortstops in 2008 by hitting .283/.343/.478 with 24 home runs. The only drawback to his numbers is that he doesn't steal any bases. There are rumors that he may need to move to third or second base to make way for top prospect Alcides Escobar, but it's doubtful that would happen in 2009. His .306 BABIP in 2008 was the highest of his career so there is some concern that his numbers will fall a little bit in 2009.

2008

Hardy was healthy for the first time in a few years in 2007 and started out strong, hitting .280 with 18 home runs before the All-Star break. Things fell apart a bit in the second half, hitting .273 with eight home runs and a .305 OBP. The on-base percentage is the biggest hole in Hardy's game and he walked just 12 times in the second half of the season. That deficiency will likely knock him down in the batting order in 2008 and put a dent in his runs scored numbers. Hardy has no stolen base value and he's not likely to ever hit for a high average. There isn't a ton upside with Hardy and 2007 may end up being his best season. He still may be good for a .270 average and 15 to 20 home runs, but don't bid like there is anything more than that.

2007

Hardy missed most of 2006 with an ankle injury that required surgery and has now missed significant time in two of the last three seasons. The Brewers are going to put him back in as the starting shortstop this spring and hope he can improve at the plate. He hit just .242 with five home runs in 35 games before the injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He has the potential to be an above-average fantasy shortstop with decent power, but has yet to develop any of that potential.

2006

Hardy may surprise people in 2006. His overall stats aren't eye-catching, but at 22, he used his rookie year as a learning experience and improved to .308/.363/.503 after the All-Star break. Don't pass over him based on the full-year numbers.

2005

Hardy missed almost all of 2004 after having surgery on his non throwing shoulder. Before the surgery it appeared that Hardy would be the starting SS in Milwaukee by the middle of the season. GM Doug Melvin said that the Brewers will give Hardy the chance to make the team this spring if his shoulder holds up. Hardy is major league ready with the glove but may need a few seasons to adjust at the plate. He is still a very good prospect and has the potential to be a top shortstop in the majors.

2004

Hardy is the Brewers' shortstop of the future. He is a terrific defensive shortstop and only needs to work on his hitting to get to the majors. He was one of the youngest players in the Southern League in 2003 yet hit .279 and started to show a little power. There is an outside chance that the Brewers will give him a chance to win the starting shortstop job in spring training, but it's more likely he'll start the season in Triple-A and be called up later on in the year.