As a fan, you have every right to wish the Tribe would move Jhonny Peralta to third base.

As a fantasy owner, the team's reluctance to make the switch is a benefit.

Peralta will never be mistaken with Florida's Hanley Ramirez, and he ranks only 11th on the list that follows, but he is more of a fantasy asset at shortstop than he would be at the hot corner.

In 12-team leagues, Peralta is a backup at third. At shortstop, he's a low-level starter.

He's hit 21 or more home runs in three of his last four seasons, and he's coming off a year in which he set career highs in RBI (89), runs scored (104), doubles (42) and extra-base hits (69).

If you fill the rest of your infield and outfield before selecting a shortstop, Peralta isn't a bad option. But keep in mind his high strikeout totals (he's had 126 or more four straight years, with a combined 298 in 2006 and 2007) if you play in points leagues that penalize for K's. He's also not going to help your batting average (.268 career).

Friday, we'll rate the third basemen, where the rankings were altered significantly with the latest news on Alex Rodriguez's hip injury.

Note: Each player is listed at the position he is projected to play this season, according to the depth charts at mlb.com. … Statistics listed are from the 2008 season.

SHORTSTOPS

Rank, player, team: R-HR-RBI-SB-Avg.
1. Hanley Ramirez, Marlins: 125-33-67-35-.301
2. Jose Reyes, Mets: 113-16-68-56-.297
3. Jimmy Rollins, Phillies: 76-11-59-47-.277
4. Derek Jeter, Yankees: 88-11-69-11-.300
5. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies: 48-8-46-1-.263
6. Rafael Furcal, Dodgers: 34-5-16-8-.357
7. Alexei Ramirez, White Sox: 65-21-71-13-.290
8. Stephen Drew, Diamondbacks: 91-21-67-3-.291
9. J.J. Hardy, Brewers: 78-24-74-2-.283
10. Miguel Tejada, Astros: 92-13-66-7-.283
11. Jhonny Peralta, Indians: 104-23-89-3-.276
12. Yunel Escobar, Braves: 71-10-60-2-.288
13. Mike Aviles, Royals: 68-10-51-8-.325
14. Ryan Theriot, Cubs: 85-1-38-22-.307
15. Jed Lowrie, Red Sox: 34-2-46-1-.258
16. Orlando Cabrera, A’s: 93-8-57-19-.281
17. Edgar Renteria, Giants: 69-10-55-6-.270
18. Khalil Greene, Cardinals: 30-10-35-5-.213
19. Cristian Guzman, Nationals: 77-9-55-6-.316
20. Erick Aybar, Angels: 53-3-39-7-.277

SHORT HOPS

There is a big difference between the top three and the next eight. ... Ramirez and Reyes might go first and second overall in leagues that emphasize stolen bases. ... Rollins was disappointing last season, but was phenomenal the year before (.296, 30 homers, 94 RBI, 41 steals). ... Jeter batted .343 and .322 with 97 and 73 RBI, respectively, in 2006 and 2007. ... Following an impressive rookie season, the White Sox’s Ramirez moves from second to shortstop. ... Tulowitzki and Furcal had their 2008 campaigns ruined by injuries. ... The once-great Tejada might be undervalued at No. 10. ... Don’t draft Lowrie unless he beats out the overpaid Julio Lugo in Boston. ... One to watch: The Rangers love 20-year-old Elvis Andrus so much they’ve moved Michael Young to third base. ... I have ranked former fantasy standouts Greene and Renteria higher than most sites. Greene was terrible last season, but did compile 27 homers and 97 RBI the year before. Renteria batted .332 in 2007.