Second base is a plentiful position this offseason, and the game of musical chairs may just be getting started.
While the market was quiet at this week's Winter Meetings in Las Vegas, the Padres broke the silence Friday, agreeing to a two-year deal with veteran Ian Kinsler. Heading into his age-37 season, the four-time All-Star has seen his offense slip, but remains a rock-solid defender, although San Diego might be planning to use him more at third base.
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Jonathan Schoop, who joined the Twins on a one-year deal after the Brewers non-tendered him, is the only other free-agent second baseman to sign with a new club, thus far. (Robinson Cano was traded from the Mariners to the Mets earlier this month.)
So even with Kinsler coming off the board, a plethora of free agents who can play at that spot remain available. The flip side is that numerous teams are searching for help there, a list that could include the Brewers, Nationals, A's, Rockies, Angels and Dodgers.
Here is a breakdown of free-agent second basemen and what they bring to the table. Each player is listed with his 2018 team(s), 2019 seasonal age (as of July 1), and three-year total in wins above replacement (WAR), according to Baseball-Reference.com.
TOP OF THE MARKET
DJ LeMahieu, Rockies
2019 age: 30
Three-year WAR: 11.2
Pro: He's a two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner (including in 2018), who ranks second at his position in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) over the past five seasons. A .298 career hitter, LeMahieu won a batting title in 2016 (.348).
Con: LeMahieu owns a below-average 91 OPS+ since that terrific '16 campaign, and the longtime Rockie is only a .264/.311/.362 career hitter on the road.
Bottom line: The defense makes LeMahieu a reliable contributor, and his ability to make hard contact -- as shown by Statcast™ -- suggests offensive upside even if he leaves Coors Field.

Jed Lowrie, A's
2019 age: 35
Three-year WAR: 8.1
Pro: Lowrie has been one of the top offensive second basemen in the game over the past two years, batting .272/.356/.448 over that span. The switch-hitter set career highs in homers (23) and RBIs (99) in 2018.
Con: Lowrie battled injuries prior to playing more than 150 games in both 2017 and '18, he turns 35 in April, and he faded a bit late last year (.727 second-half OPS).
Bottom line: Lowrie's age and shaky long-term track record might make teams skittish about betting heavily on his recent production continuing.
Marwin Gonzalez, Astros
2019 age: 30
Three-year WAR: 8.1
Pro: He's much more than a second baseman, with extensive experience -- and the ability to handle -- every infield position, plus left field. Gonzalez also enjoyed a big second half at the plate that approached his excellent 2017 production.
Con: That surge aside, Gonzalez's 103 OPS+ in '18 exactly matched his career output, with '17 the only season in which the switch-hitter was significantly above average.
Bottom line: His versatility beyond second base will be coveted, but it's fair to wonder if '17 will remain an offensive outlier.
Daniel Murphy, Nationals/Cubs
2019 age: 34
Three-year WAR: 6.4
Pro: In the three seasons since his huge performance for the Mets in the 2015 playoffs, Murphy's 136 OPS+ ties him with Jose Ramirez for 14th best in the Majors (minimum 1,500 plate appearances), sandwiched between Paul Goldschmidt and Bryce Harper.
Con: Never known for his defense, Murphy has posted a minus-33 DRS score at second over the past two years, and his production at the plate fell in 2018, after he returned late from knee surgery.
Bottom line: Murphy's second-half rebound suggested he's still an excellent hitter, but some teams might view him as a first baseman and/or DH at this point.

BOUNCEBACK BETS
James Dozier, Twins/Dodgers
2019 age: 32
Three-year WAR: 11.8
Pro: Dozier has smacked at least 20 home runs and 30 doubles in five consecutive seasons, and his 148 homers since 2014 give him far and away the highest total among MLB second basemen.
Con: Dozier's offensive numbers plummeted in 2018, to his lowest since his rookie year ('12). He batted just .182/.300/.350 in 170 plate appearances after a trade to Los Angeles, and struggled in the postseason.
Bottom line: Dozier may have the most impressive recent resume among free-agent second basemen, but last season generated serious questions about whether he is entering a steep decline phase.
Josh Harrison, Pirates
2019 age: 31
Three-year WAR: 5.5
Pro: While he's not Gonzalez, Harrison is a solid defender with some versatility, including significant experience at third base and the corner outfield spots. He was above average with the bat as recently as 2017 (.272/.339/.432).
Con: Harrison doesn't walk much or hit for a lot of power, and his numbers tumbled last year at the plate (.250/.293/.363). He also has seen his sprint speed decline to MLB average, per Statcast™.
Bottom line: Much could depend on whether clubs believe Harrison's 2018 decline was related to the fractured left hand he sustained when he was hit by a pitch in April.

Neil Walker, Yankees
2019 age: 33
Three-year WAR: 3.9
Pro: Until last season, Walker was about as steady as it gets. From 2010-17, the switch-hitter posted an OPS+ between 106 and 126 each year (100 is league average), and averaged 2.6 WAR.
Con: Last year was just a bust for Walker, who batted a mere .219/.309/.354 overall and struggled in particular from the right side of the plate.
Bottom line: Walker's free agency last offseason dragged into March and might have contributed to a slow start. His .788 second-half OPS suggests a possible buy-low opportunity.
SOLID CONTRIBUTORS
Asdrubal Cabrera, Mets/Phillies
2019 age: 33
Three-year WAR: 4.6
Pro: The switch-hitter has put together four straight years with at least 540 plate appearances and a 106 OPS+, providing some pop from both sides of the plate.
Con: Cabrera has a DRS score of minus-23 at second over the past two seasons, plus -13 at shortstop, over about half as many innings.
Bottom line: The bat is stellar, but the glove limits his upside, especially as he pushes into his mid-30s.
Daniel Descalso, D-backs
2019 age: 32
Three-year WAR: 1.4
Pro: Descalso revamped himself at the plate in 2018, hitting the ball in the air and pulling it more, which yielded career-best numbers (.238/.353/.436, 13 homers) in 423 plate appearances.
Con: Descalso's larger body of work with the bat is uninspiring (career 85 OPS+), and while he has some positional versatility, his defensive numbers have not been especially strong.
Bottom line: He's a highly useful part-timer or utility man, especially if his new approach sticks going forward.

OTHERS OF NOTE
• John Forsythe, Dodgers/Twins (age 32): He produced 8.6 WAR for the Rays in 2015-16, but needs to resurrect his value after batting .228/.332/.309 with eight home runs over the past two seasons.
• Yangervis Solarte, Blue Jays (age 31): More of a third baseman over his career, the switch-hitter started hot in 2018, but had a .558 OPS over his final 92 games.
• Derek Dietrich, Marlins (age 29): He has struggled to find a home defensively, playing four positions, but posted a 114 OPS+ over the past four seasons.
• Wilmer Flores, Mets (age 27): The bat makes him an intriguing pickup, and Flores has more than held his own against righties over the past two seasons. But the defense around the infield is suspect.