Let me preface this by saying I'm not at all opposed to Brendan Ryan being the starting shortstop next season.  And no, I don't expect him to put up numbers as good as he did this season, but even with some regression, he'll be making league minimum and putting up numbers similar to that of this season's FA crop.

Trading for a shortstop could be one thing.  Not Jack Wilson, who Ryan's like to outperform in 08.  But Renteria or Tejada could be good stopgap options.  Even with the organization going young, it's not as though there's a sure hit shortstop prospect they'd be blocking--barring a prospect trade, Ryan's the best this system is going to have to offer for at least the next three years.  And that's if Kozma doesn't turn out to be a bust.  What are the other options?  Tyler Greene?  Juan Lucerne?  AAAA players at best.  I just don't think the organization has the pieces to pull off such a trade, and if they did they should probably be trading for a pitcher anyhow.

But interesting enough to at least make note of, two new names could be entering the 2008 free agent pool.  

Out of the Yomiuri Giants of Japan, Tomohiro Nioka is starting to generate a little buzz.  Fellow Giant Koji Uehara is coming to the MLB this season and there's talk that Nioka might follow suit.  He's 31 years old, and his stats can be found here.
In just over 500 at bats this season Nioka hit .295/.346/.457 with 20 HR.  Signing a foreign player is always a gamble, as there's no way to know for sure how the numbers will translate.  Still, he looks like he'd be worth a look.  I have absolutely no clue what kind of salary this guy would get here, or how many years he'd want.  At 31, he's not a fossil, but may not be keeping in line with our organization's plans to go young.

But another player possibly entering the MLB this year out of Cuba, Alexei Ramirez, is a mere 26 years old.  Ramirez played on the 2004 gold medal team in Athens, and was the star of last year's Cuban World Baseball Classic team that finished second to Japan.  He hit .335 with 20 home runs this season for his Cuban team.  Gaudy numbers, though I believe the Cuban league is comparable to low A ball as far as the level of competition is concerned.  He's primarily a shortstop, but has spent time at center field.  

Maybe it's just the mystery behind these guys that's appealing.  I know that Caesar Izturis sucks, whereas these two players are new and interesting.  I think Ramirez at least would be worth a look by the team.