Third Base

Below are our rankings of third basemen entering the 2018 season.  The list was last updated on February 4, 2018.

 1 Nolan Arenado (COL) His three-year average is 40 HR, 131 RBI, and 104 runs. His lowest BA during that span was .287. It’s easy to see why he’s an early first-round pick.
 2 Kris Bryant (CHC) His power numbers will be much closer to his 2016 results, than what we saw in 2017.
 3 Jose Ramirez (CLE, 2B) He took the first step in 2016. Improved upon that considerably last year. Is there still a higher level to be attained in 2018?
 4 Manny Machado (BAL) The shortstop eligibility is going to be a nice bonus. He also found a way to swipe nine bases in 2017, which would be nine more than in 2016.
 5 Anthony Rendon (WAS) Solid production across the board, but take note of those on-base skills. A  .403 OBP is truly elite.
 6 Josh Donaldson (TOR) At the end of July he had missed five weeks due to injury and hit a total of eleven homers. At year-end he had slugged 33 bombs. Any talk about the imminent decline of Josh Donaldson is premature.
 7 Alex Bregman (HOU, SS) He just missed being a 20-20 player in his sophomore campaign. He’ll blow by both of those numbers in 2018.
 8 Travis Shaw (MIL) If the 31 homers and 101 RBI didn’t impress you, finishing fifth in stolen bases at his position, with ten, really should.
 9 Joey Gallo (TEX, 1B) Last year he mashed 41 homers in 449 at-bats. Is the 50 home run barrier about to be passed?
 10 Rafael Devers (BOS) As a twenty-year-old, he hit ten homers in 222 at-bats. Need we say more?
 11 Nick Castellanos (DET, OF) This could very well be the last year for eligibility at the hot corner.
 12 Miguel Sano (MIN) The power potential is huge, but the strikeout rates are equally as huge. Toss in a possible suspension for his off-field indiscretions and there are plenty of red flags.
 13 Kyle Seager (SEA) Buy him a bit late and sit back and enjoy the 25-30 homers and 80-to-90 RBI’s. Safe, boring and very predictable has its charms.
 14 Justin Turner (LAD) How many at the keystone corner walked more than they struck out last year. Two, Anthony Rendon and Justin Turner. Make sure you remember that in OBP Leagues.
 15 Mike Moustakas (FA) How does a player that smacked 38 homers in 2017 not have a job at the beginning of February? Inquiring minds like Tony Clark would like to know.
 16 Jake Lamb (ARZ) In 2016, he had a .164 BA against southpaws. In 2017,  a .144 BA against southpaws. Toss in the fact that we’ve seen significant second-half droughts in both 2016 and 2017, and there is cause for concern.
 17 Eugenio Suarez (CIN) A 26 HR, 82 RBI campaign is solid, especially relative to his late draft slot. Suarez also finished tied for third at his position with Anthony Rendon, amassing 84 base-on-balls. Bump him up a notch or three in OBP formats.
 18 Ryon Healy (SEA, 1B) The 13 homers in 269 at-bats in 2016 came out of nowhere. He backed it up by hitting 25 out of the park in 576 at-bats in 2017. Expect more solid power production with the move to Seattle.
 19 Evan Longoria (SF) The Pablo Sandoval Experiment Part II has concluded.
 20 Adrian Beltre (TEX) Don’t rub this future HOF’er the wrong way.
 21 Maikel Franco (PHI) Yes, 2017 was a huge disappointment, but give the kid a break. He’s heading into his age-26 season so a positive correction could be in the works.
 22 Josh Harrison (PIT, 2B) Still a Pirate….but for how long? A change will be better….much better, than a rest.
 23 Matt Chapman (OAK) In a half-season he hit 14 bombs and struck out 92 times. A BA over .230 would be shocking.
 24 Eduardo Nunez (FA, 2B, OF) Don’t forget about Nunez, a relatively cheap and safe buy when looking to boost those SB numbers.
 25 Jedd Gyorko (STL) I’m betting that he spends more time at the hot corner this year than Matt Carpenter.
 26 Brian Anderson (MIA) The Marlins can only have so many Derek Jeter retro-bobblehead nights.
 27 Matt Davidson (CWS) A cheap source of power (26 HR in 414 AB) but you better build in some BA protection.
 28 Todd Frazier (FA) He might have to settle for a one-year deal and try playing his services once again next off-season.
 29 Yangervis Solarte (TOR, 2B, SS) He’s really going to enjoy the move from San Diego to Toronto. Devon Travis and Troy Tulowitzki’s on-going health issues are a guarantee that Solarte won’t struggle to find playing time.
 30 Logan Forsythe (LAD, 2B) The transition to the Dodgers didn’t go as smoothly as planned, but the playoff run breeds optimism for a rebound.
 31 Yolmer Sanchez (CWS, 2B)
 32 J.P. Crawford (PHI)
 33 Asdrubal Cabrera (NYM, 2B, SS)
 34 Jeimar Candelario (DET)
 35 Hernan Perez (MIL, OF)
 36 Eduardo Escobar (MIN)
 37 Chase Headley (SD, 1B)
 38 Cory Spangenberg (SD, OF)
 39 David Freese (PIT)
 40 Miguel Andujar (NYY)
 41 Matt Duffy (TB)
 42 Wilmer Flores (NYM, 1B)
 43 Jose Reyes (FA, 2B, SS)
 44 Chestor Cuthbert (KC)
 45 Ronald Torreyes (NYY, 2B, SS)
 46 Colin Moran (PIT)
 47 Martin Prado (MIA)
 48 Brandon Phillips (FA, 2B)
 49 Kelby Tomlinson (SF, 2B)
 50 T. J. Rivera (NYM, 1B)
 51 Johan Camargo (ATL, SS)
 52 Tyler Saladino (CWS, 2B)
 53 Yandy Diaz (CLE)
 54 Austin Riley (ATL)
 55 Luis Valbuena (1B)
 56 Giovanny Urshela (CLE)
 57 Kaleb Cowart (LAA, 2B)
 58 Andrew Romine (1B, 2B, OF)
 59 Greg Garcia (STL, 2B)
 60 Derek Dietrich (MIA)
 61 Hunter Dozier (KC)
 62 J. D. Davis (HOU)
 63 Yunel Escobar (FA)
 64 Deven Marrero (BOS)
 65 Rio Ruiz (ATL)
 66 Ryan Schimpf (TB)
 67 Christian Arroyo (TB)
 68 Pablo Sandoval (SF)
 69 Jung Ho Kang (PIT)
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