Baseball - Position Rankings

Fantasy Baseball Rankings: 3B

The hot corner is still not an incredibly deep position in fantasy baseball. But there is a solid group of players in their prime toward the top of the rankings. Beyond that, there are a bunch of players that can be an asset in one, two or maybe even three categories.

Tier 1

Evan Longoria-25

Longoria notably had a drop-off in home runs in 2010, but made up for it some with 46 doubles.  Expect a return to 30-plus home runs and more RBI this season, even with the losses around him in the Rays' lineup.  A worthy first-round pick if you decide to go that route.

David Wright-28

Wright enjoyed a rebound season in the power department last season, as City Field did not hamper him psychologically any more (at least apparently). He may not see 30 home runs in a season again, but 20-20 potential with solid across the board numbers still makes him a top tier fantasy third baseman.

Ryan Zimmerman-26 (Upside)

Zimmerman dropped off in home runs and RBI last season compared to 2009, but did hit over .300.  If he can hit fewer groundballs (41 percent last season), the potential for more home runs is here.

Alex Rodriguez-35

A-Rod battled nagging leg injuries in 2010, which explains his drop-off in stolen bases. His days as the top fantasy third baseman are done now, but all is not lost as long as he can remain fairly healthy. That’s where the risk lies.

Tier 2

Adrian Beltre-32 (Proceed With Caution)

Beltre had a rebound season with the Boston Red Sox in 2010, and parlayed it into a nice contract from the Texas Rangers this offseason. His past record of increased production in contract years is notable, so any reasonable fantasy owner should expect a drop-off in 2011. 

Mark Reynolds-27

The Diamondbacks traded Reynolds to the Baltimore Orioles this winter, as he continues to strike out at an alarming rate (211 times in 2010 and over 200 strikeouts three seasons in a row).  A change of scenery may help him, but you’re paying for power here and little else.

Pablo Sandoval-24 (Rebound Candidate)

Sandoval had a dismal 2010 season and was one of the bigger disappointments for fantasy owners overall. He has reportedly lost a bunch of weight this offseason, which could be a sign of re-dedication and makes a rebound possible.

Michael Young-34 (Proceed With Caution)

With the offseason signing of Adrian Beltre to play third base, Young has stated his desire to be traded by the Rangers as he has no desire to become a full-time DH.  Keep an eye on where he lands if he goes elsewhere, as there is a fair amount of downside in this projection.

Pedro Alvarez-24

Alvarez struck out 119 times in his first major league action last season, which helped keep his batting average down. Keeper league owners should not forget about him, and single season owners could find a bargain power source.

Ian Stewart-26 (Upside)

Stewart missed 41 games due to injuries last season, but he did improve his contact rate slightly (72 percent, up from 68 percent in 2009). He will lose his multi-position eligibility as he only played 3B in 2010, but Stewart makes for a fairly low-risk, high-reward power source for fantasy owners.

Casey McGehee-28

McGehee pretty much owns left-handed pitching (.316 in 2010, .301 in 2009) and is in a very solid Brewers’ lineup.  Top prospect Mat Gamel does not appear to be a threat to his playing time right now, so McGehee is a solid mid-tier fantasy option.

Aramis Ramirez-32 (Proceed With Caution)

Ramirez missed time again due to injury in 2010, this time due to a thumb injury during the first half of the season. The fact he still hit 25 home runs speaks to his potential, but fantasy owners need to count on some missed time and draft a solid backup.

Tier 4

Chase Headley-26

Headley showed power in the minors (45 HR in all or part of three seasons), but PETCO Park has effectively limited him in that regard. Last season’s stolen bases were nice, but a repeat in that category may be unlikely.

Danny Valencia-26

Valencia had a solid major league debut after being called up in June, and he hit .374 against left-handers. He should be the Twins’ every day third baseman this season, and as part of a solid lineup is worth consideration in AL-only leagues.

Kevin Kouzmanoff-29

Kouzmanoff was traded to the Oakland A’s prior to last season, and his first American League season was forgettable. His strong defensive ability should give him plenty of playing time, and a small rebound would make him an asset to AL-only league owners.

Miguel Tejada-36

Tejada signed with the San Francisco Giants during the offseason and is eligible at SS, where he will start for the defending World Series champions, in fantasy leagues as well since he played 58 games there last season. He has played 156 or more games in 11 of the past 12 seasons, so that reliability carries some value.

Other Notables

Mike Moustakas-22
Placido Polanco-35
Jorge Cantu-29
Chipper Jones-39
Scott Rolen-36
Brandon Wood-26
Brandon Inge-34
Casey Blake-37
Mark Teahen-29
Edwin Encarnacion-28
Melvin Mora-39