Top 10 Third Basemen

Who are the games top third basemen heading into 2022?

The third base position is the second deepest position in baseball, just slightly behind shortstop. Similarly to shortstop, numbers 2-7 could be in a variety of orders. Only two of the players on the list are above 30 so expect to see these same names for years to come. What surprised me the most was that if you remove Kris Bryant from the list (only 51 games at third base), Josh Donaldson is the only third baseman in baseball who has won an MVP. I expect someone on this list to take home baseball’s biggest individual accolade.  

With my top 10s, I will mainly be looking at what the players have done over the last 3 years, and obviously weighing 2021 the most. I chose to look at a 3 year window because the 2020 shortened season was so funky. I find a ton of value in players who are just consistent year after year. I also did not just want to look at 2021 because it would allow for potential rookies to work their way up the rankings a little too quickly. Not counting anomalies, there needs to be some track record in my eyes to earn one of the top spots. Now, let’s dive into the top 10 First Basemen.

10. Anthony Rendon 

2021: .240 / .329 / .382 / 95 wRC+ / 0.7 fWAR / -1.1 BsR / -6 DRS

3 Year Range: 256 GP out of 384 / 10.3 fWAR / -0.8 BsR / -1 DRS

Rendon’s injury was a big part of the Angels rough 2021. When Rendon signed with the Angels after bringing a title to the Nationals, he was supposed to be a part of a nasty 1-2 combo with Trout. Rendon missed 104 games last year and was clearly not healthy when he did play. Despite a 0.7 WAR last year, he still ranks 7th in WAR among third baseman (10.3) over the last 3 seasons. If you are an Angels fan, the idea of Ohtani, Trout, and Rendon is a great reason to be optimistic heading into 2022. A full, healthy season is needed if Rendon wants to return to prime form.

9. Matt Chapman

2021: .210 / .314 / .403 / 101 wRC+ / 3.4 fWAR / 2.0 BsR / 10 DRS

3 Year Range: 344 GP out of 384 / 10.8 fWAR / 3.0 BsR / 40 DRS

Chapman is in a similar situation to another player ranked higher on this list as we haven’t seen the All-Star version of Chapman since 2019. The A’s third baseman was a 6.7 WIN player and a 6.1 WIN player in back-to-back seasons (18’-19’). But the truncated 2020 season and last season saw his average take a big dip (.210 last season) and his OBP has really fallen over the last 2 seasons (.295). Despite the average and OBP regressing, his power numbers have been consistent (27 home runs in 21’), which is an important quality at the position. Chapman’s best quality has always been his defense, which remains a strength. He ranks second in DRS over the last 3 seasons (40), only 2 behind Nolan Arenado. 

8. Yoan Moncada

2021: .263/ .375 / .412 / 122 wRC+ / 4.5 fWAR / 0.3 BsR / 3 DRS

3 Year Range: 328 GP of of 384 / 11.7 fWAR / 6.8 BsR / 1 DRS

Moncada has turned into a solid big leaguer after being anointed as the game’s next star when he was ranked as the game’s top prospect by both MLB.com and Baseball America. The White Sox third baseman was able to lower his K rate by almost 6% (25.5), which saw his OBP take a huge jump from 2020 (.375). Because Moncada broke into the big leagues as a 21-22 year-old, he will only be entering his age 27 season in 22’. The one area of Moncada’s game that I would like to see improve is his power. Moncada hit 25 home runs in 19’ in 132 games but has only hit 20 home runs over the last 2 season (196 games). Third base is a power position and I would like to see Moncada improve in that area of his game while remaining an elite OBP threat. Either way, Moncada was the key return in the Chris Sale trade and White Sox fans have to feel pretty good about the player Moncada has turned into over the last 4+ seasons.

7. Justin Turner

2021: .278 / .361 / .471 / 127 wRC+ / 4.0 fWAR / -1.0 BsR / -2 DRS

3 Year Range: 328 GP out of 384 / 8.6 fWAR / -2.6 BsR / -8 DRS

Turner is the player on this list that I feel I have way too low based on his production year-after-year. Sometimes I still marvel at the player Turner has turned into, although after 8 great seasons with the Dodgers I should not be surprised anymore. Turner continues to hit for average, power, and is one of the game’s best at getting on base. At age 36, Turner played in a career high 151 games in 21’. In a game where strikeouts continue to rise, Turner has found the ability to keep his K rate consistent (16%). The more I look at his numbers, the more I want to move him up the list, where I think he belongs. I just don’t know who he should jump. Mr. Turner, I apologize for the disrespect. 

6. Alex Bregman

2021: .270 / .355 / .422 / 115 wRC+ / 2.0 fWAR / -2.2 BsR / 2 DRS

3 Year Range: 289 GP out of 384 / 11.3 fWAR / -4.8 BsR / 11 DRS

When I was making this list, I was very surprised when I put Bregman at 6 because he is such a great talent for Houston. The more I dug into his numbers, the more I realized how his numbers over the past 2 seasons have just been average. His 2021 campaign was really affected by leg injuries that forced him to miss 71 games. Bregman is a player who was a 7.6 and an 8.4 WIN player in 18’ and 19’, just like Chapman. He’s been an average of a 1.4 WIN player over the past 2 seasons and I am curious which player Bregman will be moving forward. Being a Sox fan, I have seen Bregman get big hit after big hit and is such a tough out that I am betting on him to get back to his MVP form in 22’.

5. Nolan Arenado 

2021: .255 / .312 / .494 / 113 wRC+ / 4.0 fWAR / -0.4 BsR / 6 DRS

3 Year Range: 360 GP out of 384 / 11.1 fWAR / 1.5 BsR / 42 DRS

Arenado’s first season out of Colorado and with the St. Louis Cardinals had some good and bad. Arenado continued to show that he is an elite defender and an elite power bat. What has changed last year and in the Covid shortened season has been his ability to hit for average. From 14’-19’, Arenado hit .298 with a .357 OBP. In 20’-21’, he has hit .254 with a .307 OBP. It will be interesting to watch Arenado, now on the other side of 30, and out of Colorado. How much of his success was a result of playing in the most hitter friendly ballpark in the game for 81 games a season? Time will tell but regardless if Arenado’s hit tool returns to his prime years, he is still a highly productive player. 

4. Manny Machado

2021: .278 / .347 / .489 / 122 wRC+ / 4.4 fWAR / -2.1 BsR / 6 DRS

3 Year Range: 369 GP out of 384 / 10.2 fWAR / -5.4 BsR / 14 DRS. 

So far, Machado has been well worth that 10 year / 300 million dollar contract he signed in the 2018 off-season. The Padres third baseman has been very durable and remains productive on both sides of the ball. I thought the move to a big ballpark in San Diego would cut into Machado’s power numbers but he is tied for the 5th most home runs (76) at the position since his move to become a Padre. With the emergence of Fernando Tatis Jr. becoming one of the best players in the game, I feel like all of the pressure is off of Machado. All Machado has to do is go and play his game, which he has been doing quite well since joining San Diego. 

3. Rafael Devers

2021: .279 / .352 / .538 / 134 wRC+ /4.7 fWAR / 0.1 BsR / -13 DRS

3 Year Range: 369 GP out of 384 / 11.1 fWAR / 3.3 BsR / -22 DRS

Devers had his breakout season in 2021 and carried the Red Sox into the postseason with so many big hits down the stretch. With Devers, there is no question about his elite bat. He can hit for average, hit for power to all fields, and improved his walk rate by over 4% (9.3%). The one concern with Devers is his defense. No matter what statistic you look at, you will find Devers at the bottom of the list. It is unclear if Devers will be able to make the necessary adjustments to stay at third but his bat will play wherever he ends up. Devers does not have the track record of some of the guys that are lower on this list but I expect the Red Sox third baseman to consistently put up big numbers in the middle of the Boston lineup. 

2. Austin Riley

2021: .303 / .367 / .531 / 135 wRC+ / 4.2 fWAR / -4.1 BsR / 13 DRS

3 Year Range: 291 GP out of 384 / 4.2 fWAR / -5.6 BsR / 4 DRS

I am fully aware that Riley only has 1 full big league season under his belt but that is how much I love his talent. I think Riley has a batting title in his future and possibly an MVP. I could not be higher on Riley moving forward. The Atlanta third baseman is the complete package as a hitter (average, power, and OBP.) What impressed me the most from his 2021 campaign was his improvement on defense. In 2020, he had -10 DRS and in 2021, that number jumped up to +13, just behind Ke’Bryan Hayes for the top spot. I know Riley has played much fewer games than the players below him but there isn’t a third baseman on this list that I would pick over Riley if I was starting a team today. Feel free to join me in the Austin Riley fan club. 

1.   Jose Ramirez

2021: ..266 / .355 / .538 / 137 wRC+ / 6.3 fWAR / 6.3 BsR / 10 DRS

3 Year Range: 339 GP out of 384 / 13.4  fWAR / 14.9 BsR /  4 DRS

Is it possible that we are about to watch the Indians trade 2 franchise caliber players in back-to-back off-seasons? Franchise player is exactly what Jose Ramirez has turned himself into. Ramirez is the most complete third baseman in the game as he is an elite hitter, elite defender, and elite base runner. I believe Ramirez is one of those players that unless you watch him on a nightly basis, he goes unnoticed. But you look up at the end of the year, and Ramirez’s numbers stack up against any other third baseman in the league. With 22 being the final year of his contract with a club option for 23’, now (whenever this ridiculous lockout ends) seems to be the time to move the star third baseman. The Indians have shown zero interest in locking up him or Francisco Lindor. Contending teams should be willing to part with prospects because the lucky team would be gaining a 29 year-old star, who has 3 top 3 MVP finishes! 

What are your third base rankings? 

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