2018 Postional Top 10: Third Base
Matt Linder
The current crop of third basemen is unique. The position has the unusual combination of being both top heavy and deep. There are stars atop the list, in addition to having close to twenty players worthy of top ten consideration. Enjoy!
1. Kris Bryant
You know Bryant is great, because hitting .295/.409/.537 with 29 home runs is considered a down year. The Cubs’ third baseman finished first (7.7) and third in WAR (6.1) in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Bryant also increased his walk rate while decreasing his strikeout rate last season. At only 26 years old, I expect the home run total to rebound to his 2016 level as he continues to develop.
2. Nolan Arenado
It is always tough to compare a Rockie to other players because Arenado’s home ballpark certainly helps his offensive numbers. With that being said, he led all third basemen in OPS (.959) and WAR (7.2) in 2017 and even Coors Field cannot take that away from him. Additionally, the 26-year old is the best defensive third basemen in baseball. Arenado is a superstar, but because of the considerable difference in his home-road splits, I have to rank him behind Bryant.
3. Anthony Rendon
The Nationals’ third baseman has been a very good player since his first full season in 2014. However, last season he finally put together the MVP level production he has always been capable of. Rendon hit .301/.403/.533 with 25 home runs and more walks than strikeouts. He couples the stellar offensive with very good defense at the hot corner. A healthy Rendon is one of the most valuable players in baseball.
4. Josh Donaldson
Donaldson has been the best third basemen for the past several seasons, but his calf injury last season and “dead arm” to start 2018 bumps him down a few spots. At 32 years old, he is still a great two-way player. He plays very good defense at the hot corner and is a force in the batters box. Despite only playing in 113 games last season, the Blue Jays’ third basemen still hit .270/.385/.559 with 33 home runs. Donaldson is a superstar, but the combination of injuries and being on the wrong side of 30, scared me enough to “only” rank him fourth.
5. Jose Ramirez
The Indians’ third basemen put together a solid 2016 campaign, but became a MVP candidate last season. He finished third in the voting, thanks to hitting .318/.374/.583 with 29 home runs and a league leading 56 doubles. Ramirez finished second among his positional peers with a 6.9 WAR last year. At only 25 years old, I expect continued development and another elite season in 2018.
6. Justin Turner
The only thing keeping Turner from being one of the best players in baseball is his health. When on the field, the Dodgers’ third baseman is one of the most dangerous hitters. In 130 games last year, the 33-year old hit .322/.415/.530 with 21 home runs and more walks than strikeouts. The pairing of elite offensive production and average defense equals a superstar player…when healthy.
7. Alex Bregman
In his first full major league season, Bregman was one of the key contributors to the Astros’ World Series Championship in 2017. The 24-year old hit .284/.352/.475 with 19 home runs and 17 stolen bases. Bregman pairs this excellent offensive production with highlight reel defensive ability, which produced a 4.1 WAR (eight best among third basemen) in 2017. A trip to his first All-Star game is a likely possibility in 2018.
8. Adrian Beltre
Despite being 39 years old, the Rangers’ third baseman is still one of the best at the position. He only played in 94 games last season due to injury, which is unsettling for a player his age, but when on the field, he produced. In 2017, Beltre hit .312/.383/.532 and is only two years removed from slashing .300/.358/.521 with 32 home runs. Additionally, his defensive skills are still quite strong, even as he approaches his 40th birthday.
9. Matt Carpenter
The Cardinals move Carpenter all over the field, but I classify him as a third baseman because that is where he will likely play most. The 32-year old is coming off a slight down year in which both his batting average and slugging percentage fell. In 2017, Carpenter still reached base in 38% of his plate appearances and hit 23 home runs. The Cardinals’ third baseman alluded to putting less emphasis on launch angle this season, in hopes of raising his batting average and doubles total by hitting more line drives. Even though Carpenter did not have a poor season in 2017, I expect him to rebound and regain the production of his 2015 and 2016 campaigns.
10. Rafael Devers
Since the third base position is so loaded, this last spot was the hardest to choose. I went with the upside play and the 21 year old Rafael Devers. The Red Sox third baseman’s first taste of the majors last year was too impressive to ignore. His approach is extremely advanced and the power is legit. He was called up in late-July in the middle of a playoff race and at only 20 years old, Devers hit .284/.338/.482 with 10 home runs in only 58 games. With the experience accrued last year and another off-season to improve, especially defensively, Devers should have a big 2018.
Also Considered:
Kyle Seager - Mariners
Eugenio Suarez - Reds
Miguel Sano - Twins
Zack Cozart - Angels
Jake Lamb - Diamondbacks
Travis Shaw - Brewers
**All WAR stats come from Baseball Reference
Please check back again on Monday for my top 10 shortstop in 2018.
If you have any questions, comments or criticisms feel free to reach out to me at mattlinder2@gmail.com
The current crop of third basemen is unique. The position has the unusual combination of being both top heavy and deep. There are stars atop the list, in addition to having close to twenty players worthy of top ten consideration. Enjoy!
 |
| Ezra Shaw - Getty Images |
1. Kris Bryant
You know Bryant is great, because hitting .295/.409/.537 with 29 home runs is considered a down year. The Cubs’ third baseman finished first (7.7) and third in WAR (6.1) in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Bryant also increased his walk rate while decreasing his strikeout rate last season. At only 26 years old, I expect the home run total to rebound to his 2016 level as he continues to develop.
 |
| David Zalubowski - AP |
2. Nolan Arenado
It is always tough to compare a Rockie to other players because Arenado’s home ballpark certainly helps his offensive numbers. With that being said, he led all third basemen in OPS (.959) and WAR (7.2) in 2017 and even Coors Field cannot take that away from him. Additionally, the 26-year old is the best defensive third basemen in baseball. Arenado is a superstar, but because of the considerable difference in his home-road splits, I have to rank him behind Bryant.
 |
| Gavin Baker - Icon Sportswire |
3. Anthony Rendon
The Nationals’ third baseman has been a very good player since his first full season in 2014. However, last season he finally put together the MVP level production he has always been capable of. Rendon hit .301/.403/.533 with 25 home runs and more walks than strikeouts. He couples the stellar offensive with very good defense at the hot corner. A healthy Rendon is one of the most valuable players in baseball.
 |
| Elsa - Getty Images |
4. Josh Donaldson
Donaldson has been the best third basemen for the past several seasons, but his calf injury last season and “dead arm” to start 2018 bumps him down a few spots. At 32 years old, he is still a great two-way player. He plays very good defense at the hot corner and is a force in the batters box. Despite only playing in 113 games last season, the Blue Jays’ third basemen still hit .270/.385/.559 with 33 home runs. Donaldson is a superstar, but the combination of injuries and being on the wrong side of 30, scared me enough to “only” rank him fourth.
 |
| Jason Miller - Getty Images |
5. Jose Ramirez
The Indians’ third basemen put together a solid 2016 campaign, but became a MVP candidate last season. He finished third in the voting, thanks to hitting .318/.374/.583 with 29 home runs and a league leading 56 doubles. Ramirez finished second among his positional peers with a 6.9 WAR last year. At only 25 years old, I expect continued development and another elite season in 2018.
 |
| Kevork Djansezian - Getty Images |
6. Justin Turner
The only thing keeping Turner from being one of the best players in baseball is his health. When on the field, the Dodgers’ third baseman is one of the most dangerous hitters. In 130 games last year, the 33-year old hit .322/.415/.530 with 21 home runs and more walks than strikeouts. The pairing of elite offensive production and average defense equals a superstar player…when healthy.
 |
| Kevork Djansezian - Getty Images |
7. Alex Bregman
In his first full major league season, Bregman was one of the key contributors to the Astros’ World Series Championship in 2017. The 24-year old hit .284/.352/.475 with 19 home runs and 17 stolen bases. Bregman pairs this excellent offensive production with highlight reel defensive ability, which produced a 4.1 WAR (eight best among third basemen) in 2017. A trip to his first All-Star game is a likely possibility in 2018.
 |
| Khampa Bouaphanh - Fort Worth Star Telegram |
8. Adrian Beltre
Despite being 39 years old, the Rangers’ third baseman is still one of the best at the position. He only played in 94 games last season due to injury, which is unsettling for a player his age, but when on the field, he produced. In 2017, Beltre hit .312/.383/.532 and is only two years removed from slashing .300/.358/.521 with 32 home runs. Additionally, his defensive skills are still quite strong, even as he approaches his 40th birthday.
 |
| Sports on Earth |
9. Matt Carpenter
The Cardinals move Carpenter all over the field, but I classify him as a third baseman because that is where he will likely play most. The 32-year old is coming off a slight down year in which both his batting average and slugging percentage fell. In 2017, Carpenter still reached base in 38% of his plate appearances and hit 23 home runs. The Cardinals’ third baseman alluded to putting less emphasis on launch angle this season, in hopes of raising his batting average and doubles total by hitting more line drives. Even though Carpenter did not have a poor season in 2017, I expect him to rebound and regain the production of his 2015 and 2016 campaigns.
 |
| Maddie Meyer - Getty Images |
10. Rafael Devers
Since the third base position is so loaded, this last spot was the hardest to choose. I went with the upside play and the 21 year old Rafael Devers. The Red Sox third baseman’s first taste of the majors last year was too impressive to ignore. His approach is extremely advanced and the power is legit. He was called up in late-July in the middle of a playoff race and at only 20 years old, Devers hit .284/.338/.482 with 10 home runs in only 58 games. With the experience accrued last year and another off-season to improve, especially defensively, Devers should have a big 2018.
Also Considered:
Kyle Seager - Mariners
Eugenio Suarez - Reds
Miguel Sano - Twins
Zack Cozart - Angels
Jake Lamb - Diamondbacks
Travis Shaw - Brewers
**All WAR stats come from Baseball Reference
Please check back again on Monday for my top 10 shortstop in 2018.
If you have any questions, comments or criticisms feel free to reach out to me at mattlinder2@gmail.com
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