2007 Third Base Rankings

2007 Top 15 Third Base Rankings


A Rod

1. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees

2006 stats: .290 average, 572 at-bats, 113 runs, 35 home runs, 121 RBI, 26 doubles, 1 triple, 15 stolen bases, 90 walks, 139 strikeouts, 154 games

2007 outlook: Most major league players would consider Rodriguez's "down" year as a monumental individual effort. He contributed his ninth consecutive season with at least 35 home runs, 106 RBI, 100 runs, nine stolen bases and a .285 batting average. A three-year average of 41 home runs and 119 RBI keeps him at the top of the 3B rankings. The Yankees are loaded throughout the batting order, and that means another monster year for A Rod. Expect a season in line with his 2005 stats (48 home runs, 130 RBI, .321 batting average).

2. Miguel Cabrera, Florida Marlins

2006 stats: .339 average, 576 at-bats, 112 runs, 26 home runs, 114 RBI, 50 doubles, 2 triples, 9 stolen bases, 86 walks, 108 strikeouts, 158 games

2007 outlook: Cabrera posted his third consecutive season topping 100 RBI. He improved his walk-to-strikeout ratio for the second consecutive year. He slammed 78 extra-base hits for the second consecutive time and posted a new career mark with nine stolen bases. The Marlins have built a strong nucleus with players developing at a rapid pace. Expect a solid season from young Cabrera as he continues to mature, 30 HR, 100 RBI, .300.

3. David Wright, New York Mets

2006 stats: .311 average, 582 at-bats, 96 runs, 26 home runs, 116 RBI, 40 doubles, 5 triples, 20 stolen bases, 66 walks, 113 strikeouts, 154 games

2007 outlook: In 2006, Wright nearly duplicated his breakout 2005 season, and his high doubles total (his second straight year with at least 40) portends to a leap in home run production as he matures. He has averaged 70.5 extra-base hits in his first two seasons with 109 RBI, 18.5 stolen bases and a .309 batting average. The Mets retooled their lineup this off-season, adding more pop to an already imposing core with veteran outfielders Moises Alou and Shawn Green. Wright is a great addition to any fantasy lineup and will help out in all categories.

4. Aramis Ramirez, Chicago Cubs

2006 stats: .291 average, 594 at-bats, 93 runs, 38 home runs, 119 RBI, 38 doubles, 4 triples, 2 stolen bases, 50 walks, 63 strikeouts, 157 games

2007 outlook: In 2006, Ramirez established new career marks by crushing 38 home runs with 119 RBI and limited his strikeouts to 63, something rare for sluggers. Since joining the Cubs, he has an average of 70 extra-base hits in each full season. The addition of Alfonso Soriano brings Chicago a legitimate leadoff man who will set the table for a powerful lineup, which includes a healthy Derrek Lee. Ramirez now enters his prime and will challenge his 80 extra-base hit and 119 RBI totals of 2006. He led all third basemen with 38 home runs.

5. Garrett Atkins, Colorado Rockies

2006 stats: .329 average, 602 at-bats, 117 runs, 29 home runs, 120 RBI, 48 doubles, 1 triple, 4 stolen bases, 79 walks, 76 strikeouts, 157 games

2007 outlook: In his second full year, Atkins more than doubled his home run 29) output, raised his RBI (120) total by 33 percent and boosted his batting average (.329) by 42 points over his 2005 totals. He became more patient at the plate and vastly improved his walk-to-strikeout ratio. Last year, Atkins hit .313 away from Colorado. Expect a big year from Atkins - hitting in a Rockies that includes Todd Helton and Matt Holliday while playing his home games at hitter friendly Coors.

6. Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals

2006 stats: .287 average, 614 at-bats, 84 runs, 20 home runs, 110 RBI, 47 doubles, 3 triples, 11 stolen bases, 61 walks, 120 strikeouts, 157 games

2007 outlook: Zimmerman, the first-round pick of the Nationals in 2005, had a solid first full season in 06. He stepped into spacious RFK Stadium and ripped 70 extra-base hits, including 47 doubles to tie for fifth among all third basemen. He hit 82 points higher at home than on the road. He also swiped 11 bases to go with his 20 homers and 110 RBI. The loss of Alfonso Soriano hurts the entire Nationals lineup and Nick Johnson will be on the shelf until June. Zimmerman should be a good mid round pick, expect similar numbers but not much growth.

7. Troy Glaus, Toronto Blue Jays

2006 stats: .252 average, 540 at-bats, 105 runs, 38 home runs, 104 RBI, 27 doubles, 0 triples, 3 stolen bases, 86 walks, 134 strikeouts, 153 games

2007 outlook: Glaus has averaged 37 home runs and 68.5 extra-base hits in each season during which he appeared at least 149 games. The 30-year old slugger has hit .258 or lower in six consecutive seasons, offers little in terms of stolen bases and has scored fewer than 80 runs in three seasons before 2006 (105). He's averaged 151 games played in the past two seasons, indicating that he may be past the injuries that claimed most of his 2003 and 2004 seasons. The Blue Jays addition of Frank Thomas should provide Glaus with some protection. Health is the key for Glaus in Toronto, and the results can be explosive if the heart of the order stays intact. Don't overpay for his power production, as his low batting average generated by a high strikeout total will pull you down. Consider Glaus a solid power source in the middle rounds.

8. Scott Rolen, St. Louis Cardinals

2006 stats: .296 average, 521 at-bats, 94 runs, 22 home runs, 95 RBI, 48 doubles, 1 triple, 7 stolen bases, 56 walks, 69 strikeouts, 142 games

2007 outlook: If Rolen stays healthy, as he did in 2006 after an injury-shortened 2005, he will be a solid mid round pick. He's produced at least 21 home runs and 77 RBI in each season during which he appeared in at least 128 games. In 521 at-bats in 2006, he had 71 extra-base hits. He returned to his comfort level at the plate to hit .296 following his .235 batting average in 56 games in 2005. He's another off-season removed from his injury and may return to his earlier power production alongside Albert Pujols. Expect 25-30 HR, 90-100 RBI, .280-.290, along with a handful of steals.

9. Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves

2006 stats: .324 average, 411 at-bats, 87 runs, 26 home runs, 86 RBI, 28 doubles, 3 triples, 6 stolen bases, 61 walks, 73 strikeouts, 110 games

2007 outlook: Jones suffered through another injury-plagued season in 2006, but he produced at an All-Star level when available, posting his 12th consecutive season with at least 20 home runs and 72 RBI. His .324 batting average marked his best total since 2002. Jones remains a formidable hitter for fantasy lineups, but durability is most certainly a concern. He has fallen down in 3B rankings because of the injury risk factor (he is already battling nagging injuries in Spring Training). He has not played more than 136 in three seasons, including 110 games last year. But in those 110 games, he posted great numbers, 26 HR, 87 R, 86 RBI, and 6 steals. Consider Chipper a mid round high risk-high reward pick.

10. Eric Chavez, Oakland A's

2006 stats: .241 average, 485 at-bats, 74 runs, 22 home runs, 72 RBI, 24 doubles, 2 triples, 3 stolen bases, 84 walks, 100 strikeouts, 137 games

2007 outlook: Chavez had hit 22 or more home runs in seven consecutive seasons. However, he's battled injuries in two of the past three seasons (137 games in 06) and has seen his batting average drop each of those years. His .241 batting average in 2007 marked a new career low. There's no doubt the wear and tear of diving for ball after ball has taken a toll on his body, so expecting a return to his 2000-2002 totals would be over-optimistic. Expect Chavez to post numbers in line with his full season averages of 28 home runs, 94 RBI with a batting average of .270.

11. Chone Figgins, Los Angeles Angels

2006 stats: .267 average, 604 at-bats, 93 runs, 9 home runs, 62 RBI, 23 doubles, 8 triples, 52 stolen bases, 65 walks, 100 strikeouts, 155 games

2007 outlook: Figgins allows owners to place him at third base and outfield in all leagues, and perhaps second base and shortstop in some others. He offers fantasy value in two or three categories, as his stolen base total (average of 57 over the past two years) will rank among the top 3-to-5 in the game. He'll score in the neighborhood of 100 runs, and his batting average will fall more in line with his .285 career batting average. He's also made moderate improvements to his power numbers in consecutive years (nine home runs and 62 RBI in 2006). I would expect him to progress somewhat in those categories again this year, but you're buying in for hefty speed totals.

12. Adrian Beltre, Seattle Mariners

2006 stats: .268 average, 620 at-bats, 88 runs, 25 home runs, 89 RBI, 39 doubles, 4 triples, 11 stolen bases, 47 walks, 118 strikeouts, 156 games

2007 outlook: It wasn't a rebound to his mountainous 2004 season for the Dodgers, but Beltre took a big step back to prominence after a sub-par 2005 campaign. He posted the fifth 20-home run (25) season of his career and his second-best RBI output ever (89). One encouraging sign in his production was that he hit a career-best 39 doubles. Perhaps he's rediscovered his stroke and can make a push back to 30 home runs. He hit 18 home runs after the All-Star break and boosted his batting average by 31 points over his first-half totals (.285 after the break). He'll provide good value for owners in the second half of the draft.

13. Joe Crede, Chicago White Sox

2006 stats: .283 average, 544 at-bats, 76 runs, 30 home runs, 94 RBI, 31 doubles, 0 triples, 0 stolen bases, 28 walks, 58 strikeouts, 150 games

2007 outlook: In 2006, Crede established new career marks with 30 home runs, 94 RBI and his best batting average since his first significant action in 2002 (.283). He generated 61 extra-base hits, nearly one-third better than his 2005 production. Crede bats in the bottom of the White Sox order because of the stacked lineup, but he still should put up decent numbers. Expect 25-30 HR, and close to 100 RBI.

14. Chad Tracy, Arizona Diamondbacks

2006 stats: .281 average, 597 at-bats, 91 runs, 20 home runs, 80 RBI, 41 doubles, 0 triples, 5 stolen bases, 54 walks, 129 strikeouts, 154 games

2007 outlook: Tracy regressed slightly in 2006 following a huge 2005 season. He finished the year with 51 more strikeouts than 2005 with only 94 more at-bats. He still hit 20 home runs with 80 RBI and 91 runs scored in a youthful Arizona offense. One concern, he hit for more power in the first half, but struck out at a rapid pace. He shortened his stroke in the second half and cut his strikeout rate with a huge hit to his power numbers (13 home runs and 52 RBI before the All-Star break and seven home runs and 28 RBI after). Tracy should match his 2006 season, but the development of the youngsters around him will determine how high he can push those totals above that baseline.

15. Edwin Encarnacion, Cincinnati Reds

2006 stats: .276 average, 406 at-bats, 60 runs, 15 home runs, 72 RBI, 33 doubles, 1 triple, 6 stolen bases, 41 walks, 78 strikeouts, 117 games

2007 outlook: Encarnacion was plagued in 2006 by a twisted ankle and a late-season slump during which his average dropped from .300 to .276 by season's end (he homered only once in his last 36 games). When he played, he produced, his 06 prorated stats yield 550 AB, 45 2B, 20 HR, 98 RBI, 81 R, and 8 SB. He has the potential to post those numbers in 2007. Encarnacion is slated to hit fifth behind Adam Dunn in the hitter friendly confines of the Great American Ball Park.

The best of the rest...

16. Hank Blalock, Texas Rangers
17. Mark Teahen, Kansas City Royals
18. Aubrey Huff, Baltimore Orioles
19. Melvin Mora, Baltimore Orioles
20. Morgan Ensberg, Houston Astros
21. Freddy Sanchez, Pittsburgh Pirates
22. Brandon Inge, Detroit Tigers
23. Mike Lowell, Boston Red Sox
24. Shea Hillenbrand, Los Angeles Angels
25. Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals