Fantasy Baseball 2019 Third Basemen Rankings

The third base player pool is another good source of power in all parts of your fantasy baseball draft. Here are my top-30 third basemen for 2019.

The third base player pool may be the deepest among the infield positions. There are players ranked the in the teens that could be fantasy baseball starters. Whether you select one in the first round or the 10th round, your fantasy team will have a solid chance at winning.

There are a lot of options for power among third basemen. Six third basemen hit at least 30 home runs and another nine hit the 20-home run mark. Four players reached 100 RBIs and six others drove in at least 80.

The negative stats among third basemen are that they don’t run and don’t hit for a high average. Only five had at least 10 steals. One player reached 34 but no one else had 20. Six third basemen had a batting average of .280 or higher. In this age of baseball, anything over .260 is considered good, and only 10 reached that mark.

There are still a couple of third base free agents but the majority of them have signed this offseason. The ones that are still on the market wouldn’t have made my ranking if they did sign with a team, except for a couple.

Again, any player with third base eligibility in your fantasy league will not appear on this list unless third base is their primary position in 2019. There may be one or two exceptions due to forgetfulness or a free agent signing with a team.

Here are my top-30 third basemen for the 2019 fantasy baseball season.

30. Neil Walker – Walker recently signed with the Marlins. With an already-established option at third base, Walker will play first base for Miami. Even so, having the option to play Walker at third base could help you. He hasn’t gotten much playing time in the last three seasons, less than 115 games in each. Still, he has double-digit power and won’t cost a lot.

29. Asdrubal Cabrera – With Adrian Beltre retiring, the Rangers needed a third baseman. They could have put Joey Gallo there but the Rangers see him as a left fielder. Cabrera hit 23 home runs, 75 RBIs and .262 last season between the Mets and Phillies. Arlington Park ranked third in home runs last season according to ESPN Park Factors. That will help keep his power numbers up. Then again, not having many teammates to drive in will hurt. With a .270 average, he’ll be good as a utility option.

28. Yolmer Sanchez – Sanchez is one of the few third basemen that can provide some speed. He stole 14 bases and hit 10 triples last season. He is listed as the White Sox No. 8 hitter and won’t get as many at-bats compared to the other third basemen. He had 600 at-bats last season and I see that number dropping by at least 50, if not more. Sanchez will provide owners with 10-plus home runs and steals with a .245 average.

27. Matt Duffy – Duffy has been a utility player everywhere he went. He had a good bounce-back season with the Rays last season. He hit just four home runs but a .294 average and 12 steals is nice to find late in your fantasy draft. The Rays surprisingly won 90 games last season and with the improvements the team made, they could get close to that number again. Duffy will likely hit in the bottom of the order but he’ll be able to hold his own.

26. Yandy Diaz – Diaz was acquired in the Jake Bauers trade. It was an interesting decision because of the potential Bauers. Diaz hasn’t played much at the big-league level, only 88 total games. He has one career home run, 28 RBIs and a .283 average. He will likely be the Rays first baseman with Duffy at third, but he wouldn’t rank as a first baseman. With a high average and on-base percentage, Diaz is a good option to boost your ratio stats.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 Third Basemen Rankings

25. Johan Camargo – Camargo was supposed to be the Braves third baseman but the signing of Josh Donaldson changed that. He hit 19 home runs last year and could have reached 20 if he was starting. Now, I think that number drops to about 14 or 15. His value may rise if Donaldson misses time, which is likely. If you own Donaldson, then Camargo is a necessary handcuff.

24. Zack Cozart – Cozart was a star in his final season with the Reds. On paper, he should have been able to get close to those numbers in Los Angeles but he played just 58 games. Cozart finished with a .219 average, five home runs and 18 RBIs. The Angels have a solid team and a hitter-friendly park. Cozart is one of my bounce-back players for 2019. Projections have him hitting 20 home runs, 68 RBIs and .250.

23. Evan Longoria – Longoria has seen a gradual decline in his numbers since 2016. The move to the NL West and specifically Oracle Park did nothing to help Longoria’s fantasy value. The Giants haven’t improved the offense any. There are players in the lineup I like but they are all middle-of-the-road hitters. Longoria will struggle as he hits 20 home runs, 65 RBIs and .250.

22. Brian Anderson – Anderson had a good first full season. In 156 games, he hit 11 home runs, 65 RBIs and .273. The Marlins may not be the best team in the league and it will get worse if JT Realmuto is traded. For now, though, he’s the Marlins cleanup hitter and will hit 15 homers with 60 RBIs and a .260 average. I’d gladly take him in the 24th round.

21. Eduardo Escobar – The move to Arizona would have been nice if Paul Goldschmidt was still there and the humidor was not. I’ve talked about how the humidor stifled power in Chase Field enough. Escobar will continue to see a decline in his power numbers. He is eligible at second base and shortstop as well but it may not be enough to move him into the top 20.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 Third Basemen Rankings

20. Maikel Franco – Franco hit at least 22 home runs in the last three seasons. His RBIs have dropped in that span but his average has rebounded. With the improvements the Phillies made to their offense and how Citizens Bank Park is very hitter-friendly, Franco will continue to hit for power. I project 26 home runs, 80 RBIs and .260. For some reason, he’s being drafted after Round 25.

19. Jed Lowrie – Lowrie will move over to third base after signing with the Mets. Todd Frazier will move to first base, blocking Peter Alonso, and Robinson Cano taking over second base duties. Lowrie was fifth in home runs, second in RBIs and second in batting average among Oakland hitters last season. With the Mets, he’ll hit fewer home runs and RBIs but his average should stay around the same and extra-base hits will go up.

18. Kyle Seager – Seager has seen a drop in his home run total and batting average over the last three seasons. The loss of Cano and Nelson Cruz hurt those around them. Jay Bruce and Edwin Encarnacion are nice pieces but won’t perform the same. Seager will still hit 24 home runs and .245 with 80 RBIs.

17. Miguel Sano – There are a lot of questions regarding Sano’s status. He played in just 71 games as he hit .199 with 13 home runs and 41 RBIs. The Twins made improvements to their lineup. Sano hitting towards the bottom of the order will lessen expectations. Still, if he can play in 130 games this season, he’ll be a steal. Sano has 30-home run power with a good OBP and could reach 90 RBIs for the first time.

16. Mike Moustakas – Moustakas is a free agent, so it’s hard to say what his fantasy value will be until we know what team he signs with. The White Sox, Phillies and Padres have been interested. I also see a reunion with the Royals as a possibility. Moustakas could hit 30 home runs, 90 RBIs and .255 but that could change by Opening Day.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 Third Basemen Rankings

15. Rafael Devers – The third-year player sold out batting average for power in his first full season. Devers hit 21 home runs, 66 RBIs and .240 last season. The bottom half of the Red Sox lineup is good, not great so his runs and RBIs may not reach the same levels as other players. Plus, Fenway Park is not as hitter-friendly as other ballparks. Projections are showing Devers to hit for 24 home runs with a .270 average. That would be a solid season for the 22-year-old but I don’t think he keeps the average that high.

14. Jake Lamb – Lamb, like Escobar, will struggle while hitting in Arizona. He played in just 58 games but hit six home runs, 31 RBIs and .222. The lineup, the humidor, etc. Lamb will be hitting in the middle of the order, giving him a lot of opportunities. He’ll just have to do his damage on the road.

13. Josh Donaldson – Donaldson had a shortened season last year, playing in just 52 games. He did not look good on Opening Day, not making good throws, which affects his swing and performance. He is projected to hit second in the Braves lineup. If he can stay healthy, 28 home runs with a .262 average are not impossible. But health is the big concern. Don’t draft him too high.

12. Travis Shaw – Shaw broke out in 2017, his first season with the Brewers. Whether it was the opposing pitching, new ballparks or change in attitude, Shaw hit 31 and 32 home runs in his last two seasons. His average has fluctuated between .270 and .240 in his four years. The NL Central has some hitter-friendly ballparks and the pitching isn’t the greatest. As the Brewers cleanup hitter, Shaw will hit another 30-plus home runs and 90 RBIs.

11. Miguel Andujar – Andujar was hitting everything thrown at him. He hit 27 home runs and 47 doubles for a .297 average. The additions of Troy Tulowitzki and DJ LeMahieu have made things interesting but he should still be the starting second baseman. The high-end of projections have Andujar hitting 28 home runs, 100 RBIs and .294. I don’t think the RBIs will be that high, something like 26/94/.288 is more reasonable for the ninth-round pick. Thankfully, defense isn’t accounted for in fantasy.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 Third Basemen Rankings

10. Matt Chapman – Chapman hit 24 home runs, 68 RBIs and .278 last season. He’s a great defender, which helps out his pitchers. With Khris Davis, Jurickson Profar and Matt Olson batting around him, Chapman should see a rise in his RBI totals. I project a 28 HR/92 RBI/.265 line for Chapman.

9. Justin Turner – Turner has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons. When healthy though, he can hit for 20-plus home runs and .290. The Dodgers lineup lost a couple of important pieces but that shouldn’t stop Turner from performing. As long as he can play in at least 135 games, then 22 home runs and 85 RBIs with a .290 average is likely. Just make sure you have a backup.

8. Nicholas Castellanos – I know Castellanos will play the majority of 2019 in the outfield, but with outfield being very deep, he’ll have more value as a third baseman. Castellanos saw an uptick in his batting average while a drop in his power numbers. I think that drop is due to the Tigers lineup. I think his value will have to do a lot with how Miguel Cabrera performs, so be careful with Castellanos.

7. Vlad Guerrero Jr. – I am taking the leap. I have no idea when he’s going to get called up but when he does, he’s going to bring the spotlight to Toronto. He his .381 with 20 home runs and 78 RBIs throughout the minor leagues in 2018. Roster Resource lists Brandon Drury as their starting third baseman but it won’t last long. Guerrero is a good stash as the top prospect but don’t expect anything close to a .381 average when he comes up.

6. Eugenio Suarez – I’ve talked about the benefit of Great American Ballpark and the new Reds lineup in my second basemen rankings. Suarez hit a career-high 34 home runs and 104 RBIs with a .283 average. I don’t think he gets to those numbers again in 2019 but he will still be a valuable third baseman. If you draft Suarez, expect a 31 HR/95 RBI/.275 average.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 Third Basemen Rankings

Anthony Rendon has been a consistent third baseman over the last three years. He averaged 23 home runs, 92 RBIs and a .292 average in that span. He also hit a career-high 44 doubles. Even without Bryce Harper in the lineup, Rendon will have no trouble hitting in 2019.

Rendon has done a good job keeping the ball off the ground. He went from a 45.3 ground ball rate in 2015 to a 32.6 rate last season. His line drive rate has also gone up, contributing to a consistent rise to his batting average.

Rendon is being drafted as an early fifth-round pick in 10-team leagues. He’s being drafted between Davis and Rhys Hoskins. If you wait on third basemen, this is a good spot to draft him.

A 150-game season would be on the high end for projections. He should have no problem hitting 25 home runs, 90 RBIs and .290. If you play in an OBP league, Rendon is a good source for that stat as well.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 Third Basemen Rankings

Kris Bryant played in just 102 games last season, the fewest in his career. If he did play in his usual 150 games, then he would have had his fourth-straight 30-home run reason. Those who did draft Bryant last year were disappointed with the result.

I don’t think Bryant should be drafted as high as he is going, 32.0 ADP, but there is still a lot of upside. He has 40 HR/100 R/100 RBI/.300 potential but he’s never reached those numbers in his career.

Wrigley Field tends to be a bit more hitter friendly. Bryant will also benefit from playing in Great American Ballpark and Miller Park. Plus, with Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez in the lineup, Bryant will have a good chance to reach those numbers.

Bryant did see a drop in his fly ball rate and rise in his soft contact rate. But, because of the shortened season, I think he’ll get those numbers back to his career norms. I would invest in a low-risk backup just in case.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 Third Basemen Rankings

Alex Bregman finished top-five in the MVP voting and with good reason. He hit 51 doubles, 31 home runs, 103 RBIs and .286 in 157 games. He also stole 10 bases, which isn’t common among third basemen.

Bregman is also shortstop eligible, which could allow you to draft two top-five third basemen.

The Astros are a young team with a lot of upside. Bregman is also 24 years old. We probably haven’t seen the best of Bregman. A 28 HR/100 RBI/101 R/10 SB/.285 line is a top-five third baseman line.

However, Bregman is recovering from elbow surgery so you have to make sure he’s at 100 percent before using a second-round pick on him.

Four of the five stadiums in the AL West finished 15th or better in home runs according to ESPN Park Factors. Bregman has a lot of lineup protection to allow him to reach his MVP-like performance again.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 Third Basemen Rankings

A lot of people have Jose Ramirez as their top third baseman. With his speed potential, I can’t argue against it. He’s being drafted as such with a 4.0 ADP. Ramirez finished with 39 home runs, 105 RBIs, .270 average and 34 steals.

With a walk rate higher than his strikeout rate, Ramirez is a valuable asset in OBP leagues as well. He struck out just 80 times compared to his 106 walks, which allowed him to score 110 times.

The only negative, besides the obvious regression in speed, is the Indians lineup. Sure, Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana and Jake Bauers will keep the top-half afloat, but after that, it gets a little questionable.

Ramirez will have to deal with the power-stifling AL Central but that didn’t seem to stop him last season. I think another 30-home run season is likely, but not 39. Something more like 32. Pair that with his 100 RBIs, 100 runs and 28 steals and Ramirez will be a top-three third baseman again in 2019.

Fantasy Baseball 2019 Third Basemen Rankings

Nolan Arenado may benefit from calling Coors Field home but his fantasy owners also benefit. He does perform worse on the road than at home, which owners do need to keep in mind.

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In his career, he has a .263 average with 78 home runs on the road compared to a .320 average and 108 homers in Coors Field. His splits were even more significant last season. Arenado hit .248 on the road and .347 at home, almost a 100-point difference.

Regardless, his numbers at the end of the season continuously have Arenado in the MVP conversation and a top-10 fantasy baseball hitter. He finished with a .297/38 HR/110 RBI/104 R line in 156 games.

Arenado’s ground ball rate was higher than his fly ball rate for the first time since his rookie season. It could be why we saw a drop in his batting average. His HR/FB rate was also the highest of his career at 20.7 percent. I believe it was a one-year decline and he’ll bounce back to what we’re used to seeing.

Arenado is being drafted in the middle of the first round with a 7.3 ADP in ESPN leagues. He is a solid pick to help in the majority of hitting stats. The only thing Arenado doesn’t do is run. I project a 38 HR/111 RBI/.292 line this season.

The third base position is full of power hitters with a couple of contact guys mixed it. If there isn’t anyone on this list you like, don’t forget that there are some first and second basemen with third base eligibility that can help you this season. It’s all about finding value in the right spots.

The next position I’ll be ranking is shortstop. Stay tuned!