Below is a chart of every third baseman ranked and covered in MLB.com's 2008 Fantasy Preview, a
rundown that includes established big leaguers and up-and-coming prospects.
The list features dollar values compiled by our MLB.com staff based on standard 23-man,
$260, 5x5 mixed-league play. We included projected stats for the 2008 season as well as a
one-liner prediction that encapsulates every player's value in 10 words or fewer. This page
will be updated throughout the spring to reflect the impact of inevitable transactions,
injuries and changing job situations.
An indispensable part of the draft-day kit, the cheat sheet can make the difference between
winning and losing your fantasy league. With quick-hitting rankings and forecasts, it'll
help you keep the remaining players on the board in order as the draft wears on. The last
thing you want to be doing is flipping through some magazine when it's your turn to pick.
So play fair, but don't forget your cheat sheet when you head to your draft.
| Third Basemen |
TM |
$$ |
Avg |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
Notes |
| Alex Rodriguez | NYY | 41 | .305 | 123 | 45 | 131 | 18 | Best fantasy player ever at this position. |
| David Wright | NYM | 37 | .322 | 112 | 32 | 111 | 27 | Already among the best and still getting better. |
| Miguel Cabrera | DET | 36 | .336 | 106 | 33 | 128 | 4 | Elite young masher joining a top-shelf offense |
| Ryan Braun | MIL | 34 | .289 | 111 | 39 | 107 | 19 | Budding star, even if he declines after historic debut. |
| Aramis Ramirez | CHC | 29 | .303 | 95 | 37 | 119 | 1 | Consistent, reliable slugger still capable of a career year. |
| Garrett Atkins | COL | 25 | .311 | 94 | 27 | 109 | 2 | Last year was no fluke, so expect more of the same. |
| Chipper Jones | ATL | 24 | .322 | 90 | 26 | 89 | 4 | A force when healthy, but have a backup plan. |
| Ryan Zimmerman | WAS | 24 | .290 | 86 | 24 | 108 | 6 | Move from RFK could lead to breakout season. |
| Adrian Beltre | SEA | 22 | .277 | 85 | 25 | 92 | 12 | Forget '04; still as consistent as they come. |
| Chone Figgins | LAA | 21 | .293 | 101 | 4 | 58 | 48 | Won't hit .330 again but will rack up the steals again. |
| Alex Gordon | KC | 18 | .278 | 81 | 23 | 84 | 15 | Possible value pick after underwhelming debut. |
| Edwin Encarnacion | CIN | 16 | .292 | 79 | 21 | 84 | 11 | Hot streaks show upside, but needs consistency. |
| Mike Lowell | BOS | 16 | .295 | 76 | 18 | 94 | 2 | Perfect match of reliability player, ballpark and club. |
| Troy Glaus | STL | 13 | .257 | 72 | 29 | 85 | 0 | Will miss Roger Centre but enjoy playing on grass again. |
| Hank Blalock | TEX | 13 | .289 | 74 | 22 | 87 | 2 | A major sleeper if he's truly healthy again. |
| Scott Rolen | TOR | 13 | .286 | 71 | 16 | 77 | 4 | Will love Roger Centre, but can he stay healthy? |
| Kevin Kouzmanoff | SD | 13 | .292 | 74 | 19 | 83 | 2 | Bat emerged in second half, but Chase Headley looms. |
| Ty Wigginton | HOU | 13 | .272 | 68 | 23 | 87 | 1 | Should enjoy his new park and favorable lineup spot. |
| Melvin Mora | BAL | 12 | .269 | 68 | 17 | 68 | 5 | Hot first half showed his bat isn't done yet. |
| Yunel Escobar | ATL | 10 | .305 | 90 | 8 | 55 | 10 | Primed to excel in everyday role. |
| Kevin Youkilis | BOS | 10 | .292 | 94 | 15 | 76 | 3 | No fireworks here, just solid all-around production. |
| Evan Longoria | TB | 9 | .280 | 80 | 20 | 80 | 2 | Only a matter of time before 3B job is his. |
| Josh Fields | CWS | 9 | .258 | 51 | 18 | 57 | 1 | Must beat out Joe Crede or return to Triple-A. |
| Mark Reynolds | ARI | 8 | .247 | 65 | 17 | 59 | 1 | Capable of 30 homers and alarming strikeout totals. |
| Akinori Iwamura | TB | 7 | .282 | 88 | 10 | 58 | 14 | Won't match his homer totals in Japan but has his uses. |
| Joe Crede | CWS | 7 | .257 | 61 | 19 | 72 | 1 | Will have to prove back is sound, hold off Fields. |
| Aubrey Huff | BAL | 7 | .274 | 55 | 19 | 63 | 3 | Usually doesn't heat up until second half. |
| Eric Chavez | OAK | 6 | .259 | 57 | 15 | 62 | 1 | Talent is there, but he's a walking medical dictionary. |
| Chad Tracy | ARI | 6 | .281 | 61 | 12 | 51 | 1 | Must overcome injury and Mark Reynolds to reclaim job. |
| Casey Blake | CLE | 6 | .268 | 71 | 18 | 77 | 5 | Steady but unspectacular vet. |
| Pedro Feliz | PHI | 5 | .251 | 78 | 24 | 80 | 0 | Power numbers headed northward in Philly. |
| Jose Bautista | PIT | 5 | .258 | 64 | 17 | 63 | 4 | Late bloomer with some pop an NL-only sleeper. |
| Mike Lamb | MIN | 5 | .283 | 61 | 16 | 64 | 0 | Productive platoon player could steal everyday job. |
| Mark DeRosa | CHC | 5 | .284 | 63 | 10 | 57 | 2 | Super-utilityman has likely already peaked. |
| Chase Headley | SD | 4 | .280 | 57 | 12 | 60 | 1 | Switch-hitter with pop deserves shot. |
| Bill Hall | MIL | 3 | .274 | 68 | 18 | 66 | 6 | No lock to bounce back from '07 struggles. |
| Nomar Garciaparra | LAD | 3 | .281 | 56 | 11 | 52 | 4 | Andy LaRoche's injury offers fading vet new life. |
| Andy LaRoche | LAD | 3 | .274 | 48 | 9 | 44 | 1 | Thumb injury could sideline him until June. |
| Brandon Inge | DET | 3 | .249 | 54 | 14 | 51 | 6 | Trade for Miguel Cabrera relegates him to utility role. |
| Ryan Freel | CIN | 2 | .259 | 50 | 4 | 20 | 25 | Likely to be forced back into utility role. |
| Brandon Wood | LAA | 1 | .247 | 25 | 7 | 25 | 3 | Very young with tons of power. |
| Rich Aurilia | SF | 1 | .268 | 35 | 8 | 41 | 1 | Huge home park squashes value. |
| Maicer Izturis | LAA | 1 | .300 | 50 | 6 | 46 | 9 | Quality utilityman usually finds way to earn PT. |
| Morgan Ensberg | NYY | 1 | .257 | 36 | 13 | 31 | 0 | Journeyman faces uphill battle for PT in New York. |
| Ian Stewart | COL | 1 | .271 | 41 | 9 | 42 | 4 | Power-hitting 3B giving 2B a try. |
| Wilson Betemit | NYY | 1 | .266 | 48 | 16 | 49 | 1 | Could make impact if injuries create opportunity. |
| Andy Marte | CLE | 1 | .258 | 19 | 7 | 21 | 0 | Failed auditions so far but could get another shot. |
| Nick Punto | MIN | 1 | .275 | 40 | 1 | 22 | 15 | Has speed but no value when not hitting for AVG. |
| Alberto Callaspo | KC | 1 | .277 | 29 | 3 | 24 | 2 | Has keeper-league value as potential starter in '09. |
| Scott Moore | BAL | 1 | .250 | 35 | 12 | 45 | 2 | Blocked by vets but could help as utility guy. |
| Greg Dobbs | PHI | 1 | .278 | 37 | 6 | 32 | 2 | Value squashed by Pedro Feliz signing. |
| Jose Castillo | FLA | 1 | .255 | 26 | 6 | 30 | 1 | Light bat for a MI, never mind 3B. |
| Jeff Keppinger | CIN | 1 | .314 | 42 | 6 | 38 | 3 | Good average hitter could see extended PT. |
| Alfredo Amezaga | FLA | 1 | .268 | 30 | 2 | 16 | 9 | PT likely to drop with OF prospect Maybin on board. |
| Robb Quinlan | LAA | 1 | .271 | 25 | 4 | 23 | 1 | Can hit lefties but won't get many chances. |
| Aaron Boone | WAS | 1 | .265 | 21 | 5 | 21 | 1 | Useful bat but will struggle for playing time. |
| Wes Helms | PHI | 1 | .258 | 23 | 4 | 21 | 0 | Would benefit from change of scenery. |
| Tony Abreu | LAD | 1 | .288 | 18 | 1 | 19 | 1 | Hits for a little AVG but has little power or speed. |
| Shea Hillenbrand | FA | 1 | .248 | 16 | 4 | 18 | 0 | Former RBI machine looking for work. |
| Joel Guzman | TB | 1 | .215 | 12 | 5 | 14 | 0 | Eternal prospect slated for another season at Triple-A. |
| Alex Cintron | CHC | 1 | .259 | 16 | 2 | 18 | 1 | Backup infielder has minimal value. |
| Dallas McPherson | FLA | 1 | .216 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 0 | Opportunities running out for former prospect. |
| Russell Branyan | FA | 1 | .219 | 19 | 7 | 23 | 0 | Will hurt your AVG even if he hits a few HR. |
| Jeff Cirillo | FA | 1 | .262 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 0 | Utility player and pinch-hitter has no value. |
| Neil Walker | PIT | 1 | .260 | 15 | 3 | 14 | 2 | Could be ready for PIT hot corner. |
| Ramon Vazquez | TEX | 1 | .231 | 23 | 5 | 20 | 1 | Has a little pop but won't play enough to help. |
| Scott Spiezio | FA | 1 | .268 | 26 | 4 | 28 | 0 | Great chin scruff, but no team. |
| Russ Adams | TOR | 1 | .244 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 0 | No role with TOR means no fantasy value. |
| Corey Koskie | MIL | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Concussion may have ended solid career. |
| Abraham Nunez | PHI | 1 | .216 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | Can only hurt, not help, your team. |
| Matt Kata | PIT | 1 | .234 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 0 | Utilityman without upside or playing time. |
| Andy Gonzalez | CLE | 1 | .212 | 11 | 1 | 13 | 2 | Will spend year in Triple-A or on the bench. |
| Travis Metcalf | TEX | 1 | .221 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 0 | Missed chance to impress and might not get another. |
| Brian Buscher | MIN | 1 | .241 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | Already old for a prospect and has no real upside. |
| Matt Tuiasosopo | SEA | 1 | .232 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | Needs more time, blocked by Beltre. |
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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