X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community!

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


LINEUP RESOURCES

Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Pickups & Streamers
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Top Five Dynasty / Keeper Third Basemen

In a surprising turn of events, no veteran third basemen made the Top Five Dynasty/Keeper list. Veterans like Evan Longoria, Chris Davis, Todd Frazier and Josh Donaldson are too old to crack my top five. Much respect to those guys, but a new generation of third basemen has arrived. Let's take a look.

 

The Fantasy Future of Third Base

5) Kyle Seager, 3B, Seattle Mariners
 
Most consider Josh Donaldson a top five Dynasty 3B and for a hot minute, I considered it, but I just don't get all the hype around him. He’s a career .268/.347/.458 hitter with declining numbers. After batting .241 in 2012, he peaked at .301 in 2013 and then regressed back down to .255. It appears that his 2013 batting average was a bit of an outlier (science). Donaldson also has a discouraging three-year decline in LD% coupled with a three year increase in GB%. I don't own a crystal ball, but I would guess that trend will continue.
 
Seager puts up virtually identical numbers to Donaldson in every category. He is available later in inaugural drafts and he is over 2 years younger. Seager’s batting average and HR totals have increased for three consecutive years with 20, 22 and 25 in 2014. He is a fabulous player to own for the next two or three seasons, and I think we all can agree that the Mariners are a more likeable team than the Jays anyway.
 
Steamer projects some regression with Seager, but I don't see why. At age 27 he has improved in every MLB season. Why would I expect anything but the norm?

 

4) Manny Machado, 3B, Baltimore Orioles

Machado makes the list based on handsomeness alone. Sadly, he’s already had major procedures on both his knees. It feels like he’s been around for much longer and hasn't quite lived up to all the hype, but he is healthy now.

His ability to stay healthy has me concerned, but again, he is only 22. At this tender age, Machado already has the potential to finish in the top five 3B this year and every year for the next 10.

He will hit for a higher average than both Seager and Donaldson. He strikes out less and has the potential to smack over 20 HR. His 15% HR/FB in 2014 suggests his power is real.  Did I mention he is only 22?

 

3) Anthony Rendon, 3B/2B, Washington Nationals

Rendon makes a better keeper at 2B, and I spoke about him glowingly here. Ultimately, he edges out Machado and Seager simply because of his power/speed mix. I love his 20/20 potential and he has always shown he can hit.

If I may make a bold prediction, Rendon is an MVP candidate in 2015.

Advertising

 

2) Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

I was surprised to see the high value Arenado got to start the season. I always considered him more comparable to fellow 24-year-old third baseman, Nick Castellanos, so I finally looked into it.

As far as Steamer projections go, Arenado is projected for more HR and a much higher BA. He also bats fifth in a hot Colorado lineup while Castellanos bats seventh in Detroit.

In addition, Arenado gets to play 81 games per year in Colorado, a hitter's dream.

Then I found Arenado had a .213 ISO in 2014, which was tops among qualified 3B. He also plays Gold Glove caliber defense. So yes, there’s a big difference. Pablo Sandoval is Castellanos’s ceiling. Meanwhile, Arenado could be the next Adrian Beltre.

 

1) Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs

Sometimes I just follow the herd. Especially when everyone says he draws comparisons to Miguel Cabrera. He absolutely mashed in camp and people all over the country (including me) can't wait for the Cubbies to call him up to the bigs. All signs point to Bryant being a sure thing. Draft and own everywhere.

 




LINEUP RESOURCES

Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Pickups & Streamers
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

WIN MORE IN 2024

Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Pickups & Streamers
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

ROTOBALLER PLAYER NEWS

RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Alexis Diaz fantasy baseball closers rankings draft sleepers waiver wire pickups

MLB Closers and Saves: Fantasy Baseball Depth Charts

Saves are an important component for many fantasy baseball leagues. Closers are one of the most volatile positions in fantasy baseball, and one of the highest turnover positions in MLB. Each year, closers drop like flies and many MLB teams make in-season changes due to injuries or poor performance. In addition to closers and saves, relief... Read More


Do These Prospects Matter for Fantasy Baseball?

The 2023 fantasy baseball season has been highlighted by the promotion of nearly two-dozen top prospects to the major leagues to impact fantasy rosters. This week's edition features one player who was called up as the piece was being written. Will these strong performers join the ranks of those who have moved to the majors... Read More


clayton kershaw fantasy baseball rankings draft sleepers MLB injury news

articles report test

this is a test


Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 24

Welcome back! It's Week 24 of our fantasy baseball Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups series! There are just two precious weeks left, and every start is becoming more and more important as most of the fantasy baseball world is in playoff matchups. If you've made it this far, there's a good chance you don't really... Read More


Aaron Nola - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Starts & Sits for MLB Week 23 - All Starting Pitcher Matchups for Fantasy Baseball

Welcome back RotoBallers! Big week in fantasy leagues as we approach the end of the season and playoffs! As always, we are here with our starting pitcher starts and sits series to help you set those winning lineups for the week ahead! For those who are not familiar, RotoBaller puts out a weekly grid of... Read More


Gunnar Henderson - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB Prospects, Draft Sleepers

Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 24

Welcome to Week 24 and our fantasy baseball waiver wire hitters. We'll be doing this roundup of points leagues every week here at RotoBaller, with waiver wire targets and streaming pitchers being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems of ESPN, Yahoo!, CBS, and Fantrax. Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform,... Read More


Brayan Bello - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Two-Start Pitcher Streamers for Fantasy Baseball - Week 24

Yo, it's Jon Anderson, continuing to run the show here in terms of late-summer fantasy baseball writing. There are just two weeks left of streaming pitchers, so let's make it count! This weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups column aims to identify starting pitchers expected to make two starts in the upcoming fantasy baseball week,... Read More


Fantasy Baseball Week 24 Injury News and Updates: Tyler Glasnow, Ozzie Albies, Starling Marte, Anthony Rizzo, Zack Wheeler

September is now more than half over. The baseball season is slowly coming to a close. At this point, fantasy players are pushing for their league titles or just playing for pride. Major League Baseball teams continue to do the same and injuries continue to happen, now with the dreaded term "done for the season"... Read More


Joe Musgrove - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, MLB Injury News

Free MLB Betting Picks - Today's Best Bets, Expert Predictions, Odds (9/17/22)

Happy Saturday, RotoBallers, we're back for another weekend of MLB betting picks! Make sure you're following my Twitter, as I can't guarantee that I'll always be able to get the added plays written here in the article, but I will typically add whatever else I'm playing throughout the day. The entire RotoBaller team has been... Read More


DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (9/17/22): Today's Top MLB DFS Lineups

Today's MLB slates are split up as is the norm for September baseball. Half the guys I think will play will not, so you have to be as flexible as Gumby to play MLB DFS in September, but that also means that there is a lot of money out there should you dare to dive... Read More


Max Fried - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, MLB Injury News

Free MLB Betting Picks - Today's Best Bets, Expert Predictions, Odds (9/15/22)

Happy Friday, RotoBallers, we're back for another weekend of MLB betting picks! Make sure you're following my Twitter, as I can't guarantee that I'll always be able to get the added plays written here in the article, but I will typically add whatever else I'm playing throughout the day. The entire RotoBaller team has been... Read More


Robbie Ray - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB Injury News, Draft Sleepers

DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (9/16/22): Today's Top MLB DFS Lineups

Fridays are big MLB DFS days and offer a nice respite from the NFL, who command our attention on Thursdays, Sundays, and Mondays. This slate, like most Friday slates, is a big one as all MLB teams are in action today and 28 of those teams are on tonight's 14-game DFS slate. This was a... Read More


kyle farmer fantasy baseball rankings draft sleepers MLB injury news

Top Hitter Streamers and Starts for Fantasy Baseball - Week 24

There are only two weeks left of fantasy baseball! It's going to be very sad when the season comes to an end, but the impending end of the season means that these are the most important, and therefore most fun weeks of the year – for those of you still competing, at least. I have... Read More


TODAY’S MOST VIEWED PLAYERS

rotating JS ad test

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF