Third Basemen

Third Baseman Rankings

Next up, our third baseman rankings for 12-team mixed 5x5 leagues using 14 hitters (including one 3B and a CI) and 9 pitchers.  I moved the games played requirement from 20 to 10 to gel with Yahoo leagues.  Average draft round is in parentheses.

1. Alex Rodriguez (1) - $27.55
2. David Wright (2) - $22.74
3. Evan Longoria (1) - $20.11
4. Mark Reynolds (2) - $18.19
5. Ryan Zimmerman (3) - $16.19
6. Kevin Youkilis (3) - $14.80
7. Pablo Sandoval (4) - $14.38
8. Chone Figgins (7) - $12.72
9. Aramis Ramirez (6) - $11.81
10. Gordon Beckham (8) - $10.42
11. Ian Stewart (11) - $8.10
12. Michael Young (8) - $7.19
13. Adrian Beltre (16) - $5.52
14. Jorge Cantu (15) - $4.49
15. Martin Prado (20) - $4.35
16. Alex Gordon (19) - $4.21 
17. Mark DeRosa (21) - $3.78
18. Chipper Jones (12) - $3.32
19. Garrett Atkins (24) - $2.79
20. Kevin Kouzmanoff (28) - $2.28
21. Jake Fox (28) - $2.22
22. Chase Headley (21) - $0.11
23. Edwin Encarnacion (27) - $0.03
24. Jhonny Peralta (18) - $0.03

Aramis has a 525 AB projection; 575 would boost him above Youkilis.  Beckham is a solid upside pick with position flexibility, as he'll play second base for the Sox.  Stewart is projected at 520 ABs and would move up a few spots with more.

Beltre, Gordon, and Fox are some later picks that could be mild sleepers.  Chipper in the 12th round, not a fan.

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Edwin Encarnacion A Second Half Sleeper?

A reader emailed asking whether Reds third baseman Edwin Encarnacion is primed for a big second half.  He's owned in only 51.4% of ESPN leagues, though he was a tenth-round pick coming into the season.

Encarnacion recently came off a chip fracture in his wrist, an injury that is known to linger.  The Reds might not have much confidence; they were linked to Scott Rolen earlier this month.  But hey, that's why you're getting him on the cheap.  Tiny samples, but Encarnacion's five extra-base hits in 34 July plate appearances plus two HRs in his rehab stint might be positive signs.

EE is still only 26, and he's shown that when he's right he can bang out 5-7 homers in a given month.  I'd snag him and see how the rest of July goes.  Along similar lines, it's time to grab Alex Gordon if he was cut following news of hip surgery.  He'll return this week.

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Third Base Rankings

Time to post up the third baseman rankings.  These dollar values apply to 5x5 mixed leagues with the standard categories and roster size.  I used 20 games for eligibility.

Those who had between 10-19 games played at 3B in 2008: Miguel Cabrera ($27.84), Russell Martin ($8.71), Felipe Lopez ($3.75), and Pablo Sandoval ($0.49).  On to the rankings, draft round in parentheses:

1. Alex Rodriguez - $35.14 (1)
2. David Wright - $34.78 (1)
3. Chris Davis - $18.22 (6)
4. Aramis Ramirez - $17.45 (3)
5. Evan Longoria - $16.78 (2)
6. Garrett Atkins - $14.21 (7)
7. Chipper Jones - $12.99 (5)
8. Kevin Youkilis - $12.92 (4)
9. Mark Reynolds - $11.27 (25)
10. Adrian Beltre - $11.16 (18)
11. Chone Figgins - $8.80 (7)
12. Ryan Zimmerman - $8.52 (9)
13. Aubrey Huff - $8.47 (8)
14. Edwin Encarnacion - $8.20 (10)
15. Alex Gordon - $7.67 (14)
16. Carlos Guillen - $6.40 (21)
17. Kevin Kouzmanoff - $6.17 (27)
18. Mark DeRosa - $5.10 (16)
19. Jorge Cantu - $3.83 (13)
20. Ty Wigginton - $3.25 (18)
21. Troy Glaus - $2.24 (25)
22. Casey Blake - $1.46 (24)
23. Hank Blalock - $0.88 (18)
24. Melvin Mora - $0.36 (19)

Just missed the cut: Mike Lowell, Ian Stewart.

Clearly Longoria, Jones, Youkilis, Huff, and Cantu are being drafted based on their strong 2008 seasons.  Do you see any of these five regressing?

I like Davis, but the sixth round is usually not the place for a sleeper.  Atkins, Reynolds, and Beltre provide solid veteran value, though Atkins carries trade risk.  The late-round upside plays: Encarnacion (26 years old) and Gordon (25 years old).  Davis, Longoria, and Zimmerman are also capable of monster fantasy years but at those draft positions you're almost counting on it.

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Evan Longoria Arrives

Top third base prospect Evan Longoria is up in the bigs, and probably to stay.  So much for the Rays' cost-saving plan.   Other third base prospects like Andy LaRoche, Chase Headley, and Neil Walker may spend time in the Majors this year, but Longoria is easily the best of the four.

Longoria is as close to a sure thing as a prospect gets (although we said that about Alex Gordon a year ago probably).  The 22 year-old Longoria started slow in Durham, for what it's worth. He hit .262/.407/.595 with three homers and two steals in 42 spring ABs.

Assuming all third basemen will receive 500 additional ABs this year (for the sake of comparison), I have Longoria ranked 11th (after Ryan Zimmerman and before Mark Reynolds).  For the 500 ABs I have Longoria at .270-23-81-83-4. 

Though I have Longoria technically outranking Reynolds, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Alex Gordon, and Adrian Beltre, I wouldn't drop/trade any of them to accomodate him. These four are all off to decent-to-great starts and have a big league track record.  And some of them can steal bases.  I am on the fence with Edwin Encarnacion - I like him more than Longoria this year, but I'm not sure if Dusty will let him play through his slump.  Hank Blalock is another borderline call; I'd probably stick with him.

Here are some third basemen I would drop/trade to accomodate Longoria: Josh Fields, Troy Glaus,  Ty Wigginton, Mike Lowell, Scott Rolen, Casey Blake, and Melvin Mora.  You probably didn't need me to tell you most of those.  Aubrey Huff and Joe Crede give me pause, but...yes, I'd cut them for Longoria.  An arguable suggestion given their strong starts, but hey, that's my opinion. 

I'd also move the following first baseman to use Longoria in my CI slot: Joey Votto, Jason Giambi, Adam LaRoche, Kevin Youkilis, Casey Kotchman, and Richie Sexson.

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2008 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: Third Basemen

Sleepers, undervalued, profitable players, call 'em what you will.  In general, some guys who may not be getting enough respect in your mixed league.

• We recently talked about Alex Gordon, who could certainly have fifth-round value this year.
• Edwin Encarnacion looks like a slight bargain as a 15th round pick.  .290-25-90-85-10 wouldn't be out of the question.
• Kevin Kouzmanoff in the 21st round is solid.  He could match EE's upside projection, minus the steals.  The Padres kind of need him to.
• Josh Fields isn't necessarily chopped liver because he's starting the season in Triple A.  It's a long season, a lot can happen.  He could still get 500 ABs and hit 25 homers with 10 swipes.  Same goes for Evan Longoria, minus the swipes.  But when you see everyone going nuts over Longoria remember that guys like Fields, Mark Reynolds, and Kouz can probably match him this year.
• Hank Blalock has plenty of upside in the 20th round. 
• Some feel Ty Wigginton could pop 30 homers (I don't).
• I like Chase Headley as a deep sleeper.

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