Third Base Dynasty Rankings for Fantasy Baseball

January 17, 2022

Third base (3B) preseason rankings for dynasty fantasy baseball leagues ahead of the 2022 season. Pierre Camus breaks down his ranks based on preseason value and projections.

It's not quite draft season for fantasy baseball but that matters little in dynasty. Cut/hold decisions are being made in the following weeks leading up to the annual redraft or auction so it's important to assess the relative value of each player on your roster. As it turns out, I've recently updated my dynasty baseball rankings with a top-360 overall list and will be evaluating an even deeper list of players at each individual position with analysis.

Traditionally known as a power position, the hot corner seems to be getting thinner each year in terms of top-end fantasy production. A few young players didn't make that second-year leap while some prospects may be ready to break out. Keep in mind that many players listed also have eligibility at other positions but I'll primarily cover the ones who are likely to be used at third base.

Let's dive into the 3B rankings as we prepare for a Major League season that is definitely going to start on time (fingers crossed).

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Dynasty Third Base Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Preseason Thoughts

Rafael Devers could rightfully claim the top spot on these rankings as Guerrero and Franco may not have third base eligibility in all formats. He set career-highs with a 51.8% hard-hit rate and 15% barrel rate, improving an already elite set of Statcast ratings.

He doesn't offer speed like J-Ram but is four years younger and is on a team that boasts one of the best offenses in the league.

Manny Machado profiles similar to Devers but is the same age as Ramirez, so he falls just under both. Don't blame Manny for the Padres failing to make the postseason; he drove in 106 runs and posted an expected slash line of .294/.380/.530 in 2021. His speed reappeared too, as he stole 12 bases and attempted the most swipes since 2018. He may not be an up-and-coming star but consistency is key to a successful dynasty squad. Machado has been among the league leaders in plate appearances every year since 2014 and should be counted on as a foundational piece for several more seasons.

Alex Bregman has lost his speed and not just his desire to run. His sprint speed ranking has fallen four straight years, down to 24% last season. He only stole one base in 2021 and can't be expected to do much more from here on out. His batting average also settled in at .270 after a high of .296 in 2019. I know what many of you are thinking - it's the garbage can thing. The truth is... maybe so. His xBA against breaking balls took a sharp dip after 2019 and hasn't recovered.

His BA on offspeed pitches has improved, but those only account for 12% of pitches seen. Bregman was obviously not a total product of cheating. The hard truth may be that despite being in his prime at age 27, he seems to have already peaked in terms of fantasy production.

Just two years ago, it looked like Yoan Moncada was going to compete for the title of top player at this position. Instead, we are now looking at a player who is simply mediocre on offense. He batted an unremarkable .263 with 14 HR, 61 RBI, and 74 R across 616 plate appearances. His biggest accomplishment in 2021 was improving his walk rate to 13.5%, which made for an excellent .375 OBP. If you play in a points league, this is helpful. For roto leagues, Moncada no longer has enough power upside to be considered a top-10 3B. His career .240 xBA isn't too inspiring either. He hits a ton of line drives and poses a strong exit velocity, so he could be a launch angle adjustment away from a power bump but that's not something to count on.

Don't convince yourself that Ke'Bryan Hayes was a small sample champ in 2020. His season was interrupted right after his strong Opening Day in 2021 as he was hit by a pitch on the wrist. He missed two months and was never the same thereafter. Hayes was slated to see a hand specialist in the offseason and will hopefully be back to full health by the time the season begins. If so, expect a player who can flirt with a .300 average and 20+ homers but may lack in counting stats because, well, Pirates.

Deeper Options to Watch

Nolan Jones stands as the top prospect in Cleveland's farm system and could debut in 2022. With Jose Ramirez holding down third base, Jones could compete at first or move to the outfield where the franchise is suddenly thin after Bradley Zimmer and Oscar Mercado failed to reach their ceilings. Jones projects to have similar power to Bobby Bradley but is a more athletic version with better plate discipline. Stash Jones in dynasty leagues where you have the space.

Jake Burger got his first taste of the majors last season and handled himself fairly well, gaining 10 hits in 42 plate appearances. He only went deep once and didn't make a case to displace Yoan Moncada at third any time soon but he could earn time at DH this year.

Mets fans are perennially optimistic but more often than not disappointed by season's end. Last year's spending spree resulted in a 77-85 record and an offense that scored the fourth-fewest runs in the majors. Could they look to reinforcements in the minors such as slugger Mark Vientos to provide power at the corner opposite the Polar Bear? With 70-grade raw power and 25 HR in 310 at-bats across Double-A and Triple-A last year, Vientos is a player that shows promise. Look deeper and many of the same issues lurk as with most sluggers, namely a strikeout rate around 30% and limited defensive skills. Free agent signee Eduardo Escobar is 33 and could move to a utility role at some point to accommodate Vientos but that's assuming he can stick in the majors by making consistent quality contact. He'll likely fall somewhere in between Pete Alonso and Peter O'Brien when all is said and done.

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