High 50 Dynasty Third Basemen for Keepers

Welcome again to a different installment of High Dynasty Keepers for 2025. We now have made our journey across the infield as we spotlight the third basemen this week.

That is an fascinating place. There’s some stable depth as you’ll be able to land an excellent starter from the Tier 2 group and even Tier 3 if a type of gamers has a breakout 12 months. However the high expertise skews towards the older aspect as six of my high 20 gamers are 31 years outdated or older.

There are some stable gamers who’re of their 20s, however there isn’t a Bobby Witt Jr. or Gunnar Henderson on this group.

Total, it’s a place with one nice participant, lots of above common gamers after which a gaggle of gamers who’ve the potential to be above common however usually are not there but.

Simply Missed the Reduce

Gio Urshela performed in 128 video games with Detroit and Atlanta in 2024 and noticed time at first and third base. So if you happen to want a utility participant with some energy, Urshela might come in useful, even on the age of 33 subsequent 12 months.

A youthful fill-in with some worth is Edmundo Sosa of the Phillies. First rate slash line final season and he has some energy, hitting seven homers in 249 at-bats. He can play a number of positions, in order that helps his worth.

After these two is an entire bunch of the identical sort of participant – Nick Senzel, Anthony Rendon (assuming he truly is on the sector), Jose Iglesias, Patrick Knowledge, and so forth. Plug them in if wanted, however hope you don’t need to plug them in.

High Prospects

• Charlie Condon, Colorado
• Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs
• Brayden Taylor, Tampa Bay
• Cam Collier, Cincinatti
• Cam Smith, Chicago Cubs
• Brady Home, Washington

Tier 5

*Age as of April 1, 2025

Simply One other Backup

Yoan Moncada is rarely going to be the star participant many anticipated him to be as he was one of many key gamers the White Sox received after they traded Chris Sale to the Purple Sox. Since that commerce Moncada has had just one good season and a number of mediocre to dangerous seasons to associate with a number of accidents. The White Sox well didn’t choose up his $25 million choice and a few workforce goes to signal Moncada and hope he stays wholesome and figures issues out on the plate.

However proper now, I don’t count on a lot from him and also you shouldn’t both as his “breakout” 2019 season is 5 years within the rearview mirror.

Gamers with Upside

What to do with Brett Baty? He’s a former first spherical draft choose and former high 100 prospect who has succeeded within the minors with a profession .283/.382/.507 slash line with 64 homers and 225 RBI in 325 video games. However with the Mets he has struggled to the tune of .215/.282/.325 with 15 homers and 55 RBI in 169 video games with 159 strikeouts. Mark Vientos has surpassed him at third base, however Baty received time in at second base within the minors this previous 12 months and he can play left subject. His future is probably not at third, however the ceiling is simply too tantalizing to not take an opportunity on Baty as a buy-low candidate.

Jace Jung remains to be often known as the little brother of Josh Jung. Maybe in the future he’ll simply be often known as the brother of Josh Jung. He has above common energy and is probably going headed for a job at third base with Colt Keith establishing store at second base. He didn’t have an ideal debut with the Tigers this 12 months as he slashed .241/.362/.304 with no homers and three RBI. He additionally had a 31% strikeout price however countered that with a 16% stroll price.

Brooks Lee can play third base, second base and shortstop, however his future is probably going at second base, which is one purpose why he’s ranked in Tier 5. A switch-hitter, Lee has wonderful contact expertise as he had extra walks than strikeouts throughout his school profession and had a 15.3% strikeout price within the minors and a stable 14.6% strikeout price throughout his 50-game stint with the Twins final 12 months. He can also drive the ball and has a stable upside, although at what place is the true query.

Tier 4

What to do With Hayes and Cabrera?

Ke’Bryan Hayes is a former high 10 prospect who burst onto the scene in 2020 by hitting .377/.442/.682 with 5 homers and 11 RBI in 24 video games. Since then, nonetheless, Hayes has struggled to reside as much as his prospect hype. Since 2021, he has a .252/.306/.370 slash line with a 162-game common of 11 homers and 59 RBI whereas struggling to remain on the sector because of accidents. One of the best factor about Hayes proper now’s the pace he gives as he recorded double-digit steals in every of the final three seasons.

Oswaldo Cabrera was by no means a high 10 prospect, a lot much less a high 100 prospect, however all the time appeared to have lots of hype surrounding him as a consequence of enjoying for the Yankees. The hype constructed for him in 2021 when he hit 29 homers, drove in 89 runs and stole 21 bases on the Double-A and Triple-A ranges. However his manufacturing within the majors has by no means matched what he did within the minors.

In 108 video games this previous season, he set profession highs with eight dwelling runs and 36 RBI whereas slashing .247/.296/.352 and his 162-game common is simply 12 homers and 51 RBI. The saving grace for Cabera is the very fact he can play all 4 infield positions in addition to left and proper subject, although he probably solely qualifies as a primary, second and third baseman in most leagues.

Are Hayes and Cabrera price a roster spot? As depth choices, sure. As starters, no.

Depth Choices

Should you imagine Ernie Clement can maintain off Addison Barger for the beginning job at third and if you happen to imagine that Clement’s 2024 season wasn’t an anomaly, then go forward and snag him to be a depth participant at third base and shortstop and probably second base. Clement performed in a profession excessive 139 video games for the Blue Jays and slashed .263/.284/.408 with 12 homers, 51 RBI and 12 steals. His profession slash line is .249/.282/.361), so I might not rely on him replicating his 2024 season in 2025. However he can present first rate depth.

Paul DeJong can play a number of positions and hit 24 homers this season, however that’s the extent of the place he actually helps on offense as he had a .227/.276/.427 slash line and he has not hit higher than .233 for the reason that 2020 season. However low-cost energy is nice energy, in order a depth participant he has worth.

Talking of Barger, if you happen to suppose he’ll beat out Clement at third, then he’s a participant that would shock a bit of. He has energy as he hit seven homers in 69 video games for the Blue Jays. However he additionally had a .197/.250/.351 slash line with a 27% strikeout price. If you’re eager on his energy potential, then he’s price a shot to stash in your workforce.

The One-Dimensional Participant

That is what I mentioned about Christopher Morel in my second baseman rankings and it applies right here as effectively: Morel can hit the ball a good distance. However that’s actually all he can do. He has a profession dwelling run price of 4.3%, which is method above the three% common. However he additionally has a .223 profession batting common and a 29% strikeout price. Should you care solely about energy who can play third base and left subject as effectively, Morel is nice to have. However that’s principally all he’ll present.

Tier 3

The Versatile Group

If you’d like gamers who can play a number of positions who present depth in deep leagues and provide some first rate stats – both within the slash line, homers, pace or a mixture – then gamers corresponding to Willi Castro, Dylan Moore, Luis Rengifo and Jose Caballero are nice gamers to have in your workforce. Castro and Moore reached double digits in homers and steals this season whereas Rengifo had six homers in 78 video games however hit 16 and 17 the earlier two seasons whereas Caballero 44 bases and had 9 homers.

These aren’t star gamers, however in deep leagues they’re the kind who present nice depth and not less than assist in one class if no more.

Can Ortiz do Extra?

I like Joey Ortiz. I like the very fact he can hit with some energy and assist with steals. In his first full season he had 11 homers and 11 steals to go together with 60 RBI. He additionally had a stroll price of 11% with a 20% strikeout price, so he has an excellent understanding of the plate.

However I’m undecided how way more energy he’s going to develop. He did hit 19 homers in 2022 whereas within the minors, however 15 of these got here at Double-A as a 23-year-old. I believe he can add extra energy, however saying he shall be a constant 20-homer participant could be a attain.

A Lot Higher Than You Assume

Matt Vierling could also be considerably shocking to be on this tier, however he has lots of worth in deep leagues. He will be slotted as a 3rd baseman, left fielder (relying on league guidelines), proper fielder and heart fielder.

On the plate, as he has obtained increasingly enjoying time, his stats have improved as effectively. This season he hit a profession excessive 16 homers and drove in a profession excessive 57 runs whereas slashing .257/.312/.423. His SLG has improved every season since 2022, when he slugged .351 for the Phillies in 117 video games. It rose to .388 in 2023 after which reached .423 this 12 months.

Tier 2

Respect to the Elders

Of the ten gamers on this tier, seven of them are 28 years outdated or youthful. The three elder gamers are Nolan Arenado, Eugenio Suarez and Matt Chapman.

Arenado is now not the slugging third baseman he as soon as was. After slugging .533 in 2022, that quantity fell to .459 in 2023 and .394 this previous season. The 16 homers he hit had been the fewest since he hit 10 in 2013 (his rookie season) and his dwelling run totals the final 4 years have been 34, 30, 26 and 16. In most leagues, Arenado just isn’t a starter. In deep leagues, he’s a fringe starter. Should you choose a youthful participant from Tier 4 or have a prospect that you simply choose to play at third base, I can’t argue with you.

Eugenio Suarez slugged 30 homers and drove in 101 runs in his first season within the desert. His 162-game common is 30 homers and 92 RBI with a .248/.331/.457 slash line. So why is Suarez ranked solely fifteenth? As a result of he’s 33 years outdated and he principally helps solely within the homer/RBI classes. If I’m not getting one of many extra well-rounded older third basemen who’re in Tier 1, then I choose to construct round a youthful participant on the sizzling nook. Should you’re solely wanting two or three years forward, then bump Suarez up as he’ll proceed to hit dwelling runs and drive in runs for Arizona.

Matt Chapman will get ranked forward of Suarez principally as a result of he’s two years youthful. On the plate his stats are near what Suarez produces. His 162-game common is 29 homers and 80 RBI, whereas the slash line is .241/.328/.463. The identical be aware about Suarez applies right here – a brief view can hold Chapman ranked right here or greater.

Unproven Expertise

Noelvi Marte, Connor Norby and Coby Mayo fall into Tier 2 principally as a consequence of their anticipated worth in comparison with present worth. Marte entered the 2024 season as a High 25 prospect in keeping with Baseball America, MLB and Baseball Prospectus. He has an intriguing mixture of energy and pace. He confirmed his means in 2023 when he performed in 35 video games and slashed .316/.366/.456. However he struggled in 2024 with a .210/.248/.301 slash line and solely 4 homers and 18 RBI in 66 video games although he did have 9 steals.

If the Reds commerce Jonathan India, it would clear a spot for Jeimer Candelario to get extra time at DH and for Marte to take over fulltime at third.

Connor Norby was behind too many high prospects in Baltimore, so the commerce to Miami in July was an ideal place for him to land. After slashing .188/.188/.406 in 9 video games with the Orioles, Norby slashed .247/.315/.445 with seven dwelling runs and 17 RBI in 36 video games. That could be a 162-game tempo of 32 homers and 72 RBI. And the facility is actual. In school at East Carolina he had a profession SLG of .596 and within the minors it was .494.

The cheer you heard when the Orioles introduced they are going to be shifting the left subject fence in for 2025 was from Coby Mayo and each different right-handed energy hitter who play for Baltimore. Mayo didn’t go away an excellent first impression this previous season after slashing .098/.196/.098 in 17 video games and 41 at-bats. Don’t let that displaying hold you from going after Mayo. He hit 25 homers within the minors this previous season with a .592 SLG and his profession SLG in 390 minor league video games is .541.

I count on Jackson Holliday to play second base, Gunnar Henderson to stay at brief and Jordan Westburg to carry down the fort at third (or Westburg can play second, Henderson play third and Holliday be at brief or any mixture involving these three gamers at these three positions). If that’s the case, Mayo will probably get time at third, first and DH. However for now he’s a 3rd baseman and one you must need.

Simply Keep Wholesome

Texas Rangers followers would like to see what Josh Jung might do over 162 video games. Up to now they’ve seen him play in 26 video games in 2022, 122 in 2023 and solely 46 final season. In 2023 he slashed .266/.315/.467 with 23 homers and 70 RBI and his 162-game common is .257/.301/.450 with 29 homers and 84 RBI. His profession HR% is 4.4% and his strikeout price has dropped each season since his debut.

In his one “full” season, his Common EV ranked within the 87th percentile and his Launch Angle Candy-Spot% ranked within the 98th percentile. Those that have Jung on their roster have probably been pissed off by him, however now just isn’t the time to surrender on him.

Tier 1

Down Yr, or New Pattern?

Rating Alex Bregman at No. 10 comes with an asterisk mark: was 2024 the beginning of a development, or only a blip in an in any other case very constant profession? Bregman just isn’t going to match what he did in 2018 and 2019 as he has not come near these numbers since. However over the past three years he has been very constant, hitting 23, 25 and 26 homers with batting averages of .259, .262, .260 and SLG percentages of .454, .441, .453.

What’s regarding about Bregman is the large drop in his stroll proportion. His profession stroll price is 11.9%. However in 2024, it dropped to six.9% – his lowest proportion since his rookie season in 2016. Why the massive drop? One purpose will be traced to the truth that the Astros had been lacking Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker for large chunks of the season, main Bregman to increase his zone so as to attempt to drive in runs.

If he continues to have a stroll price within the 7% vary, then his OBP drops and his runs scored drop, making him a much less priceless third baseman, although a 3rd baseman with an OPS+ of 118 this season and one who has by no means been decrease than 112. For now I’ll contemplate this a blip on the radar.

Simply Keep Wholesome, Half II

Take what I mentioned about Texas Rangers followers and Josh Jung and insert Minnesota Followers and Royce Lewis right here. Lewis has performed nothing however mash the ball when he’s on the sector. In 152 profession video games with the Twins, he has 33 dwelling runs and 104 RBI to go together with a .268/.327/.497 slash line and a 126 OPS+. The issue with Lewis is he can’t keep on the sector. He was restricted to 58 video games in 2023 and 82 video games final season. His strikeout and stroll charges are on par with the MLB common and his profession ISO is .230 in comparison with the MLB common of .158.

Younger however Unproven

Jordan Westburg and Mark Vientos shouldn’t have an extended observe document of MLB expertise, however what they’ve performed throughout their transient careers and what I count on them to maintain doing locations them in my high 10.

In 107 video games in 2024, Westburg slugged .481 because of 18 homers, 26 doubles and 5 triples. His xBA and xSLG ranked within the 92nd percentile this previous season whereas his AEV, Barrel% and LA Candy-Spot% all ranked within the eightieth to 88th percentile. The Orioles are shifting the left subject fences in for 2025, and that’s excellent news for right-handers, however Westburg truly hit eight of his homers to the best aspect of heart subject as his energy performs in any park.

The Mets gave Mark Vientos an opportunity to show himself in 2024 and the younger slugger took benefit of it by hitting 27 homers and driving in 71 runs in 111 video games whereas slashing .266/.322/.516. His 162-game common is 31 homers and 81 RBI. The facility is actual – in components of seven minor league seasons, Vientos has a .500 SLG. It might be good if he cuts down on his profession 30% strikeout price, however his profession AEV is 91.7 mph and his Laborious Hit% is 48.1% (MLB common is 39%).

Dishonest a Bit

I’ve ranked each Jazz Chisholm and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sixth as a result of I don’t suppose they continue to be eligible at third base past the 2025 season. Chisholm stepped in at third base for the Yankees and did a wonderful job, however I believe he strikes again to second base/heart subject subsequent season, particularly if Juan Soto is enjoying in Queens or wherever subsequent season. Chisholm isn’t your conventional third baseman. Whereas he can hit for energy, he additionally has nice pace and that provides him an enormous scoring benefit at this place.

That is what I mentioned about Guerrero in my first base rankings: “Guerrero had a breakout season in 2021, when on the tender age of twenty-two, he hit 48 homers, drove in 111 runs and slashed .311/.401/.601 to complete second within the MVP voting. These are some fairly lofty numbers to attempt to match yearly, and Guerrero hasn’t. However all he has performed since then is hit 88 dwelling runs and drive in 294 runs whereas slashing .287/.360/.489. His “worst” season since 2021 was final 12 months when he hit 26 homers and had 94 RBI whereas slashing .264/.345/.444.

Guerrero discovered his mojo on the plate this previous season as he slashed .323/.396/.544. That could be a top-10 end throughout the board within the slash classes because the averaged ranked second in MLB whereas the OBP ranked third and the SLG ranked ninth. That’s fairly stable for a participant who hasn’t even reached his prime but.”

Guerrero is a stud, and at third base he’ll present nice numbers. I simply suppose it’s for just one season.

A Shock at 5

Placing Junior Caminero right here shall be thought-about a attain by some and loopy by others. However typically the attention take a look at is aware of when a gifted participant is on the sector and ought to be a high goal in dynasty leagues. Caminero is a type of gamers. On the age of 20 final season, he appeared in 43 video games for the Rays and slashed .248/.299/.724 with six homers and 18 RBI. These aren’t nice numbers, however he had solely a 21.5% strikeout price and a 46% Laborious-Hit% in comparison with the MLB common of 39.3%.

He has so much to study and he could undergo some extended slumps in 2025, however his upside is simply too good to move up.

The Closing 4

Manny Machado is 4 years older than Austin Riley, and that’s the reason he’s ranked behind him. From 2021 to 2023 Machado averaged 30 homers and 100 RBI in 147 video games with a .278/.345/.495 and completed 18th within the MVP voting in 2022 and second in 2023. This previous season he slashed .275/.325/.472 with 29 homers and 105 RBI whereas additionally swiping 11 bases.

Accidents damage Austin Riley’s manufacturing this previous season (19 homers, 56 RBI in 110 video games). However from 2021 via 2023 (to match him to Machado) Riley’s common season was 36 homers and 99 RBI with a .286/.354/.525 slash line whereas averaging 159 video games. Throughout these three years he completed seventh, sixth and seventh within the MVP voting. There isn’t any purpose to suppose Riley just isn’t going to return to that degree of manufacturing subsequent 12 months and past.

Like Machado and Riley, Devers is only a constant drive on the plate. His profession slash line is .279/.345/.511 with a 126 OPS+. From 2021-2023 he averaged 150 video games per season with 33 homers, 100 RBI and a .282/.354/.520 slash line and a 133 OPS+. This previous season wasn’t Dever’s greatest, but he nonetheless hit 28 homers and drove in 83 runs in 138 video games.

Jose Ramirez goes to be 32 years outdated on Opening Day in 2025. And I say who cares, not less than on the subject of Ramirez. All of the switch-hitter does is produce 12 months after 12 months. This season he slashed .279/.335/.537 with 39 homers and 118 RBI, the third time in 4 years he has topped 100 RBI. What separates Ramirez from the remainder of the third basemen is the very fact he additionally has pace. He stole 41 bases this 12 months and has not had fewer than 20 steals in any full season since 2017. Over the past 4 seasons his OPS+ has been 142, 148, 128 and 143.

Age is commonly an element when deciding between two comparable gamers, however within the case of Ramirez, throw that out of the window.

Come Again Subsequent Week

Thanks for studying and are available again subsequent week for the highest 50 third basemen.

Earlier Rankings

High 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Relievers
High 100 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Beginning Pitchers
High 40 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Catchers
High 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – First Basemen
High 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Second Basemen
High 50 Dynasty Keepers for 2025 – Shortstops