Fantasy Baseball - Free fantasy and rotisserie baseball information

2010 Fantasy Baseball Preview: Third Basemen
Written by TG Fantasy Baseball Staff
February 13, 2010

Feature Article

Arizona Diamondbacks

Geoff Blum (Projected Value: $0)
Blum (36) batted .247 with 10 home runs and 49 RBI in 381 AB during 2009. He has marginal offensive skills, but he makes the most of what he has. You have to admire that.

Ryan Roberts (Projected Value: $0)
Roberts hit .279 with seven home runs and 25 RBI as the Diamondbacks' regular second baseman after the midseason trade of Felipe Lopez. Will Roberts (30) keep his job going into 2010? Watch to seee if the Diamondbacks acquire a more experienced second baseman before the season begins.

Atlanta Braves

Chipper Jones (Projected Value: $20)
Jones hit .264 with 18 home runs and 71 RBI during an "Off" season, one limited by injury. His on-base percentage (.388) also dropped nearly 100 points from 2008. You can expect a return to a .300 batting average in 2009, but not a dramatic return of his power numbers – not at age 37.

Martin Prado (Projected Value: $1)
Prado (26) batted .307 with 11 home runs and 49 RBI over 128 games for the Braves in the '09 regular season. His .307 average seems legitimate, and he qualifies at multiple positions. Consider him a solid back-end mixed-league option at 2B/3B/1B.

Baltimore Orioles

Mark Reynolds (Projected Value: $22)
Reynolds batted .260 with 44 home runs, 102 RBI, and 24 stolen bases for Arizona last year. You can expect a lot of home runs from him again this year, but since he strikes out so much (223 Ks in '09), expect to see his average and power stats slide a bit in 2010.

Chris Davis (Projected Value: $4)
Davis started 2009 with so much promise, which he still has, but the road has been rocky. He hit 15 home runs by July 6th, but he was batting only .202 and had struck out 114 times in 258 at-bats. After a stint in the minors, he returned to hit .308 with six home runs to raise his season totals to .238-21-59. He represents a great power threat, and he stays in the lineup because he plays exceptional defense. However, he must put the ball in play more often - at least at a .240 clip.

Brendan Harris (Projected Value: $1)
Harris (29) split time between shortstop and third base in 2009. He batted .261 with six homers, 37 RBI, and 44 runs scored over 414 at-bats – decent stats – primarily for a utility middle infielder.

Boston Red Sox

Kevin Youkilis (Projected Value: $25)
Youkilis (31) batted .305 with 27 home runs, 94 RBI, and a .413 on-base percentage in 2009. If he did not suffer an oblique strain that necessitated a trip to the DL, he might have outdone his stellar stats from 2008. You have to expect him to put up solid numbers across the board again in 2010. He remains a top drawer.

Mike Aviles (Projected Value: $4)
Aviles (29) had break-through season in 2008 (11-59-.293), but an elbow injury and subsequent Tommy John surgery ended his '09 campaign early. KC will be hosting a competition at the middle infield positions, so watch for personnel changes. Nevertheless, Aviles looks like a sleeper, as long as he gets and stays healthy in Spring Training.

Chicago Cubs

Ian Stewart (Projected Value: $2)
Because Garret Atkins struggled at 3B for Colorado in 2009, Stewart (25) got regular AB. He displayed the power (25 HR) that scouts expected of him when he was a prospect. Consider Stewart a sleeper at second or third base who can hit for power (but not for average).

Cincinnati Reds

Scott Rolen (Projected Value: $6)
Rolen (34) showed that he can hit for average - when he's healthy (he has shoulder issues). In 128 combined games with the Reds and Blue Jays in ‘09, Rolen batted .305 with 11 home runs and 67 RBI. He might get a few more home runs at the Great American in '10.

Cleveland Indians

Julio Lugo (Projected Value: $2)
Since having knee surgery, Lugo (34) has not demonstrated that he has the range to be an every-day shortstop. He showed that he can still hit for a decent average (.280 with the Red Sox and Cardinals last year). He might also get double-digit steals if he plays at least semi-regularly.

Adam Everett (Projected Value: $0)
The Tigers will play Everett (33) for his defense. If he gets 500 at-bats - he is a health risk - and bats .240, he will be doing better than expected. Draft him when the other shortstops have been taken.

Andy LaRoche (Projected Value: $0)
Andy LaRoche (26) batted .258 with 12 homers, 64 RBI, and 64 runs scored last year for the Pirates. He probably gets the first shot at manning third base again for the Pirates this year. If you want to draft him, you will have time to do that at the end of your draft. He still has time to develop.

Colorado Rockies

Casey Blake (Projected Value: $13)
Blake (36) has hit at least 17 HR in each of the last seven years. He finished 2009 by batting .280 with 18 home runs and 79 RBI. Consider him a second-tier hitter with power and a decent average.

Brandon Wood (Projected Value: $1)
Wood’s time has come – Chone Figgins is no longer blocking him at third base - besides Wood (25) has no options left. He has long-term potential for .270-35-100, but he needs regular playing time to prove that he can do it.

Josh Fields (Projected Value: $0)
Fields (27), a former top prospect, has disappointed his fantasy owners since clubbing 23 home runs for the White Sox in 2007. Between getting shuttled back and forth to the minor leagues, injuries, and not performing when he's been given limited at-bats, he couldn't win. He's moved on to Kansas City. Maybe with the Royals he can put things back together again.

Detroit Tigers

Brandon Inge (Projected Value: $3)
Inge (32) batted .230 with 27 homers and 84 RBI this past season. He produced enough in the first half to get selected for the All-Star team. After the ASG, he played through a knee injury and his stats suffered. He does not hit for average, but he can put the ball over the fence.

Kansas City Royals

Kevin Kouzmanoff (Projected Value: $10)
Kouzmanoff (28) batted .255 in 2009 with 18 homers and 88 RBI. His batting average has dropped over the past couple years; he can go through streaks but he has produced – averaging 20 HR and 82 RBI over the last three years.

Los Angeles Angels

Maicer Izturis (Projected Value: $7)
Izturis made the most of his time on the field last year. He stayed healthy enough to get 387 at-bats and to bat .300 with 13 stolen bases. He will still get plenty of at-bats for the Halos in 2010 because of injuries and with expectations too high for Brandon Wood at third base, and Howie Kendrick at second base.

Alberto Callaspo (Projected Value: $7)
Callaspo (26) stepped up to the plate last year. He ended 2009 by having a .300 batting average, 11 home runs, 73 RBI, and 79 runs scored. (So why did the Royals acquire another second baseman - Chris Getz - from the White Sox?) Callaspo should get full-time at-bats next year, and should hit .300 again.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Juan Uribe (Projected Value: $1)
Uribe (31) hit .289/.329/.495 last year with 16 home runs and 55 RBI. He will probably serve in a super-utility role with the Giants this year, getting plenty of action all around the infield.

Miami Marlins

Emilio Bonifacio (Projected Value: $0)
Bonifacio (24) stole 21 bases last year and batted .252. He stole far fewer bases and batted much lower after the ASG, so he did not play regularly in the second half of the season. You can take a flier on him because of his speed. He does not offer power.

Milwaukee Brewers

Aramis Ramirez (Projected Value: $17)
Ramirez (31) missed two months of the 2009 season because of shoulder injury, but he still hit .317 with 15 homers and 65 RBI in 82 games. Consider him a reasonably high health risk and an exceptionally high potential reward. He can double his power output if he stays healthy.

Mat Gamel (Projected Value: $0)
Gamel (24) has plus power and can drive the ball to all fields. If he can improve his glove work, he can turn into a terrific third baseman who can hit in the middle of a lineup. His bat can also play at other positions.

New York Mets

David Wright (Projected Value: $32)
Wright (27) averaged 29 homers, 112 RBI and 106 runs scored during his first four years in the league, but he hit only 10 homers in 2009. You can expect a rebound of sorts from the struggling third baseman in 2010, but will he return to elite home run hitter status?

Daniel Murphy (Projected Value: $3)
Murphy (25) qualifies as both first baseman and outfielder. He hit .266 with 12 home runs and 63 RBI in fulltime duty last year. Players at either of his positions have to hit for power or steal lots of bases. He has yet to do either. He can hit .300 – the power stroke may come yet.

New York Yankees

Alex Rodriguez (Projected Value: $37)
A-Rod played in only 124 games (hip) last year, but hit .286 with 30 HR and 100 RBI; and he produced in the playoffs. With a full season of good health to look forward to, expect A-Rod to put up typical A-Rod (i.e., Big) numbers in 2010.

None

Miguel Tejada (Projected Value: $23)
Tejada (35) finished 2009 with a .313 batting average, 14 home runs, and 86 RBI. He cannot hit for power like he used to. He does remain a threat to hit for average and to drive in runs.

Jose Lopez (Projected Value: $17)
Lopez (25) has increased his production in each of his past four seasons, an encouraging sign for the second baseman who is entering his prime. He ended 2009 with a .272 average, 25 home runs, and 96 RBI. Why expect any less in 2010?

Mark Teahen (Projected Value: $8)
Teahen (28) hit .271 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI in 144 games for the Royals as an outfielder and third baseman last year. He will man third base for the White Sox in 2010 at U.S. Cellular where he might hit more home runs.

Melvin Mora (Projected Value: $6)
Mora (37) finished the 2009 season with a .260 average, eight homers, and 48 RBI over 450 at-bats. He might not get regular at-bats next year.

Eric Chavez (Projected Value: $0)
Chavez (32) plans to return to the A's at Spring Training after reporting that he is experiencing no pain in his twice-surgically repaired back. He last got to play full-time in 2005. Since then he has had forearm, shoulder, and back problems. Consider him an injury risk.

Joe Crede (Projected Value: $0)
Limited by back problems, Joe Crede finished '09 with a .225 average, 15 homers, and 48 RBI in 90 games. He last got 500+ Abs in 2006, and has gotten that many at-bats only one other time in his career (2003) – usually not because of a lack of ability.

Andy Marte (Projected Value: $0)
Marte, a reclamation project at 26-years-old, had his best AAA season last year batting .327 with 18 HR – but he could not maintain the same production level when he reached Cleveland - again. He batted .232 with six HR in 155 AB for the Tribe. Andy - fish or cut bait.

Aaron Miles (Projected Value: $0)
Miles (33) batted under .200 in part-time duty for the Cubs last season, but he has a career average of .282. He will likely serve as a utility infielder for the Reds this year.

Philadelphia Phillies

Placido Polanco (Projected Value: $20)
Polanco (34), who played second base for the Tigers last year, will play third base for the Phillies in 2010. (He had played for Philadelphia from 2002-05.) Polanco batted .285 in '09 after hitting .341 in 2007 and .307 in 2008. Expect close to a .300 average with a dozen home runs.

Ty Wigginton (Projected Value: $6)
Wigginton (32) ended his three-year run of hitting 20-plus home runs by hitting only 11 in 2009. Expect a return of power in 2010 - if he gets 400+ at-bats in Baltimore.

Kevin Frandsen (Projected Value: $0)
Frandsen's current status is turned inside out compared with last year's. Despite coming off a season of near-total inactivity, save for an Arizona Fall League stint, Frandsen entered Spring Training 2009 with a chance to start at second base. But Emmanuel Burriss claimed the Opening Day job by outperforming Frandsen in the Cactus League. By contrast, Frandsen entered this spring thoroughly prepared, having played 154 games with Triple-A Fresno, the Giants and the Gigantes de Carolina in the Puerto Rican Winter League. Yet he appears to have almost no chance of playing every day. Juan Uribe is the likely replacement for injured Freddy Sanchez as San Francisco's Opening Day second baseman. This has forced Frandsen, 27, to compete for a utility role with Burriss and Ryan Rohlinger. He has a Minor League option remaining, leaving him vulnerable to another trip to Fresno.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Casey McGehee (Projected Value: $12)
McGehee (27) made the most of his opportunity in Milwaukee after the Brewers picked him up off waivers. He hit 16 home runs with 66 RBI and batted .301 in only 355 at-bats. He might have maxed out; if you draft him expect him to repeat same offensive output if he has 500 plate appearances. He had minor knee surgery in the Off Season.

San Diego Padres

Pedro Feliz (Projected Value: $2)
Feliz (34) joins the Astros after playing the past two seasons for the Phillies. He hit .266 with 12 homers and 82 RBI in 158 games last season. Teammates will respect him for his defense; you can draft him for his offense after the top tiers of third basemen are off the board.

Chase Headley (Projected Value: $2)
Headley (25) ended 2009 with a .262 batting average, 12 home runs, and 64 RBI. He did bat .293 after the ASG, and he is entering his prime years, so do not give up the ship.

San Francisco Giants

Pablo Sandoval (Projected Value: $30)
Sandoval (23) emerged as one of the game's top breakthrough players of 2009. He batted .330 with 25 homers, 90 RBI, and five steals. He can play first or third base, and can even catch. He is probably going to get better.

Seattle Mariners

Chone Figgins (Projected Value: $21)
Figgins (31) batted .291 with 54 RBI and 42 stolen bases last year with the Angels. He will take over at third base for the Mariners in 2010 and along with Ichiro Suzuki, he will cause havoc along the basepaths at Safeco. Watch for a marginal decline in stolen bases. He is getting older.

St. Louis Cardinals

David Freese (Projected Value: $0)
Freese (26) had a car accident that affected his performance last year. However, he recovered well enough to hit .300/.369/.525 with 10 homers and 37 RBI at Triple-A Memphis. Consider him a sleeper for both average and power.

Tampa Bay Rays

Evan Longoria (Projected Value: $25)
You can categorize Longoria (24) as a top-five third baseman. He ended 2009 by hitting .281 with 33 homers, 113 RBI, nine stolen bases, and 100 runs scored. If he reduces his 140 strikeout total, he might become fantasy's top third baseman – Look out ARod.

Texas Rangers

Michael Young (Projected Value: $24)
Even though he was sidelined in September with a hamstring injury, Young (33) finished 2009 with a .322 average, 22 home runs, and 68 RBI. Consider him a quality hitter and a solid starting option at third base – as long as he is healthy.

Adrian Beltre (Projected Value: $12)
Beltre (31) did not impress fantasy owners last year with eight home runs and a .265/.304/.379 batting line. He has a new home now - Fenway Park - a domain much more favorable to hitters than his former home at Safeco. He might come through offensively.

Toronto Blue Jays

Jose Bautista (Projected Value: $6)
Bautista (29) ended 2009 with a .235 batting average, 13 homers, 40 RBI, 54 runs, and 4 stolen bases. He hit ten home runs between September and October. Consider him a late-round pick in AL-only leagues. He might get a lot of starts in the Toronto outfield.

Edwin Encarnacion (Projected Value: $5)
Encarnacion (27) hit .225 with 13 HR and 39 RBI in 85 games between Cincinnati and Toronto in 2009. (He took a step back in his development after hitting 26 home runs in 2008.) When will he truly bust out? He hasn’t yet, and you will be taking a risk if you draft him.

Jayson Nix (Projected Value: $0)
Nix will probably settle into a utility role with the White Sox; regular at-bats do not seem warranted. Major League pitchers started to figure him out last year and his performance faded as the year progressed. He can probably maintain the level that he settled into by last September.

Washington Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman (Projected Value: $19)
Zimmerman (25) had a great 2009 season. He hit .292 with 33 home runs and 106 RBI. Injuries had derailed him in 2008, and he rebounded in a big way with his best all-around production to date. Consider him an elite third baseman.

Mark DeRosa (Projected Value: $13)
DeRosa (35) offers the Giants versatility and a power stroke. He will probably repeat his power performance of '09 hitting in the middle of a solid lineup. Note his average has been dropping. Target him for a mid-to-late round pick in mixed formats.