MLB Position Rankings 2023 for Every Team's Starting Third Baseman
Welcome to Bleacher Report's 2023 MLB position rankings series!
With the beginning of a new baseball season right around the corner, we'll be ranking each team's starter at every position in the coming days to provide a full position-by-position preview for the 2023 campaign.
Up next are the third basemen, and there is a very clear top-tier of talent at the position made up of Nolan Arenado (STL), Rafael Devers (BOS), Manny Machado (SD), José Ramírez (CLE) and Austin Riley (ATL).
Can a healthy Anthony Rendon (LAA) rejoin that group? Where does AL Rookie of the Year front-runner Gunnar Henderson (BAL) rank? Who could be this year's breakout star at the position?
Players were ranked based on expectations for the 2023 season. Offensive and defensive contributions were both considered, and past track records played a major role in determining each player's outlook.
Included on each slide is also a look at the next man up at third base. This is who would take over as the starter if the current starter were to miss significant time. In some cases, it's a minor leaguer or bench player, and in others, it's a starter moving over from a different position.
Let the debate begin!
Catch up on previous Position Rankings articles: Shortstops
Up Next: First basemen (3/21), Second basemen (3/22), Catchers (3/25)
30. Elehuris Montero, Colorado Rockies
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Next Man Up: Mike Moustakas
With Brendan Rodgers recovering from a dislocated shoulder, third baseman Ryan McMahon will shift to second base and the Rockies now have a hole to fill at the hot corner.
Veteran Mike Moustakas was signed to a minor league deal earlier this month, but ideally up-and-comer Elehuris Montero would take the job and run with it after hitting .310/.392/.541 with 27 extra-base hits in 65 games at Triple-A last year.
The 24-year-old was acquired as part of the Nolan Arenado blockbuster trade, and he has the power potential to put up some big numbers in Colorado.
29. Nick Maton, Detroit Tigers
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Next Man Up: Tyler Nevin
Third base for the Detroit Tigers might be the most wide-open position battle in all of baseball this spring, with Nick Maton, Tyler Nevin and non-roster invitee Andy Ibáñez among the leading contenders for the starting gig.
Maton, 26, was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies during the offseason in the deal that sent All-Star closer Gregory Soto the other way, and with club control through the 2027 season, he has a chance to be a long-term piece in Detroit.
He posted a 138 OPS+ with five home runs in 85 plate appearances in the majors last year, and could thrive with a change of scenery and a clear path to playing time.
28. Hunter Dozier, Kansas City Royals
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Next Man Up: Nicky Lopez
Hunter Dozier looked like a star on the rise during the 2019 season, hitting .279/.348/.522 with 29 doubles, 10 triples, 26 home runs and 84 RBI in a 2.8-WAR season, and he inked a four-year, $25 million extension prior to the 2021 season.
His production has dropped off considerably since agreeing to that deal, and he's hit just .226 with an 87 OPS+ and minus-3.8 WAR in 272 games the past two years.
The 31-year-old has worked hard to revamp his swing, and after Adalberto Mondesi was traded away to unclog the infield logjam, he will have another chance to be the team's starting third baseman.
27. Spencer Steer, Cincinnati Reds
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Next Man Up: Jonathan India
The Reds have been wheeling and dealing the past couple seasons, and one of their deadline deals in 2022 sent right-hander Tyler Mahle to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for a package of prospects that included Spencer Steer.
The 25-year-old hit .274/.364/.515 with 30 doubles, 23 home runs and 75 RBI in 106 games in the upper levels of the minors last season, and after Mike Moustakas was released he now has a clear path to the starting third base job. If you're looking for a dark horse in the NL Rookie of the Year race, he's a solid pick.
With a wealth of middle infield talent headlining the farm system, the Reds could eventually move 2021 NL Rookie of the Year Jonathan India back to his natural position at the hot corner.
26. Jace Peterson, Oakland Athletics
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Next Man Up: Zack Gelof
With Luis Urías missing time early, Jace Peterson saw extended action at third base for the Milwaukee Brewers last season after several years bouncing around the league as a utility man.
The 32-year-old showed a nice mix of power (24 XBH, 8 HR) and speed (12 SB) while tallying 2.3 WAR in 112 games, and he turned that into a two-year, $9.5 million deal from the Oakland Athletics in free agency.
The Athletics have developed Josh Donaldson and Matt Chapman into stars at third base in recent years, and top prospect Zack Gelof could be the next in line as he's been on the fast track since going in the second round of the 2021 draft.
25. Jeimer Candelario, Washington Nationals
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Next Man Up: Carter Kieboom
Jeimer Candelario is just a year removed from hitting .271/.351/.443 for a 121 OPS+ with 16 home runs, 67 RBI and an AL-leading 42 doubles in a 3.8-WAR season with the Detroit Tigers.
However, after batting just .217 with an 83 OPS+ in 124 games last year, he was non-tendered by Detroit at the start of the offseason. The rebuilding Washington Nationals scooped him up on a one-year, $5 million deal, and he stands as one of the more intriguing reclamation projects of the 2023 season.
Still just 29 years old, he'll be a free agent once again next offseason, and he could play his way into a multi-year deal and become a trade chip at the deadline with a bounce-back performance.
24. David Villar, San Francisco Giants
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Next Man Up: J.D. Davis
An 11th-round pick in the 2018 draft who has never ranked higher than No. 20 in the San Francisco Giants organizational prospect rankings, David Villar will get a chance to prove he can be an everyday third baseman in the big leagues after a breakout 2022 in the minors.
The 26-year-old hit .275/.404/.617 with 27 home runs and 82 RBI in 84 games at Triple-A last season, and he continued to rake in his first taste of the majors with a 120 OPS+ and nine home runs in 181 plate appearances.
He has work to do defensively, and veterans J.D. Davis and Wilmer Flores could also see time at the hot corner, but Villar has under-the-radar breakout potential heading into the 2023 season.
23. Josh Jung, Texas Rangers
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Next Man Up: Ezequiel Duran
Expected to move quickly through the minors after going No. 8 overall in the 2019 draft, Josh Jung has instead played just 179 professional games over the past four seasons, missing time with a stress fracture in his foot and a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
The 25-year-old finally returned to action down the stretch last season and made his MLB debut on Sept. 9, tallying five home runs and 14 RBI in 26 games to solidify himself as the starting third baseman in 2023.
With a 55-hit, 60-power offensive profile, he could quickly join the standout offensive core of Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis García.
22. Patrick Wisdom, Chicago Cubs
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Next Man Up: Christopher Morel
Patrick Wisdom was a nice find during the Chicago Cubs transition season in 2021 when they traded away several members of the World Series core.
He posted a 118 OPS+ with 28 home runs as a 29-year-old rookie to finish fourth in NL Rookie of the Year balloting, and continued to show solid power last season when he led the team with 25 home runs.
The 31-year-old will also see starts at first base and in the outfield, which will free up some playing time at third base for Christopher Morel. Wisdom could hit 30 home runs if he sees enough playing time to tally 500-plus plate appearances.
21. Josh Rojas, Arizona Diamondbacks
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Next Man Up: Evan Longoria
The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Josh Rojas in the blockbuster deal that sent Zack Greinke to the Houston Astros at the 2019 trade deadline, and so far he has been the most productive player in a four-prospect return package.
The 28-year-old can play all over the field, but he made 84 starts at third base last year and that will be his primary position once again, though veteran Evan Longoria could see a couple of starts a week against left-handed pitching.
Rojas posted a 111 OPS+ with a 56 extra-base hit percentage, 23 steals and 3.2 WAR in 125 games last season, and he is an underrated contributor for a D-backs team on the rise with a wealth of high-ceiling young talent.
20. Eduardo Escobar, New York Mets
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Next Man Up: Brett Baty
After a rocky start to his first season with the New York Mets, Eduardo Escobar ended up being one of the team's hottest hitters down the stretch, batting .321/.385/.596 with eight home runs and 25 RBI in 122 plate appearances over the final month.
The 34-year-old will start the year as the team's everyday third baseman in the second season of a two-year, $20 million deal, but he could transition into a utility role once top prospect Brett Baty is ready for the majors.
Baty, 23, hit .315/.410/.533 with 22 doubles, 19 home runs and 60 RBI in 95 games in the upper levels of the minors. He still has work to do refining the defensive side of his game, but don't be surprised if he's in the majors before the All-Star break.
19. Josh Donaldson, New York Yankees
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Next Man Up: DJ LeMahieu
Owed $21.75 million in the final season of his four-year, $92 million deal, Josh Donaldson will be given every opportunity to prove he can still be a positive contributor at third base for the New York Yankees.
The 37-year-old posted a 94 OPS+ with 15 home runs and 62 RBI in a 2.3-WAR season last year, but he looked completely lost at the plate in the postseason, going 1-for-13 with 10 strikeouts in the ALCS.
Donaldson was written off once before following an injury-plagued 2018 season and he bounced back with a 37-homer, 94-RBI, 5.4-WAR performance on a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves, so don't be surprised if he bounces back once again.
18. Jean Segura, Miami Marlins
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Next Man Up: Jon Berti
After playing primarily shortstop early in his career and almost exclusively second base the last two years with the Philadelphia Phillies, veteran Jean Segura will now shift to third base after signing a two-year, $17 million deal with the Miami Marlins.
The 33-year-old has been a steady source of power and speed production throughout his career, and last year he hit .277/.336/.387 for a 104 OPS+ with 10 home runs and 13 steals in 98 games.
Joey Wendle has also seen regular action at third base in his career, but he is expected to be the Marlins everyday shortstop this year after Miguel Rojas was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
17. Yoán Moncada, Chicago White Sox
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Next Man Up: Jake Burger
With a 5.2-WAR season in 2019 and a 4.0-WAR showing just a year ago during the 2021 season, Yoán Moncada has proven he can be an extremely valuable player when things are going right.
Unfortunately, very little went right last year when he hit .212/.273/.353 for an ugly 76 OPS+ in 104 games, and his 0.9 WAR made him little more than a replacement-level option among third basemen.
Still only 27 years old and signed through the 2024 season with a club option for 2025, Moncada will open the year as the everyday third baseman once again, but he could be pushed for playing time by Jake Burger if he continues to struggle at the plate.
16. Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies
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Next Man Up: Edmundo Sosa
Alec Bohm was selected No. 3 overall in the 2018 draft after hitting .339/.436/.625 with 16 home runs and 55 RBI in 57 games during his junior year at Wichita State, and he is still working to fully tap into his tremendous raw power.
With a 6'5", 218-pound frame he looks the part of a middle-of-the-order slugger, but his production has been more contact-over-power to this point in his MLB career.
The 26-year-old hit .280/.315/.398 for a 100 OPS+ with 24 doubles, 13 home runs and 72 RBI in 152 games last season, and he has breakout potential entering the prime of his career and his fourth MLB season.
15. Jose Miranda, Minnesota Twins
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Next Man Up: Kyle Farmer
Jose Miranda put himself on the top prospect map during the 2021 season when he hit .344/.401/.572 with 32 doubles, 30 home runs and 94 RBI in 127 games between Double-A and Triple-A.
An injury to Miguel Sanó last year opened the door for him to see regular playing time and he responded by hitting .268/.325/.426 for a 116 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 15 home runs and 66 RBI in 125 games.
With Gio Urshela traded to the Los Angeles Angels early in the offseason, the 24-year-old will now take over as the everyday third baseman, and he could be a long-term piece of the infield puzzle in Minnesota.
14. Isaac Paredes, Tampa Bay Rays
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Next Man Up: Curtis Mead
The assumption here is that Yandy Díaz will see the bulk of his playing time at first base this year after Ji-Man Choi was traded, freeing up regular playing time at the hot corner for Isaac Paredes.
Paredes, 24, tied for the Tampa Bay Rays team lead with 20 home runs in just 381 plate appearances last year after coming over from the Detroit Tigers in a deal that sent Austin Meadows the other way.
He hit just .205 with a .304 on-base percentage, so there is work to do refining his overall approach. He could eventually find himself back in a utility role once top prospect Curtis Mead is deemed ready for the majors.
13. Luis Urías, Milwaukee Brewers
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Next Man Up: Brian Anderson
The Milwaukee Brewers infield alignment is a bit up in the air right now, with newcomer Brian Anderson expected to play primarily right field early in the year with Tyrone Taylor on the injured list.
Once everyone is healthy, the team's best infield might be Luis Urías at second base and Anderson at third base. But for now, we'll call Urías the team's starting third baseman and Milwaukee's representative in these rankings.
The 25-year-old has a 111 OPS+ and 6.2 WAR since the start of the 2021 season, and after showcasing an elite hit tool in the minors, he has flashed 20-homer power in the big leagues while playing solid defense across the infield.
12. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers
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Next Man Up: Miguel Vargas
With Justin Turner gone in free agency, the Los Angeles Dodgers will turn to Max Muncy as their everyday third baseman. The slugger split his time between the hot corner and designated hitter last year after the Freddie Freeman signing pushed him off of first base.
Muncy, 32, hit just .196 with a 96 OPS+ last season, though his numbers were dragged down by a brutal first half. He hit a respectable .230/.340/.451 with 12 home runs after the All-Star break, and was still a 2.7-WAR player overall.
With elite on-base skills and 30-homer power, Muncy is a prime bounce-back candidate, and while his range is lacking he's a sure-handed defender at third base who tallied 7 DRS in 713 innings there a year ago.
11. Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates
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Next Man Up: Rodolfo Castro
If anyone is going to snap Nolan Arenado's decade-long streak of Gold Glove wins in the National League, it's Ke'Bryan Hayes.
The 26-year-old has piled up 44 DRS at third base in what amounts to roughly two seasons worth of playing time, and he was a 4.3-WAR player last year almost exclusively on the strength of his defensive work.
He has the tools to develop into a solid offensive player, but that hasn't happened yet as he hit .244/.314/.345 for an 87 OPS+ with 34 extra-base hits and 20 steals in 136 games last season. The Pirates gave him an eight-year, $70 million extension last spring, and his defensive value is so high that it will be a steal even if he never takes a step forward at the plate.
10. Eugenio Suárez, Seattle Mariners
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Next Man Up: Tommy La Stella
The Seattle Mariners took on Eugenio Suárez as a salary dump in the deal to acquire Jesse Winker from the Cincinnati Reds last offseason, and he ended up being the far more productive piece of the trade package.
The 31-year-old posted a 129 OPS+ with 24 doubles, 31 home runs, 87 RBI and 3.9 WAR while playing his usual solid defense at third base and providing a veteran presence in a young locker room.
The two years and $22 million remaining on his contract now look more like a bargain than a burden, and he will be counted on to fill a crucial role in the middle of the lineup and in the clubhouse once again in 2023.
9. Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
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Next Man Up: Ramón Urías
This ranking is based almost exclusively on projection since Gunnar Henderson has played just 34 games in the majors, but he was impressive enough in the upper levels of the minors and in that brief audition last year to believe he can be a top-10 third baseman in 2023.
The 21-year-old hit .297/.416/.531 with 24 doubles, 19 home runs, 76 RBI and 22 steals in 112 games between Double-A and Triple-A before forcing his way onto the MLB roster at the end of August and posting a 123 OPS+ with 12 extra-base hits and 0.9 WAR in 132 plate appearances.
He could still see some time at shortstop as well, in which case Ramón Urías would be the starter at third base. The 28-year-old quietly posted a 3.6-WAR season in 2022.
8. Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels
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Next Man Up: Gio Urshela
Anthony Rendon gets the benefit of the doubt one last time that he is capable of staying healthy for a full season and once again producing at an elite level.
The 32-year-old has played just 157 games over the first three seasons of his seven-year, $245 million contract. He has a 115 OPS+ with 34 doubles, 20 home runs, 89 RBI and 3.1 WAR when he has been able to take the field, but he played just 47 games a year ago while nursing a wrist injury.
The Angels signed Brandon Drury in free agency and traded for Gio Urshela, so they have plenty of fallback options this time around if he's sidelined again.
7. Matt Chapman, Toronto Blue Jays
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Next Man Up: Santiago Espinal
Matt Chapman is poised to be one of the top available free agents next offseason, especially after Manny Machado signed a new long-term deal to void his opt-out and Rafael Devers inked a long-term extension with the Boston Red Sox.
Chapman, 29, is a consistent source of Gold Glove-caliber defense and over-the-fence power, and last season was no exception as he posted a 115 OPS+ with 27 home runs at the plate and played his usual stellar defense.
He is able to offset his low batting average with a 10.6 percent walk rate in his career, and the high floor that elite defense provides a player should give him a good chance to reel in a nine-figure payday next winter.
6. Alex Bregman, Houston Astros
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Next Man Up: David Hensley
After disappointing seasons in 2020 and 2021, Alex Bregman looked a lot more like the guy who finished runner-up in AL MVP voting during the 2019 season last year.
The 28-year-old hit .259/.366/.454 for a 133 OPS+ and tallied 38 doubles, 23 home runs, 93 RBI and 4.5 WAR in 155 games. That was more than the 3.2 WAR combined he posted during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
With two years remaining on the six-year, $100 million extension he signed early in the 2019 season, the Astros could consider another long-term deal for their homegrown star.
5. Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves
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Next Man Up: Orlando Arcia
Austin Riley was one of the biggest breakout stars of the 2021 season, hitting .303/.367/.531 with 33 doubles, 33 home runs, 107 RBI and 6.1 WAR to finish seventh in NL MVP voting and win Silver Slugger honors.
The 25-year-old proved that production was the real deal last year when he followed up his breakout performance with a 142 OPS+, 38 home runs and 6.5 WAR in 159 games, and the Braves rewarded him with a 10-year, $212 million extension.
He has also developed into a solid defensive third baseman after struggling in the field during the 2020 season, and he has 19 DRS at the hot corner over the last two years, albeit with limited range.
4. Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox
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Next Man Up: Bobby Dalbec
After months of trade speculation, the Boston Red Sox finally came to terms on an 10-year, $313.5 million extension with Rafael Devers in January while also agreeing on a $17.5 million salary for 2023 in his final year of arbitration.
Still only 26 years old, Devers has developed into one of the game's elite offensive players since making his MLB debut as a 20-year-old in 2017.
He hit .295/.358/.521 for a 141 OPS+ with 42 doubles, 27 home runs and 88 RBI in a 4.4-WAR season last year, and while he is never going to be a Gold Glove defender, he has turned into a passable option at third base.
3. José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
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Next Man Up: Tyler Freeman
Is José Ramírez the most underrated superstar in baseball?
The 30-year-old finished in the top-six in AL MVP voting for the fifth time in six years last season, hitting .280/.355/.514 for a 148 OPS+ with 44 doubles, 29 home runs, 126 RBI and 20 steals for the fourth 20/20 season of his career.
He was a 6-WAR player for the fourth time in 2022, and the seven-year, $141 million extension he agreed to last April now looks like one of the biggest bargains in baseball after seeing the deals that Austin Riley, Manny Machado and Rafael Devers signed in the months that followed.
The top three guys in these rankings can essentially be slotted in any order, and there's a compelling case that consistency and power-speed production gives Ramírez a claim to the top spot.
2. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
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Next Man Up: Brandon Dixon
Manny Machado has been a model of consistency both offensively and defensively and one of the most durable players in baseball for the better part of a decade, and he is putting together a Hall of Fame resume in the process.
The 30-year-old hit .298/.366/.531 for a 159 OPS+ with 37 doubles, 32 home runs and 102 RBI last season, finishing runner-up in NL MVP voting while shouldering the offensive load for a San Diego Padres team that was without Fernando Tatis Jr.
With an opt-out in his contract looming after the 2023 season, the Padres inked him to a new 11-year, $350 million deal this spring, and he has a chance to be the greatest player not named Tony Gwynn to wear a Padres jersey before all is said and done.
1. Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
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Next Man Up: Jordan Walker
There is no wrong answer for the No. 1 spot between Manny Machado and Nolan Arenado, and in the end, we went with the St. Louis Cardinals star on the strength of his 10 straight Gold Glove Awards and all-time great defensive tools.
The biggest knock on Arenado for much of his career was the fact that his impressive offensive numbers came with half of his games at Coors Field, but he has silenced those critics by continuing to rake since he was traded to St. Louis.
The 31-year-old hit .293/.358/.533 for a 154 OPS+ with 42 doubles, 30 home runs and 103 RBI last season, and his 7.9 WAR was a career-high and the sixth time in his career he has been at least a 5-WAR player.
Cooperstown awaits once he calls it a career, but he still has plenty left in the tank.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.
