MLB State of the Position 2024: Every Team's 5-Year Plan at Third Base
Some of the game's biggest stars call third base home, with Jose Ramirez, Austin Riley, Alex Bregman, Manny Machado and Rafael Devers joined by rookie standouts Gunnar Henderson and Josh Jung in 2023.
Ahead, we've broken down each team's present and future outlook at third base, highlighting their current starter and their top prospect, followed by a prediction for who will start for each of the next five seasons.
Included with each top prospect is his tier ranking based on where he slotted in Bleacher Report's 2024 farm system rankings.
Think of this as the team's five-year plan at the position.
Catch up on the State of the Position series: Shortstop
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Present: Eugenio Suárez (Age: 32)
The D-backs found a replacement for departing veteran Evan Longoria when they acquired Suárez from the Seattle Mariners in November. The former All-Star strikes out a ton, but he is also a proven run-producer and a strong defender, and he hit 53 home runs and tallied 6.2 WAR in his two seasons with the Mariners. He is entering the final guaranteed season of a seven-year, $66 million contract, though he does have a $15 million club option for 2025 that carries a $2 million buyout.
Future: Gino Groover (Tier 3)
Groover hit .332/.430/.546 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI and more walks (36) than strikeouts (26) during his junior season at NC State before going in the second round of the 2023 draft. His offensive polish and 60-hit, 50-power profile should allow him to move quickly through the minors toward becoming an everyday player in Arizona.
Five-Year Prediction: Suárez (2024-25), Groover (2026-28)
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Present: Austin Riley (Age: 26)
Often overshadowed on a team loaded with star power, Riley is one of the game's best young offensive players. Over the past three seasons, he has hit .286/.354/.525 for a 134 OPS+ while averaging 35 doubles, 36 home runs, 99 RBI and 6.2 WAR. He has nine seasons remaining on a 10-year, $212 million extension that also includes a club option for 2033.
Future: David McCabe (Tier 3)
McCabe has quickly emerged as one of the best offensive prospects in the Atlanta system since going in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. The 23-year-old hit .276/.386/.450 with 23 doubles, 17 home runs and 75 RBI in 123 games between Single-A and High-A, and he also logged an .809 OPS over 96 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League.
Five-Year Prediction: Riley (2024-28)
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Present: Gunnar Henderson (Age: 22)
After splitting his time between third base (594.2 innings) and shortstop (584.2 innings) on his way to AL Rookie of the Year honors, Henderson is expected to settle in at the hot corner with top prospect Jackson Holliday knocking on the door for the shortstop job. Henderson also finished eighth in AL MVP voting while posting a 125 OPS+ with 29 doubles, 28 home runs, 82 RBI, 10 steals and 6.2 WAR in 150 games.
Future: Coby Mayo (Tier 1)
The No. 27 prospect on B/R's latest Top 100 list, Mayo hit .290/.410/.564 with 45 doubles, 29 home runs and 99 RBI in 140 games in the upper levels of the minors. The 22-year-old has a rocket arm, but his 6'5", 230-pound frame may ultimately fit better at first base, and with third base blocked for the foreseeable future, that's his likely long-term home in the majors anyway.
Five-Year Prediction: Henderson (2024-28)
Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Present: Rafael Devers (Age: 27)
How much longer will Devers play third base? In the shortstop version of this article, we predicted that Marcelo Mayer would supplant Trevor Story as Boston's starting shortstop in 2026, but Story is signed through the 2027 season, so shifting him to the hot corner and moving Devers into the everyday DH role starting in 2026 could be how things shake out.
Future: Antonio Anderson (Tier 3)
The Red Sox selected Anderson out of North Atlanta High School in the third round of the 2023 draft, and his 55-hit, 50-power offensive profile and strong 6'3", 205-pound frame give him an intriguing offensive ceiling.
Five-Year Prediction: Devers (2024-25), Story (2026-27), Free Agent (2028)
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Present: Nick Madrigal (Age: 26)
Unless they make a late move to sign free agent Matt Chapman, it looks like the Cubs will roll into 2024 with some combination of Nick Madrigal, Patrick Wisdom and Christopher Morel manning third base. Michael Busch has also seen time at the hot corner, though he is expected to be used at first base. Madrigal has yet to prove he can make enough of an impact offensively to be an everyday player, especially at an offensive-minded position.
Future: Matt Shaw (Tier 1)
Shaw hit .341/.445/.697 with 20 doubles, 24 home runs and 69 RBI in 62 games during his junior season at the University of Maryland to win Big Ten Player of the Year honors. The Cubs selected him with the No. 13 overall and put him on the fast track, as he closed out his pro debut at the Double-A level. Don't be surprised if he is one of the first players from the 2023 draft class to reach the majors, and while he played shortstop in college, third base is his future home for the North Siders.
Five-Year Prediction: Madrigal (2024), Shaw (2025-28)
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Present: Yoán Moncada (Age: 28)
After a 5.2-WAR season in 2019, Moncada signed a five-year, $70 million extension, and that contract has been largely disappointing. He posted a 116 OPS+ with 48 extra-base hits and 4.0 WAR in 2021, but he tallied just 2.2 WAR total over the other three seasons since signing that deal, and now he's entering the final guaranteed year. He has a $25 million club option with a $5 million buyout in 2025.
Future: Bryan Ramos (Tier 3)
Ramos signed for $300,000 in 2018 after defecting from Cuba, and he has been one of the most promising position player prospects in the White Sox system the past several seasons. The 21-year-old hit .264/.358/.450 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI in 81 games between Single-A and Double-A last year, and he could be the future at the hot corner.
Five-Year Prediction: Moncada (2024), Ramos (2025-28)
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Present: Jeimer Candelario (Age: 30)
The Reds are still sorting out their infield with a wealth of young talent vying for playing time on the dirt, and signing Candelario to a three-year, $45 million deal added another option to the mix. He posted a 119 OPS+ with 39 doubles, 22 home runs, 70 RBI and 2.9-WAR in a bounce back 2023 season, and he will likely see time at both corner infield spots and designated hitter for the Reds.
Future: Noelvi Marté (Tier 1)
The centerpiece of the blockbuster deal that sent Luis Castillo to the Seattle Mariners at the 2022 deadline, Marte hit .316/.366/.456 for a 120 OPS+ with 10 extra-base hits and six steals in 35 games after making his MLB debut on Aug. 19. The 22-year-old has earned a long look this spring, and he will have every opportunity to win the starting third base job.
Five-Year Prediction: Marté (2024-28)
Cleveland Guardians
8 of 30
Present: José Ramírez (Age: 31)
There are a lot of question marks on the Cleveland roster heading into the season, but third base is not one of them. Ramírez signed a seven-year, $141 million extension prior to the 2022 season, and he is still owed $150 million over the next five seasons. The five-time All-Star has finished in the top 10 in AL MVP voting six times in the last seven seasons.
Future: Dayan Frias (Tier 3)
Frias played for Team Colombia in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, going 3-for-13 with two RBI as the team's starting shortstop. The 21-year-old has the hands and footwork to be a plus defender, but he lacks the quickness to stick at shortstop, making third base a logical landing spot. He hit .260/.356/.426 with 19 doubles, 11 home runs and 49 RBI in 100 games at High-A.
Five-Year Prediction: Ramírez (2024-28)
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Present: Ryan McMahon (Age: 29)
McMahon has tallied 9.8 WAR while averaging 29 doubles, 22 home runs and 74 RBI over the past three seasons while playing strong defense at third base. The homegrown standout is two seasons into a six-year, $70 million extension, and he still has $56 million remaining on his backloaded deal.
Future: Warming Bernabel (Tier 3)
Bernabel hit .313/.370/.499 with 26 doubles, 14 home runs, 71 RBI and 23 steals in 91 games between Single-A and High-A in 2022, but he struggled to make the jump to Double-A last season. The 21-year-old posted a .608 OPS in 83 games, and he will likely return to Double-A Hartford in 2024 with plenty of time to rebuild his stock as a top prospect.
Five-Year Prediction: McMahon (2024-27), Bernabel (2028)
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Present: Zach McKinstry (Age: 28)
McKinstry (52 games), Matt Vierling (35 games), Andy Ibáñez (16 games) and Andre Lipcius (11 games) all return from a group of nine different players who started multiple games at third base in 2023. McKinstry is best served in the utility role he filled last season when he tallied 34 extra-base hits, 16 steals and 1.9 WAR in 148 games while playing all over the diamond.
Future: Jace Jung (Tier 1)
After playing exclusively second base to begin his pro career, the Tigers sent Jung to the Arizona Fall League to get some work at third base. Fellow prospect Colt Keith is the future at second base, while Jung is expected to settle in at the hot corner. The 23-year-old hit .265/.376/.502 with 27 doubles, 28 home runs and 82 RBI in 128 games between High-A and Double-A last year, and he could make his MLB debut by midseason.
Five-Year Prediction: McKinstry (2024), Jung (2025-28)
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Present: Alex Bregman (Age: 29)
Is Alex Bregman next now that Jose Altuve has signed a new extension with the Houston Astros? The homegrown star is entering the final season of a five-year, $100 million extension he signed prior to the 2020 season, and he is coming off back-to-back 4-WAR seasons. The two-time All-Star posted a 122 OPS+ with 28 doubles, 25 home runs and 98 RBI in 161 games in 2023.
Future: Zach Dezenzo (Tier 3)
Dezenzo was a 12th-round pick in 2022, and he was one of the breakout prospects in the Houston system in his first full professional season, hitting .305/.383/.531 with 23 doubles, 18 home runs, 61 RBI and 22 steals in 94 games between High-A and Double-A. The 23-year-old played primarily third base, while also making a handful of starts at first base and second base.
Five-Year Prediction: Bregman (2024-28)
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Present: Maikel Garcia (Age: 23)
Garcia had a productive rookie season for the Royals, starting 100 games at third base and hitting .272/.323/.358 with 28 extra-base hits, 23 steals and 1.1 WAR. He entered 2023 as the No. 6 prospect in the Kansas City system and will be under club control through the 2029 season.
Future: Cayden Wallace (Tier 2)
Wallace hit .298/.387/.553 with 20 doubles, 16 home runs, 60 RBI and 12 steals in 67 games as a draft-eligible sophomore at the University of Arkansas in 2022. The Royals took him in the second round, and he split his first full pro season between High-A and Double-A while hitting .255/.331/.414 with 27 doubles, 13 home runs, 84 RBI and 18 steals in 130 games. He could solidify the left side of the infield alongside Bobby Witt Jr. for the next decade.
Five-Year Prediction: Garcia (2024), Wallace (2025-28)
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Present: Anthony Rendon (Age: 33)
Four seasons into his massive seven-year, $245 million contract, Rendon has only played 200 total games and tallied 3.1 WAR, and 2.2 WAR came during the shortened 2020 campaign. He has fallen a long way from the MVP-caliber season he posted while leading the Washington Nationals to a World Series title in 2019.
Future: Werner Blakely (Tier 3)
Blakely was a fourth-round pick in 2020 on the strength of his raw tools, but he is still working to turn that into on-field production. After a strong 2022 campaign, he hit .209/.313/.324 with 25 extra-base hits and 22 steals in 94 games between Single-A and High-A. The 21-year-old is still capable of a significant step forward.
Five-Year Prediction: Rendon (2024-26), Free Agent (2027-28)
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Present: Max Muncy (Age: 33)
The Dodgers signed Muncy to a two-year, $24 million extension the day after the World Series concluded, and with Shohei Ohtani now in the fold at designated hitter, he will once again be penciled in as the team's primary third baseman. He posted a 115 OPS+ with 36 home runs and 105 RBI in a 2.6-WAR season in 2023. Former top prospect Miguel Vargas is also a potential option at the hot corner.
Future: Jake Gelof (Tier 3)
Gelof put together huge offensive seasons at the University of Virginia in 2022 (58 G, 1.241 OPS, 21 HR, 81 RBI) and 2023 (65 G, 1.137 OPS, 23 HR, 90 RBI) before going No. 60 overall in the 2023 draft. He has a power-over-contact approach, but the tools to develop into a well-rounded offensive player with middle-of-the-order upside.
Five-Year Prediction: Muncy (2024-25), Gelof (2026-28)
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Present: Jake Burger (Age: 27)
The No. 11 overall pick in the 2017 draft, Burger saw his trajectory to the big leagues derailed by injuries, but he finally delivered on his offensive potential with a healthy season in 2023. He hit .303/.355/.505 with nine home runs and 28 RBI in 53 games after he was traded to the Marlins at the deadline, and finished the season with a 120 OPS+ and 34 home runs in 141 games. Despite being 27 years old, he is controllable through 2028.
Future: Jacob Berry (Tier 3)
Berry was viewed as one of the most polished college hitters in the 2022 draft class when he was chosen No. 6 overall, but he has hit just .236/.300/.382 in 634 plate appearances since starting his pro career. The 22-year-old had a decent run in the Arizona Fall League and could still make good on his offensive upside.
Five-Year Prediction: Burger (2024-28)
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Present: Andruw Monasterio (Age: 26)
Monasterio was never a top prospect, but a revolving door at third base for the Brewers gave him an opportunity last season and he hit .259/.330/.348 with 18 extra-base hits and 27 RBI in 315 plate appearances. However, scrapheap pickup Josh Donaldson was the team's primary third baseman down the stretch, and he also started both playoff games.
Future: Brock Wilken (Tier 2)
There's a good chance it will be trade pickup Joey Ortiz at third base to begin the 2024 season, but he is viewed as the shortstop of the future and is poised to slide over to his natural position once Willy Adames inevitably departs in free agency next winter. That leaves 2023 first-round pick Brock Wilken as the third baseman of the future after he launched 71 home runs in 173 games at Wake Forest.
Five-Year Prediction: Ortiz (2024), Wilken (2025-28)
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Present: Royce Lewis (Age: 24)
Finally healthy after years of battling injury issues, Lewis showed why he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, hitting .309/.372/.548 for a 150 OPS+ with 15 home runs and 52 RBI in 58 games. The 24-year-old looks like one of baseball's most obvious breakout candidates heading into 2024 if he can keep the injury bug in the rearview, and he is still controllable through 2028.
Future: Yunior Severino (Tier 3)
Severino tied for the MiLB lead last season with 35 home runs while hitting .272/.352/.546 in 120 games between Double-A and Triple-A. The 24-year-old also struck out 173 times at a 32.8 percent clip, and his best defensive position is probably designated hitter, but his plus raw power is enough to keep him in the prospect conversation.
Five-Year Prediction: Lewis (2024-28)
New York Mets
18 of 30
Present: Brett Baty (Age: 24)
With no outside additions made at the hot corner, it will be up-and-comers Brett Baty (389 PA, 65 OPS+, .212/.275/.323, 9 HR, 34 RBI) and Mark Vientos (233 PA, 69 OPS+, .211/.253/.367, 9 HR, 22 RBI) competing for the starting third base job this spring following less-than-stellar 2023 seasons. Baty was viewed as having the higher offensive ceiling during their time in the minors, and he profiles as the better defender, though both are below-average options with the glove at present.
Future: Colin Houck (Tier 2)
With Francisco Lindor signed long-term and prospects Luisangel Acuña and Jett Williams also part of the shortstop depth chart, Houck could quickly shift to third base in pro ball. The No. 32 overall pick in the 2023 draft has room to grow into his 6'2", 190-pound frame with the strong arm and power profile to be a clean fit at the hot corner.
Five-Year Prediction: Baty (2024-28)
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Present: DJ LeMahieu (Age: 35)
With Josh Donaldson out of the picture, LeMahieu will be the everyday third baseman for the Yankees in 2024 after bouncing around the infield the past few years. Since winning the AL batting title in 2020, he has hit .258/.345/.375 for a 101 OPS+ in 1,782 plate appearances over the last three seasons. He has three years and $45 million left on his contract, but he could shift to first base in 2025 once Anthony Rizzo's current deal is up.
Future: Tyler Hardman (Tier 3)
After hitting 24 home runs in 177 games at the University of Oklahoma, Hardman has flashed far more over-the-fence power in pro ball. The 6'2", 230-pound third baseman hit .255/.320/.464 with 22 home runs and 81 RBI in 111 games in 2022, and he followed that up with an .891 OPS and 26 home runs in just 77 games at Double-A Somerset in 2023.
Five-Year Prediction: LeMahieu (2024), Hardman (2025-28)
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Present: Abraham Toro (Age: 27)
Toro has spent time with the Astros, Mariners and Brewers the past three seasons before landing in Oakland in an under-the-radar November trade. He spent the bulk of the 2023 season in the minors, but went 8-for-18 with two home runs in nine games of action in Milwaukee, and he has flashed some power potential in the past. He is arbitration-eligible through 2026.
Future: Myles Naylor (Tier 3)
Naylor is another sibling of Cleveland teammates Josh and Bo Naylor, and he was chosen No. 39 overall in the 2023 draft. A shortstop in high school, he will shift to third base in pro ball where his strong arm and soft hands could make him a plus defender. He already has 32 games at Single-A under his belt and won't turn 19 until after the 2024 season starts.
Five-Year Prediction: Toro (2024-26), Naylor (2027-28)
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Present: Alec Bohm (Age: 27)
With an imposing 6'5", 218-pound frame and a pedigree of power production at Wichita State, Bohm looked like a future middle-of-the-order run producer when the Phillies selected him No. 3 overall in the 2018 draft. He has yet to post elite power numbers in the big leagues, but he has cemented himself as the everyday guy at third base, hitting .274/.327/.437 with 31 doubles, 20 home runs and 97 RBI in 2023. He is arbitration-eligible through the 2026 season.
Future: Aidan Miller (Tier 1)
Miller went No. 27 overall in the 2023 draft as one of the top power bats in the prep class, and his 50-hit, 60-power offensive profile gives him one of the highest offensive ceilings in the Philadelphia system. The 19-year-old hit .303/.425/.379 with 20 hits in 20 games in his pro debut, and his physically mature 6'2", 205-pound frame should help him move quickly through the minors.
Five-Year Prediction: Bohm (2024-26), Miller (2027-28)
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Present: Ke'Bryan Hayes (Age: 27)
Always viewed as an elite defensive third baseman, Hayes entered 2023 with something to prove offensively after posting a middling 87 OPS+ in 2021 and 2022. He hit .271/.309/.453 for a 105 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 15 home runs and 61 RBI in a breakout season at the plate and also snapped Nolan Arenado's decade-long Gold Glove streak in a 4.0-WAR season. He signed an eight-year, $70 million extension prior to the 2022 season that could keep him in Pittsburgh through 2030 with a club option.
Future: Jack Brannigan (Tier 3)
Brannigan was a two-way player at Notre Dame who touched triple-digits with his fastball off the mound, and while some scouts preferred him as a pitcher, he wanted to hit and the Pirates drafted him as an infielder in the third round of the 2022 draft. The 22-year-old hit .275/.390/.524 with 19 home runs and 54 RBI in 87 games between Single-A and High-A in his first full season in the minors.
Five-Year Prediction: Hayes (2024-28)
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Present: Manny Machado (Age: 31)
With a potential opt-out looming, the Padres signed Machado to a massive 11-year, $350 million extension last February. With 1,737 hits, 313 home runs, 944 RBI and 54.9 WAR through his age-30 season, he could be putting the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame career by the time that contract is over. Expect him to see a bit more time at DH in 2024, but he is still the team's primary third baseman.
Future: Graham Pauley (Tier 3)
Pauley is quickly shaping up to be one of the steals of the 2022 draft after going in the 13th round out of Duke University. The 23-year-old hit .308/.393/.539 with 32 doubles, 23 home runs and 94 RBI in 127 games across three minor league levels in 2023, closing out the year at Double-A San Antonio.
Five-Year Prediction: Machado (2024-28)
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Present: J.D. Davis (Age: 30)
The Giants used Davis (105 games), Casey Schmitt (25 games), Wilmer Flores (16 games) and David Villar (13 games) at third base in 2023, and all four players will be in the mix for playing time at the position again this year. Davis posted a 103 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 18 home runs and 69 RBi as one of the bigger power threats on the roster.
Future: Walker Martin (Tier 3)
Martin had 20 home runs and 75 RBI in 29 games during his senior year at Eaton High School in Colorado, and the Giants gave him an above-slot bonus of nearly $3 million as the No. 52 overall pick in the second round. He will likely outgrow shortstop as his 6'2", 188-pound frame fills out, and with Marco Luciano blocking his path, third base is a likely landing spot.
Five-Year Prediction: Davis (2024), Schmitt (2025-26), Martin (2027-28)
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Present: Josh Rojas (Age: 29)
The Mariners acquired Rojas in the four-player deal that sent closer Paul Sewald to the Arizona Diamondbacks at the trade deadline, and barring a late offseason signing of Matt Chapman, he is poised to compete with Luis Urías for the starting third base job. He was a 3.2-WAR player in 2022 when he posted a 110 OPS+ with 35 extra-base hits and 23 steals while splitting his time between second base and third base.
Future: Tai Peete (Tier 3)
A late-riser in the 2023 draft class, Peete has a tantalizing mix of tools with a 55-power, 60-speed profile and a rocket arm that delivered 95 mph fastballs on the mound. The Mariners have Cole Young, Colt Emerson and Peete all waiting in the wings behind incumbent shortstop J.P. Crawford, and Peete is the most likely to shift to third base from that group.
Five-Year Prediction: Rojas (2024-26), Peete (2027-28)
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Present: Nolan Arenado (Age: 32)
Arenado already has a strong case for being one of the 10 greatest third basemen in MLB history, and his career is far from over with four years and $109 million remaining on his current contract with the Cardinals. Even in a down year by his standards in 2023, he still posted a 109 OPS+ with 26 home runs, 93 RBI and 2.4 WAR in 144 games.
Future: Jonathan Mejia (Tier 3)
One of the most hyped prospects in the 2022 international class, Mejia signed for $2 million and posted an .897 OPS with 22 extra-base hits in 46 games in the Dominican Summer League in his pro debut. The 18-year-old struggled in his first season stateside last year, hitting .159 with 47 strikeouts in 41 games, but he won't turn 19 until April and still has a ton of upside.
Five-Year Prediction: Arenado (2024-27), Free Agent (2028)
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Present: Isaac Paredes (Age: 24)
Paredes was one of the most productive third basemen in baseball in 2023, posting a 131 OPS+ with 24 doubles, 31 home runs, 98 RBI and 4.2 WAR in his first season as an everyday player in the big leagues. With his salary climbing to $3.4 million as a Super Two arbitration player, Paredes saw his name come up in trade rumors this offseason. It may only be a matter of time before the budget conscious Rays flip him, despite club control through 2027.
Future: Junior Caminero (Tier 1)
Caminero went from an intriguing low-level prospect to one of baseball's elite young talents in 2023. The 20-year-old hit .324/.384/.591 with 31 home runs and 94 RBI in 117 games between High-A and Double-A before making his MLB debut as a September call-up and earning a spot on the postseason roster. He could break camp as Tampa Bay's starting shortstop in 2024, but his long-term home is likely at the hot corner.
Five-Year Prediction: Paredes (2024), Caminero (2025-28)
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Present: Josh Jung (Age: 25)
After dealing with some injury issues early in his pro career, Jung finally broke through in 2023 while becoming the first rookie third baseman to start the All-Star Game since Eddie Kazak back in 1949. He ended up finishing fourth in AL Rookie of the Year balloting while hitting .266/.315/.467 with 25 doubles, 23 home runs and 70 RBI, and he will be under club control through the 2028 season.
Future: Sebastian Walcott (Tier 1)
Signed for $3.2 million out of the Bahamas in 2023, Walcott has an extremely projectable 6'4", 190-pound frame and the present offensive tools to believe he can be a middle-of-the-order star once he arrives in the big leagues. He will almost certainly outgrow shortstop, and his strong arm and offensive profile should make him a clean fit at third base or in right field.
Five-Year Prediction: Jung (2024-28)
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Present: Cavan Biggio (Age: 28)
With Matt Chapman and Whit Merrifield both expected to sign elsewhere in free agency, it looks like some combination of Biggio, Santiago Espinal, Davis Schneider and Isiah Kiner-Falefa will handle second base and third base for the Blue Jays to open the 2024 season. All of those guys are probably best served in a utility role on a contending team.
Future: Orelvis Martinez (Tier 1)
Martinez has always had tantalizing raw power, but his approach at the plate and high strikeout rate raised questions of whether he would ever be able to fully tap into it at the next level. The 22-year-old turned a corner last season, posting an .835 OPS with 28 home runs and 94 RBI in 125 games between Double-A and Triple-A while slashing his strikeout rate from 28.6 to 23.4 percent. That should pave the way for him to make his MLB debut in 2024.
Five-Year Prediction: Biggio (2024), Martinez (2025-28)
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Present: Nick Senzel (Age: 28)
After hitting on a buy-low signing of Jeimer Candelario last offseason, the Nationals are hoping a change of scenery for Senzel produces similar results. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft never found consistent success in Cincinnati before he was non-tendered this offseason, and if things do click with his new team, he'll be arbitration-eligible for the 2025 season as well.
Future: Brady House (Tier 1)
With a 55-hit, 60-power offensive profile and a strong 6'4", 215-pound frame, House looks the part of a run-producing third baseman. The No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 draft hit .312/.365/.497 with 21 doubles, 12 home runs and 47 RBI in 88 games across three minor league levels in 2023, and he doesn't turn 21 years old until June.
Five-Year Prediction: Senzel (2024), House (2025-28)
