Ranking Every MLB Team's Starting Third Baseman for the 2024 Season
Welcome to Bleacher Report's 2024 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 weeks to provide a full position-by-position preview for the 2024 campaign.
Next up is third base, a position that is home to some of the game's biggest stars, including Nolan Arenado, Manny Machado, José Ramírez, Austin Riley, Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman. Rookie Gunnar Henderson made a strong case to join that top-tier group last year, while guys such as Ke'Bryan Hayes, Isaac Paredes, Josh Jung and Royce Lewis are also knocking on the door.
Players were ranked based on expectations for the 2024 season. Offensive and defensive contributions were both considered, and past track record 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 if the current starter missed significant time. In some cases, it's a minor leaguer or bench player; in others, it's a starter moving over from a different position.
Let the debate begin.
Catch up on the 2024 Position Ranking series: Shortstops
30. Abraham Toro, Oakland Athletics
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Next Man Up: Jordan Diaz
Once a top prospect in the Houston Astros system, Abraham Toro appeared in 109 games for the Seattle Mariners in 2022 before he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers as part of the Jesse Winker-for-Kolten Wong swap last offseason.
The 27-year-old ended up appearing in just nine games at the big league level last year, but he did hit .291/.374/.471 with 46 extra-base hits in 96 games at Triple-A.
The A's acquired him in November in exchange for minor league pitcher Chad Patrick, and if he proves to be a capable MLB option, he has club control through the 2026 season.
29. Nick Senzel, Washington Nationals
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Next Man Up: Carter Kieboom
Can Nick Senzel jump-start his career with a change of scenery?
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft following a stellar collegiate career at the University of Tennessee, he ranked as a Top 10 prospect in all of baseball prior to the 2017 (No. 9), 2018 (No. 7) and 2019 (No. 10) seasons.
In five seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, he hit .239/.302/.369 for a 77 OPS+ with minus-1.8 WAR in 377 games. He set career-high marks in home runs (13) and RBI (42) last season, but he still hit just .236 with a .297 on-base percentage and 85 OPS+ in 104 games.
The Reds non-tendered him at the start of the offseason, and the Nationals signed him to a one-year, $2 million deal to be their starting third baseman.
28. Luis Urías, Seattle Mariners
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Next Man Up: Josh Rojas
Not long ago, Luis Urías looked like a rising star and a long-term building block for the Milwaukee Brewers with strong seasons in 2021 and 2022.
- 2021: 150 G, 112 OPS+, 49 XBH (23 HR), 75 RBI, 3.3 WAR
- 2022: 119 G, 108 OPS+, 34 XBH (16 HR), 47 RBI, 3.1 WAR
He hit just .194/.337/.299 with nine extra-base hits in 177 plate appearances last season, and he was traded at the deadline to the Boston Red Sox, who then flipped him again to the Seattle Mariners in November.
Still only 26 years old, he will likely platoon with Josh Rojas to start the year.
27. Gio Urshela, Detroit Tigers
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Next Man Up: Jace Jung
The Detroit Tigers signed Gio Urshela to a one-year, $1.5 million deal last week, and he immediately became the front-runner in a wide-open competition for the third base job that also includes Zach McKinstry, Matt Vierling and Andy Ibañez.
Whoever mans the hot corner on Opening Day is simply serving as a bridge to top prospect Jace Jung. The No. 12 pick in the 2022 draft made the move from second base to third base in the Arizona Fall League, and he could be knocking on the door by midseason.
That said, Urshela was a 3.1-WAR player as recently as the 2022 season with the Minnesota Twins, and his versatility will make him a useful player even if he is pushed out of the starting job.
26. Nick Madrigal, Chicago Cubs
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Next Man Up: Patrick Wisdom
After posting strong defensive metrics (560.1 INN, 8 DRS, 5.1 UZR/150) in his first big league action at third base last year, Nick Madrigal now appears to be the favorite to break camp as the Chicago Cubs' starting third baseman.
The 26-year-old is a .280 career hitter in 846 plate appearances in the majors, but it's been an empty average, accompanied by a .352 slugging percentage and 87 OPS+ which makes him a less-than-ideal option at an offensive-minded position.
The X-factor here is Christopher Morel, who needs to take a step forward to be a viable everyday option, but he could be an impact player at the position if he does.
25. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Toronto Blue Jays
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Next Man Up: Cavan Biggio
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider could simply throw names in a hat and pick out his starting second baseman and third baseman on a daily basis, with Davis Schneider, Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal and newcomer Isiah Kiner-Falefa all in the mix for playing time at both spots following the departures of Whit Merrifield and Matt Chapman in free agency.
Veteran Justin Turner could also see the occasional start at the hot corner, though he is expected to be the team's primary designated hitter, and he played just 57 innings at third base in 2023.
Kiner-Falefa won a Gold Glove at third base for the Texas Rangers during the shortened 2020 season before shifting to shortstop, and his glove could earn him the bulk of the playing time.
24. Joey Ortiz, Milwaukee Brewers
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Next Man Up: Andruw Monasterio
Joey Ortiz could ultimately end up with a similar profile to the guys ranked below him on this list, but for the time being, he offers significantly more upside.
One of the key pieces acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers in the deal that sent ace Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles, Ortiz spent the bulk of the 2023 season at Triple-A where he hit .321/.378/.507 with 43 extra-base hits in 88 games.
The 25-year-old has the glove to be the shortstop of the future if Willy Adames departs in free agency next winter, but for now, he is competing with Andruw Monasterio and fellow prospect Tyler Black for the third base job this spring.
23. Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels
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Next Man Up: Luis Rengifo
Since the start of the 2021 season, there have been 411 position players who have appeared in more games than Anthony Rendon has for the Los Angeles Angels.
During that stretch, he earned roughly $101 million to play in a grand total of 148 games, hitting .235/.338/.364 for a 94 OPS+ with 13 home runs, 80 RBI and 1.0 WAR. It's no wonder him saying that baseball has "never been a top priority for me" ruffled more than a few feathers this offseason.
If Rendon misses significant time again, Luis Rengifo will likely shift from second base to third base, leaving Brandon Drury as the primary second baseman.
22. Yoán Moncada, Chicago White Sox
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Next Man Up: Bryan Ramos
From one terrible contract to another, Yoán Moncada is set to earn $24.8 million this year in the final season of a back-loaded five-year, $70 million extension that also includes a $25 million club option and $5 million buyout for 2025.
That extension was signed after he hit .315/.367/.548 for a 140 OPS+ with 34 doubles, 25 home runs, 79 RBI, 10 steals and 5.4 WAR in 132 games during the 2019 season.
Since that peak performance, Moncada has hit just .243/.325/.395 for a roughly league-average 98 OPS+ while tallying 6.1 WAR in 392 games. He is only 28 years old, so there is still some hope of a bounce-back performance.
21. Brett Baty, New York Mets
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Next Man Up: Mark Vientos
Brett Baty earns the No. 21 spot in these rankings almost exclusively on his upside and potential going forward, as he has yet to prove much of anything at the MLB level.
The 24-year-old hit .212/.275/.323 for a 65 OPS+ with nine home runs and 34 RBI in 389 plate appearances as a rookie, and with no outside addition made beyond utility man Joey Wendle, he appears to have a clear path to the starting job once again.
Baty hit .315/.410/.533 with 22 doubles, 19 home runs and 60 RBI in 95 games in the upper levels of the minors in 2022, and he was widely regarded as a consensus Top 100 prospect after going No. 12 overall in the 2019 draft, so the track record is there for him to be an impact player.
20. Noelvi Marte, Cincinnati Reds
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Next Man Up: Jeimer Candelario
The Cincinnati Reds acquired Noelvi Marté as the prospect centerpiece in the blockbuster deal that sent Luis Castillo to the Seattle Mariners at the 2022 trade deadline, and he looked the part of a future All-Star in a 35-game audition last year.
The 22-year-old hit .316/.366/.456 with 10 extra-base hits in 123 plate appearances after making his MLB debut on Aug. 19, and he will get a long look for the starting third base job this spring.
There is a scenario in which Jeimer Candelario starts the season as the team's primary third baseman, Christian Encarnacion-Strand plays first base, Jonathan India serves as designated hitter, and Marte opens the year at Triple-A. Even then, he likely wouldn't be back down for long.
19. Maikel García, Kansas City Royals
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Next Man Up: Nick Loftin
Maikel García was the No. 6 prospect in the Kansas City Royals organization at the start of the 2023 season, and he ended up serving as the team's primary third baseman last year after Hunter Dozier was released.
The 23-year-old hit .272/.323/.358 with 28 extra-base hits and 23 steals in 515 plate appearances, posting a 1.1-WAR rookie season thanks in part to his solid defensive work at third base.
Top prospect Cayden Wallace is viewed as the third baseman of the future and versatile up-and-comer Nick Loftin could also push for playing time, but for now, third base belongs to García in 2024.
18. J.D. Davis, San Francisco Giants
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Next Man Up: Wilmer Flores
Veteran J.D. Davis started 105 games at third base for the San Francisco Giants last season, and he was one of the team's most consistent offensive performers.
The 30-year-old tallied a career-high 546 plate appearances and posted a 103 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 18 home runs and 69 RBI, though his overall value was undercut by his poor defense and he ended up with just 0.9 WAR overall.
Ideally, Davis would be limited to first base and designated hitter duties where his poor defensive metrics (-11 DRS, 0.8 UZR/150) don't take away from his offensive contributions. For now, he looks poised to platoon with Wilmer Flores at third base.
17. DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees
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Next Man Up: Oswald Peraza
DJ LeMahieu won the AL batting title and finished third in AL MVP voting during the shortened 2020 season, and the New York Yankees rewarded him with a new six-year, $90 million deal in free agency.
Over the first three seasons of that contract, he has hit .258/.345/.375 for a 101 OPS+ while averaging 2.1 WAR per year serving in a super-utility role playing all over the infield.
The 35-year-old hit a career-low .243 with a 96 OPS+ in 2023, and he also posted a career-high 22.2 percent strikeout rate, far exceeding his 15.2 percent career mark.
16. Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies
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Next Man Up: Elehuris Montero
Since breaking out with a 24-homer, 83-RBI season in 2019, Ryan McMahon has been one of the few consistent performers on the Colorado Rockies roster.
The 29-year-old has hit .245/.325/.434 over the past five seasons while averaging 28 doubles, 25 home runs, 83 RBI and 3.1 WAR per year, though that level of performance at Coors Field has only equated to a 93 OPS+ during that span.
McMahon has four years and $56 million remaining on the six-year, $70 million extension he signed prior to the 2022 season, and along with his solid power production, he is also a perennial Gold Glove contender and was a finalist for the award in 2023.
15. Jake Burger, Miami Marlins
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Next Man Up: Jon Berti
Jake Burger hit .328/.443/.648 with 22 home runs and 65 RBI in 63 games during his junior season at Missouri State before going No. 11 overall in the 2017 draft.
Unfortunately, a ruptured Achilles tendon and a variety of other injuries cost him the entire 2018 and 2019 seasons, and he then lost another year of development during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.
The 27-year-old played 66 games in the big leagues in 2021 and 2022 before finally breaking out last year, posting a 120 OPS+ with 34 home runs and 80 RBI, joining the Miami Marlins in a trade-deadline deal.
14. Eugenio Suárez, Arizona Diamondbacks
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Next Man Up: Emmanuel Rivera
Eugenio Suárez resurrected his career following a trade to the Seattle Mariners in 2022, posting a 129 OPS+ with 31 home runs and 87 RBI in a 3.9-WAR season while serving as a veteran leader on a young team.
The 32-year-old had another productive season last year, logging a 101 OPS+ with 22 home runs, 96 RBI and 2.3 WAR while playing all 162 games, though he also tallied an AL-leading 214 strikeouts.
The Mariners traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks at the start of the offseason, and he will replace fellow veteran Evan Longoria at the hot corner on the defending NL pennant winners.
13. Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies
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Next Man Up: Edmundo Sosa
Alec Bohm is still working to tap into the tremendous raw power he showed during his collegiate career at Wichita State, but he took another step forward last year to solidify his status as a staple at third base.
The 27-year-old hit .274/.327/.437 for a 108 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 20 home runs and 97 RBI, and he hit .344/.390/.470 with runners in scoring position to fill a key run production role in a stacked Philadelphia lineup.
Bohm remains a below-average defender (-10 DRS, 3.2 UZR/150) at third base, which keeps him from ranking any higher, but he has the tools to be a top-10 player at the position offensively in 2024.
12. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers
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Next Man Up: Miguel Vargas
With a .204 average, 15.3 percent walk rate and 57 home runs over the past two seasons, Max Muncy has devolved into a three true outcomes player here in the later stages of his career, but he remains a productive player.
The 33-year-old posted a 115 OPS+ with 36 home runs and 105 RBI, and he would be one of the game's more productive first basemen, but the Freddie Freeman signing pushed him to third base and the Shohei Ohtani signing has left no path to transition to designated hitter.
Muncy logged poor defensive metrics (-3 DRS, -14.8 UZR/150) in 2023 and that is unlikely to change this year. The Dodgers will pay him $14.5 million in 2024, and they hold a $10 million club option with no buyout for 2025.
11. Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins
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Next Man Up: Kyle Farmer
Royce Lewis has the potential to move comfortably into the top 10 in these rankings with a healthy 2024 season, but that's a big question mark that has hung over his career since he was taken No. 1 overall in the 2017 draft.
The 24-year-old hit .309/.372/.548 for a 150 OPS+ with 15 home runs and 52 RBI in only 58 games last season, and he went 5-for-22 with four home runs in the postseason to send expectations soaring heading into what will be his first full season in the big leagues.
If Lewis can stay healthy enough to play 140 games, he could be a 5-WAR player and a legitimate MVP candidate, but that is a major question mark after he played just 118 games total over the last two seasons.
10. Josh Jung, Texas Rangers
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Next Man Up: Ezequiel Durán
One of the most polished college hitters in the 2019 draft class, Josh Jung was expected to fly through the minors, but a stress fracture in his foot and a torn labrum in his shoulder slowed his development and cost him the better part of two seasons.
The 26-year-old made his MLB debut as a September call-up in 2022 and then broke camp as the team's starting third baseman last year.
Jung ended up starting the All-Star Game and finishing fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting, hitting .266/.315/.467 for a 109 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 23 home runs, 70 RBI and 2.4 WAR in 122 games.
9. Isaac Paredes, Tampa Bay Rays
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Next Man Up: Junior Caminero
The Tampa Bay Rays picked the perfect time to move on from outfielder Austin Meadows, flipping him to the Detroit Tigers just before the start of the 2022 season in exchange for prospect Isaac Paredes.
The 25-year-old slugged 20 home runs in 381 plate appearances serving in a super-utility role in 2022, and he then took over as the team's everyday third baseman last year after Yandy Díaz shifted to first base to replace the departed Ji-Man Choi.
Paredes posted a 131 OPS+ with 31 home runs and 98 RBI in a 4.2-WAR season while receiving some down-ballot AL MVP support, and he also provided solid defense at third base.
The question now is how much longer he'll stick around in Tampa Bay as his price tag continues to climb.
*Matt Chapman, Free Agent
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It seemed odd to exclude Matt Chapman from these rankings entirely while he remains unsigned. He is going to be playing somewhere in 2024, whether it's on the long-term deal he envisioned when the offseason started or on a shorter contract.
The 30-year-old won his fourth Gold Glove last season while posting a 108 OPS+ with 39 doubles, 17 home runs and 54 RBI in a 4.4-WAR season, and he has averaged 29 home runs and 80 RBI per 162 games over the course of his career.
There was some very promising upside in his batted-ball metrics last season, as he ranked among the MLB leaders in average exit velocity (98th percentile), hard-hit rate (100th percentile) and barrel rate (98th percentile).
8. Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates
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Next Man Up: Jared Triolo
Ke'Bryan Hayes has been one of baseball's best defensive third basemen since he first broke into the big leagues as a September call-up in 2020 when he also hit .376/.442/.682 with 1.9 WAR in 24 games.
However, the 27-year-old hit just .249/.315/.356 for an 87 OPS+ over the next two seasons, raising some questions about whether he would ever be more than just a glove-first player.
Those questions were erased last year when Hayes hit .271/.309/.453 for a 105 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 15 home runs, 61 RBI and 10 steals in a 4.0-WAR season, and the eight-year, $70 million extension he signed prior to the 2022 season now looks like a steal.
7. Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
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Next Man Up: Jordan Walker
After finishing fifth in NL MVP voting while running his Gold Glove streak to 10 straight during the 2022 season, Nolan Arenado turned in his worst season since taking his game up a notch in 2015 with the Colorado Rockies.
He hit .266/.315/.459 for a 109 OPS+ with 26 doubles, 26 home runs and 93 RBI and still made his eighth All-Star appearance. And while he was still a 2.4-WAR player, he was not the same elite-level player he had been in past years.
At 32 years old, it's fair to wonder whether this is the start of Father Time catching up to a potential future Hall of Famer, though for now, he remains as part of the top tier at the position.
6. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
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Next Man Up: Eguy Rosario
Similar to Nolan Arenado, longtime star Manny Machado took a step backward last season after a terrific 2022 campaign in which he finished runner-up in NL MVP voting in a 6.8-WAR campaign.
The ultra-durable slugger dealt with an elbow issue that limited him to designated hitter duties in September and eventually required surgery in October, and it remains to be seen if he will be ready to return to third base by Opening Day.
The 31-year-old still posted a 115 OPS+ with 30 home runs and 91 RBI hitting in the middle of an inconsistent San Diego Padres lineup, and that was just the first season of an 11-year, $350 million deal.
5. Alex Bregman, Houston Astros
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Next Man Up: David Hensley
After a down year in 2021, Alex Bregman has rebounded with back-to-back 4-WAR seasons for the Houston Astros, and he now enters a contract year looking to lock up a massive payday next offseason.
The 29-year-old might never match his 2019 season when he posted a 162 OPS+ with 41 home runs and 112 RBI in an 8.9-WAR campaign to finish runner-up in AL MVP voting, but he is still one of the most productive third basemen in the league.
Bregman hit .262/.363/.441 for a 122 OPS+ with 28 doubles, 25 home runs and 98 RBI while tallying more walks (92) than strikeouts (87), and his combination of power, plate discipline and defensive skills make him a bona fide star.
4. Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox
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Next Man Up: Bobby Dalbec
It's easy to forget Rafael Devers is still only 27 years old, and with Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts gone, he is now the unquestioned face of the franchise for the Boston Red Sox.
He hit .271/.351/.500 for a 126 OPS+ with 34 doubles, 33 home runs and 100 RBI in another terrific offensive season last year, taking home his second Silver Slugger in the process, and those numbers could tick up with a better lineup around him in 2024.
That said, it's difficult to slot Devers any higher in these rankings as a result of his defensive shortcomings (-9 DRS, -2.9 UZR/150), and a move across the diamond to first base or to designated hitter is inevitable at some point over the course of his 10-year, $313.5 million deal.
3. Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
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Next Man Up: Ramón Urías
Only 27 players in MLB history have posted a 6-WAR rookie season, and Gunnar Henderson joined that exclusive list in 2024 on his way to unanimous AL Rookie of the Year honors and a top-10 finish in AL MVP voting.
The only real question is whether the 22-year-old can do it again, and the underlying metrics suggest he is going to be a star for years to come as a foundational player on the Baltimore Orioles roster alongside Adley Rutschman.
After a slow start to the season, Henderson hit .276/.322/.535 with 22 doubles, 23 home runs and 68 RBI in 100 games from June 1 through the end of the year, and he finished the year with strong defensive metrics at shortstop (10 DRS, 13.8 UZR/150) and third base (3 DRS, 9.2 UZR/150).
2. Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves
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Next Man Up: Luis Guillorme
Austin Riley has been one of baseball's elite offensive players for the past three seasons, and the 10-year, $212 million extension he signed with the Atlanta Braves is shaping up to be another great move by the front office.
- 2021: 135 OPS+, .303/.367/.531, 33 2B, 33 HR, 107 RBI, 6.3 WAR
- 2022: 140 OPS+, .273/.349/.528, 39 2B, 38 HR, 93 RBI, 6.5 WAR
- 2023: 128 OPS+, .281/.345/.516, 32 2B, 37 HR, 97 RBI, 5.9 WAR
The 26-year-old finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting in each of those seasons, and he has also gone from a middling defender at the hot corner to a legitimate plus with the glove.
1. José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
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Next Man Up: Tyler Freeman
José Ramírez remains one of baseball's most underrated superstars, and for the sixth time in seven years, he finished in the top 10 in AL MVP voting during the 2023 season as the clear offensive standout in a weak Cleveland lineup.
He posted a 131 OPS+ with 36 doubles, 24 home runs, 80 RBI, 87 runs scored and 28 steals in a 5.1-WAR, giving him the fifth 20/20 season of his career and the fifth 5-WAR campaign of his 11-year career.
The 31-year-old has also developed into a standout defender, tallying 13 DRS over the past three seasons, and he was a Gold Glove finalist in 2023.
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