Every MLB Franchise's Greatest Third Baseman of the Last 25 Years
Welcome to Bleacher Report's newest series highlighting the best and brightest for every MLB franchise at each position over the last 25 years!
Up next, the third basemen.
While there are a handful of no-brainer selections like Chipper Jones for the Atlanta Braves, Nolan Arenado for the Colorado Rockies and David Wright for the New York Mets, most of the picks required at least some level of debate.
Since we're focusing on the last 25 years, only statistics compiled since the start of the 2000 season were eligible for consideration. That meant someone like slugger Matt Williams, who was still active during the 2000s but well past his prime, does not get credit for his entire career body of work—only what he did from 2000 forward.
Offense, defense, individual accolades and postseason success were all factors in determining each team's best third baseman, and in the case of a tight race, peak production was valued over a larger, less impressive body of work.
Let the debate begin!
Catch up on the Greatest of the Last 25 Years series: Shortstop
Arizona Diamondbacks: Mark Reynolds
1 of 30
Stats: 563 G, 108 OPS+, .242/.334/.483, 226 XBH (121 HR), 346 RBI, 42 SB
WAR: 5.5 (1.6 per 162 games)
In three full seasons as the D-backs starting third baseman, Mark Reynolds averaged 35 home runs and 95 RBI, including a 44-homer, 102-RBI campaign in 2009 when he received some down-ballot NL MVP support.
He also racked up at least 200 strikeouts in each of those three years, including a single-season record 223 punchouts in 2009 before he was traded to the Orioles in a four-player deal that brought back reliever David Hernandez.
Honorable Mention: Jake Lamb, Chad Tracy
Athletics: Eric Chavez
2 of 30
Stats: 1,189 G, 116 OPS+, .268/.344/.483, 491 XBH (217 HR), 731 RBI, 45 SB
WAR: 32.7 (4.5 per 162 games)
This was the most difficult debate of any team, as Matt Chapman and Josh Donaldson both had compelling cases and would have been the pick for a long list of other teams.
However, Eric Chavez gets the nod on the strength of a six-year peak in which he won the AL Gold Glove every year while posting a 122 OPS+ and averaging 33 doubles, 29 home runs, 96 RBI and 4.8 WAR. He stands as one of the best players of the last 25 years to never receive an All-Star selection.
Honorable Mention: Matt Chapman, Josh Donaldson
Atlanta Braves: Chipper Jones
3 of 30
Stats: 1,720 G, 142 OPS+, .304/.404/.529, 719 XBH (315 HR), 1,099 RBI, 67 SB
WAR: 58.3 (5.5 per 162 games)
Chipper Jones was already 28 years old with 27.0 WAR under his belt before the 2000 season arrived, but he is still a slam dunk pick as Atlanta's best third baseman of the past 25 years old.
The first-ballot Hall of Famer won his NL MVP in 1999, but he still logged eight seasons with at least 4.0 WAR during the 2000s while earning five All-Star selections, receiving MVP votes eight times and winning the NL batting title in his age-36 season in 2008.
Honorable Mention: Austin Riley
Baltimore Orioles: Manny Machado
4 of 30
Stats: 860 G, 121 OPS+, .283/.335/.487, 369 XBH (162 HR), 471 RBI, 47 SB
WAR: 31.9 (6.0 per 162 games)
The No. 3 overall pick in the same 2010 draft class where Bryce Harper was the first selection, Manny Machado rocketed through the Orioles farm system to make his MLB debut in 2012 shortly after his 20th birthday.
Developed as a shortstop, he joined a contending Orioles team and filled a void at third base with J.J. Hardy occupying his natural position. He quickly emerged as an elite defender at the hot corner, and he logged three straight 30-homer seasons with a pair of top-five finishes in AL MVP voting before he was traded to the Dodgers ahead of free agency in 2018.
Honorable Mention: Melvin Mora
Boston Red Sox: Rafael Devers
5 of 30
Stats: 980 G, 126 OPS+, .279/.345/.511, 467 XBH (200 HR), 638 RBI, 32 SB
WAR: 22.5 (3.7 per 162 games)
While Bill Mueller and Mike Lowell both played a crucial role on World Series-winning teams, there is little question the top spot for the Red Sox belongs to Rafael Devers.
One of the most hyped international prospects of all time, Devers made his MLB debut at the age of 20, and by his age-22 season, he was a bona fide offensive star. Still only 28 years old, he inked a 10-year, $313.5 million extension that will keep him in Boston through 2033 and give him a chance to climb the storied franchise's offensive leaderboards.
Honorable Mention: Mike Lowell, Bill Mueller
Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant
6 of 30
Stats: 833 G, 133 OPS+, .279/.378/.508, 370 XBH (160 HR), 465 RBI, 38 SB
WAR: 27.7 (5.4 per 162 games)
Aramis Ramírez was a two-time All-Star with the Cubs who slugged 239 home runs and posted a 126 OPS+ over nine seasons with the team, and the deal to acquire him from the Pirates stands as one of the most lopsided deals in recent memory.
However, Kris Bryant gets the nod on the strength of his 2016 NL MVP award, which came in the same season he helped lead the Cubs to a long-awaited World Series title. Injuries knocked him off a superstar trajectory, and his current contract with the Rockies is one of the worst in baseball, but his time on the North Side will be remembered fondly.
Honorable Mention: Aramis Ramírez
Chicago White Sox: Joe Crede
7 of 30
Stats: 798 G, 93 OPS+, .257/.306/.447, 272 XBH (125 HR), 422 RBI, 4 SB
WAR: 12.4 (2.5 per 162 games)
One of the better homegrown White Sox players of the 2000s, Joe Crede spent six seasons as the team's starting third baseman, winning a Silver Slugger in 2006 and earning an All-Star selection in 2008.
He hit .283/.323/.506 with 31 doubles, 30 home runs and 94 RBI with a career-high 4.8 WAR during the 2006 season, which was the peak of his 10-year run in the big leagues. He also posted a .949 OPS with four home runs and 11 RBI in 12 games during the South Siders run to a World Series title in 2005.
Honorable Mention: Yoán Moncada
Cincinnati Reds: Todd Frazier
8 of 30![02 September, 2015: Cincinnati Reds Third base Todd Frazier (21) [7072] in action during a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)](https://legacymedia.sportsplatform.io/image/upload/x_0,y_0,w_1800,h_1195,c_crop/v1736783653/hx8vrghraswmtvoyduu7.jpg?w=684 "02 September, 2015: Cincinnati Reds Third base Todd Frazier (21) [7072] in action during a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)")
Stats: 633 G, 113 OPS+, .257/.321/.463, 244 XBH (108 HR), 324 RBI, 43 SB
WAR: 14.3 (3.7 per 162 games)
The Todd Frazier vs. Eugenio Suarez debate is a compelling one, but it's hard to move past the fact that Suarez's time with the team ended in a salary dump, even if it turned out to be an ill-advised decision by the front office.
Frazier was the starting third baseman for back-to-back playoff teams in 2012 and 2013, and he was an All-Star in 2014 and 2015, winning the 2015 Home Run Derby in front of the home fans at Great American Ball Park.
Honorable Mention: Eugenio Suárez, Aaron Boone, Scott Rolen, Edwin Encarnacion
Cleveland Guardians: José Ramírez
9 of 30
Stats: 1,451 G, 130 OPS+, .279/.352/.504, 659 XBH (255 HR), 864 RBI, 243 SB
WAR: 52.4 (5.9 per 162 games)
Signed for just $50,000 out of the Dominican Republic and never ranked as a Top 100 prospect during his time in the minors, José Ramírez has since developed into one of the best all-around players of his era and a perennial MVP candidate.
He has finished in the top 10 in AL MVP voting seven times in the past eight years, and since he became an everyday player in 2016, his 49.6 WAR trails only Mookie Betts (61.2) and Aaron Judge (52.2) among all players.
Honorable Mention: Casey Blake, Lonnie Chisenhall
Colorado Rockies: Nolan Arenado
10 of 30
Stats: 1,079 G, 121 OPS+, .293/.349/.541, 524 XBH (235 HR), 760 RBI, 16 SB
WAR: 40.1 (6.0 per 162 games)
Nolan Arenado spent the first eight seasons of what will likely be a Hall of Fame career with the Rockies, winning eight straight Gold Gloves while developing into one of the most prolific run producers in baseball.
Over his final five full seasons in Colorado prior to the abridged 2020 campaign and his subsequent trade to the Cardinals, he hit .300/.362/.575 for a 129 OPS+ while averaging 38 doubles, 40 home runs, 124 RBI and 6.5 WAR.
Honorable Mention: Ryan McMahon
Detroit Tigers: Brandon Inge
11 of 30
Stats: 1,408 G, 83 OPS+, .234/.304/.387, 390 XBH (140 HR), 589 RBI, 45 SB
WAR: 18.6 (2.1 per 162 games)
Aside from the 2012 and 2013 seasons when he was playing alongside Prince Fielder, slugger Miguel Cabrera spent the bulk of his time with the Tigers stationed at first base, so he will be included for them on that list.
That leaves an extremely thin list of candidates to be the pick for the Tigers, and converted catcher Brandon Inge is the pick thanks to his lengthy tenure with the team and an All-Star selection in 2009. He also logged a career-high 5.0 WAR during the 2006 season when the Tigers reached the World Series.
Honorable Mention: Nick Castellanos, Jeimer Candelario
Houston Astros: Alex Bregman
12 of 30
Stats: 1,111 G, 132 OPS+, .272/.366/.483, 474 XBH (191 HR), 663 RBI, 42 SB
WAR: 39.6 (5.8 per 162 games)
The Astros received the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft as compensation for failing to sign Brady Aiken at No. 1 overall the previous year, and they used that selection to take LSU shortstop Alex Bregman.
He made his MLB debut the following year and quickly developed into one of the league's best third basemen and a key cog in a homegrown Astros core. Aside from his terrific regular season performance, he also posted a .789 OPS with 19 home runs and 54 RBI in 99 playoff games.
If his time in Houston comes to an end this offseason as expected, he will go down as one of the best players in franchise history.
Honorable Mention: Morgan Ensberg
Kansas City Royals: Mike Moustakas
13 of 30
Stats: 934 G, 98 OPS+, .251/.306/.430, 328 XBH (139 HR), 441 RBI, 14 SB
WAR: 11.5 (2.0 per 162 games)
Mike Moustakas spent eight seasons with the Royals, serving as the club's starting third baseman and one of its primary run producers during the 2014 AL pennant and 2015 World Series runs.
He briefly held the franchise single-season record with 38 home runs in 2017, though that has since been broken by Jorge Soler. He was an All-Star in 2015 and 2017, and his 139 home runs during his time in Kansas City rank ninth in franchise history.
Honorable Mention: Joe Randa, Mark Teahen
Los Angeles Angels: Troy Glaus
14 of 30
Stats: 625 G, 130 OPS+, .258/.368/.524, 286 XBH (152 HR), 413 RBI, 43 SB
WAR: 20.1 (5.2 per 162 games)
At his peak, Troy Glaus was one of the most feared sluggers in baseball, turning in back-to-back 40-homer seasons in 2000 and 2001 while also taking home AL Silver Slugger honors both years, all before his 25th birthday.
Injuries limited him to 149 games in his final two seasons with the Angels before he was traded to the Blue Jays, but during his four fully healthy campaigns he posted a 124 OPS+ while averaging 32 doubles, 37 home runs, 100 RBI and 5.1 WAR. He also won 2002 World Series MVP honors, hitting seven home runs in 16 games during the playoffs that year.
Honorable Mention: Chone Figgins
Los Angeles Dodgers: Justin Turner
15 of 30
Stats: 1,075 G, 133 OPS+, .296/.375/.490, 398 XBH (156 HR), 574 RBI, 33 SB
WAR: 34.1 (5.1 per 162 games)
The Dodgers have had great success plucking players from the scrapheap over the past decade, turning castoffs like Max Muncy, Chris Taylor and others into key contributors on contending teams.
However, their biggest success story might be Justin Turner, who did not become an everyday player until his age-30 season following forgettable stints with the Reds, Orioles and Mets. The two-time All-Star also hit .270/.370/.460 with 13 home runs and 42 RBI in 86 playoff games, winning 2017 NLCS MVP honors and delivering in the clutch time and time again.
Honorable Mention: Adrian Beltré
Miami Marlins: Miguel Cabrera
16 of 30
Stats: 720 G, 143 OPS+, .313/.388/.542, 331 XBH (138 HR), 523 RBI, 17 SB
WAR: 18.3 (4.1 per 162 games)
Miguel Cabrera spent time in the outfield when he first debuted for the Marlins before settling in as the team's starting third baseman, averaging 41 doubles, 32 home runs and 115 RBI while hitting .318/.396/.551 over his first four full seasons in the majors.
The Marlins shipped him to the Tigers along with Dontrelle Willis in exchange for a loaded prospect package headlined by Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller that ultimately went down as one of the most lopsided deals in recent memory.
Honorable Mention: Mike Lowell, Brian Anderson
Milwaukee Brewers: Aramis Ramírez
17 of 30
Stats: 455 G, 120 OPS+, .284/.342/.473, 178 XBH (65 HR), 262 RBI, 13 SB
WAR: 7.4 (2.6 per 162 games)
Third base has been a revolving door for the Brewers throughout their franchise history, and an aging Aramis Ramírez is the best to line up at that position for the club over the past 25 years.
The longtime Cubs third baseman signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the Brewers prior to his age-34 season, and he hit .300/.360/.540 with 50 doubles, 27 home runs, 105 RBI and 5.6 WAR in his first season with the team to finish ninth in NL MVP balloting. He was also an All-Star in 2014, making good on one of the bigger free-agent signings in club history.
Honorable Mention: Travis Shaw, Casey McGehee
Minnesota Twins: Corey Koskie
18 of 30
Stats: 688 G, 117 OPS+, .278/.373/.465, 261 XBH (89 HR), 377 RBI, 62 SB
WAR: 19.8 (4.7 per 162 games)
A standout defender, middle-of-the-order run producer and elite on-base threat, Corey Koskie enjoyed a brief but productive prime during his seven seasons in a Twins uniform.
He peaked with a 6.3-WAR season in 2011 when he hit .276/.362/.488 for a 121 OPS+ with 37 doubles, 26 home runs, 103 RBI and 27 steals, starring in a lineup that featured a young Torii Hunter and David Ortiz.
Honorable Mention: Trevor Plouffe, Royce Lewis, Josh Donaldson
New York Mets: David Wright
19 of 30
Stats: 1,585 G, 133 OPS+, .296/.376/.491, 658 XBH (242 HR), 970 RBI, 196 SB
WAR: 49.2 (5.0 per 162 games)
A healthy David Wright is probably a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and it's easy to forget just how good he was at his peak:
2005: 140 OPS+, .306/.388/.523, 70 XBH (27 HR), 102 RBI, 17 SB, 4.8 WAR
2006: 133 OPS+, .311/.381/.531, 71 XBH (26 HR), 116 RBI, 20 SB, 4.1 WAR
2007: 149 OPS+, .325/.416/.546, 73 XBH (30 HR), 107 RBI, 34 SB, 8.3 WAR
2008: 142 OPS+, .302/.390/.534, 77 XBH (33 HR), 124 RBI, 15 SB, 6.9 WAR
A degenerative back condition known as spinal stenosis limited him to just 77 games and 0.6 WAR after his age-31 season, but he stands as an all-time great in the Mets organization and will deservedly have his number retired later this year.
Honorable Mention: Robin Ventura, Mark Vientos
New York Yankees: Alex Rodriguez
20 of 30
Stats: 1,509 G, 136 OPS+, .283/.378/.523, 623 XBH (351 HR), 1,096 RBI, 152 SB
WAR: 54.0 (5.8 per 162 games)
Over his first seven seasons in pinstripes, Alex Rodriguez hit .296/.393/.559 for a 147 OPS+ while averaging 38 home runs, 120 RBI and 6.6 WAR, shifting to third base after playing exclusively shortstop during his time with the Mariners and Rangers.
He won AL MVP in 2005 and 2007, leading the AL in home runs both seasons, and he was on his way to making a case as one of the greatest players in MLB history before his PED use came to light and put a stain on his legacy.
Honorable Mention: Gio Urshela, Chase Headley, Robin Ventura
Philadelphia Phillies: Scott Rolen
21 of 30
Stats: 379 G, 127 OPS+, .284/.370/.509, 171 XBH (68 HR), 262 RBI, 29 SB
WAR: 13.7 (5.9 per 162 games)
Scott Rolen spent just two and a half seasons with the Phillies during the 2000s after breaking into the majors in 1996 and winning 1997 NL Rookie of the Year honors, but he did enough in that short time to claim the top spot.
He won the NL Gold Glove in 2000, 2001 and 2002, and he also made his first All-Star team in 2002 before he was traded to the Cardinals at the deadline for a package built around Plácido Polanco, who also has a decent case for being the pick here.
Honorable Mention: Plácido Polanco, Alec Bohm, Maikel Franco
Pittsburgh Pirates: Ke'Bryan Hayes
22 of 30
Stats: 476 G, 92 OPS+, .258/.313/.385, 142 XBH (37 HR), 176 RBI, 51 SB
WAR: 13.4 (4.6 per 162 games)
It was tempting to go with Pedro Álvarez, who enjoyed a brief but memorable peak in Pittsburgh that included a NL-leading 36 home runs and a Silver Slugger in 2013. However, his value was limited outside of his power production and he totaled just 4.1 WAR in 742 games.
Defensive standout Ke'Bryan Hayes is still looking for consistency at the plate, but he posted back-to-back 4-WAR seasons in 2022 and 2023 thanks to his glove work, and he finally snapped Nolan Arenado's Gold Glove streak when he won the award in 2023.
Honorable Mention: Pedro Álvarez, Aramis Ramírez
San Diego Padres: Manny Machado
23 of 30
Stats: 809 G, 128 OPS+, .275/.341/.490, 325 XBH (167 HR), 536 RBI, 46 SB
WAR: 23.4 (4.7 per 162 games)
During his six seasons in San Diego, Manny Machado has averaged 30 doubles, 33 home runs, 107 RBI and 4.7 WAR per 162 games, giving the team a face of the franchise to build around. With an 11-year, $350 million contract that runs through the 2033 season, he will build his Hall of Fame case in a Padres uniform.
Tip of the cap to Chase Headley, who tallied 18.2 WAR and won 2012 NL Gold Glove and Silver Slugger honors. He would have been a solid choice for a lot of other teams and was the best player on some bad Padres rosters.
Honorable Mention: Chase Headley, Phil Nevin
San Francisco Giants: Pablo Sandoval
24 of 30
Stats: 1,149 G, 118 OPS+, .285/.337/.457, 390 XBH (135 HR), 569 RBI, 12 SB
WAR: 20.8 (2.9 per 162 games)
Elite contact skills and a penchant for clutch hitting made Pablo Sandoval one of the key offensive performers on Giants teams that won three World Series titles in five years, and he took home 2012 World Series MVP honors thanks to a three-homer game against Justin Verlander and the Tigers in Game 1.
After flopping in Boston, he found his way back to San Francisco and was one of the best pinch hitters in baseball in 2018 and 2019 while the Red Sox paid the bulk of his salary. Matt Chapman has a chance to overtake him in the coming years, but for now, "Kung Fu Panda" is the clear choice.
Honorable Mention: Matt Chapman, Evan Longoria
Seattle Mariners: Kyle Seager
25 of 30
Stats: 1,480 G, 112 OPS+, .251/.321/.442, 565 XBH (242 HR), 807 RBI, 55 SB
WAR: 36.9 (4.0 per 162 games)
Kyle Seager spent his entire 11-year career with the Mariners, and while he was never a superstar, he was a steady performer who provided a healthy mix of power, run production and defense.
He finished his career on a high note in 2021, setting career-high marks in home runs (35) and RBI (101) in his age-33 season before riding off into the sunset. He was a one-time All-Star, one-time Gold Glove winner and twice received AL MVP votes.
Honorable Mention: Adrian Beltré, Eugenio Suárez
St. Louis Cardinals: Scott Rolen
26 of 30
Stats: 661 G, 127 OPS+, .286/.370/.510, 297 XBH (111 HR), 453 RBI, 33 SB
WAR: 25.9 (6.3 per 162 games)
Scott Rolen was an All-Star in each of his first four full seasons with the Cardinals after coming over in a blockbuster trade with the Phillies, winning three Gold Gloves during that stretch while teaming with Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds to form a lethal middle-of-the-order trio.
He had the best season of his Hall of Fame career in 2004 when he hit .314/.409/.598 for a 158 OPS+ with 32 doubles, 34 home runs, 124 RBI and 9.2 WAR in 142 games, finishing fourth in NL MVP balloting.
Honorable Mention: Matt Carpenter, Nolan Arenado, David Freese
Tampa Bay Rays: Evan Longoria
27 of 30
Stats: 1,435 G, 125 OPS+, .270/.341/.483, 618 XBH (261 HR), 892 RBI, 51 SB
WAR: 51.2 (5.8 per 162 games)
Evan Longoria is arguably the greatest player in Tampa Bay Rays franchise history and the club's all-time leader in WAR (51.2), doubles (338), home runs (261), RBI (892), runs scored (780) and total bases (2,630).
He won 2008 AL Rookie of the Year and helped the Rays make a surprise World Series appearance in his debut, and he was a perennial 30-homer threat and Gold Glove defender throughout his 10 seasons with the Rays.
Honorable Mention: Isaac Paredes
Texas Rangers: Adrian Beltré
28 of 30
Stats: 1,098 G, 128 OPS+, .304/.357/.509, 448 XBH (199 HR), 699 RBI, 8 SB
WAR: 41.1 (6.1 per 162 games)
Adrian Beltré was 32 years old with 52.4 WAR over 13 seasons in the majors when he first joined the Texas Rangers in free agency.
During his time in Texas, he went from a solid player to a first-ballot Hall of Famer, adding three All-Star selections, three Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers to his resume while nearly doubling his career WAR total over his final eight seasons.
Honorable Mention: Hank Blalock
Toronto Blue Jays: Josh Donaldson
29 of 30
Stats: 462 G, 148 OPS+, .281/.383/.548, 228 XBH (116 HR), 316 RBI, 17 SB
WAR: 19.5 (6.8 per 162 games)
After breaking out as a late-bloomer in Oakland, Josh Donaldson joined the Blue Jays prior to the 2015 season and promptly turned in two of the best seasons of the last 25 years by a third baseman.
2015: 151 OPS+, .297/.371/.568, 84 XBH (41 HR), 123 RBI, 122 R, 7.1 WAR
2016: 153 OPS+, .284/.404/.549, 74 XBH (37 HR), 99 RBI, 122 R, 7.2 WAR
He won 2015 AL MVP and finished fourth in the voting the following year, and while he fell off quickly after that brief peak, it was more than enough to earn him the top spot among Toronto third basemen.
Honorable Mention: Matt Chapman, Brett Lawrie, Troy Glaus, Eric Hinske
Washington Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman
30 of 30
Stats: 1,799 G, 116 OPS+, .277/.341/.475, 723 XBH (284 HR), 1,061 RBI, 43 SB
WAR: 40.1 (3.6 per 162 games)
The Washington Nationals' first true star following the club's move from Montreal, Ryan Zimmerman spent his entire 16-year career with the Nationals, earning two All-Star selections while winning two Silver Sluggers and one Gold Glove.
He had the best season of his career in 2009, hitting .292/.364/.525 for a 134 OPS+ with 37 doubles, 33 home runs, 106 RBI, 110 runs scored and 7.3 WAR. He eventually moved across the diamond to first base, but 1,128 of his 1,648 career starts came at third base.
Honorable Mention: Anthony Rendon
