Ranking Every MLB Team's Starting Third Baseman for the 2025 Season
Welcome to Bleacher Report's 2025 MLB preseason position rankings!
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 2025 campaign.
Veterans José Ramírez (CLE), Rafael Devers (BOS), Manny Machado (SD), Austin Riley (ATL) and Matt Chapman (SF) remain the cream of the crop at third base.
Mark Vientos (NYM) and Jordan Westburg (BAL) both turned in breakout 2024 seasons, and up-and-comers Junior Caminero (TB), Matt Shaw (CHC) and Connor Norby (MIA) could be next in line for a breakthrough performance this coming season.
Players were ranked based on expectations for the 2025 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.
Catch up on the 2025 Position Rankings Series: Shortstops
Nos. 30-26
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30. Oliver Dunn, Milwaukee Brewers
Next Man Up: Caleb Durbin
With Joey Ortiz shifting from third base to shortstop, the Brewers have a wide open battle at the hot corner this spring. Dunn appears to be the front-runner on the strength of his standout defense, while Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio and Tyler Black are among the other candidates on the 40-man roster.
29. José Tena, Washington Nationals
Next Man Up: Brady House
The Nationals acquired Tena at the trade deadline last year in the deal that sent Lane Thomas to Cleveland, and he hit .274/.305/.363 with five doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI in 41 games after joining the Nationals. He will be keeping third base warm for top prospect Brady House, who should debut at some point in 2025.
28. Oswaldo Cabrera, New York Yankees
Next Man Up: DJ LeMahieu
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is expected to play primarily second base this year after Gleyber Torres departed in free agency, which creates a void at third base. Cabrera tallied 1.3 WAR in 100 games last season, and he is the leading candidate for playing time from a group that also includes DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza.
27. Yoán Moncada, Los Angeles Angels
Next Man Up: J.D. Davis
The Angels took a flier on Moncada with a one-year, $5 million deal as he looks to turn the page on an injury-plagued last three years with the White Sox. With Anthony Rendon recovering from hip surgery, Moncada is expected to break camp as the starting third baseman, while J.D. Davis and Carter Kieboom are also in camp on minor league deals.
26. Gio Urshela, Athletics
Next Man Up: Luis Urías
Urshela signed a one-year, $2.15 million deal to serve as Oakland's primary third baseman following a solid second-half run with the Braves filling in for an injured Austin Riley. Over 36 games in Atlanta, he posted a 95 OPS+ with nine doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI in 136 plate appearances.
Nos. 25-21
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25. Miguel Vargas, Chicago White Sox
Next Man Up: Brandon Drury
Vargas was a Baseball America Top 100 prospect prior to the 2022 (No. 40) and 2023 (No. 29) seasons, and he was traded to the White Sox last summer in the three-team deal that sent Michael Kopech to the Dodgers. The 25-year-old is a .175/.273/.312 hitter in 591 plate appearances over the past three seasons, but the rebuilding White Sox will give him a long runway to realize his potential.
24. Jorge Polanco, Seattle Mariners
Next Man Up: Dylan Moore
Polanco had a 120 OPS+ over his final three seasons with the Twins, but struggled to a .213/.296/.355 line with 11 doubles, 16 home runs, 45 RBI and 1.3 WAR in 118 games as Seattle's primary second baseman last year. He was re-signed to a one-year, $7.75 million deal during the offseason to serve as the team's starting third baseman in 2025.
23. Maikel Garcia, Kansas City Royals
Next Man Up: Jonathan India
Garcia provided plus speed (37 SB, 84 R) and steady defense (3 DRS, 2.6 UZR/150) for the Royals last season, but his 72 OPS+ ranked last among 129 hitters who logged enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title. He was miscast as the team's leadoff hitter in 2024, and will now hit lower in the lineup following the addition of Jonathan India.
22. Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates
Next Man Up: Jared Triolo
Always an elite defender, Hayes appeared to turn a corner offensively with a 103 OPS+ and 53 extra-base hits during the 2023 season, but he took a significant step backward last season. In 96 games, he hit .233/.283/.290 for a 61 OPS+ with 13 extra-base hits and 0.8 WAR. The 28-year-old is still owed another $43 million over the next five years.
21. Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays
Next Man Up: Addison Barger
A year ago, Clement was fighting to earn a spot on the Blue Jays roster, but following a 3.4-WAR season where he was an AL Gold Glove finalist, he is now firmly entrenched as Toronto's starting third baseman. Aside from his stellar defense, he also hit .263/.284/.408 with 21 doubles, 12 home runs, 51 RBI and 12 steals in 139 games.
Nos. 20-16
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20. Jace Jung, Detroit Tigers
Next Man Up: Matt Vierling
The No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Jung made his MLB debut last August and hit .241/.362/.304 in 94 plate appearances in his first big league action. He had an .831 OPS with 23 doubles, 14 home runs and 60 RBI in 91 games at Triple-A last season before he was promoted, and he will look to stake his claim to the everyday third base job this spring.
19. Connor Norby, Miami Marlins
Next Man Up: Graham Pauley
The Marlins acquired Norby at the trade deadline last year in the deal that sent Trevor Rogers to the Orioles, and he was an offensive bright spot down the stretch, posting a 104 OPS+ with eight doubles, seven home runs and 17 RBI in 36 games. The 24-year-old looks like one of the few long-term building blocks on the Miami roster entering the season.
18. Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs
Next Man Up: Jon Berti
The Cubs used seven different starting third baseman last season, and all of them are now playing elsewhere. That leaves Shaw with a clear path to playing time after he hit .284/.379/.488 with 19 doubles, 21 home runs, 71 RBI and 31 steals in 121 games in the upper levels of the minors last year. He also starred for Team USA in the Premier12 tournament this winter, hitting .412 with two home runs and 14 RBI in nine games.
17. Gavin Lux, Cincinnati Reds
Next Man Up: Jeimer Candelario
With Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz locked into the starting middle infield spots, Lux is expected to see significant time at third base in his first season with the Reds. The 27-year-old had a 101 OPS+ with 24 doubles, 10 home runs and 50 RBI in 2.1-WAR season for the Dodgers last year. Jeimer Candelario, Spencer Steer and Santiago Espinal are also options at the hot corner.
16. Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies
Next Man Up: Kyle Farmer
An All-Star for the first time in 2024, McMahon hit .272/.350/.447 with 21 doubles, 14 home runs and 45 RBI during the first half last season, but fell off dramatically during the second half with a .188/.283/.309 line and just 13 extra-base hits over his final 58 games. The 30-year-old has three years and $44 million remaining on his current contract.
Nos. 15-11
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15. Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays
Next Man Up: José Caballero
Caminero began the 2024 season as a consensus Top 10 prospect in baseball, and he got an extended look in the majors after Isaac Paredes was traded to the Cubs, posting a 105 OPS+ with nine doubles, six home runs, 18 RBI and 0.7 WAR in 43 games. The 21-year-old has the offensive tools to develop into a franchise cornerstone, and he now has a clear path to an everyday job.
14. Josh Jung, Texas Rangers
Next Man Up: Josh Smith
After posting a 113 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 23 home runs and 70 RBI in a 2.4-WAR rookie season, Jung was limited to just 46 games last season while recovering from a fractured wrist. The 27-year-old is healthy once again and poised to again be a key piece of a stacked Rangers infield.
13. Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins
Next Man Up: José Miranda
In 152 games over the past three seasons, Lewis has hit .268/.327/.497 for a 126 OPS+ with 27 doubles, 33 home runs, 104 RBI and 3.4 WAR. The 25-year-old is capable of elite-level offensive production when healthy, but staying on the field has been a major issue, and the 82 games he played last year were a career high.
12. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers
Next Man Up: Enrique Hernández
An oblique injury limited Muncy to 73 games last season, but he showed he still has plenty left in the tank when healthy by posting a 141 OPS+ with 17 doubles, 15 home runs, 48 RBI and 3.0 WAR. He is entering the second season of a two-year, $24 million deal and also has a $10 million club option for 2026.
11. Isaac Paredes, Houston Astros
Next Man Up: Zach Dezenzo
Paredes was an All-Star for the first time with the Rays last season, then joined the Cubs in a trade deadline deal. The Cubs then flipped him to Houston in the blockbuster deal to acquire Kyle Tucker earlier this offseason, and with a 119 OPS+ in 1,593 plate appearances over the past three years he will be counted on to be an impact part of the lineup.
Nos. 10-6
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10. Eugenio Suárez, Arizona Diamondbacks
Next Man Up: Jordan Lawlar
Suárez struggled to the point of looking like a candidate to be released early in the 2024 season, but rebounded in a big way to post a .942 OPS with 20 home runs and 53 RBI in 65 games after the All-Star break. The D-backs exercised a $15 million club option at the start of the offseason following the fifth 30-homer season of his career.
9. Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies
Next Man Up: Edmundo Sosa
Bohm enjoyed the best season of his career in 2024, posting a 117 OPS+ with 44 doubles, 15 home runs, 97 RBI and 3.0 WAR in 143 games while starting the All-Star Game. The 28-year-old slumped to a .681 OPS during the second half and saw his name pop up on the rumor mill this offseason, but he ultimately stayed put and will again be counted on not serve as a middle-of-the-order run producer.
8. Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
Next Man Up: Nolan Gorman
Barring a last-minute trade this spring, the Cardinals will enter the season with Arenado as their starting third baseman, despite trying all offseason to find a way to move him. The 33-year-old had a down year by his standards, but still posted a 101 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 16 home runs and 71 RBI in 152 games while logging solid defensive metrics (6 DRS, 1.2 UZR/150).
7. Jordan Westburg, Baltimore Orioles
Next Man Up: Ramón Urías
Overshadowed by the likes of Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson, Heston Kjerstad and others during his time in the Orioles farm system, Westburg turned in a breakout 2024 season to emerge as a key piece of the team's present and future plans. The 26-year-old posted a 129 OPS+ with 26 doubles, 18 home runs, 63 RBI and 2.4 WAR in 107 games, and he also provides valuable versatility with the ability to play second base and shortstop.
6. Mark Vientos, New York Mets
Next Man Up: Brett Baty
Vientos spent the first 25 games of the 2024 season back at Triple-A, with Brett Baty and Joey Wendle breaking camp as the Mets primary third basemen. The 25-year-old never looked back once he got his opportunity, hitting .266/.322/.516 for a 135 OPS+ with 22 doubles, 27 home runs, 71 RBI and 3.1 WAR in 111 games. He also hit .327/.362/.636 with five home runs and 14 RBI in 13 playoff games.
5. Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves
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Next Man Up: Luke Williams
Austin Riley's pursuit of a fourth straight 30-homer, 90-RBI, 5-WAR season was cut short last year when a fractured hand brought his 2024 campaign to a premature end on Aug. 18.
Prior to the injury, he was already having a down year relative to that terrific three-year run, hitting .256/.322/.461 for a 115 OPS+ with 26 doubles, 19 home runs, 56 RBI and 2.9 WAR in 110 games.
The 27-year-old is two seasons into a 10-year, $212 million deal, so the Braves are counting on him returning to top-tier form with a clean bill of health in 2025.
4. Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox
7 of 10
Next Man Up: Alex Bregman
As of writing this, the Boston Red Sox still intend to use Alex Bregman at second base and Rafael Devers at third base, though there is little question their best infield alignment would feature Bregman at third base and Devers as the everyday designated hitter.
The 28-year-old Devers has always been a below-average defensive player, but he can flat-out rake, and the 2024 season was no exception as he hit .272/.354/.516 for a 139 OPS+ with 34 doubles, 28 home runs, 83 RBI and 3.7 WAR in 138 games.
He still has nine years remaining on the 10-year, $313.5 million extension he signed, so figuring out where he fits best defensively figures to be an ongoing discussion in the coming years.
3. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
8 of 10
Next Man Up: Tyler Wade
Manny Machado was his usual productive self at the plate last season, hitting .275/.325/.472 for a 120 OPS+ with 30 doubles, 29 home runs, 105 RBI and 3.1 WAR in 152 games.
With 1,900 hits, 342 home runs, 1,049 RBI and 57.8 WAR over 13 seasons in the majors, he is poised to reach some major milestones before his 11-year, $350 million contract is up following the 2033 season.
While he is showing no signs of slowing down offensively, his defensive metrics (2 DRS, -3.6 UZR/150) do raise the question of how much longer he will stick at the hot corner before potentially moving across the diamond to first base.
2. Matt Chapman, San Franciso Giants
9 of 10
Next Man Up: Casey Schmitt
Matt Chapman turned a three-year, $54 million deal with the San Francisco Giants last offseason that included an opt-out after 2024 into a new six-year, $151 million last September following a fantastic season.
The 31-year-old logged the third 7-WAR season of his career and first since 2019 in his Giants debut, posting a 125 OPS+ with 39 doubles, 27 home runs, 78 RBI and 15 steals while also winning his fifth Gold Glove.
His ability to put up solid power numbers in a pitcher-friendly environment, coupled with his elite defense, put him squarely in the top tier of third basemen and in the conversation for the No. 1 spot on this list.
1. Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
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Next Man Up: Daniel Schneemann
There is no shortage of star power at third base, but José Ramírez is the best of the bunch following a 2024 campaign where he came one one home run short of a 40/40 season.
The 32-year-old had finished in the Top 10 in AL MVP voting seven times in the past eight years, and he had one of the best seasons of his career last year, posting a 143 OPS+ with 39 doubles, 39 home runs, 118 RBI, 114 runs scored, 41 steals and 6.8 WAR in 158 games.
On top of his elite combination of power and speed offensively, he was also a Gold Glove finalist, though he is still looking for his first Gold Glove win.
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