Fantasy Baseball: 2011 Third Base Rankings

Having been apart of a few drafts already, I find myself somewhat more amazed at the lack of overall depth at Third Base than at any other position. Certainly we talk about how the middle infield is not the hot bed of talent that it once was, but the hot corner is filled with a few top-tier names, some great upside, and some names that will make fantasy owners beyond nervous. The main question comes in how to attack it and who to put towards the top of the draft board.

Here is how I rank them:

Some Thoughts:

• It can be argued that the top of this board—Longoria, Zimmerman, Rodriguez and Wright—could be ordered in any way. Wright rebounded from a rough 2009 to perform as a first-round pick again in 2010. He and Zimmerman, to me, represent the least amount of risk given their track records. Longoria is a perennial top performer but the change in the lineup in Tampa has me concerned. Rodriguez is going to be fine, but he is not the same player that he was five years ago.
• This is not a spot where any owner should be looking to find speed. Only one player that came in to 2010 with third base eligibility stole more than 20 bases and not one that has it in 2011 will have that 20-steal distinction. Power and RBI are the name of the game here and that is what owners need to leverage it for. Even thinking about getting steals out of third base is pointless.
• The best news about Rodriguez came on Monday when it was announced that he came to camp 10 pounds lighter and lowered his body fat by three points. As a player in his mid-30's that we have seen suffer a multitude of ailments in the last couple years, the fact he is taking his fitness seriously is a good thing for owners.
• Aramis Ramirez stands out as the prime candidate for a rebound year. While he has certainly continued to provide solid power numbers, injuries and average concerns have knocked him down many boards. Underscoring that is the fact he has only played more than 140 games once in the last four years. Still, if he plays more than 100 games, he will hit 25 home runs. He has not missed that mark when playing that often since 2002. His BABIP fell 40 points below his career mark in 2010. a slight rebound should give him closer to .270/25/85. Good value where he is going.
• Best Value Selection - Scott Rolen at pick 181. Rolen is another player that makes fantasy owners nervous. Yes, he will be 36 this year, but he has maintained solid production levels. Three hard years in a row have soured many owners, but this is a player that has average better than 20 home runs a season over his career and was rejuvenated by playing in Cincinnati.
• Sleeper Selection - Ty Wigginton. The Rockies are going to be looking to Wiggington to play a material role in several positions. While owners may not know where he will start on any given day, his eligibility will give them the opportunity to use him in multiple spots. He has found a way to hit better than 20 home runs in three of the last four years and now gets to call Coors Field home.
• Situation to Avoid - To me it would be San Francisco. Pablo Sandoval is going to hold it down for the most part, but there is certainly some concern as to if he will be able to bounce back following a sub-par 2010. Additionally, there is the X-factor of a super-utility player like Mark DeRosa waiting in the wings. The Giants want it to be Sandoval, and they proved they can win without a guy like Sandoval performing up to the top of his game.
• Situation to Watch - No battles this Spring that would have a fantasy owner overly concerned. Obviously, we all want to know what will happen in Texas, but the fact is that Beltre has the job. Young simply has to figure out where he fits in the equation.
• Biggest Risk - It would be impossible to name any one but Jose Bautista in this spot. Swing changes or not, he had never hit more than 20 home runs in a season prior to last year. His .260 average was the highest he has hit in any full season in his career. If owners expect closer to 25 home runs and a .250 average then they may get the player they draft.