As the MLB offseason heats up, we explore the potential of third basemen like Austin Riley and Jazz Chisholm for the upcoming season
Atlanta: The MLB offseason is buzzing, especially with the Winter Meetings on the horizon. It’s the perfect time to reflect on 2024 and figure out what we can take into 2025. We’re diving into each position to see where the best value lies.
Just like last year, I’m checking out how regular starters at third base performed in 2024. It’s all about spotting strengths for our drafts and avoiding the weak spots. Last year, I focused on the new rule changes, but this time, I’m looking at the overall trends.
We’ve already tackled first and second base, so now it’s time for third base. I took a peek at how many third basemen earned $10 in value according to the Fangraphs Player Rater. Surprisingly, only nine players hit that mark in 2024, which is just two more than second base. I thought third base would be stronger, but it’s a bit of a shocker.
A lot of this can be traced back to down years for guys like Austin Riley, who got hurt, and others like Nolan Arenado and Max Muncy. Only a handful of players, like Jose Ramirez and Manny Machado, consistently earned double-digit value over the last two seasons. Even Gunnar Henderson and Spencer Steer, who had solid seasons, won’t have third base eligibility for 2025.
On the bright side, Eugenio Suarez and Matt Chapman bounced back, adding some depth to the position. Plus, Jazz Chisholm’s new third base eligibility gives us a little more to work with at the top.
Now, let’s break down how third basemen performed in key categories for a standard Roto 5×5 league. I looked at players with at least 300 plate appearances to see if there were any significant changes in batting average, home runs, runs, RBIs, and steals from 2022 to 2024.
When it comes to batting average, third base is slowly improving. We saw more hitters with usable averages, and eight full-time third basemen hit at least .270 in 2024. That’s a slight increase from 2023, which is promising.
Home runs tell a similar story. After a dip in power last year, Austin Riley only hit 19 home runs in 110 games, but if he had stayed healthy, he likely would have hit at least 20. So, while there’s a perception of less power, it’s not as drastic as it seems.
RBI production took a hit, but that’s mostly due to injuries. Players like Riley and Jeimer Candelario couldn’t reach 70 RBIs because they were sidelined. Still, many top players have consistently hit that mark, so there’s hope for 2025.
Runs scored also dipped slightly, which isn’t surprising since many top third basemen are RBI producers. But we still have a solid group of players who can deliver in this category.
As for stolen bases, we don’t usually count on third basemen for that, but players like Jazz Chisholm and Jose Ramirez can help. They add value in multiple categories, making them solid picks.
Overall, I feel pretty good about the third base position heading into 2025. Injuries affected some top players, but I don’t expect that to be a trend. With Chisholm’s eligibility, we have a strong group of elite players, and plenty of solid options to choose from.
If you can snag one of the top five third basemen, you’ll have a real advantage. But even if you miss out, there are enough quality players to fill your roster, whether you’re looking for power, average, or speed. So, I’d focus on getting a top outfielder and second baseman first, but I wouldn’t mind if a top third baseman fell into my lap.