3B: Trevor Plouffe – MIN
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Third Base isn’t the strongest position the AL Central has to offer, with many unproven and mediocre bats headlining the hot corner crop, but it isn’t completely devoid of proven commodities.
Trevor Plouffe is the best the AL Central has to offer at third. Plouffe is one of the most underrated players there is in my opinion. Although he doesn’t hit for a high average (his career high is .258, which he reached last season), he does get on base at a decent rate and has a little power too. He is especially effective against left handed pitching, hitting .278 with 18 of his extra base hits against them last season.
Plouffe put up a solid 3.5 WAR last season, which was generally unheralded, and was actually higher than new $95 million man Pablo Sandoval‘s was in 2014. He smacked 14 homers and 40 doubles, while also playing a pretty good third base. Plouffe is a decent hitter, solid fielder, and while he may not be the flashiest player around, he confidently takes the cake for the best third baseman in the American League Central. Plouffe just gets the job done.