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MLB: Ranking the Top 30 Third Basemen for the 2017 Season

By Greg Goldstein

Sep 12, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) reacts after being defeated by the Boston Red Sox 12-2 at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) reacts after being defeated by the Boston Red Sox 12-2 at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 27, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Jhonny Peralta (27) celebrates after hitting a three run home run off of Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Matt Magill (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Jhonny Peralta (27) celebrates after hitting a three run home run off of Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Matt Magill (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

25. Eduardo Nuñez (San Francisco Giants)

0.8 WAR 141 G 595 PA .288 BA .325 OBP 24 2B 16 HR .432 SLG .758 OPS 88 SO 29 BB 27.8% Hard Contact

24. Chase Headley (New York Yankees)

2.6 WAR 140 G 529 PA .253 BA .331 OBP 18 2B 14 HR .385 SLG .716 OPS 118 SO 51 BB 31.4% Hard Contact

23. Yunel Escobar (Los Angeles Angels)

1.6 WAR 132 G 567 PA .304 BA .355 OBP 28 2B 5 HR .391 SLG .745 OPS 67 SO 40 BB 27.1% Hard Contact

22. Johnny Peralta (St. Louis Cardinals)

-0.4 WAR 82 G 313 PA .260 BA .307 OBP 17 2B 8 HR .408 SLG .715 OPS 56 SO 20 BB 32.2% Hard Contact

21. Travis Shaw (Milwaukee Brewers)

2.2 WAR 145 G 480 PA .242 BA .306 OBP 34 2B 16 HR .421 SLG .726 OPS 133 SO 43 BB 33.3% Hard Contact

This part of the list is filled with a few veterans that represent average starting MLB options, but don’t really offer much upside. One of these players is Chase Headley. Once a prominent up-and- comer with the San Diego Padres, the soon to be 33 year-old had a reasonable good season in 2016, but his 31 home run 2012 campaign does seem like a long time ago. Headley will provide some power and decent overall hitting numbers, but that’s pretty much it.

Yunel Escobar and Jhonny Peralta also fits into this type of role. Escobar really brings no batter, but he can hit for average (.304 BA in 2016). His hard contact percentage from last season was on the lower-end, so it’s expected that his slugging percentage will represent that. He should be a capable catalyst for Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. Peralta on the other hand had to fight to win the Cardinals third base job and eventually did. He once was an above average MLB shortstop, but now he’s just an average overall hitter who will hopefully bring some power to Mike Matheny‘s lineup.

Travis Shaw and Eduardo Nuñez are younger players that had breakout 2016 campaigns. Both have been traded at some point over the past year with Shaw going to the Brewers in the Tyler Thornburg-Red Sox trade. Nuñez filled in at third base for the Giants after he was dealt to the Giants at the MLB trade deadline. I’m a little higher on Shaw’s offensive capabilities because of his power and also because Nunez’s outlier first half seems more like an outlier than a true progression.

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