Here's an early look at the Top 30 third basemen for 5x5 roto leagues -- covering homers, RBI, batting average, runs and steals.
Checking out various magazines and Web sites throughout the spring, I have counted four different players occupying the top fantasy spot at the hot corner -- Anthony Rendon, Chris Davis, Josh Donaldson and Adrian Beltre.
And from my viewpoint, it might have been five top-ranked candidates at third base ... IF the Mariners' Kyle Seager (25 HR, 96 RBI, 71 runs, .268 batting, .334 on-base percentage, seven steals) didn't play roughly 90 games at Seattle's Safeco Field and Oakland's cavernous O.co Coliseum.
TOP 30 THIRD BASEMEN
1. Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays
2. Anthony Rendon, Nationals
3. Chris Davis, Orioles
4. Adrian Beltre, Rangers
5. Kyle Seager, Mariners
6. Evan Longoria, Rays
7. Nolan Arenado, Rockies
8. Todd Frazier, Reds
9. Matt Carpenter, Cardinals
10. Pablo Sandoval, Red Sox
11. Josh Harrison, Pirates
12. Carlos Santana, Indians
13. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
14. Manny Machado, Orioles
15. David Wright, Mets
16. Chase Headley, Yankees
17. Martin Prado, Marlins
18. Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
19. Aramis Ramirez, Brewers
20. Brett Lawrie, Athletics
21. Kris Bryant, Cubs
22. Mike Moustakas, Royals
23. Pedro Alvarez, Pirates
24. Lonnie Chisenhall, Indians
25. Luis Valbuena, Astros
26. Miguel Sano, Twins
27. Trevor Plouffe, Twins
28. Chris Johnson, Braves
29. Conor Gilaspie, White Sox
30. Nick Castellanos, Tigers
30b. Marcus Semien, Athletics
30c. Yangervis Solarte, Padres
30d. Mike Olt, Cubs
30e. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
BREAKDOWN
1. Donaldson holds stellar two-year averages of 26 homers, 96 RBI, 91 runs, 34 doubles, 6.5 steals and an .840 OPS from the last two seasons with the A's.
The move to Toronto should be a greater boon to Donaldson's fantasy prospects, given the cozier dimensions of Rogers Centre (compared to Oakland) and his short-sample track record at that ballpark (two homers, seven runs, .333 on-base percentage in 10 games).
From an overall splits standpoint last season, Donaldson enjoyed two months of a .400-plus OBP, three months of five-plus homers, four months of double-digit runs and six months of double-digit RBI.
2. It'd be nice if Chris Davis (53 HR, 138 RBI in 2013) could maintain dual-position eligibility (1B/3B) for the next four or five seasons ... just like it'd be wonderful to see Davis endure a full campaign without getting suspended.
Therein lies the rub of devoting a Round 1 or 2 pick on a guy whose immense power could be called in question (through the benefits of modern, uh, medicine) ... if he incurs one more 50-percent drop in homers.
3. Anthony Rendon has all the makings of a year-in, year-out fantasy stud, on the heels of last season's excellent numbers: 21 HR, 83 RBI, 111 runs, 17 steals, .287 batting average.
However, we harbored the same feelings of invincibility last March for Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter -- a dual-position dynamo (2B/3B) who rolled for National League highs with doubles (55), hits (199) and runs (126) in 2013 ... only to suffer through across-the-board reductions last year.
4. The notion of Pablo Sandoval ravaging American League pitching can be tempered with three nuggets:
a) By my count, Sandoval only has 10 career homers in ballparks that are on the Red Sox' 2015 schedule (including Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium).
b) Sandoval holds good, but hardly elite three-year averages of 14 homers, 72 RBI, 60 runs and .280 batting.
c) Incredibly, Sandoval scored only four runs in 24 September/October games last year (regular season) -- a baffling number which might have come up during free agency ... if he hadn't helped carry the Giants to another world title during the postseason (three in five years).
On the flip side ... check out Kung Fu Panda's May-August averages from last year: 4.3 homers, 14.3 RBI, 13 runs, .316 batting, .351 on-base percentage.
5. The preseason rankings for amped-up rookies Kris Bryant and Miguel Sano -- both 40-homer assets someday -- would be higher, if they were locks to make the Opening Day rosters for the Cubs and Twins, respectively.
Instead, we'll invoke the Mike Trout Approach To Drafting, Circa 2012: Prioritize Bryant and Sano as "preferred upside picks" -- the milli-second the market goes soft for hitters, relative to Average Draft Position, anytime after Round 10.
For those who've only been reading my stuff for a short time, back in 2012, I begged everyone under the sun to grab Trout -- who opened that season in Triple-A ball (Angels' affiliate), after incurring an illness during spring training -- as soon as humanly possible.
No matter the cost ... or consequence of roster construction.
And we all know how that turned out, as Trout amassed 30 homers, 83 RBI, 129 runs, 49 steals, .326 batting in just 139 MLB games. (No MVP, though.)
Jay Clemons, the 2008 Fantasy Football Writer of the Year (Fantasy Sports Writers Association), can be reached via Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.
