SThe third base position has some elite talent at the top, but it falls off rather quickly as you scan down the list. Players with potential can be had. Make sure if you don't land one of the studs, you also don't reach too far and get stuck with a dud. The advantage of having a superior corner infielder cannot be underestimated. UPDATE! let's you know who to take early, late and not at all.




New York Yankees
Comment: A year ago everyone was debating about whether taking A-Rod or Albert Pujols first overall. In an "off-year" in 2006, the enigmatic Yankee generated a .290 average, 113 runs, 35 homers, 121 RBI and 15 stolen bases. He's shaved off some weight while turning a lot of his body fat into muscle. Do not be afraid to draft this guy.

Florida Marlins
Comment: Power dropped ever-so-slightly in 2006 to 26 home runs from 33 round-trippers in each of the previous two seasons. But he had career-highs of 112 runs and a stout .339 average. Couple that with 114 RBI and 9 swapped bags and you have yourself a fantasy beast. Marlins offense is only getting better and he is the centerpiece of it.

New York Mets
Comment: Was really tough choosing who would be no. 2 and 3 between Wright and Cabrera. Wright fell short to the Marlins' third-baseman in 2006 in runs (96) and average (.310) while tying him in home runs with 26. The Mets star was a shade better than Cabrera in RBI (116) while beating him outright in the stolen base department (20). Both guys are so good, that it makes it hard to pick one or the other. The 29 point difference in '06 batting average tips the scales to Cabrera's favor.

Chicago Cubs
Comment: It was a tale of two players with Ramirez's first and second half stats. He was horrendous in the first half with a .259 average, 40 runs 16 homers and 52 RBI in the first 85 games. Then he turned it on to the tune of 22 homers, 53 runs 67 RBI with a .328 average in the last 72 games. The return of first baseman Derek Lee and the addition of outfielder Alfonso Soriano should help Ramirez's overall stats reflect the type of production he put together in the second half.

Colorado Rockies
Comment: While UPDATE! is being cautious of Atkins being a potential one-year wonder in 2006, it would be prudent to ignore last year's numbers of 29 home runs, 117 runs, 120 RBI and a .329 average. Hitting in the middle of a lineup that features first baseman Todd Helton and outfielder Matt Holiday bodes well for last year's breakout star.

St. Louis Cardinals
Comment: UPDATE! is a bit bothered by the fact that Chipper abandoned his off-season workouts in favor of eating junk food and drinking milkshakes. However, in only 110 games in 2006, Chipper put together 26 homers, 87 runs, 86 RBI and a pleasant .324 average. We all know that when Chipper plays, he can still produce like a top-flight fantasy third baseman. The only question is, how much will he play in 2007?

St. Louis Cardinals
Comment: There were many who wondered what Rolen had left before the 2006 season after shoulder surgery. He showed the baseball world that he can still get it done posting a .296 average to go along with 22 homers, 94 runs and 95 RBI in 142 games last year. He turns 32 this year and should still have enough pop to remain a valuable fantasy commodity this season.

Toronto Blue Jays
Comment: Glaus' .252 average in '06 and .253 career-batting average are tough stats for a fantasy owner to swallow (the 0 stolen bases last year do not help matters either). But the 38 homers, 105 runs and 104 RBI in '06 are great power numbers from a third baseman. If you can balance your offense with high batting-average hitters in your lineup, you will be mighty glad that you snatched up Glaus.

Washington Nationals
Comment: 2006 NL ROY runner-up was able to post 20 home runs and 110 RBI last year despite playing for the lowly Nationals. Losing outfielder Alfonso Soriano will make it tough for Zimmerman to keep the RBIs rolling, but he's only going to get better from here on out. He's a great talent and will be relied upon to carry most of Washington's offense in 2007.

Kansas City Royals
Comment: Expecting to see him on the sleeper list? Sorry, after all the noise made about Gordon during the off-season and even at the end of 2006, he deserves a spot on this list. Gordon can do it all and was looking so good in the minors last year, that the Royals had no choice but to move another young star (Mark Teahen) from third base to the outfield just to get Gordon in there. Even in a rookie year, many are expecting big things.

Texas Rangers
Comment: After his breakout 2004 season, Blalock has seen his season numbers suffer significantly. However, save some hope for him in 2007. New Rangers manager Ron Washington was seen as a major reason for Oakland Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez's success, so it is within logic to believe that Washington can help Blalock return to 30 HR, 100-plus RBI and run totals. Just don't expect that average to jump above the .270-.275 range.

Chicago White Sox
Comment: Quietly smacked 30 homers in 2006 while hitting .283 and collecting career-highs in RBI (94) and runs (76). White Sox are going to score a nice amount of runs and he is in his offensive prime. Crede got off to a hot-start in 2006, so do not be surprised if he begins the season on a tear.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Comment: Hits in the middle of a young, but talented lineup in Arizona. Fantasy owners expected more out of him last year after he hit 27 home runs in 2005, but he did have 91 runs and 80 RBI in 2006. Look for Tracy to improve on the 20 homeruns hit in '06. He has the tools and if everything lines up right, he could post 30 HRs and 100-plus runs and RBI.

Seattle Mariners
Comment: We know that Beltre is likely never going to live up to that big contract Seattle gave him after his monster 2004 season. Still, as fantasy third baseman go, his 2006 numbers were very useful as he hit 25 home runs with 88 runs, 89 RBI and 11 stolen bases. His .268 average last season could use a boost, but he still provides serviceable stats at the position.

Boston Red Sox
Comment: It is too hard to forget Lowell's abysmal 2005 season where he managed only 8 homeruns and a .236 average in his last year with the Florida Marlins. He bounced back well last season (his first with the Red Sox), hitting 20 homers and 80 RBI while also scoring 79 runs and batting .284. Boston has a potent lineup and the doubles-machine looks to benefit in '07.

Kansas City Royals
Comment: Don't think that just because Gordon is taking over his position that Teahen is a slouch. Last year, before having season-ending shoulder surgery in September, Teahen was on fire during July and August, hitting 12 homeruns, 44 RBI and 43 runs during the two-month span. Interesting stat: went 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts in '06.

Cleveland Indians
Comment: Highly-touted youngster should have the third-base gig in Cleveland for the long-haul. He has not had success in the 74 major league games he's played in thus far, but as long as the Indians commit to him, he will be hitting in a very potent offense.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Comment: Tampa Bay's acquisition of Iwamura hardly went noticed as the signings of starting pitchers Dice-K and Kei Igawa stole the headlines. Watch out for Iwamura though. He has hit 106 homeruns over the past three years (average of over 35 HRs a season) and has a stance that has drawn comparisons to Yankee slugger Hideki Matsui.

Cincinnati Reds
Comment: While his defense is shaky, fantasy baseball is only concerned with how Encarnacion performs at the plate. Last season, in 117 games, he hit at a modest .276 clip with 15 homers and 72 RBIs. Many in the Reds organization believe he has the talent to be a strong offensive player, so 2007 should be an interesting year for him.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Comment: The former "shortstop of the future" for the Atlanta Braves gets the chance to finally be a full-time starter for the Dodgers. Surprised a lot of folks by hitting 18 homeruns last year despite being used primarily as a pinch-hitter or fill-in for injured starters. Could he finally tap into that potential this season?




Oakland A's
Comment: His 2006 was, to be nice, unimpressive. 22 homeruns are handy, but when they are attached to a .241 average, those long-balls suddenly become less inspiring. Fantasy owners may be pining for the old Chavez, but do not be suckered in to buying him having a comeback season.

Houston Astros
Comment: Ensberg is an even worse play than Chavez since the Athletics third baseman has at least had a few productive seasons to draw hope from. Besides Ensberg's strong 2005 season (.283-86-36-101), there really is no reason to think that he can become an effective fantasy infielder. Pass on him.

Baltimore Orioles
Comment: Mora is one of those guys that people take late in drafts when they realize they still have to add a third baseman to their lineup. Do yourself a favor and go with a sleeper instead. While Mora's '06 numbers are not that bad (.274-96-16-88), he's turning 35 and the power stats are only going to get worse.

Detroit Tigers
Comment: The career-highs in home runs (27), runs (83) and RBI (83) came out-of-nowhere, just like the 2006 Detroit Tigers. But don't get too excited, he is a career .239 hitter and if you took all his season-high totals from his career before '06, you would have a season line of 75 runs, 16 homers and 72 RBI. Don't expect too much out of this guy.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Comment: Reigning NL batting champion had 85 runs and 85 RBI to go along with that sparkling .344 average in '06. But his 6 homeruns last year could be better and you can't bank on him hitting at such a high clip again in '07. Did we mention that he plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates?