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Baseball's Five Best Third Baseman

New York City's Alex Rodriguez and David Wright Top The 2007 List

Sep 1, 2007

Third base is a tough, tough position. It requires the reactions of a ninja warrior, the arm strength of a center fielder, and also, you gotta be able to hit with power.

1. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees

A-Rod has the best hitting statistics of any 32-year old in baseball history, and right now, he is in the midst of his greatest season. A career shortstop until he was traded to New York before the 2004 season, Rodriguez's defense has been up and down while playing under the bright lights in Yankee Stadium.

This year, however, he is playing at a Gold Glove level.

As of September 1, Alex Rodriguez is batting .307 and leads the major leagues with 45 home runs, 129 RBI and 124 runs scored.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, Rodriguez has an opt-out clause in his contract that allows him to declare himself a free agent at the end of this season. After a year like this, the superstar should improve on his already gargantuan $25 million per year salary. If the Yankees won't break the bank on him, look for A-Rod to be playing shortstop in Boston or Los Angeles next season.

2. David Wright, New York Mets

New York City is now home to the two best third-sackers in the game. It's true. It's definitely true. David Wright is not quite Alex Rodriguez, but he is one helluva baseball player. Still just 24 years old, Wright is on pace to hit at least .300 with 25 home runs and 100 RBI for the third straight season - and he's only played three full seasons* in the majors. He's also got 30 steals this year.

This kid and Mets' shorstop Jose Reyes make up the second best left-side-of-infield in baseball today, and by the time it's all said and done, they could be among the best in history.

3. Miguel Cabrera, Florida Marlins

Cabrera is about to become one of the richest guys in baseball history. A fve tool player who is still, somehow, just 24 years old, Miguel has averaged a .314 clip, 42 doubles, 33 home runs and 115 RBI in each of his first four baseball seasons.* Cabrera is eligible for free agency after the 2008 season, when he will be 25 years old, and will have more home runs and RBI at that age than just about any player in history. That should be worth somewhere around $20-$23 million a year.

4. Mike Lowell, Boston Red Sox

Mike Lowell is one of those players who flies under the radar screen of many devoted baseball fans. Maybe it's because he played most of his career with the Florida Marlins, and then moved to Boston where he hits after two of the game's greatest hitters in Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. That would keep anybody under the radar (even Miguel Cabrera is not as famous as he should be -- why is baseball in Miami, again?).

Regardless of the reason, Lowell should be on everyone's radar screen, especially fantasy baseball players: over his past seven full seasons, Lowell has hit .282, and averaged 40 doubles, 24 HR and 94 RBI a year. Over that period among third baseman, only Aramis Ramirez and Scott Rolen have been as productive.

5. Aramis Ramirez, Chicago Cubs

Ramirez is another player whose star shines brightly enough to be appreciated by fans outside of the friendly confines of his home park at Wrigley Field. But it doesn't seem to. Not enough, at least. A lifetime .283 hitter, this guy has hit more than 30 home runs and topped 100 RBI in four of the last six seasons.

He is having another very strong year in the field and at the plate, hitting .316 with 18 HR and 80 RBI. Should the Cubs prevail in the National League Central, a lot of folks are going to get their first extended viewing of Ramirez and his skills in the playoffs. They should like what they see.

Honorable Mention: Scott Rolen.

Rolen is in the midst of a very bad season. Injuries have led to slumps, and as a result, he is hitting more like Wayne Garrett than Scott Rolen. But when this guy is healthy, he is the best defensive third baseman in the game (as evidenced by his seven Gold Glove awards in the last nine years), and is among the top hitters at the hot corner (.283 career BA, 261 HR and 1,102 RBI -- all by age 32). Look for him to rebound next season.

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* (2007 projected out for last 30 games).

The copyright of the article Baseball's Five Best Third Baseman in Baseball is owned by James Lincoln Ray. Permission to republish Baseball's Five Best Third Baseman in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.