Surprisingly, there are more catchers than third basemen who have been among the top 50 players. There are only five third basemen who have been among the top 100 active players, which is the fewest of any position in the infield. Overall, there’s a good chance your third baseman is doing his part to drag his team down.
Advertisement
After evaluating the catcher position last Tuesday, let’s take a look at advanced statistics that can guide managers in making smart decisions with their third base position. There are some interesting buy low options and some players you should stay away from.
The 100 best players so far
José Ramírez, Guardians: The top third base option has already rebounded from a lackluster start. The best news is that Ramirez has posted a .292 xBA and .569 xSLG which are much better than his actual marks. The icing on the cake is that the Guardians rank 17th in runs scored, which is a notable improvement from 2025. Managers would be wise to target him in trade negotiations.
Max Muncy, Dodgers: Muncy has a 3 home run game and a pair of 2 home run games. Two of those three standout efforts came at Coors Field. Outside of those three contests, he has had 12 hits, a home run and an RBI. It’s true that someone with eight home runs should have more than nine RBIs, especially when playing on a great team. His strikeout rate has increased (29.4%) and his walk rate has decreased (10.6%). The injury-prone veteran has 53% of his roster and can be used in 12-team leagues until he lands on the injured list.
Advertisement
Munetaka Murakami, White Sox: Everything about Murakami has been as advertised. He crushes the baseball (average exit velocity 95.1 mph), knows how to walk (21.5%), and strikes out too often (33.3%). What you see is what you get.
Think Eugenio Suárez (more on him later), and if that sounds appealing to you, go ahead and get Murakami. My only reason for pausing is that major league pitchers might adjust to him as the season progresses.
JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals: The Cardinals’ top prospect is off to a solid start and could continue to improve as the season progresses. Wetherhold has premium plate control, which has led to an 18.8% strikeout rate and 13.9% walk rate. His .228 average has been limited by a .254 BABIP, and he could be a 20-20 player as a rookie. It’s a good business goal.
Advertisement
Jeremiah Jackson, Orioles: Jackson has been a surprising contributor in an offense that has been slightly disappointing overall. Unfortunately, his expected stats are much lower than his actual grades, and there’s not much in his skill profile to suggest he can retain top-12 status (he’s currently fourth) at that position. Managers who have been using Jackson as a stopgap should continue looking for improvements.
Disappointing, but too good to bank
Junior Caminero, Rayos: Caminero is practically the same player who hit .264 with 45 home runs and 110 RBIs last year. The main difference is that his average exit velocity is down two mph, and his change in home parks has resulted in a .660 OPS at home, versus a .964 mark in home games in 2025. Better days are ahead for Caminero, but he wouldn’t be my top buy-low target.
Manny Machado, Parents: Machado is an excellent candidate to buy cheap. His strikeout rate is similar to recent seasons and his walk rate has increased considerably (18.2%). His problem so far is that his contact quality has gone from good to terrible (86.6 mph average exit velocity). One of the most consistent hitters in baseball, Machado is currently driving his fantasy managers crazy (2 HR, .186 BA), but he should get back on track soon.
Advertisement
Austin Riley, Braves: The wait continues for Riley to regain her former power abilities. The slugger has posted an improved walk (10.1%) and strikeout rate (21.2%), and thanks to new Braves first base coach Antoan Richardson, Riley can record his first double-digit steal total. Unfortunately, all of those improvements are overshadowed by another mediocre home run total. I’m not against acquiring Riley via trade, but my expectations are in check.
Maikel García, Royals: Aside from a slightly elevated strikeout rate, Garcia is the same hitter we saw during his breakout 2025 season. His fantasy value has been limited by two factors: He’s not running the bases aggressively and the Royals rank 27th in runs scored. Like Riley and Machado, he’s a reasonable buy-low target.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yankees: In addition to racking up eight steals, Chisholm may be the most disappointing fantasy asset this season.
A top-30 pick in many leagues, he strikes out frequently (31.3%) and produces weak contact (87.4 mph average exit velocity). His .147 xBA shows that his .164 average is deserved. I would prefer to make a low buyout offer for Machado, Garcia or Riley.
Advertisement
Bo Bichette, Mets: Expected stats via Statcast suggest Bichette is an excellent buy-low target. Sure, his strikeout rate is up (23.5%), but his xBA (.291) and xSLG (.389) are significantly higher than his actual marks.
This should be the part where I tell you to go cheap with him. Unfortunately, the variables of a new team and a new contract have me worried. I’m going to leave Bichette with the coach who drafted him.
Eugenio Suárez, Reds: When we look beyond his respectable batting average (.256), Suárez is not playing well. His average exit velocity has plummeted to 85.4 mph. His hitting record has been helped by a .346 BABIP and his .217 xBA is a good indicator of the skills he has shown so far. Suárez’s managers could try to include him in a commercial offer for Machado, Riley or García.
Good enough in this economy.
Kevin McGonigle, Tigers: McGonigle is a future star who may take a while to become an impact fantasy asset. The rookie could win a batting title sooner rather than later, as his .317 average is backed by a .316 xBA. His plate discipline is elite and he could score 100 runs as the Tigers’ leadoff hitter. But he doesn’t hit the ball hard (88.5 mph average exit velocity) and lacks game-breaking speed. Managers may have to live with 10-15 home runs and 10 steals.