2012 Fantasy Baseball Rankings & Projections – Top 20 Third Basemen

And we keep on rolling like someone watching Phil Mickelson sink a birdie putt to force a playoff. We have now reached the third basemen part of our rankings extravaganza.  In most of the leagues I’ll be in this year, I’m fairly confident that I’ll be coming out of the first round with either a first baseman or a third baseman. Possibly I’ll get an outfielder, but with the way my rankings are shaking out (when wet) it’s looking like I’ll be landing someone at either corner.

A quick note on these rankings and projections that will be featured over the next few weeks and will culminate with the Top 10, Top 20, Top 100,  and Top 300 rankings…these are how I think they should be valued. You may disagree at times and fall in love with me at times (but hey let’s just stay friends for now…I’d just break your heart….unless you have a huge bankroll for drinks.) Any-who I break things out into tiers when I can. When you see guys in the same tier it means it doesn’t really matter who is ranked ahead of whom…I just prefer the guy on top (well that came out wrong.) All the rankings will also be featured on their own page (look above…higher…higher…there), which can be found here.

After we wrap up the rankings I’m going to hold a live chat on fantasybalk.com to answer any questions you may have and try and help you with any last minute keeper question, draft questions, relationship advice, etc. that you might be facing. I’ll be announcing the date and time shortly. Feel free to start sending in your questions now to fantasybalk@gmail.com

Ok so the 2012 Top 20 Third Basemen for Fantasy Baseball:

1. Jose Bautista – Did I think Bautista could repeat his 2010 explosion in 2011? Heck No! I simply wasn’t a believer. I’m apparently an idiot. Do I think he could repeat his 2011 in 2012? Heck Yes! What has changed you ask? Well certainly not my drinking habits. The guy is legit…yes 2011 (one additional year) proved it. Shots of Jose on you Jose. Well not on you, but on you. Make sense? (Now I’m thirsty). This is the first tier. It goes through Longoria. It’s called “One of these two guys will win the MVP in 2012 or we riot.” 2012 Projections: 105/41/110/.275/7
2. Evan Longoria – And here he is…my AL MVP Prediction. Way to go out on a limb Kel. Hey thanks, guy! Hopefully he found some time this offseason to learn how to not dress like a douche.  Either way I love me some Longoria this year. I’m going to be quite happy coming out of the first round with him on my team. 2012 Projections: 100/35/115/.285/8
3. David Wright – The fences have been moved in, just not sure how that will prevent every Mets player from continuing to get hurt all the damn time. If David stays healthy I like him to bounce back in a pretty significant way. I don’t think he has 30-30 potential anymore, but 20/15 production from your third baseman is pretty darn acceptable. This is tier #2. It goes through Zimmerman. I call it: “You get a DL stint, you get a DL stint, everybody gets a DL stint.”  2012 Projections: 90/23/100/.290/15
4. Adrian Beltre – Just a tip, if you have grabbed any of the guys above, don’t take Beltre, Zimmerman, etc. You should be loading up elsewhere. If Beltre is there; however, and you haven’t taken a third baseman take him. Just do not rub his head. 2012 Projections: 80/28/95/.290/3
5. Ryan Zimmerman – Alrighty, so Zimmerman is now 27 years old. The age where hitters are supposedly in their prime. We know he can hit 30 homers, but recently it’s been all injuries and no fun. I’m ready for some fun! So here’s what I’m thinking Ryan: You + Me + The Notebook + Wine = Fun. In that equation Fun probably doesn’t equal 30 homers but I’ll see what I can do when the lights go out. 2012 Projections: 90/28/100/.290/3
6. Pablo Sandoval – There is a soft spot in my heart for Pablo. Thankfully it isn’t made of chocolate or he’d probably eat me. I have a very good feeling that Sandoval will be on a number of my teams this year. I have already reinforced my roster with steel. This is tier #3. I call it: “Last chance to grab a solid third baseman.” 2012 Projections: 80/25/90/.315/2
7. Alex Rodriguez – I’m probably a little more excited about A-Rod than most fantasy baseball experts. It might be because I was drinking while doing the third basemen rankings, or it might be because he’ll be able to DH quite a bit.  The true answer may never be known. 2012 Projections: 85/26/95/.275/6
8. Brett Lawrie – Ok honest time. Let’s gather into a circle and hold hands. I’m kind of lukewarm on Lawire. There I said it. That feels much better. Yes I think he will be very good, but I am not sold that it will be in 2012. He is being drafted so early this year, and that is a great reason in and of itself to avoid him. I see him contributing well in all five categories, but don’t overlook his September struggles from 2011. I realize he is a sexy pick this year, but always choose the proven players early in your drafts. 2012 Projections: 85/22/85/.285/20
9. Aramis Ramirez – Assuming Braun is suspended for the 50 games, Aramis is not going to see a lot of good pitches to hit early on in the season. I have already typed up my June “Time to Buy Low on Aramis” article and it is currently sitting in the queue. It’s right next to my “I can’t remember the FantasyBalk.com password, HELP! which one of you readers did I give it to?” 2012 Projections: 75/24/90/.285/1
10. Kevin Youkilis – The last few years he really hasn’t produced given where he was being drafted. Now his ADP is quite low in most places. I’ll probably be avoiding him, but it has more to do with the fact that I expect to have a third baseman drafted by this point. Plus ugly people scare me. 2012 Projections: 80/20/85/280/3
11. Michael Young – I already covered him here. Check it out. 2012 Projections: 80/15/90/.300/5
12. Mark Reynolds – I already covered him here. Check it out. If I don’t land Reynolds as my Corner Infielder, I’m going to assume I’ll be grabbing a first baseman as my corner infielder. That’s because the rest of this list is pretty blah.  2012 Projections: 85/36/90/.230/8
13. Emilio Bonifacio – The Marlins missing out on Cespedes, means that Bonifacio will get the starting job in center. His batting average last year wasn’t real. Well I mean it was real, but just don’t expect that this year. His speed is real though. This is the final tier. It’s also known as tier “Blah.” As mentioned previously, I don’t plan on having any of these guys playing third base for me. I hope the same for you (unless we are in the same league.)  2012 Projections: 80/2/45/.270/40
14. Ryan Roberts – I already covered him here. Check it out.  2012 Projections: 70/16/60/.258/15
15. Mike Moustakas – So at this point in the rankings I typically give the guys with upside a little bit of a boost. Moustakas and Gamel both have some great upside if they can put it together this year. Either one is worth a late round flyer if you are comfortable with how your team is looking in the other positions. 2012 Projections: 65/20/80/.275/3
16. Matt Gamel – I just covered him above. Scroll back up. Quickly before it is lost forever! Thanks! 2012 Projections: 60/20/75/.285/2
17. Danny Valencia – Danny boy should be able to provide some late round pop and RBI help, but as this tier states he is still pretty Blah.  2012 Projections: 65/14/70/.265/3
18. David Freese – Yahoo! has Freese ranked 141^st. I realize he had a great postseason, but for a guy with a long injury history and not very much pop this is pretty ridiculous. Don’t buy into postseason hype. Let one of your enemies draft him.  2012 Projections: 65/14/70/.285/2
19. Martin Prado – I was down on Prado going into last year, and he was playing pretty well until he got hurt. I flipped a cow (I’ve been hitting the gym recently) and it landed on its head, meaning that I will be down on him again going into this year. At least I think that’s what heads meant. 2012 Projections: 80/13/65/.290/4
20. Ian Stewart – Oh Ian Stewart, I just can’t quit you. For those of you in deep leagues trying to search everywhere for some late round power potential, Stewart is worth the gamble. 2012 Projections: 55/18/65/.240/7