Unlike other spots around the diamond, I’m not expecting to see any further change in the East between now and Opening Day. So how do the National League East Third Basemen rank? Let’s take a look and let the debate begin…
1. David Wright (Mets) – This one may very well be a homer call given who’s occupying the number two spot, but I’m still calling David Wright the top dog at third base in the East. David is certainly not the same player he was from 2006-2008 and he’s coming off the worst season of his career in which a bum shoulder limited him to a .269 batting average with only 8 HR and no knocks after the All-Star break. I’m chalking up the season to injury and pointing out pre-All-Star numbers of .284 with 8 HR and 48 RBI with 24 RBI and 101 hits in 88 games. These numbers would have been solid over a full unmarred season. While the Captain isn’t a spring chicken anymore and is entering his age 32 season, I’m not counting him out yet. He has 1,702 career hits and I fully expect him to return to his usual high level of production and collect the remaining 1,298 hits to reach the 3,000 mark and place him in Cooperstown. There, I said it.
2. Anthony Rendon (Nationals) – Rendon was the 6th overall pick in the 2011 draft and had a breakout 2014 season for the Nationals during which he hit .287 with 21 HR, 83 RBI, 39 doubles, and led the league with 111 runs scored. Rendon was 5th in MVP balloting and won his first Silver Slugger. I’m tempted to put Rendon at number one, but I won’t just yet… However another season like 2014 and unless Wright returns to prior form, by the All Star break this exciting young player may very well be the clear top third baseman in the division and perhaps the league.
3. Martin Prado (Marlins) – The Marlins acquired the versatile Prado from the Yankees on December 19th. Currently listed as the top third baseman on the Marlins depth chart, Prado has started 878 games in the majors with 347 starts at the hot corner, more than any other position. Over the last six seasons, Prado has averaged 142 games played while batting .290 with 35 doubles, 12 HR, 64 RBI and 74 runs scored. Nothing wrong with that.
4. Chris Johnson (Braves) – Johnson was acquired from the Diamondbacks prior to the 2013 season to replace the retiring Chipper Jones. He rewarded the Braves with a solid season in which he hit .321 with 34 doubles and 12 HR while making 123 starts at third and another 10 starts at first base. The Braves in turn rewarded Johnson with a three-year contract extention worth $23.5 million with a $10 million team option for 2018. However Johnson regressed in 2014, hitting just .263 with 10 HR and 58 RBI with 27 doubles and 159 strikeouts while making 149 starts at third. Over the last four seasons, the 30 year old has averaged 134 games played while posting a slash line of .280/.318/.412 with 28 doubles, 11 HR, and 61 RBI. He’s not spectacular, but he’s solid and as his 2013 season showed, he has the ability to put up some good numbers in an otherwise offensively challenged lineup in Atlanta.
5. Cody Asche (Phillies) – Asche is entering his second full MLB season and has been the starter at the hot corner in Philadelphia since debuting in July 2013, displacing Michael Young who was later traded to the Dodgers. The 24 year old former 4th rounder started 105 games at third base in 2014 with a slash line of .252/.309/.390 with 10 HR and 46 RBI while striking out 102 times in 397 at bats. He only made 18 of his starts against lefties, but didn’t show a significant drop-off against them, slashing at a .240/.296/.373 clip against southpaws. Asche does have some upside potential after hitting .324 with 12 HR and 72 RBI in the minors in 2012 and hit .295 with 15 HR and 68 RBI at AAA in 2013 before getting the call to the majors. 2015 is a big year for Asche and he’ll get ever opportunity to show if he’s a long term solution.
