By Carl Setterlund It?s weird this year with third basemen because this used to be a premium position. Picking third basemen was like getting a shortstop or a second basemen, a risky proposition. However, those were the days before Alex Rodriguez converted from a shortstop, before Miguel Cabrera got his third base eligibility, and before Chone Figgins, Jorge Cantu and David Wright burst onto the scene. These days getting a third baseman is more like getting a first baseman, you see how long you can wait and still get one of the elite ones, and there are plenty out there this year. All of the guys in the top 10 can produce, and will produce; it?s just a question of who edges out whom in the rankings. The only easy thing about this list was picking who comes first. 1. Alex Rodriguez ? Age: 30 ? 2005 Stats: 124 Rs/48 HRs/130 RBIs/21 SBs/.321 AVG Listen; if you?re not a Yankees fan, and there are plenty of us who aren?t, the odds are that you don?t like Alex Rodriguez. The only problem is that when it comes to fantasy baseball, Rodriguez is unquestionable the most valuable asset out there. His .321 batting average was his second best in his career, but undoubtedly he will remain over .300 this year as well. A-Rod?s power numbers are unmatched at his position making him even more valuable. On top of that, Rodriguez also regularly puts up over 120 runs and 20 steals. Usually you draft players that specialize in certain categories; however A-Rod puts up unparalleled numbers across the board making him the premier 5-category player. 2. Miguel Cabrera ? Age: 23 ? 2005 Stats: 106 Rs/33 HRs/116 RBIs/1 SB/.323 AVG At such a tender age, Cabrera is already a three year veteran and an established major league star, yet there is little question that he is still on his way up. Cabrera has the distinct disadvantage of playing in the league?s worst hitters? park, and also playing with an offense that was strip-mined over the offseason. However, working to Cabrera?s advantage is that he has enough talent to duplicate last year?s impressive batting average. Even though he will be pitched around constantly, Cabrera has such a potent bat that in my opinion, he should be able to better last year?s home run total and come close to duplicating his runs and RBI numbers. What really puts Cabrera so high is that aside from his 3B eligibility, he will also be able to play OF. While the like of David Wright may put up similar numbers, the flexibility Miguel Cabrera gives you is just too much to pass up. 3. Chone Figgins ? Age: 28 ? 2005 Stats: 113 Rs/8 HRs/57 RBIs/62 SBs/.290 AVG You can probably sense the trend that?s going on here by Figgins? ranking. While on the surface it would appear to be an outrage that he is ranked this high (over a player like David Wright), it becomes easily justifiable upon taking a closer look. Chone Figgins has eligibility to play at two ?premium? positions, those being 3B and 2B, along with being eligible to play OF as well. Not only is Figgins one of the most flexible players in baseball, he is one of the premier base stealers in the league. What makes Figgins so valuable is that he will anchor your stolen bases and allow you to focus elsewhere. Not only that but he is an elite run scoring threat while batting for a good average. Figgins? power numbers aren?t impressive but they?re also not terrible production considering what he gives you in other categories. His position flexibility and production at categories that come at a premium is what makes me believe Figgins is the third most valuable third baseman. 4. David Wright ? Age: 23 ? 2005 Stats: 99 Rs/27 HRs/102 RBIs/17 SBs/.306 AVG David Wright, much like Miguel Cabrera, is a young talented third baseman. He already has plenty of experience, and is still getting better. I like to think of him as Alex Rodriguez-lite. Wright?s a guy who?s going to hit for a .300 or better average and push 30 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Also, with the new and improved lineup in New York, Wright?s runs and RBIs should each push 110. If you are looking for a third basemen and nothing more, then right is possibly the second best option at his position, however I think it?s important to have flexibility in where you can play guys, and Wright does not provide that. Other elite performers do, and that?s why he is listed fourth. 5. Aramis Ramirez ? Age: 27 ? 2005 Stats: 72 Rs/31 HRs/92 RBIs/0 SB/.302 AVG For some reason the name Aramis Ramirez doesn?t instill in me a picture of durability. However, when looking at his past, he?s been healthy four of the last five seasons. Ramirez is hard for me to get a handle on. I feel like he could bat .310 but that he is just as capable of batting .280. One thing that is certain is that he will get you 30 home runs with the potential for even more. The thing about Aramis Ramirez is that there?s just this vibe he gives off that says he could have a season worthy of being at the bottom half of the top 10, but that he could also have a season on par with the elite performers above him. To me, Ramirez this year is going to be boom or bust (which in this case just mean decent). Sometimes you have to decide whether to play it safe or if it?s worth rolling the dice in hopes of a big return. 6. Eric Chavez ? Age: 28 ? 2005 Stats: 92 Rs/27 HRs/101 RBIs/6 SBs/.269 AVG There?s just something weird about Eric Chavez. I?ve always been a fan, and it looks like Billy Beane is too, seeing as he chose Chavez to be his offensive cornerstone. Chavez?s power numbers are right on par with the best of them at his position, yet it?s his batting average that has always left something to be desired. At 28, he?s right in the middle of his prime and with their improved offense I?d expect Chavez to equal or possibly even better his power numbers from last year. It?s never a sure thing when predicting his batting average, but I would guess that you can put Chavez down to bounce back and get over .270 once more. 7. Morgan Ensberg ? Age: 30 ? 2005 Stats: 86 Rs/36 HRs/101 RBIs/6 SBs/.283 AVG Ensberg burst out of the gate in 2005 and was one of a surprising and large group of players who exceeded expectations. Towards the end of the year his power numbers began to fade as he fell back to Earth. It?s no stretch to forecast a batting average similar to last year, but it?s hard to say the same about the rest of his numbers. Ensberg is a good player, but I?m not so sure he?s an elite power hitter like the numbers he put up last year would imply. Could he do it again? It?s certainly possible. I don?t like the odds though. Someone will fall in love with Ensberg and draft him in the top 50 base on his 2005 numbers, but don?t let that person be you. If he falls into your lap in the 60s, Ensberg could be a good risk/reward pickup. 8. Jorge Cantu ? Age: 24 ? 2005 Stats: 73 Rs/28 HRs/117 RBIs/1 SB/.286 AVG If there?s anything I?ve learned in watching baseball these last 10 years, it?s that always have to be a skeptic when it comes to Devil Rays. Those are some very impressive numbers that Cantu put up in just his first full season. How in the world did he drive in 117 RBIs? There doesn?t seem to be a reason why Cantu wouldn?t again bat around .286, but I can guarantee that his RBI total will drop down and hover around 100, which is still quite notable. Cantu also has second base eligibility which is an added bonus. However, I think Jorge still has to come back and do great again this year before he can be called dependable. The lack of a long resume is what hurts Cantu, but again if you?re willing to roll the dice for a better shot at winning, Cantu could be a nice pickup. 9. Scott Rolen ? Age: 30 ? 2005 Stats: 28 Rs/5 HRs/28 RBIs/1 SB/.235 AVG Since the late 1990s Scott Rolen has been the gold standard at third base. Working alongside Rolen to keep the position afloat was Atlanta?s Chipper Jones, but Jones never carried the same type of consistency as Rolen. Last year was a major surprise, and don?t expect it to happen again. Scott had to get injured once in ten years, and you were out of luck if you drafted him high last year. Just remember, at only thirty years old Rolen is no where near the end of his prime years. In 2004 Rolen put up some outstanding production posting 109 Rs/34 HRs/124 RBIs/4 SB/.314 AVG which isn?t something I expect him to duplicate this year, but it just reminds you of what type of potential he has. Rolen, like a couple others on this list is a boom or bust type pick, meaning that he could easily produce like a top three or four third baseman. However I think it?s more likely that he replicates his 2003 numbers when he posted 98 Rs/28 HRs/104 RBIs/.286 AVG. Rolen could slip in some drafts because of last year, but keep your eye on him. 10. Hank Blalock ? Age: 25 ? 2005 Stats: 80 Rs/25 HRs/92 RBIs/1 SB/.263 AVG At just 25 years old Blalock has already established himself as a regular on almost every person?s third basemen top 10 list. Over his three full seasons we?ve seen a couple of trends arise with the Rangers? third baseman. Let?s get the bad out of the way first. From 2003 to 2005, Blalock?s batting average has gone from .300 to .276 to .263. If there?s one good thing about that it?s that Blalock is capable of hitting .300. He should stop this alarming trend this year and bounce back to his .276 average from 2004. Now here are the more comforting trends: Blalock has scored 80 runs, hit 25 home runs and knocked in 90 RBIs in each of the last three years. Playing in hitter friendly Arlington, he should be able to keep his numbers at that level this year making Blalock a nice option at third base in any league. 11. Melvin Mora 12. Troy Glaus 13. Chipper Jones 14. Adrian Beltre 15. Shea Hillenbrand 16. Garrett Atkins 17. Mike Lowell 18. Bill Hall 19. Pedro Feliz 20. Brandon Inge Sleepers and Keepers: Sleeper Material: Out of the guys out there, it?s going to be hard to find a sleeper at third base due to the prominence the position has gained. Chone Figgins could be a sleeper in that his value is often still underappreciated, but put out of some people?s top five. His flexibility is unmatched and he would be a steal anywhere past 30 (the bottom half of the third round). I?ve seen Scott Rolen almost slip out of the top 100 in two leagues so far, so he?s definitely being forgotten (I nabbed him in one of those two leagues). If anyone from the top 12 slips out of the top 100 you should strongly consider picking them regardless of need, just because the guys project to produce significant stats this year and will make great value picks. Keeper Material: As if the position wasn?t already strong enough, there are plenty of future star third basemen available as well. Of course, guys like Miguel Cabrera, David Wright, Jorge Cantu and Hank Blalock make great keepers but there are others as well. Both Edwin Encarnacion (Cincinnati Reds) and Ryan Zimmerman (Washington Nationals) are emerging out of the national league as future all-star candidates. Encarnacion provides more power potential and plays in a hitter friendly ballpark while Zimmerman (along with playing Gold Glove defense) should be a force in the batting average department along with decent stats elsewhere around the board. In Cleveland Andy Marte should also get a shot this year, and while he might not be as major league ready as the other two, he has just as much potential to put up major stats. What was once known as one of the most difficult positions to get production from now has a surplus of stars to go along with others who quite serviceable. When preparing for your draft, whether are standard league, a keeper league or et cetera, keep in mind that this position goes more than 15 deep with usable players (with three more future stars on the way!). In all likelihood you will have options all through your draft (and beyond) when it comes to the third base position so keep your eyes open and pick your guys carefully. Good luck and good drafting everyone.