2009 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Third Basemen

By Kevin Kleps, Fantasy Correspondent

The top 20 fantasy baseball third basemen for the 2009 season, with 2008 statistics in parentheses):

1. David Wright, Mets (115 runs, 33 HR, 124 RBI, 15 SB, .302 AVG)
2. Evan Longoria, Rays (67 runs, 27 HR, 85 RBI, 7 SB, .272 AVG)
3. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees (104 runs, 35 HR, 103 RBI, 18 SB, .302 AVG - for more on where A-Rod should be picked, see this related story).
4. Aramis Ramirez, Cubs (97 runs, 27 HR, 111 RBI, 2 SB, .289 AVG)
5. Garrett Atkins, Rockies (86 runs, 21 HR, 99 RBI, 1 SB, .286 AVG)
6. Chipper Jones, Braves (82 runs, 22 HR, 75 RBI, 4 SB, .364 AVG)
7. Michael Young, Rangers (102 runs, 12 HR, 82 RBI, 10 SB, .284 AVG)
8. Adrian Beltre, Mariners (74 runs, 25 HR, 77 RBI, 8 SB, .266 AVG)
9. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals (51 runs, 14 HR, 51 RBI, 1 SB, .283 AVG)
10. Chone Figgins, Angels (72 runs, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 34 SB, .276 AVG)
11. Mark DeRosa, Indians (103 runs, 21 HR, 87 RBI, 6 SB, .285 AVG)
12. Melvin Mora, Orioles (77 runs, 23 HR, 104 RBI, 3 SB, .285 AVG)
13. Jorge Cantu, Marlins (92 runs, 29 HR, 95 RBI, 6 SB, .277 AVG)
14. Mark Reynolds, Diamondbacks (87 runs, 28 HR, 97 RBI, 11 SB, .239 AVG)
15. Edwin Encarnacion, Reds (75 runs, 26 HR, 68 RBI, 1 SB, .251 AVG)
16. Alex Gordon, Royals (72 runs, 16 HR, 59 RBI, 9 SB, .260 AVG)
17. Mike Lowell, Red Sox (58 runs, 17 HR, 73 RBI, 2 SB, .274 AVG)
18. Kevin Kouzmanoff, Padres (71 runs, 23 HR, 84 RBI, 0 SB, .260 AVG)
19. Casey Blake, Dodgers (71 runs, 21 HR, 81 RBI, 3 SB, .274 AVG)
20. Bill Hall, Brewers (50 runs, 15 HR, 55 RBI, 5 SB, .225 AVG)

Short hops

Rodriguez drops from the top spot because of the uncertainty of his injured hip. He will be a draft-day dilemma: Do you pass on a guaranteed 35 homers and 100 RBI if he is mostly healthy, and back from surgery by early May? ... Wright’s numbers are very comparable to A-Rod, and that’s following a season in which Wright’s batting average dipped 23 points. ... Atkins gets the nod over the Braves’ Jones strictly because of the latter’s habit of getting hurt. Jones has batted .324, .337 and .364 the last three years. ... Young, a career .300 hitter, makes the move to third, but don’t overlook his power drop the last three seasons (35 total home runs). ... Figgins is always overrated because he steals bases, but he slipped to 34 in that category last season and he provided zero pop. ... Zimmerman drove in a combined 201 runs in 2006 and 2007. ... The versatile DeRosa can also play second base and the outfield. ... Strikeout alert: Reynolds whiffed a ridiculous 204 times in 539 at-bats last season. ... Cantu and Lowell, who was great in 2007, can provide late value. ... Two to remember: The Cardinals’ Troy Glaus (27 homers and 99 RBI last season) is expected to miss at least the first month of the season because of a shoulder injury. The Giants’ Pedro Sandoval batted .345 with three homers and 24 RBI in 145 at-bats as a rookie last season.