Top 10 Sleeper Third Basemen

I believe Gordon will be more likely to get your potential starting position at third base, because of the depth present at first base this year. This young kid is getting things started early this year reporting to spring training early with the pitchers and catchers. Last year he was supposed to shock everyone and become the rookie of the year but with his numbers of a .247 BA, 60 RBI's and runs he did not meet expectations. However he began with a slow start when he was called up and was on fire the last three months of the season. This kid will exceed the expectations set out for him this year and will even contribute with stolen bases, having 14 last year.

There is some bad news for this kid to begin the season as the White Sox do not know where to put him with Crede coming back off of a back injury last year. However like me this should not scare you as Fields will continue to show the power he had last year throughout this year. Hitting 23 home runs as a rookie in only 373 at bats is good news for people wanting to draft a third basemen later in the draft. Although his strikeouts and average are a little off pace (125 and .244 respectively) there is no need to have concern because they will certainly be better this year. Fields should be either drafted late in leagues or picked up very quickly afterwards.

Blalock will be an excellent pick in any league. Although he has some injury risk I do not believe that this will affect his 2008 campaign to become a three-time all-star. It would not surprise me at all if Blalock were to reach .300-30-100-100 (average-hr-RBI's-Runs) this season. Hank was sidelined most of the season last year with a rib injury that he has done a considerable amount of rehabilitation on and claims to be back to 100% this is a good sign for fantasy owners because he should be a starting third basemen in many leagues after the beginning of the season.

If Yunel is 3b eligible in your league then he will be one player you do not want to overlook. With a great breakthrough into the big leagues in 2007 Escobar batted .326 with 54 runs in only 319 at bats. He has the potential to bat well over .300 and accumulate more than 100 runs for you in the next season as a regular player. The upside to Yunel, like his potential as a run scorer was not enough, is that he has the frame and swing to be a home run hitter. This kid will be a starter in all leagues it just depends what position he will be eligible for.

Glaus is coming of an injury year but with only 380 at bats he was still able to accumulate 20 home runs. This proves he is capable of putting up the big numbers, as he put up 38 and 37 home runs the previous two years. Troy is going to settle in nicely behind Albert Pujols and Chris Duncan and should be able to get 100+ RBI's if he is healthy. I would feel comfortable drafting Glaus late in the draft but would not recommend it because of his injury risk.

Reynolds is another young stud that has the power to produce a 30+ home run season and could actually do that. He was able to hit 17 homers in 350 games and batting cleanup in a much improving Diamondbacks lineup should be able to give him the RBI's necessary to validate him being your starting third basemen, although I would not put him in that position early in the season. Mark needs time to develop after striking out 129 times and should be ready to start if need be after the all-star break.