MLBTR’s positional look at the upcoming free agent class continues with the hot corner. Last month, there looked to be a clear top two. The Matt Chapman extension leaves one player well above the rest. Teams that aren’t interested in dropping nine figures on the position may need to turn to the trade or non-tender markets for help.
Player ages are for the 2025 season. Stats are through play on September 22. Only players who have appeared in the majors this year are included.
Top of the Class
- Alex Bregman (31)
Bregman stands head and shoulders above the rest of the third base class. He’s arguably the #2 position player available (albeit way behind Juan Soto). The two-time All-Star has overcome a frigid start to run a .257/.313/.435 slash with 25 homers over 619 plate appearances. That includes a robust .266/.320/.479 line in more than 500 trips since the start of May. Bregman’s walk rate has fallen off sharply, but he’s still an excellent contact hitter with 20-30 homer pop who plays strong defense.
The Astros will make a qualifying offer, which he’ll decline. Houston GM Dana Brown has indicated the team will stay in touch with Bregman’s camp at the Boras Corporation. It’ll be tough to get a deal done. The Astros’ franchise-record contract was the five-year, $151MM extension in 2018 for Jose Altuve. That’s also the amount which the Giants paid (albeit over six years) to extend Chapman a few weeks ago. Bregman is a year younger and a more consistent offensive performer than Chapman is. That feels like the floor, and he’ll probably look for something nearer to or exceeding $200MM over seven-plus years.
Utility Types/Bench Bats
- Paul DeJong (31)
A career-long middle infielder, DeJong had never played third base before this season. He has logged more than 300 innings over 36 starts at the hot corner. Most of that has come since a deadline deal to the Royals in deference to Bobby Witt Jr. Public defensive metrics have rated him well in that tiny sample, little surprise for a player who has been a reliable defensive shortstop throughout his career. DeJong strikes out a ton and doesn’t get on base consistently. He’s hitting .230 with a .277 on-base percentage this year and has a .269 OBP in more than 1500 plate appearances since the start of 2021. That won’t cut it as an everyday player, but he’s just one home run shy of the third 25-homer season of his career. The righty power and ability to defend throughout the infield play well in a utility role.
- Brandon Drury (32)
Drury topped 25 home runs in both 2022 and ’23. He looked like one of the better power-hitting infielders in the game entering this season. This year has been a disaster. He’s hitting .167/.242/.230 with all of four longballs over 92 games. Drury’s hard contact rate has plummeted and his power completely evaporated. He can play any infield spot aside from shortstop but isn’t a great defender. The disappointing walk year might put him in minor league deal territory.
- Kyle Farmer (34)
Farmer is a righty-hitting utilityman who has provided roughly league average offense in four straight seasons. This year’s .229/.308/.378 slash with five homers is a little below his typical standard, though that’s weighed down heavily by a terrible start. Farmer has a strong .286/.346/.473 career slash against left-handed pitching compared to a .236/.296/.357 mark without the platoon advantage. He has graded as a solid if unexceptional defender throughout his career, though that could drop off as he enters his age-34 season. Farmer’s deal with Minnesota contains a $6.25MM mutual option or a $250K buyout; the team is likely to decline its end.
- Enrique Hernández (33)
Hernández has made a career off his defensive flexibility, clubhouse reputation and double-digit home run power. The Dodgers have used him most frequently at third base this season. Hernández entered the season with a little more than 250 MLB innings at the position. He has played 529 frames over 60 starts there in 2024. The right-handed hitter has a very poor average (.219) and on-base percentage (.272), but he’s got 11 homers in 373 plate appearances.
- Jose Iglesias (35)
Iglesias spent all of 2023 in Triple-A. The former All-Star shortstop has had a resurgent return to the majors with the Mets since being called up at the end of May. Iglesias is hitting .337/.381/.459 over 265 plate appearances while splitting most of his time between second and third base. That huge offensive output is buoyed by a .380 average on balls in play that he’s unlikely to maintain over a larger sample. That said, he remains one of the more gifted pure contact hitters. He’s still a strong defender — he’d have gotten more opportunity at shortstop if not for Francisco Lindor — and has been a spark plug for the Mets’ clubhouse as part of their second half playoff push. He has certainly earned himself a major league deal during this trip to free agency.
- Amed Rosario (29)
Rosario has moved from an everyday shortstop role into a utility capacity. He was hitting .307/.331/.417 in 76 games with the Rays through the trade deadline. Tampa Bay flipped him to the Dodgers and things have gone downhill. Los Angeles surprisingly moved on from Rosario after just five games. He landed with the Reds on a waiver claim. In 21 games with Cincinnati, Rosario is hitting .161 with 23 strikeouts and just one walk over 58 plate appearances. His season batting line — .281/.307/.381 with three homers across 345 PAs — is now league average. Rosario has exactly 100 innings of third base work in his first season with MLB action at the hot corner. As is the case in the middle infield, he hasn’t graded highly in that minuscule sample.
- Donovan Solano (37)
Late-career Solano just hits. The righty-swinging infielder has been an average or better hitter in six straight seasons. Solano has carried that over in stints between the Giants, Reds, Twins and Padres. He’s sporting a .287/.342/.414 slash with seven homers through 292 plate appearances for San Diego this season. The market doesn’t value Solano’s skillset highly — he had to settle for a minor league deal last offseason — but he’s a nice player to have in a bat-first role off the bench. He has started 28 games and played more than 250 innings at the hot corner for San Diego.
- Gio Urshela (33)
Urshela was a productive everyday player for the Yankees for a few seasons. He didn’t hit for much power with the Angels last year and hasn’t made an offensive impact between the Tigers and Braves this season. He’s hitting .251/.287/.358 in a little more than 400 plate appearances. Urshela has been better with Atlanta than he was in Detroit. He should land a big league deal but is probably better suited for a utility role than everyday third base work as he enters his age-33 season.
Depth Players
- Brian Anderson (32)
A former regular with the Marlins, Anderson only had five plate appearances in three MLB games with Atlanta this year. He hit .237/.326/.365 through 84 contests in Triple-A.
- J.D. Davis (32)
Davis is in Triple-A with the Orioles, his fourth organization of the year. After being cut loose by the Giants in a late spring cost-saving move, he has slumped to a career-worst .218/.293/.338 line between the A’s and Yankees. Davis hasn’t hit at all in the minors either, striking out at a 44.5% clip while batting .147 in 30 games. He was a solid regular for San Francisco just last season and should be able to find a minor league deal somewhere.
- Jace Peterson (35)
Peterson started the season 1-22 with the Diamondbacks. He was released in April and has been a free agent for months. The lefty hitter turned in a .211/.304/.307 slash between the A’s and D-Backs a year ago.
- Miguel Sanó (32)
Sanó was out of baseball in 2023 but returned on a minor league deal with the Angels last winter. He broke camp and appeared in 28 games, hitting .205 with two homers and a 37.9% strikeout rate in 95 plate appearances. The Halos released him around the All-Star Break.
- Nick Senzel (29)
The rebuilding Nationals and White Sox both took shots on Senzel. The former #2 overall draft pick continued to struggle, though, combining for a .195/.283/.331 slash across 267 plate appearances. Senzel is at 450+ games and more than 1600 plate appearances with production below replacement level in his career. He’s firmly in minor league deal territory.
Club Options
- Yoán Moncada (30)
The White Sox are going to buy Moncada out for $5MM. He’ll be a free agent for the first time in his career. The switch-hitting infielder looked like he was making good on the immense prospect hype when he hit .315/.367/.548 and garnered down ballot MVP votes in 2019. His production dipped during the shortened season, rebounded with a strong ’21 campaign, and has fallen off sharply since then. Moncada combined for a .234/.288/.386 slash from 2022-23. He lost most of this season to an adductor strain and has been limited to a bench role with the Sox looking toward the future. Moncada only has 12 appearances on the season.
- Eugenio Suárez (33)
Suárez’s deal contains a $15MM option or a $2MM buyout. Three months ago, it looked like a lock to be bought out. Suárez was striking out at a near-30% clip and hitting .196/.279/.312 through the end of June. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo briefly planned to turn third base over to rookie Blaze Alexander and the D-Backs reportedly considered trading the veteran in what would’ve amounted to a salary dump.
They’re certainly glad they didn’t. Suárez has hit 23 home runs since July 1, tied with Brent Rooker for third in the majors behind Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. The veteran infielder is hitting .319/.362/.637 with an improved 24.9% strikeout rate over his past 301 plate appearances. Since the start of July, Suárez is 10th among qualified hitters in wRC+ and fifth in FanGraphs WAR — trailing only Witt, Judge, Lindor and Ohtani. The D-Backs presumably don’t expect him to continue playing like an MVP, but three months of elite play should make the option a relatively easy call to exercise. Even if the Diamondbacks are concerned about regression and/or want to turn third base over to prospect Jordan Lawlar next season, Suárez’s excellent run should give him surplus trade value on a $15MM salary.
Previous installments: catcher, first base, second base
I can.not.understand why guys like Solano and Iglesias are.so under appreciated and under paid. It is amazing.
They’re below average bats with average defense. They also aren’t teams’ first or second choice in free agency. With that said, every team could use guys like them on their bench.
Jose has struggled until this year but Donnie Barrels has hit above league average by WRC + for years now
Solano is a notably better hitter against lefties, not terrible against righties this year but noticeably better short side. When you factor in that he doesn’t bring much of any glove or baserunning/speed value and his age it doesn’t really add up to a player teams are gonna view as a guy to bet significant money on as a regular or a significant lineup upgrade. He’ll get work this offseason but probably in a similar role to the one he’s been filling in recent years.
Below average bats? Come on…
Jose Iglesias has a career WRC+ of 90.
He is 10% below average, even with this crazy 2024.
His three seasons prior feature WRC+ values of 87, 89, and nothing, because he didn’t play in MLB.
However, he does play at least average defense at three positions no matter how you look at or measure it.
Would you rather have a below average bat that hits .300 or a below average bat that hits .200? I know it doesn’t matter if they have the same wrc+ but most teams would rather have elite contact instead of elite walks or slightly above average power
I don’t know how you can say “most teams would rather have elite contact” when precisely zero teams wanted it in 2023.
I do like the guy and 100% love this run he’s on now. I just don’t think he reproduces anything close to 2024 again. He’s a great handsy defender with meh range.
The name of the game is the three true outcomes. If you can’t hit the long ball or draw walks today you’re going to be undervalued in today’s game.
Exactly my thoughts about Iglesias. He was great with the Angels and they dumped him. He moved around a bit and ended up with the Mets where he shines. Reflecting on the Angels, too many good players languish there and if they can get out (like Brandon Marsh did with the Phillies) they do well. I think about how well players like Rengifo, Adell and Neto would do with the right opportunity. I used to like the Angels but there’s cancer within that franchise.
Metrics-wise, Iglesias is a decent defender and a no-walks contact hitter.
Baseball-wise, Iglesias is a very good, solid defender who makes good contact when needed. People need to start de-valuing walks as only the great hitters or great base stealers bring value to walks.
You can teach plate discipline, you can teach launch angles, you can’t teach skill
That list is pretty rough. Teams who desperate to spend money can call the Cardinals about Nolan Arenado.
Besides Bergman see comment in 2nd base FA class. Ahahaha!
Bergman. Hahah
Alex Bergman formally from Jerusalem
“Pretty rough” is too kind. It will be a trade market, not a FA market.
The Os will be dangling Ramon Urias. Younger and better than anyone except Bregman. He’ll be available and the return should be solid. Could easily be a solid young pitcher.
Urias isn’t starter caliber so he is probably a little lower than Paul dejong who might get a starting gig since he has done good in KC
Rough list..I’m willing to bet that Bregman contract will not age well
Could be wrong, but I don’t think he’s getting 200M. Just won’t age well at all, as he’s already showing decline.
It won’t age well but maybe the first year or 2 will be worth it
It would be a huge win if a team got him for 5-6 years instead of 7-8 not counting opt outs
It’s not decline. His early career was trash can inflation
Please explain how one year of sign stealing helped his fielding metrics at 3rd base.
grim list
Drury is barely a 3rd baseman. He played zero games at 3rd last year and 16 this year? I’d say he wasn’t exactly a bust signing by Minasian but in the end it’s a zero sum WAR. Definitely wasn’t a difference maker. He played 125 games last year. Barely this year. Another boat passing through we barely knew.
The last several years and now today “the year would’ve been different had Rendon been healthy”. Oh please. You can’t win with a 3rd baseman (and 1st) who can’t hit for power. But they will ride his contract out no matter what. It’s policy not to buy a player out until the last half season of their final year and then they get a sweet fat deal to become team consultant.
Someone’s going to say something about this but bregman in my opinion is (really) overrated for this free agency
Probably because of the bad market this year and he’s a good guy in the clubhouse but come on, a 750-800 ops bat (at Minute Maid!) with average defense potentially getting 200 million is bad, it’s not like MVP caliber 2019 bregman is coming back
Bregman has graded average to above average on defense every season of his career. It doesn’t matter what you nor I think about his worth. It’s what a team is willing to pay for his services given that it’s a thin third base market. Supply and demand. He’s going to top Chapman’s deal.
Or Bergman ends up signing for a good deal less than Chapman got. A robust 799 OPS since May doesn’t scream pay me 200m.
Chapman did good signing with a team that has struck out on big bats the past 5 offseasons. I don’t think he would have gotten 151m from another team this off season that is for damn sure.
They struck out on Correa due to his medicals who was ready to sign. Judge leveraged the Giants to get his Yankee deal and captaincy. Seiya Suzuki and Kodai Senga, sure. But they did get Jung Hoo Lee.
I don’t think “but they got Jung Hoo Lee” for $113 million can be considered a flex right now. Hopefully he can come back healthy and make right, but he didn’t exactly light the world on fire in the month-plus he did play.
I think the ballpark or division ballparks might be a factor for Bregman’s market. He hits a lot of fly balls for a contact hitter who doesn’t hit the ball hard so HR expectancy might swing the projections a lot. He already seems to be in one of the best places for that.
It’s concerning that his plate discipline changed but is still really good and it really changed the output. Bregman’s value has been his on base ability. A Bregman who stopped walking and who has never had great results on balls in play getting $200m starting at age 31 doesn’t feel like a sure thing.
I have always thought he’d age well because he doesn’t rely on the tools as much as an elite plate approach to make the most of his abilities. So I’d ask whether the changes in his approach were his own (or the team’s) conscious decision or whether it was brought about by how the league was attacking him. How much control does a pitcher have to influence his swing decisions?
If he leaves Houston he will not hit 20 homers again, he’s a small guy who relies on pulling to the Crawford boxes
He still will have that plate discipline but he might just hit more doubles instead
On hitting doubles, it’s hard to buy hits of any kind on fly balls that don’t leave the yard. He doesn’t hit line drives at a great rate. Lots of fly balls which is probably why his BABIP is so low. That’s a lot of warning track outs more than doubles in a less favourable HR park for him I think.
I don’t see the Chapman deal (extension) being the floor for him with the type of concerns this season raises. I think last year’s Chapman or Bellinger deals are the type of contracts that are possibilities for him. There are similarities between those guys in some ways.
With better certainty regarding RSNs and not having Ohtani and Yamamoto in the market, I’m a bit more optimistic about top free agent contracts being robust. With that said, I don’t want the Yankees to sign Bregman even though there is a need at 2B or 3B.
Sounds like the Yankees and Bregman is a fit.
Yanks need to pay Soto first bregman could be a consolation prize
Weak third baseman class this off-season…The only one that would excite me to get is Alex Bregman. Man I’m going to give a youngster a shot instead of signing the rest unless it’s to backup the youngster.
Miguel Sano fell off so fast.
Sano was fun those tape measure home runs sounded different
I’m forecasting a slow free agency this offseason with a higher chance of trades.
Trades are so much more fun. I hope you’re right.
I’d gladly take a flier on Moncada. Third base is open here a lot and second base needs depth.
Mike Moustakas is a free agent. Not sure if he has retired. He had a lot of good years as a power hitting third baseman.
The Brewers likely will be looking for a one-year power-hitting plug at third base. Could be a reunion with Moose.
The market for Bregman will be very thin. How many teams will budget close to $30m for multiple years for a 3B? It almost has to be a big market team with a 3B hole. Maybe the Yankees. That’s about it.
Non zero chance his market collapses and he gets half of the projection.
@Atloriolesfan
Never underestimate the Angels taking on another bad contract. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Angels sign him to play 3B and move Rendon to DH so he can stay healthy.
Not sue why Suarez is a depth piece. Three years of 3.1 bWAR, and doesn’t miss many games. The option should be automatic.
And Lawler doesn’t look ready.
If your page displays like mine, the heading is obscured by the ads or displays before it so it’s easy to miss. He’s actually under the club option category. I’ve been confused a couple of times in these articles by the funny placing of the category headings.
Most over 31 years old — They’re bodies are tired and now wearing out…. do not pay for them
If NYY doesn’t bring Soto back I see them pivoting to Bregman, but they won’t sign both of them. With CHC trading for Paredes, they won’t pursue him, and I really don’t know where he lands. Maybe Tigers?