Third base has quietly become one of the trickiest spots in fantasy baseball. That was the recurring theme on the latest FantasyPros MLB podcast, where Joey P, Joe Orrico, and the Welsh walked through the 2026 third base draft pool, highlighting must-haves, fades, and late values worth targeting.
The consensus takeaway was clear. This is not a position you can ignore. Miss on the early tiers and you’re immediately dealing with playing time questions, volatile profiles, or players whose name value outweighs their current skill set.
- Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings
- Fantasy Baseball Research & Advice
- Fantasy Baseball Average Draft Position (ADP)
- Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft Simulator
Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide: Third Base
Here’s how the discussion broke down and how you should be approaching third base in 2026 fantasy baseball drafts.
The Elite Tier: Jose Ramirez Still Stands Alone
There was no debate at the top. Jose Ramirez remains the clear-cut number one option at the position. He provides elite power, speed, and batting average at a corner spot, which is increasingly rare.
Behind him sits Junior Caminero, a player who sparked the most disagreement on the show. Caminero’s power output last season was real, but concerns remain about park factors, lineup context, and a still-limited MLB track record. Joe Orrico labeled him more of a second-round value than a true first-round anchor, while the Welsh pushed back, pointing to elite batted-ball skills and low strikeout rates.
The middle of this tier also includes Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Manny Machado, both of whom are known quantities. Solid floors, but fewer league-winning paths compared to Ramirez or Caminero.
Austin Riley vs. Maikel Garcia: Power or Balance?
The most practical debate centered on Austin Riley versus Maikel Garcia.
Riley offers the classic power profile. Thirty-plus home runs are firmly in his range when healthy, and the Braves’ lineup still gives him strong run and RBI potential. The concern is volatility. Injuries and uneven production have crept in over the last two seasons.
Garcia, on the other hand, is a roster-construction weapon. He contributes across four categories with stolen bases, batting average, and enough power to avoid being a drain. The Welsh strongly favored Garcia at cost, especially in leagues where stolen bases are harder to find.
The conclusion was roster-dependent. If you need power, Riley makes sense. If you want balance and flexibility, Garcia is one of the best values at the position.
The Back Half of the Top 12: Target the Park, Not the Name
This is where strategy really matters.
Eugenio Suarez was the clear favorite. Moving back to Cincinnati puts him in one of the best power environments in baseball, and the Reds’ lineup should give him ample RBI chances. A .240 average won’t help, but 40-plus home runs absolutely can.
Matt Chapman was highlighted as a “boring but winning” option. He doesn’t excite draft rooms, but steady power, improving plate discipline, and a stable role make him a strong fallback if you miss the elite names.
Conversely, Alex Bregman was called out as a potential bust. The power decline is real, and moving to a park that suppresses right-handed power raises real concerns about his return on investment.
The Risk Tier: Playing Time Traps Everywhere
Once you get outside the top 12, red flags pile up fast.
Mark Vientos was the most criticized player on the show. He lacks a clear everyday role, doesn’t steal bases, and comes with contact issues. Without guaranteed playing time, his ranking simply doesn’t make sense.
Matt Shaw fell into a similar bucket. With Bregman entrenched, Shaw looks like a depth piece rather than a draftable starter.
Alec Bohm was a unanimous fade. Declining power, poor batted-ball trends, and long-term job insecurity make him an easy pass.
Sleepers and Must-Haves: Where the Value Lives
Joe Orrico’s favorite sleeper was Addison Barger. He brings legitimate power, multi-position eligibility, and a path to a premium lineup spot at a price that hasn’t caught up yet.
The Welsh went deeper, flagging Brooks Lee as a breakout candidate. The surface stats don’t pop, but steady improvements in contact quality and launch angle point to a possible jump.
The biggest must-have might surprise people. Max Muncy was labeled an extreme value. Post-vision correction, his power metrics spiked, and hitting in the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup creates massive RBI upside at a near-zero draft cost.
Fantasy Baseball Takeaways
- Jose Ramirez is still the gold standard at third base.
- Junior Caminero is elite, but price sensitivity matters in the first round.
- Maikel Garcia offers rare category balance at a thin position.
- Eugenio Suarez is the best power target outside the top tier.
- Matt Chapman is undervalued stability if you miss early.
- Alex Bregman is a name to fade at current cost.
- Avoid third basemen without guaranteed playing time.
- Addison Barger and Brooks Lee are strong late-round upside plays.
- Max Muncy is one of the best values in all of fantasy drafts.
At third base, waiting too long almost always backfires.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | SoundCloud | TuneIn