On to 2024: Ranking each 3B free agency fit for Boston Red Sox
While the position is locked down by Rafael Devers, depth is paramount for teams contending for a World Series.
If there was one position on the Boston Red Sox I’d look at and say, “They don’t need to sign a soul that plays that position,” it would be third base.
Rafael Devers’ extension kicks in next season and the 27-year-old recently finished his fourth straight full season of at least three fWAR.
While there are plenty of questions about Devers’ ability to stick defensively at third base, I think he’s done enough to hold down the position until, at the very least, the end of Trevor Story’s contract (likely 2027).
That said, the team definitely has a need for defense on the infield so, while moving Devers off third feels unlikely, it’s a non-zero chance it happens.
Moving on, the market for third basemen is stronger than that for middle infielders and, while not a position of major need, it’s certainly worthwhile for the organization to exhaust every avenue to improve.
This is a continuation of a series of free-agency fits for the Red Sox. This is not a free agency power ranking, there will be inferior players ranking higher up on the list than potentially All-Stars.
So, without further, let’s begin.
1. Matt Chapman — Toronto Blue Jays
2023: .240/.330/.424 with 17 home runs and a 110 wRC+ in 140 games
Defensively, he is the cremé of the crop.
Chapman is also the leader among free-agent third basemen in 2023 fWAR at 3.5 and has a swing that generates a ton of hard contact on top of that.
While he isn’t a great hitter, him alongside Story would make for arguably the best defensive left side of the infield in the sport — which should be enticing even if Boston doesn’t sign him.
2. Josh Donaldson — Milwaukee Brewers
2023: .152/.249/.418 with 13 home runs and a 78 wRC+ in 51 games
The Red Sox need power badly and, regardless of the apparent regression of Donaldson, he provides that more than any of the free agents on this list.
Defensively, he’s still up to snuff as well, he just had his worst BABIP season ever — .115.
Could he be nothing more than an all-or-nothing hitter at this point? Absolutely. But I do think he could provide some defensive stability at third and definitely could serve as the designated hitter otherwise.
3. Brian Anderson — Milwaukee Brewers
2023: .226/.310/.368 with nine home runs and an 85 wRC+ in 96 games
Anderson has consistently declined offensively based on sheer raw production since 2020, but defensively he still offers versatility and positive production at each spot.
His positional versatility is the real point of attraction for Anderson as a free agent even though his offense hasn’t been up to snuff in recent years.
4. Jeimer Candelario — Chicago Cubs
2023: .251/.336/.471 with 22 home runs and a 117 wRC+ in 140 games
Based on the 2023 season, Candelario should be ranked either No. 1 or 2 behind Chapman.
After struggling in his final season with the Tigers in 2022, the switch-hitting third baseman came back with a bang between the Nationals and Cubs this past season.
While his numbers weren’t spectacular in Chicago, he still posted the third-best wRC+ of his career and career-highs in homers and runs batted in.
The reason he falls to No. 4 behind the likes of Donaldson and Anderson is because his defense is spotty and he doesn’t offer the kind of versatility that somebody like Anderson provides.
Mixed with what his next contract likely will be, it just doesn’t make a ton of sense for the Red Sox.
5. Joey Wendle — Miami Marlins
2023: .212/.248/.306 with two home runs and a 47 wRC+ in 112 games
Wendle’s offense took a nosedive with the Marlins after he made the All-Star team in his final season as a Ray (2021).
However, his defense is still sublime and he provides good defense at multiple positions on the infield.
I’d probably opt for someone with a bit more power upside if not right-handed or somebody who can play both infield and outfield, but Wendle still provides solid defense on the infield.
6. Evan Longoria — Arizona Diamondbacks
2023: .223/.295/.422 with 11 home runs and a 92 wRC+ in 74 games
Longoria makes some sense because he still provides thump and pull-side power even as he enters his age-38 season.
His impact in Arizona went beyond the box score, as he was instrumental in a mentorship role with a young D-backs team.
He’s become an all-or-nothing bat, but he hits the ball on the screws when he does connect — he’s just coming off a season in which he struck out at the highest rate of his career.
7. Drew Ellis — Philadelphia Phillies
2023: .217/.379/.478 with two home runs and a 135 wRC+ in 12 games
Ellis still hasn’t truly gotten an extended run at the MLB level despite debuting with the D-backs in 2021.
He flashed some power this year with the Phillies, hitting 18 across three levels (92 games) in 2023.
Ellis is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-handed hitter with 60-grade raw power, according to FanGraphs.
I’d imagine the soon-to-be 28-year-old gets a minor-league deal with an invite to big-league camp, which makes him a very intriguing fit for the Red Sox as organizational depth should injuries strike.
8. Edwin Ríos — Chicago Cubs
2023: .071/.235/.214 with one home run and a 33 wRC+ in 18 games
Ríos had spent the previous four seasons with MLB stints in the Dodgers organization before getting an opportunity with the Cubs.
However, he struggled immensely.
That said, he has 70-grade raw power and, through 130 MLB games in his career, has a 104 wRC+ and 21 home runs.
Similar to Ellis, Ríos would be a likely minors deal signing in Boston, though I could see a lower-tier team signing him to an MLB deal and prying him away — but he’d be a very intriguing option.
9. Eduardo Escobar — Los Angeles Angels
2023: .226/.269/.344 with six home runs and a 66 wRC+ in 100 games
Escobar became a very highly sought-after trade chip a couple of years back with the Diamondbacks and followed that year up with a good year with the Mets in 2022.
However, 2023 was a bad year for him — posting career lows in OBP, home runs and his worst strikeout rate en route to a -0.9 fWAR.
As a buy-low option, I think he could be interesting, considering he does offer some defensive flexibility on the infield — although not exactly premium defensive flexibility.
10. Mike Moustakas — Los Angeles Angels
2023: .247/.293/.392 with 12 home runs and a 77 wRC+ in 112 games
It was a tail of two seasons for Moustakas in his 2023 — 100 wRC+ with the Rockies, 65 with the Angels.
I don’t see the fit really at all in Boston, but he does offer some power from the left side and could sign a deal similar to what Daniel Palka got last spring if he goes unsigned into the latter portion of the offseason.
11. Charlie Culberson — Atlanta Braves
2023: one plate appearance (1-for-1)
Culberson has sort of had a Jekyll & Hyde career, teetering between playing pretty much every day — whether as a pinch-hitter or starter — and battling injuries.
For his career, he’s been quite literally replacement-level.
He’s had a couple of seasons flashing decent pop and, save for 2022, is historically a decent third baseman defensively — but he does offer versatility regardless.
12. Matt Duffy — Kansas City Royals
2023: .251/.306/.325 with two home runs and a 72 wRC+ in 79 games
He’s not terribly far removed from a 104 wRC+ season, but he doesn’t offer any thump and is entirely reliant on a high BABIP to have a good offensive output.
I like Duffy as depth, but I’m not sure what he provides as depth that the Red Sox couldn’t get out of Nick Sogard or Christian Koss.
13. Kevin Padlo — Los Angeles Angels
2023: 1-for-8
Since 2019, Padlo has a 111 wRC+ in the minor leagues with 66 home runs in 1,361 plate appearances.
He hasn’t translated that to the MLB level but on account of recent success in the minors and being a right-handed hitter, he could be a fascinating minors deal option — but I feel similarly about him as I do Duffy.
14. Matt Beaty — Kansas City Royals
2023: .230/.347/.295 with no home runs and an 85 wRC+ in 30 games
Beaty had a couple of decent offensive seasons with the Dodgers from 2019-21, but he’s struggled since leaving them.
He offers some versatility but doesn’t provide much power and is a lefty bat, which are two things that contradict what the Red Sox really need.
15. Travis Blankenhorn — Washington Nationals
2023: .161/.297/.258 with one home run and a 61 wRC+ in 10 games
Blankenhorn was tremendous in Triple-A this past season, slashing .262/.360/.517 with 23 home runs in 108 games.
Like Beaty, Blankenhorn is a lefty with a not-so-great recent history at the MLB level. The only difference is Beaty has had good seasons in the majors and Blankenhorn has yet to get that opportunity.
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Nice analysis Jordan!