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Up this week are my just-for-fun 2022 player rankings. I’ve done my best to list players where they’ll be eligible next year, and the free agents-to-be are listed without teams. Players with options for next year are still listed with their current teams if those options have a legitimate chance of being exercised. Those players are noted with asterisks.
Hitters are up now, with starting pitchers, relievers and the overall top 300 to follow on Thursday.
Click to see other other preliminary 2022 rankings:
OF | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | C | DH
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Third Baseman Rankings
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Barring a surprising call by Nolan Arenado to opt out of the six years and $179 million left on his deal, Kris Bryant stands alone as the top free agent option here. It’ll only enhance his market that he’s capable in the outfield and at first base, too. Kyle Seager, whose $15 million option is likely to be declined by Seattle, is probably the best of the rest of the field.
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Spencer Torkelson is moving quickly and should be a factor next year, but since he probably won’t open up in the majors, he comes in at No. 25 here. The first overall pick in the 2020 draft hit .312/.440/.4569 in 31 games in high-A this year and is at .268/.376/.606 in 21 games since being bumped up to Double-A.
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Torkelson is the only prospect ranked higher than 40 here, but the end of the list is riddled with them. I’d have Nolan Gorman considerably higher if he didn’t have the other Nolan in his way. The Cardinals are having him share time at second and third right now, and he could overtake Tommy Edman at second sometime next year. Another Nolan, this one surnamed Jones, has Jose Ramirez in front of him in Cleveland. He could debut later this year as a right fielder, though he’s not really knocking down the door while hitting .224/.348/.411 in Triple-A. The Rockies have Colton Welker and Elehuris Montero as candidates to step in at third base next year if they want to put Ryan McMahon at second. Welker has yet to play this season because of an 80-game PED suspension, while Montero, who came over in the Arenado trade, has hit .265/.355/.500 in Double-A. Montero, though, seems more likely to debut as a first baseman at this point.