2016 AL East Rankings by Position: Third Base

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Sep 23, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (3) fields a grounder hit by Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) (not pictured) during the first inning of the game at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Tampa Bay Rays – Evan Longoria, Rickie Shaffer, Nick Franklin

In most divisions, Longoria would probably be first. The AL East is not that division. And so, a guy who is a three-time All-Star at the beginning of his career sits in third. Longoria hit to a .270/.328/.435 slash last year, as his power has fallen off over the last few years. Longo added 21 HRs, 35 2Bs, 73 RBIs, 74 runs. Another solid year for the Rays’ veteran star.

Evan Longoria is a former Gold Glove winner, but that is hard to win with the competition from Machado. His defensive sabermetrics are not what they once were, but in watching him play, there are very few balls to third that he doesn’t get to. Longoria had the best fielding percentage by a third baseman in the AL in 2015.

Shaffer is a young guy who will spell Longoria as needed, who also has a chance to play some at first base, although there is a logjam at the other side of the diamond. Longoria has always been a durable player, so he will make most of the starts for the Rays.

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