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Baltimore Orioles: Will Orioles’ Machado outshine Blue Jays’ Donaldson in 2017?

By Nate Wardle

Aug 30, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) hits his 100th career home run in the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) hits his 100th career home run in the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) hits a singe home run during the third inning against the Cleveland Indians in game four of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) hits a singe home run during the third inning against the Cleveland Indians in game four of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays’ third basemen – Josh Donaldson, Darwin Barney, Ryan Goins

This is hard. So, let’s look at the numbers from 2016 side-by-side.

Player A – .284/.404/.549 with 37 HR, 32 2B, 99 RBI, 122 runs scored, 0.4 dWAR, 7.2 oWAR, 14 errors, average range and a -4 total zone runs above average
Player B – .294/.343/.533 with 37 HRs, 40 2B, 96 RBIs, 105 runs, 2.2 dWAR, 5.0 oWAR, 13 errors (only 7 at 3B), great range and 6 total zone runs above average.

Both players were All-Stars. One was fourth in the MVP race; the other was fifth.

But, I’m putting Donaldson at two because 1) he isn’t as good defensively. When the offensive numbers are so close, and if Manny would walk more would be even closer, something has to break the tie. 2) He is 31 years old, Machado is 24.

In all reality, any team would take either of these guys.

But, someone has to be 1B to 1A. Last year, I kept Donaldson at number 1 entering the season, after he finished the season at number 1 to end 2015. He finished 2016 at number 1 too.

Baltimore Orioles’ Machado is younger, and he is a much better defender. So number one it is.

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