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Texas Rangers: All eyes on third base entering 2020?

By Kenneth Nash

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 03: Todd Frazier #21 of the New York Mets plays third base against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 3, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 03: Todd Frazier #21 of the New York Mets plays third base against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 3, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – JULY 26: Asdrubal Cabrera #14 of the Texas Rangers hits an rbi single scoring Nomar Mazara #30 against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the six inning at Ring Central Coliseum on July 26, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – JULY 26: Asdrubal Cabrera #14 of the Texas Rangers hits an rbi single scoring Nomar Mazara #30 against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the six inning at Ring Central Coliseum on July 26, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

2019 Recap

While third base didn’t lack production to the degree of catcher, first base or second base last season, it was still a position in need of an upgrade entering this offseason. Like multiple positions in the Rangers lineup, Texas opted to try and mix in multiple players at third base in 2019 hoping that one would stick. Asdrubal Cabrera entered the season as the presumed starter but couldn’t make it the whole season before being waived. Then a mixture of veterans and younger players fought for playing time at the hot corner with nobody truly grabbing a hold on the position.

  • Asdrubal Cabrera – 93 G – .235/.318/.393/.711
  • Logan Forsythe – 31 G – .233/.304/.398/.702
  • Isiah Kiner-Falefa – 24 G – .267/.304/.326/.630
  • Nick Solak – 11 G – .256/.289/.465/.754
  • Danny Santana – 8 G – .290/.313/.452/.765
  • Patrick Wisdom – 4 G – .182/.250/.182/.432

At the plate, only Nick Solak and Danny Santana provide a serious threat to opponents however both are more or less liabilities defensively at third. Solak played 97 innings at third base and posted a -52.4 UZR/150. That partially can be chalked up to Solak trying to learn the position on the fly as Texas searched for at-bats for the young slugger but there are serious concerns about his ability to play the position long-term. Santana played just 65 innings at third last year finishing with a 0.3 UZR/150 which, while technically positive, would likely be a negative in an everyday role at the spot.

On the flilpside, Cabrera, Forsythe and Kiner-Falefa were all above average defensively for the Rangers last season but their lack of production at the plate killed off any value they might have created.

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