- Josh Donaldson has the most fWAR among all Blue Jays third basemen.
- Troy Glaus’ 120 wRC+ is the second-highest behind Donaldson.
- Matt Chapman starred for the Jays for two seasons.
Choosing the top spot in this list of the best Toronto Blue Jays third basemen was straightforward. The rest of the rankings were far more debatable, as I had to balance the value of longevity with peak production.
How a player impacts baseball playoff odds has to be taken into consideration. Players producing on competitive teams are always going to mean more to fans. Equally, those that stay with the franchise for several years are significant.
Statistically, there wasn’t a huge amount to choose between the top third baseman in Blue Jays history after the player at the top of these rankings.
Five Best Toronto Blue Jays Third Basemen
| Rank | Player | Blue Jays Years |
| 1 | Josh Donaldson | 2015-18 |
| 2 | Rance Mulliniks | 1982-92 |
| 3 | Matt Chapman | 2022-23 |
| 4 | Troy Glaus | 2006-07 |
| 5 | Kelly Gruber | 1984-92 |
1. Josh Donaldson
One of two Blue Jays to win AL MVP and the clear leader in fWAR among Jays third basemen, Josh Donaldson had to be at the top of these rankings.
Donaldson was truly elite during his time in Toronto. When healthy, his presence alone shortened Blue Jays odds of winning the division.
Equally brilliant in 2016 as he was in his MVP-winning 2015, exceptional seasons from Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, and Jose Altuve prevented the Jays third baseman from going back-to-back.
Injuries ultimately cut Donaldson’s prime short, and he was traded to Cleveland in 2018.
2. Rance Mulliniks
Never an All-Star and never receiving an MVP vote, Rance Mulliniks’ case for second place is all about longevity.
Mulliniks has played the most games of any Blue Jays third baseman, with only seven Jays position players appearing in more games for the franchise. His career 116 wRC+ isn’t spectacular, but only two Jays third basemen have a better mark.
3. Matt Chapman
Hitting 44 homers across two seasons while playing elite defence at third base is enough to get Matt Chapman into the top three.
Troy Glaus, Mulliniks, and Donaldson are the only third basemen with a better wRC+ for the Jays than Chapman. Glaus was nowhere near Chapman’s level defensively.
Joining a team featuring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, Chapman’s arrival contributed to the Jays being at a short price to make the playoffs at the BetMGM online sportsbook.
Toronto was eliminated in the wild-card round in both of Chapman’s seasons, but they might not have made it that far without him.
4. Troy Glaus
Trailing only Donaldson in wRC+, I had to find a way to fit Troy Glaus into this top five. His two seasons with the team came during their lengthy postseason drought, but Glaus was an All-Star in 2006 when Toronto finished second in the AL East with 87 wins.
Glaus was traded by the Blue Jays in 2008 for Scott Rolen. Rolen was a candidate to make my top five, but his wRC+ was six points lower than Glaus’, and he played 250 fewer games.
5. Kelly Gruber
A slow start to his MLB career dragged down Kelly Gruber’s overall numbers. His 14.5 fWAR is still the third highest among Jays third basemen, however, and his 102 OPS+ is solid for a Gold Glove calibre defender.
Gruber peaked in 1989 and 1990, earning back-to-back All-Star selections. He also finished fourth in MVP voting in 1990, posting the best OPS of his career at .842.
Subpar production in 1986, 1987, and 1992 takes away from Gruber’s peak years. A case can be made to move him up to third, but I prefer the short-term output from Chapman and Glaus.
