Bernie on the Scene: Corner Infielder Rankings

This week, I continue my fantasy baseball draft preparation articles with first base and third base rankings.

These position have a number of players capable of seeing service time at first base. Before drafting, be certain to check position eligibility on the platform used in your league. A lot of players may get enough service time at first and third to be listed in my rankings.

First Base Rankings

Sleeper: Josh Naylor

Don't Forget About: Rowdy Tellez

1. Vladimir Guerrero, Blue Jays
2.  Freddie Freeman, Free Agent
3.  Matt Olson, Athletics  
4. Pete Alonso, Mets
5. Austin Riley, Braves
6. Jose Abreu, White Sox
7. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals 
8. Ryan Mountcastle, Orioles
9. Josh Bell, Nationals 
10. C.J. Cron, Rockies 
11. Rhys Hoskins, Phillies 
12. Max Muncy, Dodgers 
13. Trey Mancini, Orioles  
14. Kris Bryant, Free Agent 
15. Jared Walsh, Angels 
16. Anthony Rizzo, Free Agent            
17. DJ LeMahieu, Yankees
18. Jake Cronenworth, Padres 
19. Lourdes Gurriel, Toronto 
20. Luke Voit, Yankees
21. Joey Votto, Reds 
22. Ty France, Mariners 
23. Kyle Schwarber, Free Agent
24. Nathaniel Lowe, Rangers 
25. Bobby Dalbec, Red Sox 
26. Miguel Sano, Twins 
27. Rowdy Tellez, Brewers 
28. Yasmani Grandal, White Sox 
29. Alex Kirilloff, Twins 
30. Brandon Belt, Giants 
31. Frank Schwindel, Cubs 
32. Josh Naylor, Guardians
33. Eric Hosmer, Padres 
34. Yuli Gurriel, Astros 
35. Jesus Aguilar, Marlins 
36. Eduardo Escobar, Mets 
37. Spencer Torkelson, Tigers 
38. Andrew Vaughn, White Sox 
39. Jonathan Schoop, Tigers 
40. Bobby Bradley, Guardians  
41. Hunter Dozier, Royals  
42. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers  
43. Ji-Man Choi, Rays
44. Christian Walker, Diamondbacks 
45. Jonathan Schoop, Tigers
46. Eduardo Escobar, Mets
47. Gavin Sheets, White Sox
48. Carlos Santana, Royals 
49. Juan Yepez, Cardinals
50. Pavin Smith, Diamondbacks 
51. Dominic Smith, Mets  
52. Yandy Diaz, Rays  
53. Keston Hiura, Brewers
54. Yoshi Tsutsugo, Pirates  
55. Garrett Cooper, Marlins 
56. Tyler Stephenson, Reds
57. Michael Chavis, Pirates
58. Triston Casas, Red Sox
59. Yu Chang, Guardians
60. Colin Moran, Free Agent
61. Nick Pratto, Royals
62. Evan White, Mariners
63. Daniel Vogelbach, Free Agent
64. John Nogowski, Braves
65. Darin Ruf, Giants 

Third Base Rankings

Sleeper: Jeimer Candelario

Comeback Target: Alec Bohm

1. Jose Ramirez, Guardians
2. Rafael Devers, Red Sox
3.  Manny Machado, Padres
4. Alex Bregman, Astros
5. Austin Riley, Braves
6. Nolan Arenado, Cardinals 
7. Wander Franco, Rays
8. DJ LeMahieu, Yankees
9. Justin Turner, Dodgers
10. Anthony Rendon, Angels
11. Kris Bryant, Free Agent
12.  Yoan Moncada, White Sox
13. Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pirates
14. Ryan McMahon, Rockies
15. Adalberto Mondesi, Royals
16. Chris Taylor, Dodgers
17. Josh Donaldson, Twins
18. Ty France, Mariners
19. Eugenio Suarez, Reds
20. Luis Urias, Brewers
21. Bobby Dalbec, Red Sox
22. Matt Chapman, Athletics
23. Jeimer Candelario, Tigers
24. Eduardo Escobar,  Mets
25. Spencer Torkelson, Tigers
26. Alec Bohm, Phillies
27. Gio Urshela, Yankees
28. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
29. Isiah Kiner, Falefa, Rangers
30. Luis Arraez,  Twins
31. Patrick Wisdom, Cubs
32.  Jonathan Villar, Free Agent
33. Abraham Toro, Mariners
34. Josh Rojas, Diamondbacks
35. Evan Longoria, Giants
36. Yandy Diaz,  Rays
37. Cavan Biggio, Blue Jays
38. Brian Anderson, Marlins
39. Jose Miranda, Twins
40. Hunter Dozier, Royals
41. Joey Wendle, Marlins
42. Kyle Farmer, Reds
43. Tommy La Stella, Giants
44. Leury Garcia, White Sox
45. Wilmer Flores, Giants
46. Santiago Espinal, Blue Jays
47. Mike Moustakas, Reds
48. Johan Camargo, Phillies
49. Dylan Moore, Mariners
50. Carter Kieboom, Nationals
51.  Josh Harrison, Free Agent
52. Ha, Seong Kim, Padres
53. Christian Arroyo, Red Sox
54. Miguel Andujar, Yankees

Heading Home

We have to remember that MLB locked out the players. They really didn't have to do that. That set a very negative tone, which the players did not appreciate. So, in reality, the negotiations went down hill from there.

Reports indicate the owners tried to add new additions to their last, best and final offer to the players. According to Ross Stripling, the owners were "trying to sneak things through us, like they think we're dumb baseball players and we get sleepy after midnight or something."  It's being reported MLB tried to incorporate meal money and the stipends players receive for food against the amount of money teams can spend before they are taxed. Apparently, that was a "late addition" to their deal with the players. Players were furious.

It has come out that owners Bob Castellini (Reds), Chris Ilitch (Tigers), Ken Kendrick (Diamondbacks) and Arte Moreno (Angels) objected to raising the competitive balance tax to the levels ultimately proposed. MLB proposed it anyway, with a first threshold of $220M, an increase of $10M from the recently expired CBA. The $220M was $6M more than their previous offer. The players offer was $238M.

In case you missed it, the MLB Commissioner was caught playing golf and working on his golf swing in Florida during the negotiations. That image of him was sent out in various media outlets. Not good.

If, and when, players get back to work and the lockout ends, there will be a constant flow of MLB transactions. It will be as though a tap will open that could flow for quite some time.

To me, Rob Manfred has shown no leadership in this Civil War. He brags about his labor success. He brags that he believes in collective bargaining. And still, he declared a non-negotiated lockout. He unilaterally declared a deadline for an agreement, or he would shut down scheduled regular-season games. Neither of those issues was negotiated.

I have no faith in Manfred. I have little faith in the owners. Twenty-three of 30 team owners will have to confirm any negotiated CBA. Good luck getting the votes.

Remember, owners really won't start losing real money until the TV networks stop their flow of payments. And frankly, owners don't make their money in April. They can sacrifice money from those small attendance figures in April and hope the players will suddenly change their minds.

Will we have baseball this season? I wish I knew.

Thank you for following me on Twitter @BerniePleskoff

Thank you for reading my work at forbes.com.

Stay safe. Have a great week.