Red Sox: Top five third basemen in franchise history

May 26, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Former Red Sox player Wade Boggs is honored with the retiring of his uniform number 26 before the start of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Former Red Sox player Wade Boggs is honored with the retiring of his uniform number 26 before the start of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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The BoSox Injection staff ranks the top handful of players in Boston Red Sox history at each position. Up next is third base.

Sep 24, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) works out prior the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) works out prior the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The hot corner is a hot mess for the Boston Red Sox entering 2017.

The team will enter the season relying on a slimmed down Pablo Sandoval to cover third base, with a questionable backup plan in the event that the former All-Star fails to return to form.

Last year’s third baseman, Travis Shaw, was shipped out of town to acquire a setup man for the bullpen and the future of the position was dealt to Chicago in the Chris Sale trade. That leaves Brock Holt as the best available option to play third base if Sandoval falls flat for the third consecutive year.

Third base may be a potential black hole for the Red Sox this season, but it wasn’t always that way. A glance back at the history of the position shows this franchise has had a number of quality options covering third.

Which former Red Sox players have the honor of being considered among the best in franchise history at the position? Here are our top five.

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