Cost per win rising with free agents

<div style="text-align: justify;">Twenty-three free agent signings have been noted thus far, not including minor league deals. And so far, the cost per win above replacement has risen. It was not long ago that the cost per win was around $3.9 million. At the start of last year (if memory serves me correctly), that figure had risen to about $4.6. Fangraphs.com, for example, has risen its valuation from that figure to its current $5 million per win. To date, free agents are getting paid an average of $5.29 per win.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And that makes sense since free agents are usually signed in a bidding war for services going to the victor. Well...it makes sense for the top free agents. But relief pitchers--of which Rob Neyer famously called, "fungible"--and utility infielders are getting far above the current $5 million value.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I still think a team's strongest minor league infielder would do just as well as a utility infielder and make far less money.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To get my values, I averaged each player's fWAR over the last three seasons. Perhaps GMs go five years, I don't know. And then I divided the average yearly value of each contract by the three-year fWAR average to get a cost per win.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=smithjo05,smithjo03&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Joe Smith</a></strong> recently received a three year deal worth an average of $5.25 annually. His three year fWAR average is .67. Divide the $5.25 by .67 and you get $7.84 million per win, which is high. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/puntoni01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Nick Punto</a></strong>, on the other hand, got a one year deal worth $3 million and has averaged 1.37 fWAR per season the last three years which means his contract is paying $2.19 million per win. His agent should get fired.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bloomwi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Willie Bloomquist</a></strong>, as all of Twitter is attesting, just got a screaming deal from the Mariners that is worth $8.79 million per win. He either has a great agent or met a dumb GM. You decide.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thirteen of the twenty-three free agents have been paid more than $5 million per win. The other ten are under. Interestingly, two of the recent PED signers both received less than the $5 million per win. Take that, Mr. Zeigler.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So far, according to my list, backup outfielders are underpaid, relievers are overpaid and the cost of utility infielders is all over the place. Starting pitchers are overpaid too. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hugheph01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Phil Hughes</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hudsoti01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Tim Hudson</a></strong> both were given over $5 million per win contracts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just for my own curiosity, I will follow this and write updates once in a while. While WAR is not the be all and end all for how GMs must value free agents, it is interesting to see how each free agent makes out.</div><br />Here is my list:<br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 489px;"> <colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4096; mso-width-source: userset; width: 84pt;" width="112"></col> <col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 2011; mso-width-source: userset; width: 41pt;" width="55"></col> <col span="2" style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 1974; mso-width-source: userset; width: 41pt;" width="54"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 2779; mso-width-source: userset; width: 57pt;" width="76"></col> </colgroup><tbody><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 84pt;" width="112"></td> <td class="xl64" style="width: 48pt;" width="64">Total</td> <td class="xl64" style="width: 41pt;" width="55"></td> <td class="xl64" style="width: 48pt;" width="64">Ave year</td> <td class="xl64" style="width: 48pt;" width="64">3 yr</td> <td class="xl64" style="width: 41pt;" width="54">Cost per</td> <td class="xl64" style="width: 57pt;" width="76">over/under</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"></td> <td class="xl66">in millions</td> <td class="xl66">Length</td> <td class="xl66">in millions</td> <td class="xl66">WAR Ave</td> <td class="xl66">Win</td> <td class="xl66">5</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mccanbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Brian McCann</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">85</td> <td class="xl64">5</td> <td class="xl64">17</td> <td class="xl65">2.77</td> <td class="xl65">6.14</td> <td class="xl65">1.14</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/peraljh01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jhonny Peralta</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">52</td> <td class="xl64">4</td> <td class="xl64">13</td> <td class="xl65">3.67</td> <td class="xl65">3.55</td> <td class="xl65">-1.45</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/byrdma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Marlon Byrd</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">18</td> <td class="xl64">2</td> <td class="xl64">9</td> <td class="xl65">1.63</td> <td class="xl65">5.52</td> <td class="xl65">0.52</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nolasri01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Ricky Nolasco</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">49</td> <td class="xl64">4</td> <td class="xl64">12.25</td> <td class="xl65">2.87</td> <td class="xl65">4.27</td> <td class="xl65">-0.73</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Tim Hudson</td> <td class="xl64">35</td> <td class="xl64">2</td> <td class="xl64">17.5</td> <td class="xl65">2.37</td> <td class="xl65">7.38</td> <td class="xl65">2.38</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=johnsjo09,johnso012jos,johnso011jos&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Josh Johnson</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">8</td> <td class="xl64">1</td> <td class="xl64">8</td> <td class="xl65">1.87</td> <td class="xl65">4.28</td> <td class="xl65">-0.72</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=ruizca01,ruiz--003car&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Carlos Ruiz</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">26</td> <td class="xl64">3</td> <td class="xl65">8.67</td> <td class="xl65">3.17</td> <td class="xl65">2.73</td> <td class="xl65">-2.27</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harenda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Dan Haren</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">10</td> <td class="xl64">1</td> <td class="xl65">10.00</td> <td class="xl65">4.03</td> <td class="xl65">2.48</td> <td class="xl65">-2.52</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kazmisc01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Scott Kazmir</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">22</td> <td class="xl64">2</td> <td class="xl65">11.00</td> <td class="xl65">0.40</td> <td class="xl65">27.50</td> <td class="xl65">22.50</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Phil Hughes</td> <td class="xl64">24</td> <td class="xl64">3</td> <td class="xl65">8.00</td> <td class="xl65">1.43</td> <td class="xl65">5.59</td> <td class="xl65">0.59</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=lopezja02,lopez-006jav&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Javier Lopez</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">13</td> <td class="xl64">3</td> <td class="xl65">4.33</td> <td class="xl65">0.60</td> <td class="xl65">7.22</td> <td class="xl65">2.22</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=youngch03,youngch04&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Chris Young</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">7.25</td> <td class="xl64">1</td> <td class="xl65">7.25</td> <td class="xl65">2.50</td> <td class="xl65">2.90</td> <td class="xl65">-2.10</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vargaja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jason Vargas</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">32</td> <td class="xl64">4</td> <td class="xl65">8.00</td> <td class="xl65">1.50</td> <td class="xl65">5.33</td> <td class="xl65">0.33</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murphda07.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">David Murphy</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">12</td> <td class="xl64">2</td> <td class="xl65">6.00</td> <td class="xl65">1.70</td> <td class="xl65">3.53</td> <td class="xl65">-1.47</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Joe Smith</td> <td class="xl64">15.75</td> <td class="xl64">3</td> <td class="xl65">5.25</td> <td class="xl65">0.67</td> <td class="xl65">7.84</td> <td class="xl65">2.84</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hawkila01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">LaTroy Hawkins</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">2.5</td> <td class="xl64">1</td> <td class="xl65">2.50</td> <td class="xl65">0.43</td> <td class="xl65">5.81</td> <td class="xl65">0.81</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/navardi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Dioner Navarro</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">8</td> <td class="xl64">2</td> <td class="xl65">4.00</td> <td class="xl65">0.57</td> <td class="xl65">7.02</td> <td class="xl65">2.02</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Giovany Soto</td> <td class="xl64">3.05</td> <td class="xl64">1</td> <td class="xl65">3.05</td> <td class="xl65">1.17</td> <td class="xl65">2.61</td> <td class="xl65">-2.39</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/schumsk01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Skip Schumaker</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">5</td> <td class="xl64">2</td> <td class="xl65">2.50</td> <td class="xl65">0.07</td> <td class="xl65">35.71</td> <td class="xl65">30.71</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Nick Punto</td> <td class="xl64">3</td> <td class="xl64">1</td> <td class="xl65">3.00</td> <td class="xl65">1.37</td> <td class="xl65">2.19</td> <td class="xl65">-2.81</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Willie Bloomquist</td> <td class="xl64">5.8</td> <td class="xl64">2</td> <td class="xl65">2.90</td> <td class="xl65">0.33</td> <td class="xl65">8.79</td> <td class="xl65">3.79</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ryanbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Brendan Ryan</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">4</td> <td class="xl64">2</td> <td class="xl65">2.00</td> <td class="xl65">1.20</td> <td class="xl65">1.67</td> <td class="xl65">-3.33</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/penabr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Brayan Pena</a></strong></td> <td class="xl64">2.275</td> <td class="xl64">2</td> <td class="xl65">1.14</td> <td class="xl65">0.03</td> <td class="xl65">37.92</td> <td class="xl65">32.92</td> </tr><tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"></td> <td class="xl64">442.625</td> <td class="xl64">53</td> <td class="xl65">8.35</td> <td class="xl65">1.58</td> <td class="xl65">5.29</td> <td class="xl65">0.29</td> </tr></tbody></table>

Cost per win rising with free agents

Twenty-three free agent signings have been noted thus far, not including minor league deals. And so far, the cost per win above replacement ...

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