At This Point: Position Players

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 24, 2008 11:40 PM EST

PLAYER	DEF	POS	OFF	WAR
Longoria	0.7	0.25	1.5	4.7
Navarro	0	1.25	-0.1	3.4
Pena	0.1	-1.25	2.1	3.2
Upton	0.0	0.25	0.9	3.4
Bartlett	0.9	0.75	-1.2	2.7
Aybar (3B)	0.1	0.25	-0.4	2.2
Zobrist (OF)	0.1	-0.75	0.4	2
Iwamura	0	0.25	-0.7	1.8
Gross	0.3	-0.75	-0.2	1.6
Crawford	0.9	-0.75	-1	1.4

Based on the past five years of fielding data and last year's batting data. (more on process here)

Or about 25.4 WAR from 10 players. A few assumptions we can make:

- Crawford regains ~2 WAR status (probably higher)

- This is assuming Bartlett's defense plays like the past five seasons, which is a pretty good bet, if healthy.

- Iwamura might get better at second.

So add 2, maybe 2.5 WAR (if you're really optimistic) and you have about 27/28 WAR from 10 players. Boston for comparison:

PLAYER	DEF	POS	OFF	WAR
Lowell	0.5	0.25	0.2	3.2
Varitek	0	1.25	-1.7	1.8
Youkilis	0.3	-1.25	3.3	4.6
Lowrie	0.4	0.75	-0.2	3.2
Ellsbury	0.1	0.25	-1.2	1.4
Cora	0	0.25	-0.2	2.3
Ortiz		-1.75	1.4	1.9
Pedroia	0.4	0.25	2.1	5
Drew	0	-0.75	2.2	3.7
Bay	-0.6	-0.75	2.8	3.7

Or 30.7 from 10 players. But one key difference. The Rays have no DH, platoon RFer, or back-up catcher. Boston has a DH and a full time RFer listed. If you plug in Jason Giambi, Juan Rivera, and Shawn Riggans in those three spots, you get 5 extra WAR. roughly 33 WAR from 13 position players.

Now, just hope they don't sign Teixeira and trade Lowell.

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Comments

Teixeira needs to go to the NL.

Where he goes is a question though.

I wouldn’t mind if Sabean signed him. It somewhat fits his MO, except that Teixeira isn’t over 30.

I know that's a pisser, baby.

by Blicks on Nov 25, 2008 12:13 AM EST reply actions

But Teixeira is good.

Dunn/Burrell are more Sabean-esque signings.5/65 or something.

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 25, 2008 12:24 AM EST up reply actions

But I want Teixeira out of the AL, period.

And, its not a smart signing if its something like 8/160 or something.

I know that's a pisser, baby.

by Blicks on Nov 25, 2008 12:44 AM EST up reply actions

I am not opposed to him staying out West

I could see a decent fit in Seattle depending how much is coming off the books this year. Big Sexy was making a lot of money so if that is cleared it would make sense to me. Pretty nice corners between him and Beltre and the lineup looks decidedly more potent.

Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found
a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up
that much.

~George Costanza~

by Sandy Kazmir on Nov 25, 2008 10:09 AM EST up reply actions

I can live with Teixeira on the Mariners

Just not the Angels. Please no. Yes, that’s personal preference.

I know that's a pisser, baby.

by Blicks on Nov 25, 2008 4:41 PM EST up reply actions

Nah, I think that's not that bad, actually.

$20MM is a great price per season — he’s probably worth more like $25MM per year right now. If he’s worth this over his contract, go for it:

2009 $25MM
2010 $25MM
2011 $22.5MM
2012 $22.5MM
2013 $20MM
2014 $17.5MM
2015 $15MM
2016 $12.5MM

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Nov 25, 2008 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

Hmm...good point

I could very easily see him being worth 12.5MM in 2016, especially taking into account inflation and deterioration of Teixeira.

Market value is generally right on for the superstars (there are exceptions), its just the mediocre players (e.x. Zito, Silva, etc.) who get overpaid.

I know that's a pisser, baby.

by Blicks on Nov 25, 2008 4:44 PM EST up reply actions