We could have signed those guys!

by Roberto on Nov 30, 2010 4:31 PM EST

I just stumbled onto an interesting article by Rich Lederer over on Baseball Analysts. His basic question was "How much does each win above replacement cost when you sign a free agent?" His overall answer was $4.4 million, with expensive (over $3 million per year) relief pitchers costing the most per win above replacement. (He didn't analyze the sort of inexpensive relief pitchers the Pirates have signed.) The article is interesting from an overall perspective, but especially so from that of a Pirates' fan. John Grabow ($37.5 million per win above replacement) and Mike Gonzalez ($14.0 million per win above replacement) were the least cost effective free agents in the group. Jason Bay ($6.9 million per win above replacement) was the least cost effective of the 2009-2010 position players. If only Nutting weren't so cheap! Those guys could have been playing for us.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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by Wizard of Woz on Nov 30, 2010 4:43 PM EST reply actions

We could have wasted a lot of money

Other people did.

Viva Clemente!

by Roberto on Nov 30, 2010 4:51 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah....

I can imagine that the Pirates could have spent $50 million more than they did in 2010 and it would have gotten the team about 10 more wins.

by IAPiratesFan on Nov 30, 2010 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

which is pretty much what we we're averaging about the time NH arrived

well said, sparkly

by white angus on Nov 30, 2010 9:12 PM EST up reply actions

Better Analysis

I think a better analysis is in on pages 189-193 of Baseball Between the Numbers put out by Baseball Perspectus. Here they show the value of another win is based on where on the win curve the team is on. If your team can only win 60-65 games, a few more wins means nothing (hence is worth less to you). If you are projected 84-94 win team, then it is worth more to you to buy each extra win.

For the Bucs, spending alot of money for a player who can give us 2-3 wins is not worht much to us.

by zogger on Nov 30, 2010 6:08 PM EST reply actions

That's an interesting idea

but it ceratinly makes sense, if you take out a weak link on an already strong team, it’s going to have a bigger effect than adding a solid cog to a weak team

by smoked on Nov 30, 2010 6:35 PM EST up reply actions