This is a revised article. When this article was first posted a few days ago, I had a few players on the wrong teams. Apparently, some major league teams have been signing and trading players without telling me. These errors having been brought to my attention, I have corrected them and revised the lists.
Which major league team has the most young talent in their organization?
Two years ago, in the 2008 Bill James Handbook, we introduced a method to study that issue. We repeated the study in the 2009 Handbook, and then this year, to give us more time to study the issue and improve the methodology, we moved the study from the Handbook to the Gold Mine.
We begin by assigning to every player in major league baseball an “Inventory Value”, based on his age and major league performance. The method that was used here, while essentially similar to the original method, has been revised and extended. I’ll detail the entire process:
1) Figure the Season Score for every major league player for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons.
2) A player’s Established Value is
One times his 2007 Season Score, plus
Two times his 2008 Season Score, plus
Three times his 2009 Season Score,
divided by six,
but not less than .750 times his 2009 Season Score.
3) Because the Season Scores of pitchers are not perfectly synchronized with the Season Scores of hitters, we multiplied the Established Values of pitchers by 1.40, in order to bring the “trade values” of the pitchers in line with those of the hitters.
4) We then created a “Youth value” for each player, which was:
35
Minus his age as of June 30, 2009,
Times 20.
The “Youth Value” for a 20-year-old player would be 300, for a 25-year-old player 200, for a 30-year-old player 100.
5) We then created a “Youth/Performance” number which was the harmonic mean of these two numbers—the Youth Value and the Established Value.
6) This Youth/Performance number represented the “Trade Value” or “Inventory Value” for each player, except that, for players aged 28 or older, the Inventory Value could not be greater than the Established Value. In other words, supposed that you have a 20-year-old player and a 30-year-old player who each have an Established Value of 70. The “Inventory Value” of the 20-year-old player would be 113.5, which is the harmonic mean of 70 and 300. The Inventory Value of the 30-year old player might have been 82.4, which is the harmonic mean of 70 and 100, but the Inventory Value of a 30-year-old player can’t be higher than his Established Value, which is 70, so his Inventory Value would be 70.
7) In addition to this I took the MLB “Top 50 prospects” List released January 27, 2010, and gave value for those prospects in this way:
51 minus the rank on the list,
times 3
plus 25
Thus, the number one player on the prospect list, Atlanta’s Jason Heyward, had an Inventory Value of 175, while the number 50 player on the list had an inventory value of 28.
I’ll retrace the steps of the process for Julio Lugo, Albert Pujols and Nolan Reimold, for purposes of illustration.
1) Julio Lugo had season scores for the last three seasons of 109, 36 and 82—an Established Value of 71.3.
2) Albert Pujols had season scores for the last three seasons of 395, 500 and 554, an Established Value of 509.5.
3) Nolan Reimold has had season scores for the last three seasons of 0, 0, and 143.77. This would create an established value of 71.885, except for the rule that Established Value cannot be less than .75 times the value of the most recent season. This makes his Established Value 107.8.
We then create an “Youth Value” for each player. For Julio Lugo, who was 33 years old in 2009, the Youth Value was 40.
For Pujols, who was 29, the Youth Value was 120.
For Reimold, who was 25, the Youth Value was 200.
We then find the Harmonic Mean of these two numbers. For Lugo, whose two numbers are 71.3 and 40, this creates an Inventory Value of 51.3.
For Pujols, whose two numbers are 509.5 and 120, this creates an Inventory Value of 194.3.
For Reimold, whose two numbers were 107.8 and 200, this creates and Inventory Value of 138.5.
In other words, Pujols is worth substantially more than Reimold, but Reimold is worth more than twice as much as Julio Lugo. You knew this anyway, but we need a systematic method to state the value of each player, based on his youth and his major league performance.
Coco Crisp is the same age as Albert Pujols, but Coco Crisp has an Established Value, after several years of injuries, of just 86.7. His “age value” is 120, the same as Pujols, but if you seek the harmonic mean of 86.7 and 120 you get 100.6. 100.6 is higher than 86.7, and at that age, the “age value” consideration is not allowed to increase the Inventory Value (only decrease it), so Coco’s Inventory Value stays at 86.7. He slots in between Reimold and Lugo: Albert 194, Reimold 139, Crisp 87, Lugo 52.
Some players had two scores—a major league score and a prospect score. In those cases, we used whichever was higher, which in almost all cases was the prospect score.
By our method, the 20 “most valuable properties” in the majors at this moment are:
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Team
|
2009 Age
|
IV
|
|
1
|
Felix
|
Hernandez
|
Mariners
|
23
|
267
|
|
2
|
Prince
|
Fielder
|
Brewers
|
25
|
267
|
|
3
|
Hanley
|
Ramirez
|
Marlins
|
25
|
265
|
|
4
|
Ryan
|
Braun
|
Brewers
|
25
|
261
|
|
5
|
Pablo
|
Sandoval
|
Giants
|
22
|
255
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
Tim
|
Lincecum
|
Giants
|
25
|
252
|
|
7
|
Evan
|
Longoria
|
Rays
|
23
|
249
|
|
8
|
Justin
|
Upton
|
Diamondbacks
|
21
|
248
|
|
9
|
Miguel
|
Cabrera
|
Tigers
|
26
|
241
|
|
10
|
Nick
|
Markakis
|
Orioles
|
25
|
239
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
|
Matt
|
Kemp
|
Dodgers
|
24
|
238
|
|
12
|
Dustin
|
Pedroia
|
Red Sox
|
25
|
238
|
|
13
|
Zack
|
Greinke
|
Royals
|
25
|
238
|
|
14
|
Ryan
|
Zimmerman
|
Nationals
|
24
|
238
|
|
15
|
David
|
Wright
|
Mets
|
26
|
234
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16
|
Joe
|
Mauer
|
Twins
|
26
|
232
|
|
17
|
Troy
|
Tulowitzki
|
Rockies
|
24
|
232
|
|
18
|
Adam
|
Lind
|
Blue Jays
|
25
|
232
|
|
19
|
Jair
|
Jurrjens
|
Braves
|
23
|
227
|
|
20
|
Mark
|
Reynolds
|
Diamondbacks
|
25
|
226
|
Probably you do not exactly agree with all of those listings, and you may be inclined to write to me and argue that the top twenty list should have included Adrian Gonzalez, or Jonathon Broxton, or Aaron Hill, or Adam Jones, or Curtis Granderson, or some other slacker. If you are determined to write me such a letter, then it is my sad duty to inform you at this time that you are a moron, and in the future you should refrain from engaging in public discourse, out of consideration for others.
No, I’m joking, of course. I have no doubt that your list of the top 20 young players in baseball right now would be every bit as good as mine; indeed, I have no doubt that it would be better than mine. But here’s my point: We don’t really know. There is no right answer. What we are talking about here is who is going to be a good ballplayer in the future. We don’t know; I don’t know, you don’t know. We’re guessing. We should make the best guess that we can make, but we could spend the next 90 days debating who should be where and refining our method, and we would still be wrong.
We would still be wrong, and we would never get to the question of which teams have the most young talent. This is not an article about whether Felix Hernandez is a more valuable young player than Tim Lincecum or vice versa. This is an article about whether Seattle has more young talent than San Francisco. In order to get to the doorway of that question, we have to close off debate about this one. So. . .I don’t want to hear about it. If you have objections to my list, keep them to yourself; it’s not helpful.
OK, next we eliminated from the list players whose Inventory Value was less than 25. Less than 25 is less than one-half the value of Julio Lugo. Players with Inventory Value of 25 are routinely non-tendered, not offered contracts, and there are a billion of them, so . .we’re not interested in them; we’re interested in the good young players. There were 737 major league players and prospects in 2009 with inventory value of at least 25 points.
However, I didn’t count all of those players in the inventory totals. I counted:
1) All players with an Inventory Value of 70 or more, and
2) At least 15 players on each team.
70 points is not a lot of inventory value; that’s Jody Gerut, Manny Parra, Kyle McClellan or Torii Hunter. But only 8 of the 30 major league teams have more than 15 players of that value. For those 8 teams, I counted everybody with a value of 70 or greater. For the other 22 teams, I counted their top 15 players.
You want to debate the decision to drop players below the top 15? At some level, everybody kind of looks alike. Players with an Inventory Value of 50 or less are players you can pick up cheap as a free agent, a late January or early February free agent. The possession of such players does not shape the futures of organizations. One team has about as many of those players as the next—and if they don’t, it doesn’t matter, because if you have too many of them, you just have to release one of them and play the other. When you ask the question, “which teams have the most young talent”, you’re not talking about who has more Brayan Penas and Ross Gloads.
OK, let’s get to the list. The major league team with the most young talent—as it was when first did this two years ago--is the Tampa Bay Rays. This chart summarizes the totals of the 30 major league teams:
|
Rank
|
Team
|
Count
|
Hitting
|
Pitching
|
Prospects
|
Total
|
|
1
|
Rays
|
21
|
1446
|
894
|
523
|
2864
|
|
2
|
Rockies
|
18
|
1476
|
944
|
109
|
2529
|
|
3
|
Twins
|
18
|
1445
|
904
|
91
|
2441
|
|
4
|
Diamondbacks
|
16
|
1599
|
671
|
115
|
2385
|
|
5
|
Red Sox
|
16
|
1070
|
1049
|
191
|
2310
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
Giants
|
18
|
1012
|
958
|
314
|
2284
|
|
7
|
Yankees
|
17
|
1025
|
1050
|
121
|
2197
|
|
8
|
Rangers
|
17
|
1215
|
474
|
432
|
2121
|
|
9
|
White Sox
|
16
|
1041
|
1064
|
0
|
2106
|
|
10
|
Marlins
|
15
|
1052
|
782
|
272
|
2106
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
|
Dodgers
|
15
|
890
|
1132
|
70
|
2092
|
|
12
|
Phillies
|
15
|
1077
|
823
|
136
|
2036
|
|
13
|
Braves
|
15
|
1262
|
522
|
251
|
2035
|
|
14
|
Angels
|
15
|
1005
|
1028
|
0
|
2033
|
|
15
|
Royals
|
15
|
1116
|
694
|
161
|
1971
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16
|
Mets
|
15
|
1210
|
729
|
0
|
1939
|
|
17
|
Cubs
|
17
|
934
|
853
|
112
|
1898
|
|
18
|
Mariners
|
15
|
965
|
787
|
133
|
1885
|
|
19
|
Brewers
|
15
|
1109
|
476
|
242
|
1827
|
|
20
|
Orioles
|
15
|
1215
|
439
|
163
|
1817
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
A's
|
16
|
1076
|
640
|
73
|
1789
|
|
22
|
Blue Jays
|
15
|
1038
|
461
|
257
|
1756
|
|
23
|
Nationals
|
15
|
1208
|
305
|
230
|
1743
|
|
24
|
Cardinals
|
15
|
1064
|
663
|
0
|
1727
|
|
25
|
Pirates
|
15
|
1002
|
507
|
154
|
1662
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26
|
Indians
|
15
|
1020
|
496
|
145
|
1661
|
|
27
|
Reds
|
15
|
883
|
608
|
88
|
1579
|
|
28
|
Tigers
|
15
|
683
|
813
|
64
|
1559
|
|
29
|
Padres
|
15
|
950
|
528
|
0
|
1478
|
|
30
|
Astros
|
15
|
610
|
639
|
85
|
1334
|
The Rays rank 3rd in Young Position Players, 1st in Prospects, and 9th in Young Pitching. The last-place Astros rank last in Position Players, 22nd in Prospects, and 20th in Young Pitching.
This chart gives a complete summary of the players who are included in this accounting, and the values assigned to them:
|
First
|
Last
|
Team
|
Age
|
Value
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Team
|
Age
|
Value
|
|
Kendry
|
Morales
|
Angels
|
26
|
209
|
|
Adam
|
Lind
|
Blue Jays
|
25
|
232
|
|
Jered
|
Weaver
|
Angels
|
26
|
194
|
|
Aaron
|
Hill
|
Blue Jays
|
27
|
188
|
|
Scott
|
Kazmir
|
Angels
|
25
|
169
|
|
Edwin
|
Encarnacion
|
Blue Jays
|
26
|
150
|
|
Joe
|
Saunders
|
Angels
|
28
|
166
|
|
Brett
|
Wallace
|
Blue Jays
|
22
|
130
|
|
Howie
|
Kendrick
|
Angels
|
25
|
161
|
|
Kyle
|
Drabek
|
Blue Jays
|
21
|
127
|
|
Mike
|
Napoli
|
Angels
|
27
|
154
|
|
Vernon
|
Wells
|
Blue Jays
|
30
|
126
|
|
Erick
|
Aybar
|
Angels
|
25
|
154
|
|
Ricky
|
Romero
|
Blue Jays
|
24
|
119
|
|
Ervin
|
Santana
|
Angels
|
26
|
151
|
|
Jesse
|
Litsch
|
Blue Jays
|
24
|
105
|
|
Maicer
|
Izturis
|
Angels
|
28
|
135
|
|
Jose
|
Bautista
|
Blue Jays
|
28
|
104
|
|
Juan
|
Rivera
|
Angels
|
30
|
123
|
|
Lyle
|
Overbay
|
Blue Jays
|
32
|
88
|
|
Joel
|
Pineiro
|
Angels
|
30
|
120
|
|
Jason
|
Frasor
|
Blue Jays
|
31
|
85
|
|
Jose
|
Arredondo
|
Angels
|
25
|
90
|
|
Brandon
|
Morrow
|
Blue Jays
|
24
|
84
|
|
Matt
|
Palmer
|
Angels
|
30
|
76
|
|
Travis
|
Snider
|
Blue Jays
|
21
|
84
|
|
Torii
|
Hunter
|
Angels
|
33
|
69
|
|
Jeremy
|
Accardo
|
Blue Jays
|
27
|
68
|
|
Brian
|
Fuentes
|
Angels
|
33
|
63
|
|
John
|
Buck
|
Blue Jays
|
28
|
67
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew
|
Bailey
|
A's
|
25
|
168
|
|
Jair
|
Jurrjens
|
Braves
|
23
|
227
|
|
Kurt
|
Suzuki
|
A's
|
25
|
162
|
|
Brian
|
McCann
|
Braves
|
25
|
217
|
|
Kevin
|
Kouzmanoff
|
A's
|
27
|
156
|
|
Nate
|
McLouth
|
Braves
|
27
|
190
|
|
Ryan
|
Sweeney
|
A's
|
24
|
145
|
|
Yunel
|
Escobar
|
Braves
|
26
|
180
|
|
Brett
|
Anderson
|
A's
|
21
|
132
|
|
Jason
|
Heyward
|
Braves
|
19
|
175
|
|
Rajai
|
Davis
|
A's
|
28
|
124
|
|
Martin
|
Prado
|
Braves
|
25
|
158
|
|
Jack
|
Cust
|
A's
|
30
|
107
|
|
Melky
|
Cabrera
|
Braves
|
24
|
154
|
|
Brad
|
Ziegler
|
A's
|
29
|
101
|
|
Tommy
|
Hanson
|
Braves
|
22
|
152
|
|
Daric
|
Barton
|
A's
|
23
|
101
|
|
Matt
|
Diaz
|
Braves
|
31
|
102
|
|
Mike
|
Wuertz
|
A's
|
30
|
99
|
|
Omar
|
Infante
|
Braves
|
27
|
98
|
|
Dallas
|
Braden
|
A's
|
25
|
92
|
|
Eric
|
Hinske
|
Braves
|
31
|
85
|
|
Jake
|
Fox
|
A's
|
26
|
91
|
|
Peter
|
Moylan
|
Braves
|
30
|
82
|
|
Coco
|
Crisp
|
A's
|
29
|
87
|
|
Troy
|
Glaus
|
Braves
|
32
|
78
|
|
Mark
|
Ellis
|
A's
|
32
|
79
|
|
Julio
|
Teheran
|
Braves
|
18
|
76
|
|
Michael
|
Taylor
|
A's
|
23
|
73
|
|
Tim
|
Hudson
|
Braves
|
33
|
61
|
|
Josh
|
Outman
|
A's
|
24
|
73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hunter
|
Pence
|
Astros
|
26
|
192
|
|
Prince
|
Fielder
|
Brewers
|
25
|
267
|
|
Michael
|
Bourn
|
Astros
|
26
|
156
|
|
Ryan
|
Braun
|
Brewers
|
25
|
261
|
|
Wandy
|
Rodriguez
|
Astros
|
30
|
130
|
|
Corey
|
Hart
|
Brewers
|
27
|
170
|
|
Roy
|
Oswalt
|
Astros
|
31
|
116
|
|
Yovani
|
Gallardo
|
Brewers
|
23
|
167
|
|
Brandon
|
Lyon
|
Astros
|
29
|
102
|
|
Casey
|
McGehee
|
Brewers
|
26
|
155
|
|
Jason
|
Castro
|
Astros
|
22
|
85
|
|
Alcides
|
Escobar
|
Brewers
|
22
|
142
|
|
Brett
|
Myers
|
Astros
|
28
|
72
|
|
Rickie
|
Weeks
|
Brewers
|
26
|
138
|
|
Lance
|
Berkman
|
Astros
|
33
|
71
|
|
Brett
|
Lawrie
|
Brewers
|
19
|
100
|
|
Carlos
|
Lee
|
Astros
|
33
|
70
|
|
Jody
|
Gerut
|
Brewers
|
31
|
71
|
|
Chris
|
Sampson
|
Astros
|
31
|
64
|
|
Manny
|
Parra
|
Brewers
|
26
|
70
|
|
Jeff
|
Keppinger
|
Astros
|
29
|
63
|
|
Carlos
|
Villanueva
|
Brewers
|
25
|
64
|
|
Bud
|
Norris
|
Astros
|
24
|
60
|
|
Todd
|
Coffey
|
Brewers
|
28
|
61
|
|
Kaz
|
Matsui
|
Astros
|
33
|
58
|
|
Claudio
|
Vargas
|
Brewers
|
31
|
61
|
|
Alberto
|
Arias
|
Astros
|
25
|
52
|
|
Mitch
|
Stetter
|
Brewers
|
28
|
53
|
|
Jeff
|
Fulchino
|
Astros
|
29
|
43
|
|
Mat
|
Gamel
|
Brewers
|
23
|
48
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Team
|
Age
|
Value
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Team
|
Age
|
Value
|
|
Adam
|
Wainwright
|
Cardinals
|
27
|
208
|
|
Matt
|
Kemp
|
Dodgers
|
24
|
238
|
|
Albert
|
Pujols
|
Cardinals
|
29
|
194
|
|
Chad
|
Billingsley
|
Dodgers
|
24
|
215
|
|
Matt
|
Holliday
|
Cardinals
|
29
|
183
|
|
Andre
|
Ethier
|
Dodgers
|
27
|
202
|
|
Ryan
|
Ludwick
|
Cardinals
|
30
|
142
|
|
Jonathan
|
Broxton
|
Dodgers
|
25
|
201
|
|
Colby
|
Rasmus
|
Cardinals
|
22
|
131
|
|
James
|
Loney
|
Dodgers
|
25
|
195
|
|
Skip
|
Schumaker
|
Cardinals
|
29
|
130
|
|
Clayton
|
Kershaw
|
Dodgers
|
21
|
171
|
|
Yadier
|
Molina
|
Cardinals
|
26
|
128
|
|
Russell
|
Martin
|
Dodgers
|
26
|
160
|
|
Kyle
|
Lohse
|
Cardinals
|
30
|
105
|
|
Ramon
|
Troncoso
|
Dodgers
|
26
|
100
|
|
Brendan
|
Ryan
|
Cardinals
|
27
|
105
|
|
Vicente
|
Padilla
|
Dodgers
|
31
|
96
|
|
Brad
|
Penny
|
Cardinals
|
31
|
89
|
|
Rafael
|
Furcal
|
Dodgers
|
31
|
96
|
|
Blake
|
Hawksworth
|
Cardinals
|
26
|
71
|
|
Hong-Chih
|
Kuo
|
Dodgers
|
27
|
93
|
|
Kyle
|
McClellan
|
Cardinals
|
25
|
69
|
|
Randy
|
Wolf
|
Dodgers
|
32
|
91
|
|
Todd
|
Wellemeyer
|
Cardinals
|
30
|
68
|
|
George
|
Sherrill
|
Dodgers
|
32
|
85
|
|
Brad
|
Thompson
|
Cardinals
|
27
|
53
|
|
Ronald
|
Belisario
|
Dodgers
|
26
|
79
|
|
Julio
|
Lugo
|
Cardinals
|
33
|
51
|
|
Dee
|
Gordon
|
Dodgers
|
21
|
70
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carlos
|
Zambrano
|
Cubs
|
28
|
161
|
|
Pablo
|
Sandoval
|
Giants
|
22
|
255
|
|
Rich
|
Harden
|
Cubs
|
27
|
156
|
|
Tim
|
Lincecum
|
Giants
|
25
|
252
|
|
Geovany
|
Soto
|
Cubs
|
26
|
142
|
|
Matt
|
Cain
|
Giants
|
24
|
215
|
|
Carlos
|
Marmol
|
Cubs
|
26
|
138
|
|
Brian
|
Wilson
|
Giants
|
27
|
166
|
|
Randy
|
Wells
|
Cubs
|
26
|
128
|
|
Buster
|
Posey
|
Giants
|
22
|
166
|
|
Ryan
|
Theriot
|
Cubs
|
29
|
122
|
|
Madison
|
Bumgarner
|
Giants
|
19
|
148
|
|
Aramis
|
Ramirez
|
Cubs
|
31
|
121
|
|
Juan
|
Uribe
|
Giants
|
30
|
109
|
|
Marlon
|
Byrd
|
Cubs
|
31
|
115
|
|
Aaron
|
Rowand
|
Giants
|
31
|
109
|
|
Starlin
|
Castro
|
Cubs
|
19
|
112
|
|
Fred
|
Lewis
|
Giants
|
28
|
106
|
|
Xavier
|
Nady
|
Cubs
|
30
|
111
|
|
Freddy
|
Sanchez
|
Giants
|
31
|
98
|
|
Ryan
|
Dempster
|
Cubs
|
32
|
94
|
|
Aubrey
|
Huff
|
Giants
|
32
|
93
|
|
John
|
Grabow
|
Cubs
|
30
|
93
|
|
Travis
|
Ishikawa
|
Giants
|
25
|
90
|
|
Mike
|
Fontenot
|
Cubs
|
29
|
89
|
|
Jonathan
|
Sanchez
|
Giants
|
26
|
87
|
|
Tom
|
Gorzelanny
|
Cubs
|
26
|
83
|
|
Sergio
|
Romo
|
Giants
|
26
|
86
|
|
Kosuke
|
Fukudome
|
Cubs
|
32
|
82
|
|
Barry
|
Zito
|
Giants
|
31
|
80
|
|
Jeff
|
Baker
|
Cubs
|
28
|
80
|
|
Eugenio
|
Velez
|
Giants
|
27
|
78
|
|
Derrek
|
Lee
|
Cubs
|
33
|
71
|
|
Nate
|
Schierholtz
|
Giants
|
25
|
74
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeremy
|
Affeldt
|
Giants
|
30
|
73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Justin
|
Upton
|
Diamondbacks
|
21
|
248
|
|
Grady
|
Sizemore
|
Indians
|
26
|
207
|
|
Mark
|
Reynolds
|
Diamondbacks
|
25
|
226
|
|
Shin-Soo
|
Choo
|
Indians
|
26
|
204
|
|
Dan
|
Haren
|
Diamondbacks
|
28
|
191
|
|
Asdrubal
|
Cabrera
|
Indians
|
23
|
196
|
|
Stephen
|
Drew
|
Diamondbacks
|
26
|
180
|
|
Jhonny
|
Peralta
|
Indians
|
27
|
166
|
|
Edwin
|
Jackson
|
Diamondbacks
|
25
|
172
|
|
Carlos
|
Santana
|
Indians
|
23
|
145
|
|
Miguel
|
Montero
|
Diamondbacks
|
25
|
161
|
|
Luis
|
Valbuena
|
Indians
|
23
|
94
|
|
Adam
|
LaRoche
|
Diamondbacks
|
29
|
158
|
|
Kerry
|
Wood
|
Indians
|
32
|
81
|
|
Kelly
|
Johnson
|
Diamondbacks
|
27
|
150
|
|
Travis
|
Hafner
|
Indians
|
32
|
78
|
|
Chris
|
Young
|
Diamondbacks
|
25
|
141
|
|
Joe
|
Smith
|
Indians
|
25
|
78
|
|
Gerardo
|
Parra
|
Diamondbacks
|
22
|
131
|
|
Aaron
|
Laffey
|
Indians
|
24
|
76
|
|
Conor
|
Jackson
|
Diamondbacks
|
27
|
129
|
|
Matt
|
LaPorta
|
Indians
|
24
|
74
|
|
Brandon
|
Webb
|
Diamondbacks
|
30
|
127
|
|
Justin
|
Masterson
|
Indians
|
24
|
73
|
|
Jarrod
|
Parker
|
Diamondbacks
|
20
|
115
|
|
Chris
|
Perez
|
Indians
|
23
|
65
|
|
Chad
|
Qualls
|
Diamondbacks
|
30
|
106
|
|
Rafael
|
Perez
|
Indians
|
27
|
63
|
|
Juan
|
Gutierrez
|
Diamondbacks
|
25
|
75
|
|
David
|
Huff
|
Indians
|
24
|
60
|
|
Chris
|
Snyder
|
Diamondbacks
|
28
|
75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Team
|
Age
|
Value
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Team
|
Age
|
Value
|
|
Felix
|
Hernandez
|
Mariners
|
23
|
267
|
|
Ryan
|
Zimmerman
|
Nationals
|
24
|
238
|
|
|
Jose
|
Lopez
|
Mariners
|
25
|
190
|
|
Adam
|
Dunn
|
Nationals
|
29
|
173
|
|
|
Franklin
|
Gutierrez
|
Mariners
|
26
|
157
|
|
Stephen
|
Strasberg
|
Nationals
|
20
|
172
|
|
|
David
|
Aardsma
|
Mariners
|
27
|
148
|
|
Josh
|
Willingham
|
Nationals
|
30
|
131
|
|
|
Cliff
|
Lee
|
Mariners
|
30
|
148
|
|
John
|
Lannan
|
Nationals
|
24
|
126
|
|
|
Casey
|
Kotchman
|
Mariners
|
26
|
140
|
|
Elijah
|
Dukes
|
Nationals
|
25
|
124
|
|
|
Ryan
|
Garko
|
Mariners
|
28
|
138
|
|
Lastings
|
Milledge
|
Nationals
|
24
|
108
|
|
|
Dustin
|
Ackley
|
Mariners
|
22
|
133
|
|
Nyjer
|
Morgan
|
Nationals
|
28
|
104
|
|
|
Ryan
|
Rowland-Smith
|
Mariners
|
26
|
119
|
|
Cristian
|
Guzman
|
Nationals
|
31
|
99
|
|
|
Milton
|
Bradley
|
Mariners
|
31
|
110
|
|
Kevin
|
Gregg
|
Nationals
|
31
|
97
|
|
|
Chone
|
Figgins
|
Mariners
|
31
|
110
|
|
Willie
|
Harris
|
Nationals
|
31
|
87
|
|
|
Ian
|
Snell
|
Mariners
|
27
|
68
|
|
Jesus
|
Flores
|
Nationals
|
24
|
84
|
|
|
Jack
|
Wilson
|
Mariners
|
31
|
60
|
|
Tyler
|
Clippard
|
Nationals
|
24
|
82
|
|
|
Eric
|
Byrnes
|
Mariners
|
33
|
53
|
|
Chris
|
Duncan
|
Nationals
|
28
|
61
|
|
|
Shawn
|
Kelley
|
Mariners
|
25
|
45
|
|
Drew
|
Storen
|
Nationals
|
21
|
58
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hanley
|
Ramirez
|
Marlins
|
25
|
265
|
|
Nick
|
Markakis
|
Orioles
|
25
|
239
|
|
|
Josh
|
Johnson
|
Marlins
|
25
|
198
|
|
Adam
|
Jones
|
Orioles
|
23
|
180
|
|
|
Chris
|
Coghlan
|
Marlins
|
24
|
188
|
|
Brian
|
Matusz
|
Orioles
|
22
|
163
|
|
|
Jorge
|
Cantu
|
Marlins
|
27
|
179
|
|
Matt
|
Wieters
|
Orioles
|
23
|
140
|
|
|
Mike
|
Stanton
|
Marlins
|
19
|
169
|
|
Nolan
|
Reimold
|
Orioles
|
25
|
132
|
|
|
Ricky
|
Nolasco
|
Marlins
|
26
|
169
|
|
Brian
|
Roberts
|
Orioles
|
31
|
124
|
|
|
Cody
|
Ross
|
Marlins
|
28
|
163
|
|
Luke
|
Scott
|
Orioles
|
31
|
112
|
|
|
Dan
|
Uggla
|
Marlins
|
29
|
162
|
|
Matt
|
Wieters
|
Orioles
|
23
|
106
|
|
|
Leo
|
Nunez
|
Marlins
|
25
|
120
|
|
Brad
|
Bergesen
|
Orioles
|
23
|
101
|
|
|
Logan
|
Morrison
|
Marlins
|
21
|
103
|
|
Ty
|
Wigginton
|
Orioles
|
31
|
94
|
|
|
John
|
Baker
|
Marlins
|
28
|
95
|
|
Jeremy
|
Guthrie
|
Orioles
|
30
|
91
|
|
|
Chris
|
Volstad
|
Marlins
|
22
|
85
|
|
Jim
|
Johnson
|
Orioles
|
26
|
88
|
|
|
Renyel
|
Pinto
|
Marlins
|
26
|
78
|
|
Felix
|
Pie
|
Orioles
|
24
|
86
|
|
|
Burke
|
Badenhop
|
Marlins
|
26
|
73
|
|
Mike
|
Gonzalez
|
Orioles
|
31
|
83
|
|
|
Sean
|
West
|
Marlins
|
23
|
60
|
|
Cla
|
Meredith
|
Orioles
|
26
|
75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
|
Wright
|
Mets
|
26
|
234
|
|
Adrian
|
Gonzalez
|
Padres
|
27
|
216
|
|
|
Francisco
|
Rodriguez
|
Mets
|
27
|
188
|
|
Chase
|
Headley
|
Padres
|
25
|
135
|
|
|
Jose
|
Reyes
|
Mets
|
26
|
174
|
|
Jon
|
Garland
|
Padres
|
29
|
122
|
|
|
Jeff
|
Francoeur
|
Mets
|
25
|
171
|
|
Scott
|
Hairston
|
Padres
|
29
|
119
|
|
|
Jason
|
Bay
|
Mets
|
30
|
153
|
|
Heath
|
Bell
|
Padres
|
31
|
114
|
|
|
Johan
|
Santana
|
Mets
|
30
|
147
|
|
Everth
|
Cabrera
|
Padres
|
22
|
103
|
|
|
Daniel
|
Murphy
|
Mets
|
24
|
143
|
|
Will
|
Venable
|
Padres
|
26
|
99
|
|
|
Angel
|
Pagan
|
Mets
|
27
|
128
|
|
Kyle
|
Blanks
|
Padres
|
22
|
86
|
|
|
Mike
|
Pelfrey
|
Mets
|
25
|
123
|
|
Clayton
|
Richard
|
Padres
|
25
|
84
|
|
|
John
|
Maine
|
Mets
|
28
|
108
|
|
Kevin
|
Correia
|
Padres
|
28
|
83
|
|
|
Carlos
|
Beltran
|
Mets
|
32
|
98
|
|
Tony Jr.
|
Gwynn
|
Padres
|
26
|
69
|
|
|
Oliver
|
Perez
|
Mets
|
27
|
98
|
|
Chris
|
Young
|
Padres
|
30
|
68
|
|
|
Pedro
|
Feliciano
|
Mets
|
32
|
64
|
|
Nick
|
Hundley
|
Padres
|
25
|
66
|
|
|
Luis
|
Castillo
|
Mets
|
33
|
57
|
|
Jerry Jr.
|
Hairston
|
Padres
|
33
|
56
|
|
|
Anderson
|
Hernandez
|
Mets
|
26
|
52
|
|
Adam
|
Russell
|
Padres
|
26
|
56
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Team
|
Age
|
Value
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Team
|
Age
|
Value
|
|
Cole
|
Hamels
|
Phillies
|
25
|
205
|
|
Evan
|
Longoria
|
Rays
|
23
|
249
|
|
Ryan
|
Howard
|
Phillies
|
29
|
183
|
|
B.J.
|
Upton
|
Rays
|
24
|
193
|
|
Shane
|
Victorino
|
Phillies
|
28
|
174
|
|
Carl
|
Crawford
|
Rays
|
27
|
187
|
|
Chase
|
Utley
|
Phillies
|
30
|
157
|
|
Ben
|
Zobrist
|
Rays
|
28
|
179
|
|
J.A.
|
Happ
|
Phillies
|
26
|
155
|
|
James
|
Shields
|
Rays
|
27
|
176
|
|
Joe
|
Blanton
|
Phillies
|
28
|
149
|
|
Desmond
|
Jennings
|
Rays
|
22
|
160
|
|
Jayson
|
Werth
|
Phillies
|
30
|
143
|
|
Matt
|
Garza
|
Rays
|
25
|
157
|
|
Jimmy
|
Rollins
|
Phillies
|
30
|
141
|
|
J.P.
|
Howell
|
Rays
|
26
|
154
|
|
Ben
|
Francisco
|
Phillies
|
27
|
136
|
|
Jason
|
Bartlett
|
Rays
|
29
|
152
|
|
Dominick
|
Brown
|
Phillies
|
21
|
136
|
|
Wade
|
Davis
|
Rays
|
23
|
139
|
|
Ryan
|
Madson
|
Phillies
|
28
|
108
|
|
Jeff
|
Niemann
|
Rays
|
26
|
133
|
|
Kyle
|
Kendrick
|
Phillies
|
24
|
103
|
|
Carlos
|
Pena
|
Rays
|
31
|
126
|
|
Roy
|
Halladay
|
Phillies
|
32
|
103
|
|
Jeremy
|
Hellickson
|
Rays
|
22
|
118
|
|
Carlos
|
Ruiz
|
Phillies
|
30
|
74
|
|
Tim
|
Beckham
|
Rays
|
19
|
106
|
|
Greg
|
Dobbs
|
Phillies
|
30
|
69
|
|
Kelly
|
Shoppach
|
Rays
|
29
|
106
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rafael
|
Soriano
|
Rays
|
29
|
102
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
|
Price
|
Rays
|
23
|
95
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Willy
|
Aybar
|
Rays
|
26
|
94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pat
|
Burrell
|
Rays
|
32
|
88
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant
|
Balfour
|
Rays
|
31
|
79
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dioner
|
Navarro
|
Rays
|
25
|
73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew
|
McCutchen
|
Pirates
|
22
|
193
|
|
Dustin
|
Pedroia
|
Red Sox
|
25
|
238
|
|
Pedro
|
Alvarez
|
Pirates
|
22
|
154
|
|
Jon
|
Lester
|
Red Sox
|
25
|
224
|
|
Garrett
|
Jones
|
Pirates
|
28
|
135
|
|
Jacoby
|
Ellsbury
|
Red Sox
|
25
|
195
|
|
Paul
|
Maholm
|
Pirates
|
27
|
133
|
|
Jonathan
|
Papelbon
|
Red Sox
|
28
|
186
|
|
Andy
|
LaRoche
|
Pirates
|
25
|
132
|
|
Josh
|
Beckett
|
Red Sox
|
29
|
164
|
|
Ryan
|
Doumit
|
Pirates
|
28
|
123
|
|
Kevin
|
Youkilis
|
Red Sox
|
30
|
155
|
|
Matt
|
Capps
|
Pirates
|
25
|
117
|
|
Jeremy
|
Hermida
|
Red Sox
|
25
|
154
|
|
Ryan
|
Church
|
Pirates
|
30
|
108
|
|
Daisuke
|
Matsuzaka
|
Red Sox
|
28
|
141
|
|
Akinori
|
Iwamura
|
Pirates
|
30
|
102
|
|
Victor
|
Martinez
|
Red Sox
|
30
|
138
|
|
Ross
|
Ohlendorf
|
Pirates
|
26
|
97
|
|
John
|
Lackey
|
Red Sox
|
30
|
136
|
|
Zach
|
Duke
|
Pirates
|
26
|
85
|
|
Adrian
|
Beltre
|
Red Sox
|
30
|
121
|
|
Delwyn
|
Young
|
Pirates
|
27
|
84
|
|
Ramon
|
Ramirez
|
Red Sox
|
27
|
111
|
|
Joel
|
Hanrahan
|
Pirates
|
27
|
74
|
|
Ryan
|
Westmoreland
|
Red Sox
|
19
|
97
|
|
Brandon
|
Moss
|
Pirates
|
25
|
74
|
|
Casey
|
Kelly
|
Red Sox
|
20
|
94
|
|
Bobby
|
Crosby
|
Pirates
|
29
|
49
|
|
Manny
|
Delcarmen
|
Red Sox
|
27
|
87
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
|
Ortiz
|
Red Sox
|
33
|
70
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ian
|
Kinsler
|
Rangers
|
27
|
202
|
|
Joey
|
Votto
|
Reds
|
25
|
225
|
|
Josh
|
Hamilton
|
Rangers
|
28
|
167
|
|
Brandon
|
Phillips
|
Reds
|
28
|
170
|
|
Neftali
|
Feliz
|
Rangers
|
21
|
157
|
|
Edinson
|
Volquez
|
Reds
|
25
|
157
|
|
Nelson
|
Cruz
|
Rangers
|
28
|
155
|
|
Jay
|
Bruce
|
Reds
|
22
|
142
|
|
Justin
|
Smoak
|
Rangers
|
22
|
152
|
|
Johnny
|
Cueto
|
Reds
|
23
|
115
|
|
David
|
Murphy
|
Rangers
|
27
|
151
|
|
Nick
|
Masset
|
Reds
|
27
|
107
|
|
Chris
|
Davis
|
Rangers
|
23
|
147
|
|
Bronson
|
Arroyo
|
Reds
|
32
|
88
|
|
Scott
|
Feldman
|
Rangers
|
26
|
143
|
|
Yonder
|
Alonso
|
Reds
|
22
|
88
|
|
Elvis
|
Andrus
|
Rangers
|
20
|
135
|
|
Chris
|
Dickerson
|
Reds
|
27
|
80
|
|
Martin
|
Perez
|
Rangers
|
18
|
124
|
|
Aaron
|
Harang
|
Reds
|
31
|
80
|
|
Michael
|
Young
|
Rangers
|
32
|
96
|
|
Laynce
|
Nix
|
Reds
|
28
|
79
|
|
C.J.
|
Wilson
|
Rangers
|
28
|
92
|
|
Willy
|
Taveras
|
Reds
|
27
|
66
|
|
Julio
|
Borbon
|
Rangers
|
23
|
88
|
|
Drew
|
Stubbs
|
Reds
|
24
|
66
|
|
Frank
|
Francisco
|
Rangers
|
29
|
86
|
|
Jared
|
Burton
|
Reds
|
28
|
61
|
|
Darren
|
O'Day
|
Rangers
|
26
|
81
|
|
Wladimir
|
Balentien
|
Reds
|
24
|
56
|
|
Brandon
|
McCarthy
|
Rangers
|
25
|
73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jarrod
|
Saltalamacchia
|
Rangers
|
24
|
71
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Team
|
Age
|
Value
|
|
First
|
Last
|
Team
|
Age
|
Value
|
|
|
Troy
|
Tulowitzki
|
Rockies
|
24
|
232
|
|
Joe
|
Mauer
|
Twins
|
26
|
232
|
|
|
Huston
|
Street
|
Rockies
|
25
|
195
|
|
Jason
|
Kubel
|
Twins
|
27
|
192
|
|
|
Ubaldo
|
Jimenez
|
Rockies
|
25
|
190
|
|
Justin
|
Morneau
|
Twins
|
28
|
191
|
|
|
Brad
|
Hawpe
|
Rockies
|
29
|
167
|
|
Denard
|
Span
|
Twins
|
25
|
184
|
|
|
Seth
|
Smith
|
Rockies
|
26
|
159
|
|
Scott
|
Baker
|
Twins
|
27
|
177
|
|
|
Ian
|
Stewart
|
Rockies
|
24
|
157
|
|
Delmon
|
Young
|
Twins
|
23
|
175
|
|
|
Carlos
|
Gonzalez
|
Rockies
|
23
|
149
|
|
J.J.
|
Hardy
|
Twins
|
26
|
155
|
|
|
Chris
|
Iannetta
|
Rockies
|
26
|
146
|
|
Kevin
|
Slowey
|
Twins
|
25
|
153
|
|
|
Dexter
|
Fowler
|
Rockies
|
23
|
146
|
|
Michael
|
Cuddyer
|
Twins
|
30
|
137
|
|
|
Jorge
|
de la Rosa
|
Rockies
|
28
|
129
|
|
Nick
|
Blackburn
|
Twins
|
27
|
133
|
|
|
Aaron
|
Cook
|
Rockies
|
30
|
126
|
|
Jon
|
Rauch
|
Twins
|
30
|
102
|
|
|
Jason
|
Marquis
|
Rockies
|
30
|
120
|
|
Glen
|
Perkins
|
Twins
|
26
|
96
|
|
|
Jason
|
Hammel
|
Rockies
|
26
|
109
|
|
Aaron
|
Hicks
|
Twins
|
19
|
91
|
|
|
Ryan
|
Spilborghs
|
Rockies
|
29
|
109
|
|
Brendan
|
Harris
|
Twins
|
28
|
90
|
|
|
Christian
|
Friedrich
|
Rockies
|
21
|
109
|
|
Carlos
|
Gomez
|
Twins
|
23
|
89
|
|
|
Clint
|
Barmes
|
Rockies
|
30
|
107
|
|
Matt
|
Guerrier
|
Twins
|
30
|
88
|
|
|
Miguel
|
Olivo
|
Rockies
|
30
|
104
|
|
Jesse
|
Crain
|
Twins
|
27
|
81
|
|
|
Manny
|
Corpas
|
Rockies
|
26
|
75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zack
|
Greinke
|
Royals
|
25
|
238
|
|
John
|
Danks
|
White Sox
|
24
|
191
|
|
|
Billy
|
Butler
|
Royals
|
23
|
225
|
|
Carlos
|
Quentin
|
White Sox
|
26
|
179
|
|
|
Joakim
|
Soria
|
Royals
|
25
|
219
|
|
Jake
|
Peavy
|
White Sox
|
28
|
167
|
|
|
Alberto
|
Callaspo
|
Royals
|
26
|
176
|
|
Gavin
|
Floyd
|
White Sox
|
26
|
165
|
|
|
David
|
DeJesus
|
Royals
|
29
|
144
|
1001
|
Gordon
|
Beckham
|
White Sox
|
22
|
165
|
|
|
Alex
|
Gordon
|
Royals
|
25
|
135
|
|
Alex
|
Rios
|
White Sox
|
28
|
165
|
|
|
Mike
|
Jacobs
|
Royals
|
28
|
134
|
|
Bobby
|
Jenks
|
White Sox
|
28
|
156
|
|
|
Rick
|
Ankiel
|
Royals
|
29
|
112
|
|
Mark
|
Teahen
|
White Sox
|
27
|
147
|
|
|
Yuniesky
|
Betancourt
|
Royals
|
27
|
101
|
|
Alexei
|
Ramirez
|
White Sox
|
27
|
141
|
|
|
Gil
|
Meche
|
Royals
|
30
|
98
|
|
Mark
|
Buehrle
|
White Sox
|
30
|
133
|
|
|
Chris
|
Getz
|
Royals
|
25
|
90
|
|
Tony
|
Pena
|
White Sox
|
27
|
99
|
|
|
Mike
|
Moustakas
|
Royals
|
20
|
82
|
|
Juan
|
Pierre
|
White Sox
|
31
|
88
|
|
|
Will
|
Myers
|
Royals
|
20
|
79
|
|
A.J.
|
Pierzynski
|
White Sox
|
32
|
81
|
|
|
Kyle
|
Davies
|
Royals
|
25
|
71
|
|
Matt
|
Thornton
|
White Sox
|
32
|
79
|
|
|
Robinson
|
Tejeda
|
Royals
|
27
|
68
|
|
Jayson
|
Nix
|
White Sox
|
26
|
76
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.J.
|
Putz
|
White Sox
|
32
|
74
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miguel
|
Cabrera
|
Tigers
|
26
|
241
|
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
Yankees
|
26
|
208
|
|
|
Justin
|
Verlander
|
Tigers
|
26
|
205
|
|
C.C.
|
Sabathia
|
Yankees
|
28
|
200
|
|
|
Rick
|
Porcello
|
Tigers
|
20
|
140
|
|
Mark
|
Teixeira
|
Yankees
|
29
|
184
|
|
|
Jose
|
Valverde
|
Tigers
|
31
|
119
|
|
Curtis
|
Granderson
|
Yankees
|
28
|
181
|
|
|
Zach
|
Miner
|
Tigers
|
27
|
108
|
|
Nick
|
Swisher
|
Yankees
|
28
|
169
|
|
|
Ryan
|
Raburn
|
Tigers
|
28
|
103
|
|
Joba
|
Chamberlain
|
Yankees
|
23
|
144
|
|
|
Armando
|
Galarraga
|
Tigers
|
27
|
93
|
|
Alfredo
|
Aceves
|
Yankees
|
26
|
128
|
|
|
Clete
|
Thomas
|
Tigers
|
25
|
92
|
|
Jesus
|
Montero
|
Yankees
|
19
|
121
|
|
|
Max
|
Scherzer
|
Tigers
|
24
|
91
|
|
Phil
|
Hughes
|
Yankees
|
23
|
117
|
|
|
Brandon
|
Inge
|
Tigers
|
32
|
75
|
|
Nick
|
Johnson
|
Yankees
|
30
|
117
|
|
|
Austin
|
Jackson
|
Tigers
|
22
|
64
|
|
Chad
|
Gaudin
|
Yankees
|
26
|
101
|
|
|
Carlos
|
Guillen
|
Tigers
|
33
|
63
|
|
Brian
|
Bruney
|
Yankees
|
27
|
99
|
|
|
Bobby
|
Seay
|
Tigers
|
31
|
58
|
|
Javier
|
Vazquez
|
Yankees
|
32
|
96
|
|
|
Alex
|
Avila
|
Tigers
|
22
|
56
|
|
Brett
|
Gardner
|
Yankees
|
25
|
95
|
|
|
Gerald
|
Laird
|
Tigers
|
29
|
54
|
|
A.J.
|
Burnett
|
Yankees
|
32
|
93
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
|
Robertson
|
Yankees
|
24
|
73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alex
|
Rodriguez
|
Yankees
|
33
|
72
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In this study, the age spectrum of the value analyzed is as follows:
|
Age
|
Percent of Total
|
|
18
|
0.3%
|
|
19
|
2.0%
|
|
20
|
1.4%
|
|
21
|
2.3%
|
|
22
|
5.1%
|
|
23
|
6.2%
|
|
24
|
6.8%
|
|
25
|
16.1%
|
|
26
|
14.3%
|
|
27
|
11.2%
|
|
28
|
9.7%
|
|
29
|
6.0%
|
|
30
|
8.6%
|
|
31
|
5.1%
|
|
32
|
3.3%
|
|
33
|
1.6%
|
|
34
|
0.0%
|
With this method, players aged 35 or older have zero value by definition. 34-year-old players DO have value, but no player aged 34 had enough value to be listed on his team’s roster of the 15 most valuable properties.
The methodology I have used to study this issue at this time is better than the method that was used in previous years, but it still needs some work. The two biggest issues are these:
1) That more minor league players should be included in the study. In the past, we ignored minor leaguers. In this study we included them, but they account for only 8% of the value. It would be better if 25 to 30% of the value in the study was the minor leaguers.
2) That there is a problem with players making a minors-to-majors transition. Clay Buchholz, Cameron Maybin and Luke Gregorson, for example, fail to make their teams’ lists of the most valuable young players. They are too far advanced to be regarded by MLB as “prospects”, but what they have accomplished so far in the majors is not enough to establish significant major league performance value. This is not optimal; players like that should be included, and should make the lists.