Contract Crowdsourcing 2017-18: Ballot 1 of 15
Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating this offseason a contract-crowdsourcing project, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2017-18 free-agent market.
Below are links to ballots for five of this year’s free agents, including four catchers and also Yonder Alonso.
Alex Avila (Profile)
Some relevant information regarding Avila:
- Has averaged 268 PA and 1.3 WAR over last three seasons.
- Has averaged 2.2 WAR per 450 PA* over last three seasons.
- Recorded a 2.5 WAR in 376 PA in 2017.
- Is projected to record 1.7 WAR per 450 PA**.
- Is entering his age-31 season.
- Made $2.0M in 2017, as part of deal signed in December 2016.
*That is, a roughly average number of plate appearances for a starting catcher.
**Prorated version of final 2017 depth-chart projections available here.
Click here to estimate years and dollars for Avila.
Welington Castillo (Profile)
Some relevant information regarding Castillo:
- Has averaged 400 PA and 1.8 WAR over last three seasons.
- Has averaged 2.1 WAR per 450 PA* over last three seasons.
- Recorded a 2.7 WAR in 365 PA in 2017.
- Is projected to record 2.3 WAR per 450 PA**.
- Is entering his age-31 season.
- Made $6.0M in 2017, as part of deal signed in December 2016.
*That is, a roughly average number of plate appearances for a starting catcher.
**Prorated version of final 2017 depth-chart projections available here.
Click here to estimate years and dollars for Castillo.
Chris Iannetta (Profile)
Some relevant information regarding Iannetta:
- Has averaged 324 PA and 1.2 WAR over last three seasons.
- Has averaged 1.6 WAR per 450 PA* over last three seasons.
- Recorded a 2.2 WAR in 316 PA in 2017.
- Is projected to record 1.9 WAR per 450 PA**.
- Is entering his age-35 season.
- Made $1.5M in 2017, as part of deal signed in January 2017.
*That is, a roughly average number of plate appearances for a starting catcher.
**Prorated version of final 2017 depth-chart projections available here.
Click here to estimate years and dollars for Iannetta.
Jonathan Lucroy (Profile)
Some relevant information regarding Lucroy:
- Has averaged 480 PA and 2.3 WAR over last three seasons.
- Has averaged 2.2 WAR per 450 PA* over last three seasons.
- Recorded a 1.2 WAR in 481 PA in 2017.
- Is projected to record 2.4 WAR per 450 PA**.
- Is entering his age-32 season.
- Made $5.3M in 2017, as part of deal signed in March 2012.
*That is, a roughly average number of plate appearances for a starting catcher.
**Prorated version of final 2017 depth-chart projections available here.
Click here to estimate years and dollars for Lucroy.
Yonder Alonso (Profile)
Some relevant information regarding Alonso:
- Has averaged 485 PA and 1.0 WAR over last three seasons.
- Has averaged 1.2 WAR per 600 PA* over last three seasons.
- Recorded a 2.4 WAR in 521 PA in 2017.
- Is projected to record 1.6 WAR per 600 PA**.
- Is entering his age-31 season.
- Made $4.0M in 2017 after avoiding arbitration in December 2016.
*That is, a roughly average number of plate appearances for a starter.
**Prorated version of final 2017 depth-chart projections available here.
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
Well, I screwed up giving Avila a 2 year $50 million contract, forgetting that the money number was supposed to be the AAV, not the total.
He better step his game up at $25 million a year.
Hey, if he puts together another season like this one, it’s only a small overpay!