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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Click here to estimate years and dollars for Alonso.