Matt Holliday is making a strong case for a big payday as a free agent this winter, and he deserves it. Over the last two years, he’s accumulated more value than any outfielder in baseball, posting a +11.4 win value in 2008 and 2009. Want to know who is #2?
Jayson Werth, the new leading candidate for the most underrated player in the game.
Werth had a tremendous 2008 season, and he’s followed it up by proving it was no fluke. After hitting .273/.363/.498 last year, he’s topped it with a .274/.377/.523 line. He’s also a tremendous baserunner, having stolen 34 bases and been caught just four times over the past two seasons. He’s Ryan Howard with the benefit of speed and defense, but his slugging teammate continues to garner more press.
Werth shouldn’t be overlooked as one of the primary reasons the Phillies continue to contend in the National League, however. Over the last two years, he’s racked up +9.6 wins of value, ahead of the likes of Manny Ramirez, Ichiro Suzuki, or Ryan Braun. When the elite outfielders in the game are mentioned, however, he’s never mentioned.
Howard, Utley, Rollins, Hamels, and Ibanez have gotten the press, but Werth is just as important to the Phillies. He’s a tremendous player, and he’ll eventually get the recognition he deserves.
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There is absolutely no way that Jayson Werth is as important to the Phillies as Chase Utley. Chase has been worth more than 2 wins a season more than Werth. Werth is a very good player, but Chase Utley is one of the top 5 players in all of baseball.
Yeah here’s the difference though. Chase Utley’s 08/09 salary: $18.5 M. Jayson Werth’s 08/09 salary: $3.7 M.
Both are amazing bargains, but Werth is producing at more than 10 times the rate he’s being paid.
Nowhere in that article did it say he was. “[B]ut Werth is just as important to the Phillies” implies that while the 5 people mentioned get a lot of press, Werth’s season is also an equally important tool to their success. It doesn’t take a genius to figure this out, stop looking for reasons to get upset, because you are finding things that aren’t there.
I wasn’t upset (who gets upset over Fangraphs articles about teams they don’t follow closely?), but now I’m confused. Your reply is, to borrow a phrase, a tautological hellmaze.
Lumping in Utley with Howard/Rollins/Hamels/Ibanez does a disservice to Utley.
Werth is cheaper, but replaceable. Utley isn’t. Comparing Jayson Werth and Utley is like comparing Adam Lind and HanRam.