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November 13, 2012

Out of Left Field

What $205 Million Buys on the Free Agent Market

by Matthew Kory

You can’t build a team around free agents, say the people who don’t think you can build a team around free agents. To them, the only way to build a team is through the draft, waiver claims and occasional trades. To paraphrase the great movie Waterboy (which is such a great movie that you can watch it for free on YouTube), “Free agents are the devil!” Well, maybe so if you’re living in the real world, but this is Baseball Prospectus where we can do anything we want provided it fits on a spreadsheet and won’t wake our parents upstairs.

Another thing some people like to say is that baseball teams aren’t just names on paper. They’re real people. Well, not here they aren’t, mister! Here players are one-dimensional entities devoid of emotion and everything else that won’t show up on our computer machines. In that spirit, I’m not only going to build a baseball team exclusively out of free agents, but I’m going to do it only on (virtual) paper. Eat that, straw men I just created!

Can it be done? Not according to some people I spoke with, who said, “Sure,” “I guess so,” and “Probably, but why?” I’ll show them!

Before we construct this hypothetical all-free agent team, we first have to lay some ground rules.

I tried to construct a roster that could compete for the playoffs next year.
I selected a DH because I like actual baseball and asking pitchers to hit is a crime against humanity on par with wet socks and not using a coaster.
I tried to only give out realistic contracts, so no signing Josh Hamilton for 2 years, $20 million.
I tried to maintain a $200 million payroll, because that’s on the outskirts of semi-reasonable. Therefore, signing all the best free agents to realistic contracts would be too expensive.
I kept players at the positions they will realistically play, so no signing Josh Hamilton and playing him partially at second base.

Here’s what I came up with.

Starting Rotation
1. Zack Greinke (7 years, $164.5 million)

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34 comments have been left for this article.

BP Comment Quick Links

code of conduct

buddaley

"Beyond that, I’ve got Oliver for lefties"

You mean Choate, I think.

Nov 13, 2012 04:27 AM

rating: 0

SamMiller

BP staff

Oliver is what we in the BP offices call Randy Choate. It's a long story.
(fixed)

Nov 13, 2012 06:18 AM

uno1234

whats the projected wins?

Nov 13, 2012 04:41 AM

rating: 3

Mooser

At say, $4.5M a win, your $205.5M is going to buy you around 46 projected WAR. Assuming a replacement team gets you 47 wins (.290), than that's 93 wins. Welcome to the playoffs.

Nov 13, 2012 06:33 AM

rating: 0

Behemoth

I think the request was for how the team that was put together would project.

Nov 13, 2012 06:44 AM

rating: 1

Behemoth

Also, by eye, that team looks a long way from the playoffs to me. It would be fun trying to rebuild it in 2015 or so.

Nov 13, 2012 06:48 AM

rating: 0

Richard Bergstrom

In 2015, the payroll would still be in the 130 million range.

Nov 13, 2012 11:27 AM

rating: -1

Matt Kory

BP staff

I tried to answer that below.

Nov 13, 2012 11:06 AM

Schere

Has a franchise ever peaked in its first year?

Nov 13, 2012 06:49 AM

rating: 0

Benjamin Harris

The Rockies arguably peaked in their third season.

Nov 13, 2012 07:47 AM

rating: 0

Matt Kory

BP staff

This one would.

Nov 13, 2012 10:04 AM

Richard Bergstrom

This one would have to, since it's all downhill after the first year... (if that).

Heck it makes the Yankees look young...

Nov 13, 2012 11:25 AM

rating: -2

Matt Kory

BP staff

If the Yankees tried to build a team exclusively from free agents, they'd look this old too. Anyone would. Because free agents are old.

Nov 13, 2012 11:37 AM

Richard Bergstrom

Yes, but not quite as old as this bunch. Teixeira was signed at 29, Sabathia at 28. If you count trades, even Alex Rodriguez was first acquired at 28 and Granderson was first acquired at 29. Only Greinke on this team is signed up for a multiyear contract at that young.

Nov 13, 2012 18:35 PM

rating: -3

Bill Parker

BP staff

I think this gets to the 2013 playoffs with no real problem. The price in 2014-15 will be hell to pay, though.

Nov 13, 2012 09:12 AM

Matt Kory

BP staff

Are you saying you don't think a 40-year-old Marco Scutaro is a bargain at $8 million? Sir, I am shocked. SHOCKED.

Nov 13, 2012 11:38 AM

operatic

Whee, look at all the former Braves. ;)

Nov 13, 2012 09:24 AM

rating: 0

timber

You're going to have to get Bud to step in one more time, Matthew: Scott Baker has signed with the Cubs.

Nov 13, 2012 09:34 AM

rating: 1

Matt Kory

BP staff

I posted this before the Cubs signed him!

Nov 13, 2012 10:03 AM

Matt Kory

BP staff

Also, worth noting the Cubs signed him for 1 year, $5.5 million. I offered 1 year, $6 million. Not a bad guess!

Nov 13, 2012 10:35 AM

timber

I read it before they signed him, too! :)

Nov 13, 2012 10:44 AM

rating: 2

Peter7899

What does PECOTA project you for wins in 2013 with that roster?

Nov 13, 2012 09:36 AM

rating: 0

Matt Kory

BP staff

The PECOTAs aren't available yet so I can't say for sure. I think that I accomplished my goal of putting a competitive team on the field for 2013. Depth wouldn't be especially strong but I think this team could win in the neighborhood of 90 games, give or take 5-7 depending on injuries, under/over-performance, etc.

As Sam Miller noted to me when I submitted this piece though, and as usual he's totally right, is that while this team would be good in 2013, things would probably go downhill from there. The financial outlay is extreme and in two years (2015) I'll still have a $120 million committed to 11 guys, all of whom will be in their 30s, and some in their very late 30s. It's not a recipe for long-term success. As long as I can keep spending to add talent I can probably keep things from getting putrid (and at some point you'd hope there would be an infusion of minor league talent), but this is a crazy expensive and risky way to build a team.

Nov 13, 2012 11:05 AM

Nater1177

Quick question Matt, what changed in the last couple weeks that's changed your thinking on Grienke's projected contract going from 5/115 to 7/164.5?

Nov 13, 2012 10:05 AM

rating: 0

Matt Kory

BP staff

Good question. Two things. First, I read more articles about how much he's expecting to get and how many teams are interested in him. Second, as with all the other players I "signed" I assumed they wouldn't want to come play for me unless I paid more than anyone else.

Nov 13, 2012 10:10 AM

DetroitDale

A very intersting thought exercise.

How would signing all those free agents affect your draft picks? How many would you lose in compensation? I ask because you'd have a very short time to build a farm system to replace the aging free agents. On the other hand, a long playoff run the first year might buy a couple years goodwill to build a farm system.

So where does this team play? What's the nickname? Who's the manager? Dont say ozzie guillen

Nov 13, 2012 14:47 PM

rating: 1

Matt Kory

BP staff

Ozzie Guillen

Nov 13, 2012 15:57 PM

Matt Kory

BP staff

To legitimately answer your questions,

Draft picks: I'd guess that for an expansion team I'd probably wouldn't lose any picks. If I did, I'd only lose my first and second rounders, which since I just signed 25 free agents, isn't that big a price to pay.

Where does the team play: No idea. The biggest city without a major league team is probably Portland, Oregon, but they have no plans to woo a team anytime soon.

Manager: If it were up to me, I'd hire Terry Francona. As to

Team name: I'll hire Jason Parks to come up with something.

Nov 15, 2012 18:00 PM

Richard Bergstrom

Francona over Maddon?

Nov 16, 2012 13:38 PM

rating: -1

Matt Kory

BP staff

Maddon wasn't a free agent this winter.

Nov 17, 2012 12:15 PM

WaldoInSC

Isn't hitting your head with a mallet how you ended up in your parents' basement in the first place?

Also, you forgot to mention the veteran presence on this team. They would know how to win.

Nov 13, 2012 19:44 PM

rating: 0

Matt Kory

BP staff

The totally know how to win.

Nov 13, 2012 22:25 PM

Matt Kory

BP staff

THEY totally know how to win. Only took me two days to notice that misspelling!

Nov 15, 2012 17:57 PM

R.A.Wagman

Matt - that's not a misspelling - that's the team name. The Portland/Brooklyn/Montreal Totally Know how to Win.

Nov 16, 2012 04:30 AM

rating: -1

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Punk Hits: Scouting th... (11/13)

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