The best and worst value among batters in 1998 using $WAR

Matt Stairs, one of the most productive
batters of 1998 / Icon SMI

Here are the players who produced the most and least value relative to their salaries in 1998. I have followed the same methodology used in my 2011 post, so please read that one for some detail.

The essential details for 1998 are:

• 562.4 total WAR was accumulated among batters.

• They had a total payroll of $715,940,318.

• That's $1.27 million per Win Above Replacement.

• I used a cutoff of 94 plate appearances to eliminate pitchers.

• Players with no salary listed on B-R's 1998 Batting Player Value page were ignored.

Here are the top 20 batters in 1998 by $WAR (difference between actual WAR and salary-expected WAR):

Rank  Player              Team WAR     Salary     $WAR
1     Derek Jeter         NYY  7.8      $750,000   7.2 
2     Andruw Jones        ATL  7.2      $215,000   7   
3     Vladimir Guerrero   MON  7.1      $230,000   6.9 
4     Nomar Garciaparra   BOS  7.3    $1,075,000   6.5 
5     Alex Rodriguez      SEA  7.9    $2,162,500   6.2 
6     Bobby Abreu         PHI  6.2      $180,000   6.1 
7     Scott Rolen         PHI  6.6      $750,000   6   
8     Chipper Jones       ATL  7.4    $2,550,000   5.4 
9     Jason Kendall       PIT  5.7      $600,000   5.2 
10    John Olerud         NYM  8.1    $3,750,000   5.2 
11    Jeff Cirillo        MIL  5.9    $1,500,000   4.7 
12    Matt Stairs         OAK  4.1      $325,000   3.8 
13    Scott Brosius       NYY  5.7    $2,650,000   3.6 
14    Brian Jordan        STL  6.5    $3,700,000   3.6 
15    Brian Giles         CLE  3.8      $300,000   3.6 
16    Matt Lawton         MIN  3.5      $215,000   3.3 
17    Carlos Delgado      TOR  5.2    $2,400,000   3.3 
18    Mark  Kotsay        FLA  3.4      $171,000   3.3 
19    Jose Offerman       KCR  4.7    $2,000,000   3.1 
20    Jorge Posada        NYY  3.3      $250,000   3.1 

There is a nice mix of youngsters and well-paid players. Derek Jeter was in just his 3rd year, while John Olerud was having his first season after becoming a free agent (and re-signing with the Mets.)

Scott Brosius came out of nowhere to post a career year and Jorge Posada was just coming onto the horizon as a great young player.

Now here are the 20 worst values of 1998 among batters:

Rank  Player              Team WAR    Salary       $WAR
1     Gary Sheffield      2TM   3.7  $14,936,667   -8  
2     Bobby Bonilla       2TM  -1.1   $5,900,000   -5.7
3     Todd Hundley        NYM  -1.3   $4,925,000   -5.2
4     Bernard Gilkey      2TM  -0.7   $5,050,000   -4.7
5     Carlos Baerga       NYM  -0.3   $4,749,999   -4  
6     Lance Johnson       CHC  -0.1   $4,900,000   -3.9
7     Jay Buhner          SEA   0.3   $5,367,702   -3.9
8     Gregg Jefferies     2TM   1.1   $6,000,000   -3.6
9     Brady Anderson      BAL   0.7   $5,441,843   -3.6
10    Dante Bichette      COL   0.6   $5,291,667   -3.6
11    Jeff Blauser        CHC  -0.3   $4,000,000   -3.4
12    Cal Ripken          BAL   1.6   $6,400,000   -3.4
13    David Justice       CLE   1.7   $6,500,000   -3.4
14    Cecil Fielder       2TM  -1     $2,970,000   -3.3
15    Chili Davis         NYY   0.1   $4,333,333   -3.3
16    Mike Lansing        COL  -0.2   $3,950,000   -3.3
17    Joe Carter          2TM  -0.8   $3,151,380   -3.3
18    Al Martin           PIT  -1.2   $2,600,000   -3.2
19    Paul Molitor        MIN   0.1   $4,250,000   -3.2
20    John Mabry          STL  -2.1   $1,400,000   -3.2

Sheffield had an off year in 1998 (but by no means a bad year) but is really hurt in this analysis by having signed a huge contract. Interesting how many of these guys switched teams mid-season.

Now here are the 20 highest-paid players:

Rank  Player              Team WAR    Salary       $WAR
1     Gary Sheffield      2TM  3.7   $14,936,667   -8  
2     Albert Belle        CHW  7.4   $10,000,000   -0.5
3     Mark McGwire        STL  7.2    $8,928,354    0.2 
4     Barry Bonds         SFG  9.3    $8,916,667    2.3 
5     Andres Galarraga    ATL  5.4    $8,400,000   -1.2
6     Sammy Sosa          CHC  6.5    $8,325,000    0   
7     Bernie Williams     NYY  6.1    $8,300,000   -0.4
8     Ken Griffey         SEA  6.1    $8,153,667   -0.3
9     Mike Piazza         3TM  6.2    $8,000,000   -0.1
10    Jeff Bagwell        HOU  6.7    $7,945,000    0.5 
11    Juan Gonzalez       TEX  5.1    $7,800,000   -1  
12    Kenny Lofton        CLE  5.3    $7,550,000   -0.6
13    Frank Thomas        CHW  3.5    $7,000,000   -2  
14    Ivan Rodriguez      TEX  6.6    $6,700,000    1.3 
15    Mo Vaughn           BOS  5.7    $6,650,000    0.5 
16    Rafael Palmeiro     BAL  6.2    $6,515,828    1.1 
17    David Justice       CLE  1.7    $6,500,000   -3.4
18    Cal Ripken          BAL  1.6    $6,400,000   -3.4
19    Roberto Alomar      BAL  3.4    $6,343,771   -1.6
20    Craig Biggio        HOU  6.6    $6,145,000    1.8 

This is quite a mix of players who out-performed or under-performed their contracts. Interesting that the two big names of 1988, McGwire and Sosa, were both around 0 for the year. But even back then, Barry Bonds was outperforming the other high-paid stars.