I didn't reference WAR because I never looked it up. I'm aware of WAR and other analytic stats, but don't reference them all that often. I guess I should pay more attention to it, however.
I'm struggling to understand this:
Tampa Bay traded outfielder Tommy Pham (and a middling AAA prospect named Jake Cronenworth) to the Padres for Hunter Renfroe, as well as touted middle-infield prospect Xavier Edwards (Keith Law has him rated 46th overall in MLB)and a PTBNL.
So, how much better is 31-year old Tommy Pham than Villar? He plays a different position, but still... I wouldn't think Pham is a more valuable commodity v. Villar.
We got virtually nothing in return for Villar, yet the Rays seemed to have made out quite well. Pham is being paid 8.6 million this coming season... and will go to Arb 3 in 2021 before heading to FA. So the money would appear similar for 2020. I may be looking at this wrong, but it seems to me that the Padres overpaid or we were shorted.
Flaherty is a .6 WAR player over seven seasons. So really its apples and Oranges. Look I know Villar was moved over the projected arb number and the fact the the Orioles will be lucky to win 50 games.