The price of WAR at different positions

[Frobby]

Here's an interesting fangraphs article that suggests that the price of WAR goes up as you move down the defensive spectrum. In other words, the best "values" are at 2B, SS, 3B and C. The article also shows that relief pitchers are grossly, grossly overpaid, to the tune of $16.4 mm per WAR compared to $4.7 mm for a starting pitcher. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/positional-differences-in-the-price-of-war-2/

[Icterus galbula]

This was interesting to me too:

Between 1994 and 2011, there were 40 GMs fired among 532 team seasons. Below, I have a breakdown of hitter, starter and reliever WAR, looking separately at teams whose GM was fired and teams whose GM was not fired. In that table, we can see that the average team whose GM was fired had half as much WAR from relievers as the average team whose GM who were not fired. Overall, the average ranking of bullpens that belonged to GMs who later were fired was 21.6.

WAR Group 	Avg. if GM Not Fired 	Avg. if GM Fired 	Ratio 	Rank if GM FiredWAR Hitters 	          21.9 	          18.2 	                 83% 	          19.3WAR Starters 	          12.5 	           9.8 	                 78% 	          20.9WAR Relievers 	           3.0 	           1.5 	                 50% 	          21.6

What this suggests is that general managers have watched one another be fired for having bad bullpens, but they've seen peers be forgiven for having bad lineups or poor starting pitching. It seems that when a team falters because of poor hitting or bad pitching, the farm system, the scouts, the manager or the players get blamed. When a bullpen implodes, it's the general manager's fault.

[CA-ORIOLE]

Here's an interesting fangraphs article that suggests that the price of WAR goes up as you move down the defensive spectrum. In other words, the best "values" are at 2B, SS, 3B and C. The article also shows that relief pitchers are grossly, grossly overpaid, to the tune of $16.4 mm per WAR compared to $4.7 mm for a starting pitcher. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/positional-differences-in-the-price-of-war-2/

The degree depends what WAR you look at/chose to believe.

.. using rWAR suggests relievers are paid 30% more than comparable producers elsewhere on the roster, while fWAR puts that premium at 200%.