MLB Moneyball Power Rankings: Which Team Got the Most Value from 2022 Roster?

The Moneyball philosophy of roster building was made popular by the Oakland Athletics during the 2000s, and the ever-growing implementation of advanced statistics has changed the way that talent is evaluated and teams are assembled.

Whether it's a small-market club trying to squeeze the most out of every spot on the roster or a large-market team with a seemingly endless cash flow, every dollar has to be spent with a clear purpose.

It's all about getting the most value out of players, from pre-arbitration guys contributing at young ages to big-money stars living up to their lofty paychecks.

So, which club got the most value out of its payroll in 2022?

There are a lot of numbers to digest in the following article, so allow me to offer an explanation.

Total Net Value was the ultimate factor in determining where each team landed in the rankings and was calculated as follows:

Step 1: I found each player's WAR total for the 2022 season, courtesy of Baseball Reference.

Step 2: Based on the FanGraphs value system, 1.0 WAR was again worth around $8 million in 2022. So from there, each player's WAR from Step 1 was multiplied by eight to give us the player's 2022 value in millions of dollars.

Step 3: Each player's 2022 salary was then subtracted from his 2022 value, resulting in his 2022 net value. Player salaries came from the team pages of Spotrac.

• Formula: (2022 WAR x 8) - 2022 salary = net value

After that, the cumulative net values of all players who were part of the MLB payroll at any point in 2022 were totaled to determine each team's total net value.

Included is a look at each team's five best and five worst values, along with a few bullet points for each club that consist of notable observations.

For those of you looking for a complete picture of your favorite team, a link to a full breakdown in the form of a Google Sheets document can be found under the total net value for each club.

Total Net Value: -$56.7 million

5 Best Values

• 1B Josh Bell: +$20.7 million
  
• OF Juan Soto: +$19.3 million
• C Keibert Ruiz: +$12.9 million
  
• OF Victor Robles: +$12.8 million
  
• OF Lane Thomas: +$12.1 million
  

The two best values on the Nationals' roster didn't even play with the team over the final two months of the season, which speaks volumes to the overall lack of talent remaining on a roster that has been stripped to the studs.

5 Worst Values

• SP Patrick Corbin: -$43.4 million
  
• SP Stephen Strasburg: -$26.0 million
• DH Nelson Cruz: -$11.2 million
  
• SP Joan Adon: -$10.7 million
  
• 3B Maikel Franco: -$10.1 million
  

On top of these poor values, the Nationals also spent $28.5 million on deferred salaries to Max Scherzer ($15M), Stephen Strasburg ($10M), Rafael Soriano ($2M) and Brad Hand ($1.5M). Underperforming pitchers Strasburg (4/$140M) and Corbin (2/$59.8M) are still owed a combined $199.8 million.

Total Net Value: -$34.7 million

5 Best Values

• C/OF Eric Haase: +$16.1 million
  
• OF Riley Greene: +$10.8 million
  
• SP Tarik Skubal: +$8.9 million
  
• IF/OF Willi Castro: +$8.9 million
  
• SP Matt Manning: +$5.7 million
  

Catcher Eric Haase posted a 115 OPS+ with 14 home runs and 44 RBI in 110 games, and that was enough for him to be the best value on the roster. Despite a disappointing first season in Detroit, shortstop Javier Báez (+0.0M) still provided a neutral net value on his $20 million salary with a team-leading 2.5 WAR.

5 Worst Values

• DH Miguel Cabrera: -$40.0 million
  
• SP Eduardo Rodríguez: -$13.2 million
  
• SP Elvin Rodríguez: -$12.1 million
  
• 1B Spencer Torkelson: -$10.9 million
  
• SP Michael Pineda: -$10.3 million
  

Veteran Miguel Cabrera provided one of the highlights of the 2022 season when he joined the 3,000-hit club in April, but his 83 OPS+ in 112 games made him a negative-1.0 WAR player while he earned $32 million in the process. The 39-year-old has one more guaranteed season on his contract.

Total Net Value: +$6.2 million

5 Best Values

• SS Xander Bogaerts: +$26.4 million
  
• 3B Rafael Devers: +$24.0 million
  
• RP John Schreiber: +$21.0 million
  
• SP Michael Wacha: +$19.4 million
  
• SP Nick Pivetta: +$18.2 million
  

Beyond the two superstars on the left side of the infield, reliever John Schreiber was one of the few standouts on the 2022 Red Sox roster. The 28-year-old was claimed off waivers prior to the 2021 season, and in 2022 he posted a 2.22 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 with 22 holds and eight saves in 64 appearances.

5 Worst Values

• OF Jackie Bradley Jr.: -$20.7 million
  
• SP Chris Sale: -$20.0 million
  
• C Kevin Plawecki: -$11.1 million
  
• DH J.D. Martinez: -$10.6 million
  
• SP Connor Seabold: -$8.1 million
  

The decision to flip Hunter Renfroe to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Jackie Bradley Jr. was a head-scratcher at the time, and it doesn't make any more sense now in hindsight. The light-hitting outfielder ended up being released in early August and the team ate the final two months of his $17.5 million salary.

Total Net Value: +$9.4 million

5 Best Values

• RP Alexis Díaz: +$24.1 million
  
• SP Nick Lodolo: +$21.7 million
  
• SP Luis Castillo: +$20.2 million
• SP Hunter Greene: +$17.7 million
  
• IF Brandon Drury: +$16.2 million
  

Rookie right-hander Alexis Díaz posted a 1.84 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 11.7 K/9 with 10 saves and 13 holds in 59 games. He may not generate the same amount of attention as his older brother, New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz, but he was every bit as effective while pitching on a league-minimum salary.

5 Worst Values

• 1B Joey Votto: -$27.4 million
  
• 1B/3B Mike Moustakas: -$24.0 million
  
• SP Mike Minor: -$14.8 million
  
• SS José Barrero: -$13.3 million
  
• OF Nick Senzel: -$11.7 million
  

First baseman Joey Votto has one season remaining on his 10-year, $225 million deal, and after hitting .205 with an 87 OPS+ in 91 games, it's fair to wonder how much the 39-year-old has left in the tank. He also has a $20 million club option with an $7 million buyout for the 2024 season.

Total Net Value: +$20.9 million

5 Best Values

• 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes: +$24.4 million
  
• SS Oneil Cruz: +$18.0 million
  
• OF Bryan Reynolds: +$16.5 million
  
• SP Mitch Keller: +$15.3 million
  
• SP José Quintana: +$14.7 million
  

The Pirates signed Ke'Bryan Hayes to an eight-year, $70 million extension in April, setting a new high mark for the largest contract in franchise history. Despite his lackluster 87 OPS+ at the plate, his elite defense at the hot corner made him a 4.3-WAR player, and he had the highest net value on the roster with a team-high $10 million salary.

5 Worst Values

• 1B Yoshi Tsutsugo: -$17.6 million
  
• IF Josh VanMeter: -$9.4 million
  
• SP Bryse Wilson: -$9.3 million
  
• RP Miguel Yajure: -$8.3 million
  
• OF Bligh Madris: -$8.2 million
  

The one-year, $4 million deal that Yoshi Tsutsugo signed during the offseason made him the fourth-highest-paid player on the Pittsburgh roster. After two impressive months in Pittsburgh down the stretch in 2021, he was unable to duplicate that success upon returning and he was released in August.

Total Net Value: +$23.3 million

5 Best Values

• C Sean Murphy: +$27.3 million
  
• SP Cole Irvin: +$16.1 million
  
• 1B/OF Seth Brown: +$12.9 million
  
• SP Paul Blackburn: +$10.5 million
  
• SP Frankie Montas: +$10.4 million
  

Catcher Sean Murphy posted a 120 OPS+ with 18 home runs at the plate and provided Gold Glove-caliber defense behind the plate en route to a 3.5-WAR season. The 28-year-old is arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason with his salary projected to jump form $725,000 to $3.5 million, but he was one of the best bargains in baseball behind the plate in 2022.

5 Worst Values

• OF Stephen Piscotty: -$14.0 million
  
• DH Jed Lowrie: -$10.4 million
  
• RP Lou Trivino: -$9.1 million
  
• OF Chad Pinder: -$9.1 million
  
• SP Zach Logue: -$9.1 million
  

Veterans Stephen Piscotty and Jed Lowrie were both released in August, reliever Lou Trivino was traded to the New York Yankees at the deadline, and utility man Chad Pinder is a free agent, so the Athletics are out from under the four worst values on the roster heading into 2023.

Total Net Value: +$29.7 million

5 Best Values

• SP Dylan Cease: +$50.5 million
  
• SP Johnny Cueto: +$24.8 million
  
• SP Michael Kopech: +$16.9 million
• SS Elvis Andrus: +$14.2 million
  
• 1B José Abreu: +$13.9 million
  

With a $50.5 million net value, Dylan Cease trailed only Sandy Alcántara (+$60.2M) among all pitchers, excluding two-way star Shohei Ohtani. The 26-year-old had a 2.20 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 227 strikeouts in 184 innings, and he is due for a substantial raise in his first year of arbitration this offseason.

5 Worst Values

• C Yasmani Grandal: -$29.5 million
  
• SP Dallas Keuchel: -$26.8 million
  
• IF/OF Leury García: -$13.5 million
  
• SP Lance Lynn: -$12.1 million
  
• RP Joe Kelly: -$11.8 million
  

After a 3.7-WAR season in the second season of a four-year, $73 million contract in 2021, catcher Yasmani Grandal was one of the least valuable players in baseball this past season. The 33-year-old hit just .202/.301/.269 for a 64 OPS+ and he was a minus-1.4 WAR player in 99 games.

Total Net Value: +$31.4 million

5 Best Values

• 2B Brendan Rodgers: +$33.7 million
  
• RP Daniel Bard: +$26.0 million
  
• 3B Ryan McMahon: +$19.8 million
  
• SP Kyle Freeland: +$12.2 million
  
• 1B C.J. Cron: +$9.6 million
  

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 draft, Brendan Rodgers finally delivered on his vast potential during the 2022 season, posting a 4.3 WAR season in 137 games with a nice mix of power and elite defense. The 26-year-old made $710,000 this past season, and he'll be arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter.

5 Worst Values

• DH Charlie Blackmon: -$22.9 million
  
• OF Kris Bryant: -$14.8 million
  
• RP Jhoulys Chacín: -$12.5 million
  
• RP Alex Colomé: -$11.3 million
  
• IF/OF Garrett Hampson: -$10.7 million
  

The first season of Kris Bryant's seven-year, $182 million contract with the Rockies was nothing short of a disaster, with back issues and plantar fasciitis limiting him to only 42 games. It was just another in a series of ill-advised moves by the front office, and going into his age-31 season, the odds are stacked against him living up to that payday.

Total Net Value: +$66.2 million

5 Best Values

• DH/SP Shohei Ohtani: +$71.3 million
  
• OF Taylor Ward: +$28.9 million
  
• SP Patrick Sandoval: +$27.3 million
  
• IF Luis Rengifo: +$18.6 million
  
• SP Reid Detmers: +$18.6 million
  

Two-way standout Shohei Ohtani earned just $5.5 million last season while once again providing star-level production on the mound and in the batter's box. The 28-year-old had 3.4 WAR as a hitter and 6.2 WAR as a pitcher. His salary will spike to $30 million next season, but that's still a fraction of his value relative to his production.

5 Worst Values

• 3B Anthony Rendon: -$28.6 million
  
• RP Aaron Loup: -$14.7 million
  
• IF José Rojas: -$9.0 million
  
• RP Mike Mayers: -$7.8 million
  
• OF Juan Lagares: -$7.4 million
  

With a salary of $36.6 million, Anthony Rendon was the third-highest-paid player in baseball in 2022, behind only Max Scherzer ($43.3M) and teammate Mike Trout ($37.1M), yet he was once again a non-factor. He has been worth just 3.2 WAR over the first three seasons of his seven-year, $245 million contract.

Total Net Value: +$67.5 million

5 Best Values

• SP Martín Pérez: +$36.0 million
  
• OF Adolis García: +$27.3 million
  
• 1B Nathaniel Lowe: +$25.7 million
  
• 2B Marcus Semien: +$22.2 million
  
• C Jonah Heim: +$19.3 million
  

The Rangers spent $500 million on their new middle-infield tandem, and while shortstop Corey Seager (-$1.0M) provided roughly neutral value, second baseman Marcus Semien (+$22.2M) still provided significant value on his $25 million salary. The same goes for veteran left-hander Martín Pérez, with 5.0 WAR on a one-year, $4 million deal.

5 Worst Values

• IF/OF Brad Miller: -$18.8 million
  
• OF Kole Calhoun: -$17.2 million
  
• SP Kohei Arihara: -$10.8 million
  
• SP Spencer Howard: -$9.2 million
  
• RP Garrett Richards: -$7.7 million
  

Brad Miller and Kole Calhoun cost a combined $11.2 million in 2022, and while they had a chance to be solid bargains relative to that cost, both fell flat in providing secondary production offensively. Rougned Odor ($12.3M) and Elvis Andrus ($7.3M) were still on the books as dead money in 2022.

Total Net Value: +$73.9 million

5 Best Values

• SP Logan Webb: +$36.9 million
  
• SP Carlos Rodón: +$21.7 million
  
• RP Camilo Doval: +$14.5 million
  
• 2B Thairo Estrada: +$12.1 million
  
• RP John Brebbia: +$12.0 million
  

Right-hander Logan Webb is the Giants' best homegrown pitcher since Madison Bumgarner joined Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain during their run of three titles in five years. The 25-year-old is controllable through the 2025 season, and he'll receive a nice pay bump in his first year of arbitration this winter.

5 Worst Values

• SP Anthony DeSclafani: -$18.4 million
  
• 1B Brandon Belt: -$16.0 million
  
• SS Brandon Crawford: -$11.2 million
  
• IF Tommy La Stella: -$10.9 million
  
• SP Alex Wood: -$10.9 million
  

The decision to give a qualifying offer to first baseman Brandon Belt (1/$18.4M) and an extension to shortstop Brandon Crawford (2/$32M) both look like mistakes. The veteran duo combined for 0.9 WAR while earning $34.4 million in 2022.

Total Net Value: +$78.6 million

5 Best Values

• SP Brady Singer: +$35.3 million
  
• OF Michael A. Taylor: +$21.0 million
  
• RP Scott Barlow: +$20.0 million
  
• OF Andrew Benintendi: +$14.7 million
  
• RP Dylan Coleman: +$12.9 million
  

The Royals appear to have found a bona fide ace of the staff in Brady Singer, who delivered on the potential he showed at the University of Florida before going No. 18 overall in the 2018 draft. The 26-year-old posted a 3.23 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 150 strikeouts in 153.1 innings in 2022.

5 Worst Values

• 3B/OF Hunter Dozier: -$16.8 million
  
• RP Jake Brentz: -$11.1 million
  
• SP/RP Carlos Hernández: -$10.0 million
  
• RP Josh Staumont: -$6.3 million
  
• 2B/OF Whit Merrifield: -$6.1 million
  

Following a breakout season in 2019 and a solid follow-up during the shortened 2020 season, the Royals signed Hunter Dozier to a four-year, $25 million extension. He has logged a dismal minus-4.0 WAR over the first two seasons of that contract, and the backloaded deal will pay him $16.75 million in 2023 and 2024.

Total Net Value: +$79.0 million

5 Best Values

• SS Ha-Seong Kim: +$33.8 million
  
• 2B Jake Cronenworth: +$32.0 million
  
• 3B Manny Machado: +$22.4 million
  
• OF Trent Grisham: +$20.1 million
  
• OF Jurickson Profar: +$17.5 million
  

With Fernando Tatis Jr. injured to start the year and then suspended before he had a chance to return to action, everyday shortstop duties fell to Ha-Seong Kim, and he answered the call with 5.1 WAR in the second season of his four-year, $28 million contract.

5 Worst Values

• SP Sean Manaea: -$17.0 million
  
• 1B/OF Wil Myers: -$13.7 million
  
• RP Josh Hader: -$12.0 million
  
• 1B Eric Hosmer: -$12.0 million
  
• RP Drew Pomeranz: -$10.0 million
  

The Padres are finally out from under the ill-fated six-year, $83 million extension that Wil Myers signed prior to the 2017 season. He earned $22.5 million in 2022 as a part-time player, tallying 1.1 WAR in 77 games, and his $20 million club option for next year was bought out for $1 million earlier this week.

Total Net Value: +$99.7 million

5 Best Values

• SS Nico Hoerner: +$35.3 million
  
• OF Ian Happ: +$28.4 million
  
• C Willson Contreras: +$21.6 million
  
• SP Adrian Sampson: +$16.4 million
  
• SP Justin Steele: +$15.3 million
  

The Chicago Cubs appear to have found a pair of long-term building blocks in shortstop Nico Hoerner and left-hander Justin Steele, though they are also poised to lose one with Willson Contreras reaching free agency, and 2022 All-Star Ian Happ now has just one year of club control remaining.

5 Worst Values

• OF Jason Heyward: -$30.1 million
  
• IF Jonathan Villar: -$10.8 million
  
• 1B Frank Schwindel: -$10.1 million
  
• RP Sean Newcomb: -$10.1 million
  
• SP Wade Miley/SP Kyle Hendricks: -$10.0 million
  

With the Cubs announcing they plan to release Jason Heyward ahead of the final season of his contract, the book can be closed on his eight-year, $184 million deal. He was worth 8.9 WAR in 744 games over the life of that contract, winning a pair of Gold Glove awards and playing a key role as a veteran voice on the 2016 World Series winners.

Total Net Value: +$100.4 million

5 Best Values

• SP Aaron Nola: +$32.5 million
  
• C J.T. Realmuto: +$28.1 million
  
• SP Ranger Suárez: +$19.3 million
  
• 1B Rhys Hoskins: +$15.5 million
  
• SP Zack Wheeler: +$14.8 million
  

Despite their considerable salaries, Aaron Nola ($15.5M), J.T. Realmuto ($23.875M) and Zack Wheeler ($26.0M) all still provided positive net value. The "Best Values" lists are generally filled with pre-arbitration players and guys still earning just a couple million dollars or less, so that success from their high-priced stars is a big reason for their success in 2022.

5 Worst Values

• OF Nick Castellanos: -$20.8 million
  
• SS Didi Gregorius: -$18.5 million
  
• RP Jeurys Familia: -$10.8 million
  
• DH Bryce Harper: -$7.6 million
  
• IF Scott Kingery: -$6.3 million
  

The Phillies cut ties with shortstop Didi Gregorius in August, turning over starting shortstop duties to rookie Bryson Stott. After a terrific season in 2020 playing on a one-year deal, Gregorius returned on a new two-year, $28 million contract and was a minus-1.2 WAR player in 166 games before he was cut loose.

Total Net Value: +$120.7 million

5 Best Values

• 2B/OF Jeff McNeil: +$42.6 million
  
• OF Brandon Nimmo: +$33.8 million
  
• 1B Pete Alonso: +$27.8 million
  
• SP Chris Bassitt: +$17.0 million
  
• RP Edwin Díaz: +$15.4 million
  

Offseason additions Chris Bassitt (+$17.0M), Starling Marte (+$14.7M), Adam Ottavino (+$13.4M) and Mark Canha (+$7.3M) all provided positive net value, and even Max Scherzer (-$1.7M) came close to matching his $43.3 million salary, which is no small feat at that price point. That said, it was still a homegrown trio of hitters who led the way in terms of positive net value.

5 Worst Values

• 2B Robinson Canó: -$23.7 million
  
• SP Jacob deGrom: -$9.3 million
  
• C James McCann: -$9.0 million
  
• RP Trevor May: -$8.6 million
  
• DH Darin Ruf: -$8.3 million
  

With injuries limiting him to just 11 starts, Jacob deGrom failed to live up to his $20.5 million salary, and now he's testing the open market after opting out of the final season of his contract. He's the definition of a boom-or-bust player going forward, with the potential to still be the best pitcher in baseball when healthy, but a long enough list of injury issues in recent years to wonder what's next.

Total Net Value: +$125.9 million

5 Best Values

• SP Zac Gallen: +$40.1 million
  
• C/OF Daulton Varsho: +$38.5 million
  
• 1B Christian Walker: +$38.2 million
  
• 2B/3B Josh Rojas: +$24.9 million
  
• SP Merrill Kelly: +$23.2 million
  

The starting rotation was quietly a major strength for the Diamondbacks, with Zac Gallen (+$40.1M) and Merrill Kelly (+$23.2M) leading the way and up-and-comers Drey Jameson (+$10.3M) and Ryne Nelson (+$6.3M) flashing exciting potential down the stretch.

5 Worst Values

• SP Madison Bumgarner: -$24.4 million
  
• RP Mark Melancon: -$13.4 million
  
• RP Ian Kennedy: -$13.3 million
  
• RP Luis Frías: -$9.0 million
  
• SS Nick Ahmed: -$8.9 million
  

The five-year, $85 million contract given to Madison Bumgarner prior to the 2020 season has so far yielded 0.3 WAR and a 4.98 ERA in 346.2 innings over 65 starts. The 33-year-old can still chew through innings, but his days as a front-line option are behind him, and it's likely he'll be occupying a spot on this "Worst Values" list once again in 2023.

Total Net Value: +$137.8 million

5 Best Values

• SS Willy Adames: +$30.6 million
  
• SP Corbin Burnes: +$25.5 million
  
• IF Luis Urías: +$22.3 million
  
• 3B Jace Peterson: +$16.6 million
• 2B Kolten Wong: $16.3 million
  

The Brewers had an abundance of high-value players with Devin Williams (+$16.1M), Tyrone Taylor (+$16.1M), Brandon Woodruff (+$14.8M) and Hunter Renfroe (+$14.0M) falling just outside the top five.

5 Worst Values

• OF Lorenzo Cain: -$19.6 million
  
• SP Adrian Houser: -$8.8 million
  
• RP Josh Hader: -$7.8 million
  
• RP Jason Alexander: -$7.6 million
  
• SP/RP Aaron Ashby: -$5.5 million
  

With Lorenzo Cain now off the books, the Brewers will have some money to spend this offseason as they try to supplement a talented but flawed roster. Veteran Andrew McCutchen (+$0.3M) was the big splurge last offseason with a one-year, $8.5 million deal, and he managed to provide a bit of positive value.

Total Net Value: +$144.3 million

5 Best Values

• 1B Luis Arráez: +$33.1 million
  
• OF Byron Buxton: +$22.9 million
  
• RP Jhoan Durán: +$21.7 million
  
• 3B Gio Urshela: +$18.3 million
  
• 2B Jorge Polanco/SP Joe Ryan: +$16.9 million
  

Just two of the six players listed above were earning a pre-arbitration salary, so the Twins have a solid crop of arbitration-eligible talent living up to their salaries. Not listed above is shortstop Carlos Correa (+$8.1M), who still managed to provide positive value with 5.4 WAR playing on a $35.1 million salary.

5 Worst Values

• 1B Miguel Sanó: -$15.7 million
  
• RP Joe Smith: -$7.3 million
  
• SP Dylan Bundy: -$6.4 million
  
• RP Tyler Duffey: -$6.2 million
• IF Jermaine Palacios: -$5.8 million
  

Slugger Miguel Sanó had a 112 OPS+ and 30 home runs as recently as the 2021 season, but he played in just 20 games in 2022 before he was sidelined with a knee injury. The Twins opted for a $2.75 million buyout rather than a $14 million club option earlier this week, and he'll be one of the more intriguing buy-low power bats on this year's free-agent market.

Total Net Value: +$147.0 million

5 Best Values

• SP Sandy Alcántara: +$60.2 million
  
• SP Pablo López: +$21.6 million
  
• IF Jon Berti: +$18.8 million
• 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.: +$18.5 million
  
• SP Edward Cabrera: +$16.3 million
  

It's no secret the Marlins have a treasure trove of young pitching, and Sandy Alcántara (+$60.2M), Pablo López (+$21.6M), Edward Cabrera (+$16.3M), Jesús Luzardo (+$15.3M) and Braxton Garrett (+$10.0M) all checked in with double-digit positive net value.

5 Worst Values

• OF Avisaíl García: -$20.8 million
  
• 1B Jesús Aguilar: -$12.9 million
  
• SP/RP Elieser Hernández: -$10.1 million
  
• OF Jorge Soler: -$8.8 million
  
• C Jacob Stallings: -$8.1 million
  

Offseason additions Avisaíl García, Jorge Soler and Jacob Stallings posted a combined minus-1.4 WAR while earning $26.45 million in 2022. The front office will need to do a lot better this winter upgrading the offense if this team is going to be a contender in 2023.

Total Net Value: +$185.3 million

5 Best Values

• SP Alek Manoah: +$46.5 million
  
• C Alejandro Kirk: +$30.5 million
  
• SS Bo Bichette: +$28.0 million
  
• 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: +$23.3 million
  
• RP Jordan Romano: +$22.5 million
  

Between Alejandro Kirk (+$30.5M), Danny Jansen (+$21.3M) and Gabriel Moreno (+$5.4M), the Blue Jays received $57.2 million in positive net value from the catcher position during the 2022 season. Meanwhile, Alek Manoah trailed only Sandy Alcántara (+$60.2M) and Dylan Cease (+$50.0M) in net value among starting pitchers.

5 Worst Values

• SP Yusei Kikuchi: -$24.8 million
  
• SP Hyun Jin Ryu: -$22.4 million
  
• SP José Berríos: -$14.7 million
  
• SP Mitch White: -$9.8 million
  
• RP Trevor Richards: -$7.4 million
  

Even with Manoah turning in a breakout season, the Blue Jays still finished 18th in the majors with a 3.98 ERA from the starting rotation, so it's not surprising to see multiple starting pitchers on the worst values list. The trio of Yusei Kikuchi, Hyun Jin Ryu and José Berríos earned a combined $46.7 million and produced minus-1.9 WAR.

Total Net Value: +$188.0 million

5 Best Values

• OF Aaron Judge: +$65.8 million
  
• SP Nestor Cortés: +$32.9 million
  
• 2B Gleyber Torres: +$26.6 million
  
• SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa: +$19.3 million
  
• C Jose Trevino/DH Matt Carpenter: +$17.7 million
  

Despite his offensive shortcomings, Isiah Kiner-Falefa was a 3-WAR player on a reasonable $4.7 million contract, which was good enough to make him the fourth-best value on the Yankees roster. Not surprisingly, Aaron Judge claimed the top spot, and even with his $19 million salary he still had the second-highest net value of any player behind Shohei Ohtani (+$71.3M).

5 Worst Values

• DH Giancarlo Stanton: -$23.4 million
  
• RP Aroldis Chapman: -$19.6 million
  
• SP Gerrit Cole: -$16.8 million
  
• RP Zack Britton: -$14.8 million
  
• OF Joey Gallo: -$6.7 million
  

Ace Gerrit Cole had another strong season with a 3.50 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 257 strikeouts in 200.2 innings, but his 2.4 WAR was still well short of matching his $36 million salary, which made him the second-highest-paid pitcher in baseball behind only Max Scherzer, who earned $43.3 million in his first season with the New York Mets.

Total Net Value: +$191.7 million

5 Best Values

• OF Julio Rodríguez: +$47.0 million
  
• C Cal Raleigh: +$29.7 million
  
• SP Logan Gilbert: +$24.9 million
  
• 1B Ty France: +$24.1 million
  
• 3B Eugenio Suárez: +$19.9 million
  

Viewed as little more than a salary dump in the Jesse Winker trade, third baseman Eugenio Suárez instead proved to be integral to Seattle's success in 2022. The 31-year-old had a 129 OPS+ with 31 home runs and 3.9 WAR, and that production far exceeded his $11.3 million salary in terms of net value.

5 Worst Values

• OF Jesse Winker: -$8.7 million
  
• RP Sergio Romo: -$7.6 million
  
• IF Abraham Toro: -$7.0 million
  
• SP Marco Gonzales: -$6.6 million
  
• RP Drew Steckenrider: -$5.5 million
  

A year after starting the All-Star Game, Jesse Winker hit an ugly .219/.344/.344 for a 103 OPS+ in 547 plate appearances, down from a .305 average and 143 OPS+ in his final season with the Cincinnati Reds. The 29-year-old is owed $8.25 million next season to wrap up a two-year, $14.5 million deal.

Total Net Value: +$216.5 million

5 Best Values

• 2B/SS Tommy Edman: +$50.5 million
  
• 3B Nolan Arenado: +$39.8 million
  
• 1B Paul Goldschmidt: +$36.2 million
  
• IF/OF Brendan Donovan: +$32.2 million
  
• RP Ryan Helsley: +$20.9 million
  

It speaks to just how productive they were this season that Paul Goldschmidt ($26.3M) and Nolan Arenado ($23.4M) both appear on the best values list, despite being the two highest-paid players on the St. Louis Cardinals roster. Both were named finalists for NL MVP honors on Monday.

5 Worst Values

• SP Steven Matz: -$11.7 million
  
• C Yadier Molina: -$9.2 million
  
• RP T.J. McFarland: -$8.9 million
  
• RP Drew VerHagen: -$8.9 million
  
• RP Nick Wittgren: -$6.0 million
  

The four-year, $44 million deal given to Steven Matz last offseason proved to be a bust in his first season with the team, as he pitched just 48 innings and struggled to a 5.25 ERA and minus-0.4 WAR. Luckily, deadline-additions José Quintana (+$11.3M) and Jordan Montgomery (+$4.3M) helped offset his negative contributions.

Total Net Value: +$220.2 million

5 Best Values

• 3B Austin Riley: +$48.1 million
  
• OF Michael Harris II: +$41.9 million
  
• SP Max Fried: +$40.4 million
  
• SS Dansby Swanson: +$35.6 million
  
• SP Spencer Strider: +$28.9 million
  

Rookie standouts Michael Harris II, Spencer Strider and Vaughn Grissom (+$6.2M) earned a combined $1.4 million in 2022, providing tremendous value for just a fraction of what some of the other stars on the roster cost. All three players figure to be pieces of the long-term core going forward.

5 Worst Values

• OF Marcell Ozuna: -$22.4 million
  
• OF Eddie Rosario: -$21.8 million
  
• RP Will Smith: -$14.0 million
  
• OF Adam Duvall: -$10.1 million
  
• RP Kenley Jansen: -$8.8 million
  

Bringing back Eddie Rosario and Adam Duvall proved to be a mistake, and if not for the emergence of Harris, the Atlanta outfield would have been a mess outside of Ronald Acuña Jr. (+$7.4M), who himself struggled to find his previous level of production in his return from a torn ACL.

Total Net Value: +$221.0 million

5 Best Values

• SP Shane McClanahan: +$31.3 million
  
• SP Jeffrey Springs: +$27.9 million
  
• 1B Yandy Díaz: +$25.2 million
  
• SP Drew Rasmussen: +$22.5 million
  
• OF Randy Arozarena: +$21.7 million
  

Left-hander Shane McClanahan received plenty of attention for his breakout season, even starting the All-Star Game for the American League. However, the contributions of Jeffrey Springs (2.46 ERA, 135.1 IP, 3.6 WAR) and Drew Rasmussen (2.84 ERA, 146.0 IP, 2.9 WAR) were just as important, and both players were great under-the-radar pickups by the front office in recent years.

5 Worst Values

• C Mike Zunino: -$13.4 million
  
• RP Josh Fleming: -$12.4 million
  
• SP Corey Kluber: -$7.4 million
  
• SP Luis Patiño: -$6.9 million
  
• OF David Peralta: -$5.5 million
  

How tight is the budget in Tampa Bay? The $3.1 million that deadline pickup David Peralta earned in his two months with the team was enough for him to crack the top 10 highest-paid players on the roster. Right-hander Corey Kluber was No. 1 on that list playing on a one-year, $13 million deal.

Total Net Value: +$225.3 million

5 Best Values

• SP Tony Gonsolin: +$36.1 million
  
• C Will Smith: +$32.9 million
  
• SP Julio Urías: +$31.2 million
  
• OF Mookie Betts: +$28.7 million
  
• SP Tyler Anderson: +$25.9 million
  

The biggest surprise here is that even with a $22.5 million salary, Mookie Betts was still one of the best values on the Los Angeles Dodgers roster. First baseman Freddie Freeman (+$20.2M) and shortstop Trea Turner (+$18.2M) also just missed the cut despite their own salaries also checking in north of $20 million.

5 Worst Values

• RP Craig Kimbrel: -$14.4 million
  
• 2B/OF Chris Taylor: -$11.0 million
  
• RP David Price: -$10.4 million
  
• OF Cody Bellinger: -$7.4 million
  
• RP Blake Treinen: -$6.4 million
  

After producing just 1.2 WAR on a $17 million salary, and with a projected arbitration figure of $18.1 million for the 2023 season, the Dodgers will need to seriously consider non-tendering Cody Bellinger this winter. They spent a combined $32 million on Craig Kimbrel and David Price in 2022, and now that money is coming off the books.

Total Net Value: +$238.2 million

5 Best Values

• DH/OF Yordan Álvarez: +$53.6 million
  
• OF Kyle Tucker: +$40.8 million
  
• SS Jeremy Peña: +$37.7 million
  
• SP Cristian Javier: +$28.9 million
  
• SP Framber Valdez: +$26.6 million
  

Starting pitching was the Astros' biggest strength all season, and it shows in the positive net value that Cristian Javier (+$28.9M), Framber Valdez (+$26.6M), Justin Verlander (+$22.2M), Luis García (+$9.9M) and José Urquidy (+$8.9M) produced. It's also safe to assume the six-year, $115 million extension that Yordan Álvarez signed in June is going to be an absolute steal.

5 Worst Values

• 1B Yuli Gurriel: -$10.4 million
  
• C Jason Castro: -$9.6 million
  
• RP Pedro Báez: -$7.1 million
• 1B/OF Trey Mancini: -$6.7 million
  
• DH/OF Michael Brantley: -$5.6 million
  

All five of these players are no longer with the Astros, at least for the time being as Yuli Gurriel, Jason Castro, Trey Mancini and Michael Brantley are all free agents and Pedro Báez was released at the end of April. There's really not much in the way of bad money on the books for the World Series champions.

Total Net Value: +$253.6 million

5 Best Values

• C Adley Rutschman: +$41.1 million
  
• OF Cedric Mullins: +$29.7 million
  
• 2B/3B Ramón Urías: +$28.1 million
  
• SS Jorge Mateo: +$26.5 million
  
• RP Cionel Pérez/SP Dean Kremer: +$21.7 million

If you're looking for a potential early extension candidate this offseason, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman is a prime one after he produced a staggering 5.2 WAR in 113 games as a rookie. The 24-year-old has all the tools to be the face of the franchise for years to come, and his ability to handle the young pitching staff will be instrumental in its development going forward.

5 Worst Values

• SP Bruce Zimmermann: -$6.7 million
  
• IF Chris Owings: -$4.4 million
  
• 2B Rougned Odor: -$3.9 million
  
• 3B Tyler Nevin: -$3.7 million
  
• RP Travis Lakins Sr.: -$3.5 million
  

While there wasn't a bad contract on the books for the 2022 season, the Orioles did pay $16.2 million in deferred salaries to Alex Cobb ($6.5M), Chris Davis ($5.7M), Mark Trumbo ($1.5M), Darren O'Day ($1M), Andrew Cashner ($1M) and Bobby Bonilla ($500K), which ultimately kept them from claiming the No. 1 spot in these rankings.

Total Net Value: +$263.5 million

5 Best Values

• 2B Andrés Giménez: +$58.5 million
  
• OF Steven Kwan: +$43.3 million
  
• SP Triston McKenzie: +$30.5 million
  
• SS Amed Rosario: +$28.7 million
  
• 3B José Ramírez: +$26.0 million
  

It should come as no surprise that the youngest team in baseball was loaded with great values in the form of multiple pre-arbitration players who were key contributors. With a $22 million salary, José Ramírez was the only player on the roster making over $6 million, yet he was still one of the team's five best values.

5 Worst Values

• RP Bryan Shaw: -$11.0 million
  
• DH Franmil Reyes: -$10.3 million
  
• SP Zach Plesac: -$8.4 million
  
• C Austin Hedges: -$7.2 million
  
• SP Aaron Civale: -$7.1 million
  

Light-hitting catcher Austin Hedges is a free agent this offseason, opening the door for top prospect Bo Naylor to make a serious push at claiming the starting job next spring following a breakout offensive season in the minors. That would turn one of the few bad value spots into another potentially huge positive in 2023.