The ever-growing implementation of advanced statistics has changed the way that talent is evaluated and teams are assembled in Major League Baseball.

That shift in philosophy can be traced back to the Moneyball days in the Oakland Athletics organization during the early 2000s.

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 a young age to big-money stars living up to their lofty paychecks.

So, which club got the most value out of its payroll in 2024?

Let's dig in.

Methodology

There are a lot of numbers to digest here, 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 2024 season, courtesy of Baseball Reference.

Step 2: Based on the FanGraphs value metric, 1.0 WAR was again worth around $8 million in 2024. So from there, each player's WAR from Step 1 was multiplied by eight to give us the player's 2024 value in millions of dollars.

Step 3: Each player's 2024 salary was then subtracted from his 2024 value, resulting in his 2024 net value. Player salaries came from the team pages of Spotrac.

• Formula: (2024 WAR x 8) - 2024 salary = net value

After that, the cumulative net values of all players who were part of the MLB payroll at any point in 2024 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 made up 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.

30. Chicago White Sox

Total Net Value: -$75.7 million

5 Best Values

• SP Erick Fedde: +$32.6 million
• SP Garrett Crochet: +$32.0 million
• SP Jonathan Cannon: +$14.7 million
• SP Chris Flexen: +$11.1 million
• RP Jared Shuster: +$7.4 million

It's scary to think how much worse the historically awful 2024 White Sox would have been if not for a starting rotation that produced a passable 4.62 ERA on the strength of breakout seasons from Erick Fedde and Garrett Crochet.

5 Worst Values

• OF Andrew Benintendi: -$23.5 million
• 3B Yoán Moncada: -$22.4 million
• DH Eloy Jiménez: -$16.0 million
• C Martín Maldonado: -$14.4 million
• OF Corey Julks: -$9.3 million

While Yoán Moncada and Eloy Jiménez are now off the books for the White Sox, the team is still struck with underperforming outfielder Andrew Benintendi. The 30-year-old has three years and $49.3 million remaining on his contract, and he hit .229/.289/.396 in a minus-0.8 WAR season in 2024.

29. Colorado Rockies

Total Net Value: -$66.6 million

5 Best Values

• OF Brenton Doyle: +$31.3 million
• SS Ezequiel Tovar: +$28.7 million
• 1B Miguel Toglia: +$17.0 million
• SP Austin Gomber: +$13.7 million
• C Jacob Stallings: +$12.9 million

The young trio of Brenton Doyle, Ezequiel Tovar and Miguel Toglia combined for 168 extra-base hits, 74 home runs and 10.0 WAR while earning a combined $3.03 million in 2024. That gives the team a good, cost-controlled offensive core to build around going forward, though Doyle and Toglia will need to prove their breakout performances are for real.

5 Worst Values

• 1B/OF Kris Bryant: -$33.6 million
• SP Kyle Freeland: -$15.0 million
• RP Justin Lawrence: -$14.3 million
• 1B Elehuris Montero: -$14.0 million
• SP Antonio Senzatela: -$12.0 million

Three seasons into his seven-year, $182 million contract, Kris Bryant has played in 159 total games for the Rockies, hitting .250/.332/.381 for a 93 OPS+ and minus-1.3 WAR during that time. All signs point to that deal going down as one of the worst free-agent signings in MLB history.

28. New York Mets

Total Net Value: -$24.8 million

5 Best Values

• 3B Mark Vientos: +$24.2 million
• 2B Jose Iglesias: +$23.8 million
• SS Francisco Lindor: +$21.1 million
• SP David Peterson: +$21.1 million
• SP/RP José Buttó: +$17.1 million

Even with a $34.1 million salary, shortstop Francisco Lindor was still able to check in as one of the best values on the Mets roster. That is a testament to just how productive he was in a season where he might have made a serious run at NL MVP honors without Shohei Ohtani also residing in the National League.

5 Worst Values

• OF Starling Marte: -$15.2 million
• C Omar Narváez: -$14.2 million
• SP Kodai Senga: -$14.2 million
• SP/RP Adrian Houser: -$12.3 million
• RP Jake Diekman: -$10.4 million

Not listed among the Mets' worst values is the fact that they played the 2024 season with $60.3 million worth of dead money on the books, which ultimately dragged their total net value into the red. Pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander accounted for $50.8 million of that payroll drain after the Mets ate the bulk of their remaining contracts to move them at the 2023 deadline.

27. Los Angeles Angels

Total Net Value: -$10.1 million

5 Best Values

• SS Zach Neto: +$40.1 million
• C Logan O'Hoppe: +$20.8 million
• SP José Soriano: +$16.0 million
• OF Taylor Ward: +$13.6 million
• RP Ben Joyce: +$13.1 million

The Angels have the makings of a good young offensive core with Zach Neto (+$40.1M), Logan O'Hoppe (+$20.8M) and Nolan Schanuel (+$9.7M) all provide good value in the early stages of their career. Top 2024 draft pick Christian Moore could join the mix as a league-minimum contributor in 2025.

5 Worst Values

• 3B Anthony Rendon: -$33.8 million
• OF Mike Trout: -$28.3 million
• IF Brandon Drury: -$24.5 million
• RP Matt Moore: -$13.0 million
• RP Robert Stephenson: -$11.0 million

Anthony Rendon and Mike Trout earned a combined $75.7 million in 2024 and produced just 1.7 WAR, continuing to hamstring the Angels financially while doing little to impact their on-field success. Rendon has two years and $77.1 million left on his contract, while Trout is still owed a staggering $222.7 million over the next six seasons.

26. Texas Rangers

Total Net Value: -$1.6 million

5 Best Values

• OF Wyatt Langford: +$30.5 million
• IF Josh Smith: +$24.9 million
• RP Kirby Yates: +$21.9 million
• 1B Nathaniel Lowe: +$14.1 million
• SP Michael Lorenzen: +$9.0 million

They may not have checked in as one of the five best values on the roster, but Marcus Semien (+$6.8M) and Corey Seager (+$5.0M) both provided positive net value while earning $26 million and $35 million respectively. They remain arguably the most productive middle infield in baseball.

5 Worst Values

• SP Jacob deGrom: -$36.8 million
• SP Jack Leiter: -$12.9 million
• SP Max Scherzer: -$9.3 million
• RP Grant Anderson: -$9.2 million
• SP Jon Gray: -$9.0 million

Can a healthy Jacob deGrom return to frontline form in 2025? The 36-year-old made only three starts this past season, posting a 1.69 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 14-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 10.2 innings. He has three years and $115 million left on his contract, but has made just nine total starts in his first two seasons with the Rangers.

25. Toronto Blue Jays

Total Net Value: +$4.5 million

5 Best Values

• OF Daulton Varsho: +$34.4 million
• 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: +$29.7 million
• IF Ernie Clement: +$26.4 million
• IF Isiah Kiner-Falefa: +$18.6 million
• C Alejandro Kirk: +$13.2 million

Despite hitting .214 with a .293 on-base percentage, Daulton Varsho was the Blue Jays' most valuable player thanks to his elite outfield defense (28 DRS, 16.8 UZR/150) which led to his first career Gold Glove win. The 28-year-old has two years of club control remaining, and his salary is projected to climb from $5.65 to $7.7 million this winter.

5 Worst Values

• SP Chris Bassitt: -$22.8 million
• SP Kevin Gausman: -$16.8 million
• OF George Springer: -$15.4 million
• SS Bo Bichette: -$14.5 million
• RP Tim Mayza: -$14.0 million

The trio of Chris Bassitt (-$22.8M), Kevin Gausman (-$16.8M) and José Berríos (-$0.1M) earned a combined $63.7 million in 2024 to anchor the starting rotation, and that accounted for nearly 30 percent of the Blue Jays payroll. Those three living up to their salaries will be vital to the club's success in 2025.

24. San Francisco Giants

Total Net Value: +$38.6 million

5 Best Values

• 3B Matt Chapman: +$40.1 million
• RP Ryan Walker: +$21.7 million
• SP Logan Webb: +$21.6 million
• SS Tyler Fitzgerald: +$21.0 million
• OF Heliot Ramos: +$17.8 million

Third baseman Matt Chapman was the third-highest paid player on the Giants roster with a $16.7 million salary, but he had no problem providing positive value on that salary with a 7.1-WAR season. The new-look front office rewarded him with a six-year, $151 million extension in September, eliminating the possibility of him opting out of his previous deal.

5 Worst Values

• SP Robbie Ray: -$23.0 million
• IF Wilmer Flores: -$11.3 million
• SP Keaton Winn: -$9.5 million
• 2B Thairo Estrada: -$8.7 million
• OF Michael Conforto: -$7.6 million

The Giants acquired 2021 AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray in a swap of bad contracts that sent Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani to the Seattle Mariners last winter. The 33-year-old made just seven starts in his return from Tommy John surgery, but threw the ball better than his 4.70 ERA suggests with a 1.14 WHIP and 43 strikeouts in 30.2 innings.

23. Chicago Cubs

Total Net Value: +$39.5 million

5 Best Values

• 1B Michael Busch: +$21.7 million
• 2B Nico Hoerner: +$18.1 million
• OF Pete Crow-Armstrong: +$17.8 million
• SP Shōta Imanaga: +$14.8 million
• C Miguel Amaya: +$14.5 million

Rookies Michael Busch (+$21.7M), Pete Crow-Armstrong (+$17.8M) and Shōta Imanaga (+$14.8M) injected some new life into the Cubs roster, and that should be just the start of an influx of young talent arriving in the big leagues. The North Siders have one of the best farm systems in baseball, and many of their top prospects are in the upper levels of the minors.

5 Worst Values

• SP Kyle Hendricks: -$29.3 million
• C Yan Gomes: -$11.6 million
• RP Drew Smyly: -$10.5 million
• OF Cody Bellinger: -$9.9 million
• RP Héctor Neris: -$8.2 million

It was a tough season for Kyle Hendricks, who posted a 5.92 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 130.2 innings while being demoted to the bullpen. The 34-year-old ended his season and potentially career on a high note, tossing 7.1 shutout innings of two-hit ball in his final start of the season on Sept. 28 against the Cincinnati Reds.

22. Miami Marlins

Total Net Value: +$42.6 million

5 Best Values

• RP Tanner Scott: +$23.3 million
• 2B Otto Lopez: +$20.1 million
• SP Ryan Weathers: +$16.8 million
• SS Xavier Edwards: +$15.4 million
• SP Valente Bellozo: +$11.7 million

The middle infield tandem of Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards replaced the Opening Day double-play combo of Luis Arraez and Tim Anderson midway through the season, and they were one of the few bright spots on the position-player side of things for the Marlins.

5 Worst Values

• 1B Josh Bell: -$20.7 million
• SS Tim Anderson: -$17.0 million
• OF Nick Gordon: -$14.5 million
• OF Avisail García: -$13.6 million
• SP Sandy Alcantara: -$9.3 million

The Marlins released Avisail García on June 9 and in the process absorbed his $12 million salary for 2025 and a $5 million buyout on his 2026 club option. All told, he took home $53 million from the Marlins and hit .217/.260/.322 for a 61 OPS+ with minus-1.9 WAR in 153 games, making him a strong contender for the worst signing in franchise history.

21. St. Louis Cardinals

Total Net Value: +$55.4 million

5 Best Values

• SS Masyn Winn: +$38.5 million
• RP Ryan Helsley: +$20.2 million
• IF/OF Brendan Donovan: +$20.0 million
• C Iván Herrera: +$13.0 million
• SP/RP Andre Pallante: +$12.2 million

After looking overmatched in his first taste of the big leagues in 2023, shortstop Masyn Winn quickly emerged as the best building block on an aging roster, and he will be a prime candidate for an early extension this winter. Aside from providing elite defense, he also hit .267/.314/.416 with 32 doubles, 15 home runs, 57 RBI and 11 steals in 150 games.

5 Worst Values

• SP Miles Mikolas: -$19.3 million
• 1B Paul Goldschmidt: -$15.6 million
• SP Steven Matz: -$14.1 million
• OF Dylan Carlson: -$9.7 million
• RP Giovanny Gallegos: -$8.2 million

The Cardinals are poised to blow up the roster this offseason as they look to trim payroll and get younger. There are a lot of obvious trade candidates on the roster, but it will be interesting to see if they can find a taker for Miles Mikolas. The workhorse veteran went 10-11 with a 5.35 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 122 strikeouts in 171.2 innings, though his 4.24 FIP paints a more promising picture of his performance.

20. Washington Nationals

Total Net Value: +$62.1 million

5 Best Values

• SS CJ Abrams: +$26.5 million
• OF Jacob Young: +$21.7 million
• 2B Luis García Jr.: +$15.7 million
• SP Jake Irvin: +$14.5 million
• OF Jesse Winker: +$13.9 million

The Nationals are still in the early stages of rebuilding, but the continued development of second baseman Luis García Jr. (+$15.7M) and shortstop CJ Abrams (+$26.5M) was a promising takeaway from the 2024 season. Young outfielders James Wood (+$8.4M) and Dylan Crews (+$4.7M) also look like potential building blocks.

5 Worst Values

• SP Patrick Corbin: -$32.2 million
• OF Eddie Rosario: -$11.3 million
• RP Jordan Weems: -$8.6 million
• 3B Nick Senzel: -$7.3 million
• SP Josiah Gray: -$5.6 million

The Patrick Corbin contract is officially over, and while his contract has been one of the worst in baseball the past several seasons, he will still be remembered fondly for his key contributions to a World Series championship in 2019. He was a 5.0-WAR player that season in his Nationals debut, but had a 5.62 ERA and minus-2.3 WAR in 744.2 innings over the final five seasons of his six-year, $140 million deal.

19. New York Yankees

Total Net Value: +$80.0 million

5 Best Values

• OF Aaron Judge: +$46.4 million
• OF Juan Soto: +$32.2 million
• SS Anthony Volpe: +$26.4 million
• SP Luis Gil: +$24.1 million
• C Austin Wells: +$19.3 million

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto piled up 18.7 WAR as baseball's most dynamic one-two punch offensively, more than living up to the $71 million they earned in 2024. Now Soto hits the open market for the first time in his career, and it will likely take a contract north of $500 million and an annual salary north of $40 million to keep him in pinstripes.

5 Worst Values

• IF DJ LeMahieu: -$27.8 million
• DH Giancarlo Stanton: -$26.4 million
• SP Gerrit Cole: -$20.0 million
• 1B Anthony Rizzo: -$15.4 million
• SP Marcus Stroman: -$12.7 million

The Yankees received a combined minus-0.7 WAR from Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu and Anthony Rizzo while paying that trio $64 million in 2024. Stanton had a bounce-back season offensively and was huge in the playoffs, but with a $32 million salary, it was always going to be extremely difficult for him to provide positive value.

18. Houston Astros

Total Net Value: +$85.5 million

5 Best Values

• SP Ronel Blanco: +$35.3 million
• DH Yordan Alvarez: +$32.4 million
• SS Jeremy Peña: +$32.0 million
• OF Kyle Tucker: +$25.6 million
• C Yainer Diaz: +$24.8 million

Guessing not many people had Ronel Blanco being the best value on the Houston Astros roster on their bingo card when the 2024 season began, especially considering he only broke camp with a rotation spot to replace the injured Justin Verlander. His contributions along with a breakout season from Hunter Brown (+$20.0M) helped prop up a depleted starting rotation.

5 Worst Values

• 1B José Abreu: -$33.1 million
• SP Justin Verlander: -$24.9 million
• SP Lance McCullers Jr.: -$17.7 million
• RP Josh Hader: -$14.2 million
• RP Rafael Montero: -$12.3 million

The Astros still owed José Abreu roughly $30.8 million when he was released on June 14 following a brutal start to the season and a demotion to the minors. The 37-year-old looked like a great fit to plug the hole at first base when he first signed his three-year, $58.5 million deal, but it ended up being one of the worst signings in franchise history and first base remains a glaring hole.

17. Pittsburgh Pirates

Total Net Value: +$114.8 million

5 Best Values

• SP Paul Skenes: +$46.6 million
• SP Luis L. Ortiz: +$23.3 million
• SS/OF Oneil Cruz: +$19.2 million
• OF Bryan Reynolds: +$18.6 million
• C Joey Bart: +$16.9 million

Lost in the shuffle of an all-time rookie season from Paul Skenes and an impressive debut from fellow rookie Jared Jones, right-hander Luis L. Ortiz put together one of the quietest 3-WAR seasons in recent memory. The 25-year-old had a 3.32 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 135.2 innings spanning 15 starts and 22 relief appearances, and he is controllable through the 2029 season.

5 Worst Values

• OF Jack Suwinski: -$14.1 million
• RP David Bednar: -$11.7 million
• OF Bryan De La Cruz: -$9.8 million
• SP Martín Pérez: -$7.5 million
• SP Jake Woodford: -$7.3 million

Will the Pirates find a taker for closer David Bednar this winter? After earning All-Star selections in 2022 and 2023 as one of the best relievers in baseball, he struggled to a 5.77 ERA with seven blown saves in 30 opportunities. With a projected $6.6 million salary in his penultimate year of arbitration eligibility, he could be a non-tender candidate if he is not traded.

16. Minnesota Twins

Total Net Value: +$119.4 million

5 Best Values

• SP Bailey Ober: +$22.4 million
• RP Griffin Jax: +$21.6 million
• OF Matt Wallner: +$18.0 million
• SP Joe Ryan: +$17.6 million
• SP Simeon Woods Richardson: +$15.4 million

The contributions of Bailey Ober, Joe Ryan and Simeon Woods Richardson in the starting rotation while earning a combined $2.1 million is the biggest reason things didn't go even worse for a Twins team that fell way short of expectations in the AL Central. Ober's breakout performance was not talked about enough, as he went 12-9 with a 3.98 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 191 strikeouts in 178.2 innings.

5 Worst Values

• C Christian Vázquez: -$11.6 million
• SP/RP Louie Varland: -$11.4 million
• OF Manuel Margot: -$11.2 million
• IF Kyle Farmer: -$8.7 million
• IF/OF Austin Martin: -$8.6 million

With no dead money in 2024 and Manuel Margot and Kyle Farmer headed for free agency after having contract options declined, the Twins really don't have much in the way of bad money on the books. Carlos Correa (-$3.7M) failed to live up to his $33.3 million salary, but not by much considering all the time he spent on the injured list.

15. Atlanta Braves

Total Net Value: +$123.1 million

5 Best Values

• SP Chris Sale: +$42.1 million
• SP Reynaldo López: +$36.8 million
• SP Spencer Schwellenbach: +$21.1 million
• OF Michael Harris II: +$20.6 million
• DH Marcell Ozuna: +$18.4 million

The Boston Red Sox included $17 million cash in the Chris Sale trade, so depending on how that money was distributed, it can actually be looked at as him playing for free in 2024 while earning a $16 million salary. For the sake of our math, we split that $17 million into matching $8.5 million chunks for 2024 and 2025, leaving him with a $7.5 million salary against his 6.2-WAR performance. However, his net value could be as high as +$49.6 million if the full amount was put toward his 2024 salary.

5 Worst Values

• OF Ronald Acuña Jr.: -$17.0 million
• OF Adam Duvall: -$14.2 million
• SP Charlie Morton: -$11.2 million
• IF David Fletcher: -$6.0 million
• SP Bryce Elder: -$5.7 million

Ronald Acuña Jr. was a 0.0-WAR player through his first 49 games before suffering a torn left ACL that brought his 2024 season to a premature end. He tore his other ACL midway through the 2021 season, and while he eventually returned to form to win 2023 NL MVP honors, that came on the heels of a disappointing 2022 season. In other words, don't expect him to immediately be a 41-homer, 73-steal superstar once he returns.

14. Los Angeles Dodgers

Total Net Value: +$132.2 million

5 Best Values

• DH Shohei Ohtani: +$71.6 million
• SS Miguel Rojas: +$21.5 million
• OF Teoscar Hernández: +$19.4 million
• C Will Smith: +$16.5 million
• 2B Gavin Lux: +$15.6 million

With all the deferred money in his $700 million contract, Shohei Ohtani technically only took home a $2 million salary in 2024, which made him one of the best bargains in baseball thanks to a season that will almost certainly win him NL MVP honors. Outfielder Teoscar Hernández also had deferred money in his one-year, $23.5 million deal, taking home a $15 million salary, with $850,000 annual payments over 10 years set to start in 2030.

5 Worst Values

• SP Walker Buehler: -$18.4 million
• SP Bobby Miller: -$15.8 million
• IF/OF Chris Taylor: -$13.8 million
• RP Joe Kelly: -$11.2 million
• SP Clayton Kershaw: -$9.9 million

The fact that Walker Buehler (-$18.4M), Bobby Miller (-$15.8M), Clayton Kershaw (-$9.9M), Tony Gonsolin (-$5.4M), James Paxton (-$4.9M), Tyler Glasnow (-$2.3M) and Dustin May (-$2.1M) all provided negative value speaks to what a massive revolving door the Dodgers rotation was in 2024.

13. Boston Red Sox

Total Net Value: +$135.0 million

5 Best Values

• OF Jarren Duran: +$68.8 million
• SP Tanner Houck: +$27.2 million
• OF Wilyer Abreu: +$26.5 million
• IF/OF Ceddanne Rafaela: +$21.2 million
• IF David Hamilton: +$20.1 million

The Red Sox starting rotation provided good value, despite being a weakness for much of the year, with Tanner Houck (+$27.2M), Kutter Crawford (+$15.2M), Brayan Bello (+$10.8M) and Nick Pivetta (+$6.9M) all checking in among their top positive contributors. They also got strong contributions from a trio of rookies in Wilyer Abreu (+$26.5M), Ceddanne Rafaela (+$21.2M) and David Hamilton (+$20.1M) on the position player side of things.

5 Worst Values

• SP Lucas Giolito: -$18.0 million
• SS Trevor Story: -$16.9 million
• RP Isaiah Campbell: -$10.0 million
• 1B Garrett Cooper: -$8.7 million
• DH Masataka Yoshida: -$7.4 million

Trevor Story is three seasons into his six-year, $140 million deal, and he has only stayed healthy enough to play 163 games, hitting .232/.296/.397 for an 89 OPS+ with 4.0 WAR during his time in Boston. With Ceddanne Rafaela and David Hamilton emerging as middle infield options and prospects Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer knocking on the door, the Red Sox might need to consider cutting their losses if he misses significant time again.

12. Cincinnati Reds

Total Net Value: +$136.9 million

5 Best Values

• SP Hunter Greene: +$47.1 million
• SS Elly De La Cruz: +$40.9 million
• SP Andrew Abbott: +$25.7 million
• SP/RP Nick Martinez: +$18.0 million
• C Tyler Stephenson: +$16.7 million

The Reds have assembled a solid stable of young pitching talent, led by Hunter Greene (+$47.1M) who pitched like a bona fide ace in 2024 atop a staff that also included Andrew Abbott (+$25.7M), Rhett Lowder (+$15.1M) and Nick Lodolo (+$8.8M). Adding an established veteran to that group of up-and-coming arms could give them a top-tier rotation in 2025.

5 Worst Values

• 1B/3B Jeimer Candelario: -$20.6 million
• 3B Noelvi Marte: -$14.8 million
• OF Will Benson: -$12.0 million
• 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand: -$8.7 million
• C Luke Maile: -$7.8 million

The three-year, $45 million contract that Jeimer Candelario signed during the offseason looked like a mistake from the jump for the Reds, and it is quickly shaping up to be Mike Moustakas 2.0 from a value standpoint. He hit .224/.279/.429 for a 90 OPS+ in his first season in Cincinnati, though he did have 23 doubles, 20 home runs and 56 RBI in 463 plate appearances.

11. Philadelphia Phillies

Total Net Value: +$140.4 million

5 Best Values

• SP Cristopher Sánchez: +$26.4 million
• SP Zack Wheeler: +$25.3 million
• OF Brandon Marsh: +$24.0 million
• 3B Alec Bohm: +$20.0 million
• 2B Bryson Stott: +$19.2 million

Among the 10 teams that had a payroll above $200 million in 2024, the Phillies claimed the highest position in these rankings, and much of that has to do with the production they received from their high-priced veterans. Zack Wheeler (+$25.3M), Bryce Harper (+$10.9M), Kyle Schwarber (+$8.0M), Aaron Nola (+$4.2M) and J.T. Realmuto (+$0.1M) all provided positive net value while earning more than $20 million.

5 Worst Values

• SP Taijuan Walker: -$30.8 million
• OF Nick Castellanos: -$13.6 million
• RP José Alvarado: -$6.6 million
• RP Yunior Marte: -$6.1 million
• IF/OF Whit Merrifield: -$5.9 million

The only truly bad contract on the Philadelphia roster was starter Taijuan Walker, who had a 7.10 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in 83.2 innings in the second season of a four-year, $72 million deal. Now the front office faces a tough decision whether to cut its losses and pursue an upgrade at the back of the starting rotation or to give him another shot to begin the 2025 season.

10. Arizona Diamondbacks

Total Net Value: +$153.9 million

5 Best Values

• 2B Ketel Marte: +$40.8 million
• SS Geraldo Perdomo: +$27.2 million
• OF Corbin Carroll: +$23.6 million
• C Gabriel Moreno: +$20.0 million
• IF Kevin Newman: +$16.7 million

The five-year, $76 million extension that Ketel Marte signed prior to the 2022 season has quickly become one of the most team-friendly contracts in baseball. The extension kicked in at the start of the 2023 season, and he has racked up 11.7 WAR over the first two years while earning $25.2 million. His contract contains an annual escalator that raises his salary for the following season by $2 million if he finishes 4th-7th in MVP voting and by $3 million if he finishes 1st-3rd in balloting, so that is worth monitoring later this month.

5 Worst Values

• SP Jordan Montgomery: -$36.2 million
• SP Eduardo Rodríguez: -$12.4 million
• RP Scott McGough: -$11.8 million
• SP Slade Cecconi: -$9.2 million
• IF Jace Peterson: -$7.8 million

The D-backs would move up to No. 4 in these rankings if they had not signed Jordan Montgomery and Eduardo Rodríguez during the offseason. Those two veteran starters earned a combined $39 million and produced minus-1.2 WAR, with the bulk of that negative value coming from Montgomery who had a 6.23 ERA in 117 innings.

9. Oakland Athletics

Total Net Value: +$166.5 million

5 Best Values

• DH Brent Rooker: +$44.1 million
• OF Lawrence Butler: +$23.4 million
• C Shea Langeliers: +$22.5 million
• RP Mason Miller: +$18.5 million
• SP JP Sears: +$17.7 million

The offensive core of Brent Rooker (+$44.1M), Lawrence Butler (+$23.4M), Shea Langeliers (+$22.5M), JJ Bleday (+$16.1M) and Zack Gelof (+$10.5M) helped the Athletics exceed expectations while going from 50 wins in 2023 to 69 wins in 2024, and that group earned just $3.6 million combined. Will any of them be shopped this winter, or will the front office finally start to try to build something?

5 Worst Values

• SP/RP Ross Stripling: -$18.1 million
• IF Aledmys Díaz: -$11.7 million
• SP Alex Wood: -$10.1 million
• 1B/OF Seth Brown: -$7.4 million
• IF Darell Hernaiz: -$7.0 million

Veteran pitchers Ross Stripling and Alex Wood are both free agents this offseason, while Aledmys Díaz was released just before the All-Star break, so the Athletics have gotten out from under some of the only bad contracts on the roster. Slugger Seth Brown is also a non-tender candidate with a $3.8 million projected salary in his final year of arbitration.

8. Seattle Mariners

Total Net Value: +$168.2 million

5 Best Values

• C Cal Raleigh: +$36.8 million
• SP Bryce Miller: +$26.4 million
• 1B/OF Luke Raley: +$24.8 million
• OF Victor Robles: +$24.3 million
• OF Julio Rodríguez: +$22.5 million

The Mariners had the best rotation in baseball, and Bryce Miller (+$26.4M), Bryan Woo (+$18.5M), Logan Gilbert (+$18.4M) and George Kirby (+$14.4M) all provided significant positive value relative to their combined $6.4 million salaries. Gilbert was the only one from that group who was arbitration-eligible in 2024, and he will be joined by Kirby in 2025.

5 Worst Values

• OF Mitch Haniger: -$17.6 million
• C/DH Mitch Garver: -$11.3 million
• SP Luis Castillo: -$9.8 million
• 1B Ty France: -$7.4 million
• RP Ryne Stanek: -$5.8 million

It's a bit surprising to see Luis Castillo ranked among the worst values on the Mariners roster. The 31-year-old went 11-12 with a 3.64 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 175 strikeouts in 175.1 innings and was a key cog in baseball's best rotation, but he did it while earning a $24.15 million salary that made him the highest-paid player on the team.

7. San Diego Padres

Total Net Value: +$176.6 million

5 Best Values

• OF Jackson Merrill: +$34.5 million
• SP Michael King: +$30.5 million
• OF Jurickson Profar: +$26.3 million
• SP Dylan Cease: +$25.6 million
• IF Ha-Seong Kim: +$13.8 million

The offseason additions of Michael King (+$30.5M), Dylan Cease (+$25.6M), Kyle Higashioka (+$9.0M) and Donovan Solano (+$7.2M), along with the re-signing of Jurickson Profar (+$26.3M) and a stellar debut from Jackson Merrill (+$34.5M) pushed the Padres up these rankings. All of those new faces helped transform a team full of high-priced veterans into a bona fide World Series contender.

5 Worst Values

• 2B/SS Xander Bogaerts: -$15.9 million
• RP Tom Cosgrove: -$7.5 million
• IF/OF Tyler Wade: -$6.5 million
• SP Joe Musgrove: -$6.4 million
• C Luis Campusano: -$6.3 million

Xander Bogaerts will earn $25.4 million annually through the 2033 season on his 11-year, $280 million deal, and after a 4.4-WAR debut in San Diego, his production dipped this season with a 90 OPS+ and 1.2 WAR in 111 games. The 32-year-old might be asked to step back into the everyday shortstop role with Ha-Seong Kim set to depart in free agency.

6. Detroit Tigers

Total Net Value: +$185.2 million

5 Best Values

• SP Tarik Skubal: +$47.8 million
• OF Riley Greene: +$42.4 million
• RP Tyler Holton: +$24.0 million
• IF/OF Matt Vierling: +$23.2 million
• OF Parker Meadows: +$17.1 million

Matt Vierling (567 PA, 107 OPS+, 49 XBH, 16 HR, 57 RBI) and Parker Meadows (298 PA, 109 OPS+, 27 XBH, 9 HR, 28 RBI) were unsung heroes in the Tigers unexpected push up the standings and into the postseason, and they earned just $1.3 million combined for those contributions. The Tigers need to find more consistent offensive production going forward beyond rising star Riley Greene in the middle of the lineup.

5 Worst Values

• SS Javier Báez: -$33.8 million
• SP/RP Kenta Maeda: -$27.6 million
• OF Ryan Vilade: -$5.7 million
• OF Akil Baddoo: -$5.6 million
• RP Alex Lange: -$5.0 million

With three years and $73 million remaining on his contract, shortstop Javier Báez might be a candidate to be released after he was a complete non-factor in 2024, and rookie Trey Sweeney showed potential while replacing him as the starting shortstop down the stretch. The 31-year-old bottomed out this past season, hitting .184/.221/.294 for a 46 OPS+ with minus-1.1 WAR in 80 games.

5. Cleveland Guardians

Total Net Value: +$190.6 million

5 Best Values

• 3B José Ramírez: +$37.4 million
• RP Emmanuel Clase: +$32.3 million
• OF Steven Kwan: +$31.2 million
• 2B Andrés Giménez: +$26.4 million
• RP Hunter Gaddis: +$20.1 million

The Guardians won the AL Central title and reached the ALCS on the strength of baseball's best bullpen, with Emmanuel Clase (+$32.3M), Hunter Gaddis (+$20.1M), Cade Smith (+$18.5M), Tim Herrin (+$12.9M), Eli Morgan (+$8.2M) and Pedro Avila (+$4.1M) all making a significant positive impact.

5 Worst Values

• SP Carlos Carrasco: -$11.6 million
• SP Logan Allen: -$8.4 million
• C Austin Hedges: -$8.0 million
• SP Shane Bieber: -$7.5 million
• RP Tyler Beede: -$6.8 million

Carlos Carrasco, Austin Hedges and Shane Bieber are all free agents, so the Guardians do not have much in the way of bad money on the books looking ahead to the 2025 season. They are also out from under an $8.5 million dead money commitment to Jean Segura, who never actually played a game for the team but was acquired in the deal that sent Josh Bell to the Miami Marlins at the 2023 deadline.

4. Tampa Bay Rays

Total Net Value: +$197.8 million

5 Best Values

• SP Zack Littell: +$20.6 million
• 3B Isaac Paredes: +$17.0 million
• SP Shane Baz: +$16.2 million
• SP Ryan Pepiot: +$16.1 million
• RP Edwin Uceta: +$14.8 million

The Rays are perennial contenders for the No. 1 spot in these rankings, and even in a down year in which they finished 80-82 and ended up selling at the trade deadline, they still did a great job squeezing every ounce of value out of their roster. Young starters Shane Baz (+$16.2M), Ryan Pepiot (+$16.1M) and Taj Bradley (+$12.1M) will be key to clawing back into contention in the AL East.

5 Worst Values

• RP Chris Devenski: -$7.4 million
• IF/OF Christopher Morel: -$6.7 million
• RP Shawn Armstrong: -$5.4 million
• IF Curtis Mead: -$4.3 million
• C Alex Jackson: -$3.7 million

The five worst values on the Tampa Bay roster earned a combined $3.4 million in 2024, so their idea of bad contracts is simply different than most other organizations thanks to their extreme small-market approach. Trading away Zach Eflin and Randy Arozarena at the deadline offloaded two of the highest-priced players on the roster.

3. Kansas City Royals

Total Net Value: +$210.6 million

5 Best Values

• SS Bobby Witt Jr.: +$72.5 million
• SP Cole Ragans: +$38.4 million
• SP Seth Lugo: +$27.4 million
• C Freddy Fermin: +$23.3 million
• SP Brady Singer: +$20.0 million

The Kansas City Royals arrived on the scene as legitimate contenders earlier than expected thanks in large part to one of the best starting rotations in baseball, with newcomers Seth Lugo (+$27.5M) and Michael Wacha (+$11.6M) joining Cole Ragans (+$38.4M), Brady Singer (+$20.0M) and Alec Marsh (+$6.6M) to turn the starting staff into an unlikely strength.

5 Worst Values

• RP Will Smith: -$12.8 million
• RP Chris Stratton: -$9.1 million
• OF MJ Melendez: -$8.0 million
• SP Jordan Lyles: -$6.9 million
• OF Hunter Renfroe: -$5.6 million

It's clear the Royals could stand to find an upgrade at the corner outfield spots after MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe both underperformed, and that should give the Kansas City front office a clear path to upgrading the offense this winter. Jordan Lyles and Will Smith coming off the books will open up $14.1 million in payroll flexibility.

2. Baltimore Orioles

Total Net Value: +$226.3 million

5 Best Values

• SS Gunnar Henderson: +$72.0 million
• C Adley Rutschman: +$26.4 million
• OF Colton Cowser: +$24.1 million
• IF Jordan Westburg: +$18.5 million
• 1B Ryan Mountcastle: +$16.7 million

Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg each earned roughly the league minimum in 2024, and they compiled 18.0 WAR while serving as key cogs in the Baltimore lineup. Veteran outfielders Cedric Mullins (+$14.5M) and Anthony Santander (+$11.5M) also provided significant positive value.

5 Worst Values

• RP Craig Kimbrel: -$20.8 million
• SP Cole Irvin: -$6.7 million
• 3B Coby Mayo: -$5.7 million
• RP Jonathan Heasley: -$5.0 million
• SP Tyler Wells: -$4.4 million

The disastrous Craig Kimbrel signing is all that kept the Orioles out of the No. 1 spot in these rankings, and he was only signed as a short-term replacement for injured closer Félix Bautista. The 36-year-old had a 5.33 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with six blown saves in 29 chances, and he was released on Sept. 24 to wrap up a one-year, $13 million contract.

1. Milwaukee Brewers

Total Net Value: +$229.6 million

5 Best Values

• C William Contreras: +$38.4 million
• 2B Brice Turang: +$36.9 million
• OF Jackson Chourio: +$28.2 million
• SP Tobias Myers: +$21.0 million
• 3B Joey Ortiz: +$20.9 million

The Brewers had 12 players that recorded at least +$10 million in net value, and outside of shortstop Willy Adames (+$12.6M), they should all be back for the 2025 season. Catcher William Contreras hit .281/.364/.466 with 37 doubles, 23 home runs, 92 RBI and 4.9 WAR in 155 games while earning a modest $767,000 salary.

5 Worst Values

• 1B Rhys Hoskins: -$13.6 million
• SP Wade Miley: -$7.8 million
• RP Hoby Milner: -$6.9 million
• SP Frankie Montas: -$5.8 million
• IF Owen Miller: -$5.0 million

Slugger Rhys Hoskins did not quite live up to his $12 million salary, but he did provide some punch in the middle of the lineup with 26 home runs and 82 RBI in 131 games. Despite playing in only 73 games, Christian Yelich (-$4.4M) did not rank as one of the team's worst values while earning a team-high $22 million.