Archive of SportingNews.com's old SOM Baseball forum

Has anyone ever managed to figure out the formula that is used to compute player values? I know that asterisk pitchers are more expensive than non-asterisk ones, all other factors being equal, but how does Joe Mauer rate a bigger salary than Albert Pujols?

This is a COMPLETE guess, but here are some of my theories:

1. Defensive rating - especially with respect to how they rate against others at their position.

2. Level of talent at that position - the smaller the pool of difference makers, the more valuable that player would be to a team.

3. Versatility - which would explain how someone who doesn't hit for average or power can still cost over $4m even if his defense isn't that great either. I guess being able to tank at five positions is more valuable than tanking at just one.

Like I said, just a couple of my crazy theories...