by Tommy Gimler
Here’s something my Jewish readers will love: getting the biggest bang for your buck.
The average salary in Major League Baseball in 2012 is $3.44 million. That’s 3.44 million dollars just for showing up to the ballpark 162 times this summer and being a failure 75% of the time, much like David DeJesus and Ty Wiggington. And they’re considered above-average in terms of salary even though their on-the-field performance suggests they should be making around six bucks.
So, who are the best offensive baseball bargains in the game today? It wasn’t too hard to figure out. I took into account your basic offensive numbers for everyday players, and Tuesday, I’ll dissect pitching statistics for the pitchers. Then I compared those numbers to each player’s salary. Duh.
Note: The fact that A.J. Burnett throws a shaving cream pie into your face better than anybody else in the league doesn’t apply here.
- Mike Trout
- Mike Trout
For as good as Mark Trumbo has been, you can argue that the Angels’ season really turned around the day they called up Mike Trout. In only 207 at-bats, the 20-year-old phenom already has 70 hits and 21 stolen bases. Why can’t my sister ever bring home a guy like this?
2012 salary: $414,000
Batting Average: .338
Runs: 43
RBI: 29
Home Runs: 7
Stolen Bases: 21
Price Per Hit: $5,914
Price Per HR: $59,143
What do you think? Leave a comment or subscribe to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. - Jose Altuve
- Jose Altuve
When 22 of your players earn less than the league average, odds are you’re going to find at least one bargain in there. You’re also going to find your entire fan base sucking on the end of a pistol. And that pretty much sums up the 2012 season for the Houston Astros.
2012 salary: $483,000
Batting Average: .309
Runs: 45
RBI: 23
Home Runs: 5
Stolen Bases: 12
Price Per Hit: $5,488
Price Per HR: $96,600
What do you think? Leave a comment or subscribe to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. - Josh Reddick
- Josh Reddick
Don’t tell me you drafted Reddick for your fantasy team before the season started, because I’ll kick you in your junk and set your car on fire. Then, from prison, I will use my one phone call to call you and tell your mother is the dirtiest whore west of the Mississippi. And just think. All of this would have been avoided if you weren’t a fucking liar.
2012 salary: $485,000
Batting Average: .268
Runs: 47
RBI: 38
Home Runs: 17
Stolen Bases: 8
Price Per Hit: $6,644
Price Per HR: $28,529
What do you think? Leave a comment or subscribe to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. - Mike Moustakas
- Mike Moustakas
In just his second full season, Moustakas is on pace to hit 28 home runs and drive in 83 other Royals. Now imagine if Ned Yost wasn’t a part of this guy’s life…
2012 salary: $487,250
Batting Average: .280
Runs: 35
RBI: 36
Home Runs: 12
Stolen Bases: 1
Price Per Hit: $7,062
Price Per HR: $40,604
What do you think? Leave a comment or subscribe to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. - Alejandro De Aza
- Alejandro De Aza
If you would’ve asked me last year at this time who Alejandro De Aza was, I would have guessed the guy who I call when my shitter breaks. But this year, he’s one of baseball’s biggest surprises, near the top of the AL in stolen bases, runs, hits, and batting average.
2012 salary: $495,000
Batting Average: .293
Runs: 48
RBI: 28
Home Runs: 4
Stolen Bases: 14
Price Per Hit: $6,188
Price Per HR: $123,750
What do you think? Leave a comment or subscribe to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. - Mark Trumbo
- Mark Trumbo
He might play third base about as well as Jack Black can act, but his bat is one of the biggest reasons behind the Angels’ 22-8 record since May 22nd.
2012 salary: $500,000
Batting Average: .316
Runs: 34
RBI: 49
Home Runs: 17
Stolen Bases: 4
Price Per Hit: $6,667
Price Per HR: $29,412
What do you think? Leave a comment or subscribe to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. - Andrew McCutchen
- Andrew McCutchen
How in the hell does Casey McGehee make more than three times what this stud earns? Teammate Clint Barmes is pulling in $5 million, and he has the lowest OBP in baseball for any player with at least 200 at-bats. I’m just saying, if there was ever a time to play the race card…
2012 salary: $708,333
Batting Average: .340
Runs: 39
RBI: 45
Home Runs: 13
Stolen Bases: 14
Price Per Hit: $8,236
Price Per HR: $54,487
What do you think? Leave a comment or subscribe to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. - Edwin Encarnacion
- Edwin Encarnacion
Encarnacion isn’t the guy you want setting off your bottle rockets at the Johnson family July 4th party (see firecracker explodes on Encarnacion’s face), but hot damn, the boy can hit. Not bad for a guy who was designated for assignment two years ago.
2012 salary: $3,500,000
Batting Average: .282
Runs: 43
RBI: 50
Home Runs: 21
Stolen Bases: 6
Price Per Hit: $49,295
Price Per Home Run: $166,667
What do you think? Leave a comment or subscribe to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. - Carlos Gonzalez
- Carlos Gonzalez
If I had to send a one-sentence note to Colorado Rockies GM Daniel O’Dowd, it would go something like this: You fucking suck. Seriously, how does this guy still have a job? Mr. Glass (Tulo) and Carlos Gonzalez are awesome, but that’s where it ends. CarGo currently ranks 1st in the NL in runs, 3rd in HR, RBI, and SLG, and 6th in BA.
2012 salary: $5,428,571
Batting Average: .328
Runs: 52
RBI: 52
Home Runs: 17
Stolen Bases: 10
Price Per Hit: $62,397
Price Per HR: $319,328
What do you think? Leave a comment or subscribe to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. - Adam Jones
- Adam Jones
Because he’s awesome, the Orioles inked Jones to a six-year, $85.5 million extension last month. Hopefully he’ll be able to survive with his paltry $6 million paycheck this year. He plays in Baltimore, so hopefully he doesn’t get syphilis.
2012 salary: $6,150,000
Batting Average: .300
Runs: 49
RBI: 40
Home Runs: 19
Stolen Bases: 9
Price Per Hit: $71,512
Price Per HR: $323,684
What do you think? Leave a comment or subscribe to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.
