Baseball fans around the world have long been debating which players have the best Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in the game. While the answer is subjective and depends largely on individual criteria, there are a few players who consistently rank among the top of the list. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the current top ten players in terms of WAR to find out who has the best WAR in baseball right now.
The Concept of WAR
Before we dive into the individual players, let’s first talk about what WAR is and how it is calculated. WAR is a metric developed by Baseball-Reference.com that attempts to measure a player’s total value to their team. It combines elements of both offensive and defensive performance (such as batting average, home runs, stolen bases, fielding percentage, etc.) and condenses them into one number that can be used to compare players across different positions and eras.
The idea behind WAR is to measure how much better a player is than an average replacement player. The metric is calculated by comparing a player’s performance to the average performance of a “replacement” player who would take their place if they were injured or otherwise unavailable.
Top 10 Players by WAR
Now that we have a better understanding of what WAR is and how it is calculated, let’s take a look at the top 10 players in Major League Baseball by WAR.
1. Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels
At the top of the list is perennial All-Star and MVP candidate Mike Trout. Trout currently leads the league in WAR with a total of 10.3. He is known for his superb hitting, as well as his ability to get on base and hit for power. He is also a great fielder, making him one of the most valuable players in the game.
2. Aaron Judge – New York Yankees
Second on the list is another All-Star and MVP candidate, Aaron Judge. Judge is known for his impressive home run total and his ability to get on base. He currently has a total WAR of 8.2, making him one of the most valuable players in the game.
3. Mookie Betts – Los Angeles Dodgers
Another MVP candidate, Mookie Betts, is third on the list. Betts is known for his impressive hitting and fielding, as well as his ability to steal bases. He currently has a total WAR of 8.1, making him one of the most valuable players in the game.
4. Francisco Lindor – Cleveland Indians
The fourth-ranked player is Francisco Lindor, who is known for his impressive hitting and fielding. He currently has a total WAR of 7.3, making him one of the most valuable players in the game.
5. Christian Yelich – Milwaukee Brewers
Christian Yelich rounds out the top five players with a total WAR of 6.7. Yelich is known for his impressive hitting and fielding, as well as his ability to get on base. He has been one of the most valuable players in the game since he came up in 2018.
6. Justin Verlander – Houston Astros
The sixth-ranked player is Justin Verlander, who is known for his incredible pitching. He currently has a total WAR of 6.6, making him one of the most valuable players in the game.
7. Gerrit Cole – New York Yankees
Gerrit Cole rounds out the top seven players with a total WAR of 6.4. Cole is known for his incredible pitching, as well as his ability to get batters out. He has been one of the most valuable players in the game since he came up in 2018.
8. Nolan Arenado – Colorado Rockies
The eighth-ranked player is Nolan Arenado, who is known for his impressive hitting and fielding. He currently has a total WAR of 6.2, making him one of the most valuable players in the game.
9. Alex Bregman – Houston Astros
Alex Bregman rounds out the top nine players with a total WAR of 6.0. Bregman is known for his impressive hitting and fielding, as well as his ability to get on base. He has been one of the most valuable players in the game since he came up in 2017.
10. Max Scherzer – Washington Nationals
The tenth-ranked player is Max Scherzer, who is known for his incredible pitching. He currently has a total WAR of 5.9, making him one of the most valuable players in the game.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many players in Major League Baseball who can be considered to have the best WAR in the game. While the answer is subjective and depends largely on individual criteria, the aforementioned players are all at the top of the list and are considered to be among the most valuable players in the game.