Wins Above Replacement

Wins Above Replacement

Category : 2020

In baseball, Wins Above Replacement or “WAR” is a measure of how a player performs relative to that of an average or “replacement” player.  WAR may not be significant in the small sample size of a game or two, but over the course of a 162-game regular season, it can mean the difference between winning a championship or being average.   Similarly, talent you hire today may – or may not – reveal a discernible difference in the first 30 or 90 days.  However, over the course of the mid to longer term, differences in talent and the related business impact become clear.

In 2019 Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels was an All-Star (8th time), won a Silver Slugger Award (7th time), and was the American League MVP (3rd time).  At 8.2 WAR Trout is uniformly regarded as the best player in baseball, and he is signed for $426.5M over a 12-year term.  By comparison, Kevin Kiermaier of the Tampa Bay Rays is about the same age and he also plays centerfield.  Kiermaier is a 3-time Gold Glove Award winner and in 2019 his WAR was 2.4.  Kiermaier is a good player on a 6-year, $53M contract.

8.2 or 2.4 WAR…which player do you want on your team?

Let’s hope that we soon return to baseball season and a healthy economy.  As the season progresses, what type of players will you have on the field?  If you are in pursuit of championships, and you are hiring a Human Resources leader, call us!