Who are the five most valuable position players in baseball?

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

Factors:

#1- Offensive production

#2- Defensive production

#3- Contract/Salary

#4- Must have three years of MLB service (to avoid small sample sizes)

 

Was marveling over that great 2005 class (Braun, Zimmerman, Troy T) and wonder how many .850+ OPS players in MLB are signed to team friendly contracts

[Ennder]

I don't really know the contract status of all the players but I'd have to put Mauer, Utley, Longoria, Zimmerman, Adrian Gonzalez, Votto and Tulo up there. You could make a case for Braun and/or Fielder but their defense probably hurts too much.

[wallus]

Hanley Ramirez?

[kramnoj]

Fangraphs did something of what you are looking for, by looking at the players they believed had the most trade value: http://www.fangraphs.com/...hp/2010-trade-value-5-1/

[sveumrules]

Years and $$$ are 2011 onward assuming options are exercised

 

LONGO 6/42.5

UPTON 5/49.5

PEDROIA 5/44.5

BRAUN 5/40.5

ZOBRIST 5/29

SPAN 5/24.5

ZIMMY 4/43

TULO 4/39

GUTIERREZ 4/24

McCANN 3/27

KINSLER 3/23

VOTTO ARBY

SOO CHOO ARBY

 

Depending on how much weight you put into the various factors I'd imagine the 5 are somewhere on the above list...

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

Span's contract is very solid, but he's struggling this year. Not sure i'd put him on that list. Though maybe I should change the thread title to what are the five most team friendly contracts for positional players in baseball?

[sveumrules]

I threw Span in there figuring his contract/production is somewhat in

line with Gutierrez and Zobrist. As Sizemore, Granderson, Kemp and

Adam Jones have shown though relying on great defensive/slightly above

average offensive outfielders can be a risky approach on a year to year

basis.

[The Truth]

How much do you downgrade Braun based on his OPS way down to near .800 so far this year?