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Detroit Tigers: Numbers indicate team overpaid for Justin Upton

By Jacob Kornhauser

Aug 26, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Justin Upton (10) rounds the bases after hitting a solo homer against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. The San Diego Padres won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 26, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Justin Upton (10) rounds the bases after hitting a solo homer against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. The San Diego Padres won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Overpaying for superstar players has become the norm in major league baseball lately, but the Detroit Tigers made a huge mistake signing outfielder Justin Upton to the big deal they signed him to.

He is one of the most dependable power options in the game, but he doesn’t hit for average and isn’t a great defender. Based on how much he improves the team roster, he’s not worth the money he got.

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Upton will be paid an average salary of over $22 million for the next six seasons. His WAR last season was 4.4, which makes him a vastly overpaid player.

Generally, the going rate for players is about $2-3 million per WAR. If Upton duplicates his performance from last season, he would be making over $5 million per WAR.

Jul 17, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Justin Upton (10) watches the flight of his eighth inning home run against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Upton and the Tigers agreed to a six-year, $132.5 million contract on Monday.                                    Jake Roth, USA TODAY Sports /

Of course, hitting in the same lineup as the likes of Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez and Victor Martinez should help his numbers, but that’s no guarantee. He has been known to be a very streaky hitter.

Detroit needed to upgrade its outfield, but they went about it the wrong way. The team could have given a similar contract to a player who’s already proven himself to the organization: Yoenis Cespedes.

He posted an impressive 6.3 WAR last season, which means he would be earning a more modest $3.5 million a season. Plus, Cespedes’ cannon in the outfield makes him more of a defensive asset.

Perhaps more overlooked is the fact that Cespedes has played for contenders while Upton has rarely done that. Many may not think that matters, but playing for a contender year after year prepares a player to step up in big situations down the stretch.

Oct 30, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes drives in a run with a sacrifice fly against the Kansas City Royals in the 6th inning in game three of the World Series at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Based on the way the Tigers have improved their roster this offseason, they figure to be in the race down the stretch. They would have been better equipped to handle that stretch run with Cespedes or someone else rather than Upton, who will make way too much money over the next six years.

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