MLB: The most valuable center fielders of 2019
By Bill Felber
MLB: The most valuable center fielders of 2019
10. Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates, $6.287 million value; $10.333 million salary
Marte was supposed to be the linchpin of the 2019 Pirates season. He had a decent season – 23 home runs, 82 RBIs, a .295 season and 120 OPS+ — but when Pittsburgh’s pitching collapsed Marte’s contributions were rendered extraneous.
He’s signed through 2020 with a $12.5 million team option for 2021, so the projection is that again next season he will be a very solid contributor to a very poor ballclub.
Marte generated 2.9 WAR in 2019, ranking 11th among center fielders and equating to $3.856 million in on-field value. Curiously for one with a reputation as a defensive plus, his ball-hawking numbers were not all that great. His .984 fielding percentage was no better than average, ranking just 23rd and amounting to $690,000.
At 2.41 chances per 9 innings, he did have good range, although ranking just 15th it hardly stood out. That was worth an additional $1.157 million.
Marte did report for work. He played 1,141 innings, eighth-most at the position and adding a final $584,000 to his overall on-field value.
Marte will be 31 in 2020. Assuming the Pirates don’t unload him for prospects, he should continue to give them top-10 short-term value. The question Pittsburgh’s new front office must address is whether there’s any point to that?