Spring training hasn’t been very kind to the St. Louis Cardinals. First, Albert Pujols decided to table contract extension negotiations until after the season, and now it has been confirmed that Adam Wainwright will have Tommy John surgery and miss the entire season.
Pujols and Wainwright are both vital parts of the Cardinal team. In fact, the Cardinals are more dependent upon their best position player and pitcher than just about any other team. Combined, the Cardinals received 34.5% of their total WAR production from Pujols and Wainwright, the fourth highest percentage in the major leagues. So, the thought of losing one next season and being without the other this year has likely diminished much of the optimism usually associated with spring.
Top WAR Contributions from Teams’ Best Pitcher and Position Player, 2010
Source: fangraphs.com
As illustrated by the graphs above and below (click to enlarge), which display each team’s 2010 WAR leaders relative to its position players’ or pitchers’ total, much of the Cardinals’ production emanated from Pujols and Wainwright. Among position players, Pujols contributed 32.4% of the team’s WAR (considering the Cardinals’ $100 million payroll, maybe $30 million for Pujols makes sense after all?), which ranked sixth in the National League and eighth in the Majors. Meanwhile, Wainwright contributed 37.4% of the team’s pitching WAR, a level higher than every N.L team but the Brewers.
2010 WAR Leaders Relative to Team (Position Players)
Source: fangraphs.com
Source: fangraphs.com
Andrew McCutchen was the only player to compile a WAR that was higher than his entire team (including his own contribution). Other position players contributing more than 50% of their team’s total value included Ichiro Suzuki, Shin-Soo Choo, and Michael Bourn. On the flip side, the Twins and Yankees had the deepest roster of position players as each of their WAR leaders, Justin Morneau (an amazing fact itself considering he missed half the season) and Robinson Cano, represented less than 20% of the team total.
National League 2010 WAR Leaders Relative to Team (Position Players)
| Team: Position Leader | Team WAR | Player WAR | Percentage |
| Pirates: Andrew McCutchen | 2.8 | 3.3 | 117.9% |
| Astros: Michael Bourn | 8.1 | 4.2 | 51.9% |
| Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman | 17.3 | 7.2 | 41.6% |
| Rockies: Troy Tulowitzki | 18.8 | 6.4 | 34.0% |
| Dodgers: Rafael Furcal | 12.2 | 4.1 | 33.6% |
| Cardinals: Albert Pujols | 22.5 | 7.3 | 32.4% |
| Cubs: Marlon Byrd | 13.1 | 4.1 | 31.3% |
| Marlins: Dan Uggla | 16.8 | 5.1 | 30.4% |
| Mets: Angel Pagan | 16.5 | 4.9 | 29.7% |
| Diamondbacks: Kelly Johnson | 24.4 | 6 | 24.6% |
| Braves: Brian McCann | 22 | 5.3 | 24.1% |
| Giants: Andres Torres | 25.1 | 6 | 23.9% |
| Padres: Adrian Gonzalez | 23.8 | 5.3 | 22.3% |
| Reds: Joey Votto | 33.4 | 7.4 | 22.2% |
| Phillies: Chase Utley | 23.6 | 5.2 | 22.0% |
| Brewers: Rickie Weeks | 29 | 6.1 | 21.0% |
| Standard Deviation | 24% |
Source: fangraphs.com
American League 2010 WAR Leaders Relative to Team (Position Players)
| Team: Position Leader | Team WAR | Player WAR | Percentage |
| Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki | 6.1 | 4.8 | 78.7% |
| Indians: Shin Soo Choo | 9.3 | 5.6 | 60.2% |
| Orioles: Luke Scott | 9.6 | 3.1 | 32.3% |
| Rangers: Josh Hamilton | 25.1 | 8 | 31.9% |
| Blue Jays: Jose Bautista | 25.5 | 6.9 | 27.1% |
| Angels: Torii Hunter | 13.5 | 3.5 | 25.9% |
| Red Sox: Adrian Beltre | 28.2 | 7.1 | 25.2% |
| Tigers: Miguel Cabrera | 25.5 | 6.2 | 24.3% |
| Rays: Evan Longoria/Carl Crawford | 28.4 | 6.9 | 24.3% |
| Royals: Billy Butler | 14.1 | 3.4 | 24.1% |
| White Sox: Paul Konerko | 18.2 | 4.2 | 23.1% |
| Athletics: Daric Barton | 22.5 | 4.9 | 21.8% |
| Yankees: Robinson Cano | 32.6 | 6.4 | 19.6% |
| Twins: Justin Morneau | 31.2 | 5.3 | 17.0% |
| Standard Deviation | 17% |
Source: fangraphs.com
On the pitching side of the equation, the fluctuations weren’t as wild. Only three pitchers, Felix Hernandez, Zack Greinke and Yovani Gallardo, comprised more than 40% of their pitching staff’s total WAR contribution. Meanwhile, the most balanced staff proved to be the Chicago White Sox, who had two pitchers contribute a top rate of only 17.3%. One thing to note from the Yankees perspective is CC Sabathia contributed 35.7% of the team’s pitching WAR. With the loss of Andy Pettitte, the Yankees will either need the big man to maintain his impressive output, or have one or two other pitchers help lighten the load.
National League 2010 WAR Leaders Relative to Team (Pitchers)
| Team: Pitching Leader | Team WAR | Player WAR | Percentage |
| Brewers: Yovani Gallardo | 11 | 4.6 | 41.8% |
| Cardinals: Adam Wainwright | 16.3 | 6.1 | 37.4% |
| Phillies: Roy Halladay | 18.4 | 6.6 | 35.9% |
| Marlins: Josh Johnson | 17.9 | 6.3 | 35.2% |
| Diamondbacks: Dan Haren | 7.5 | 2.5 | 33.3% |
| Pirates: Paul Maholm | 6.7 | 2 | 29.9% |
| Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw | 18.2 | 4.8 | 26.4% |
| Mets: Johan Santana | 13.6 | 3.5 | 25.7% |
| Rockies: Ubaldo Jiminez | 24.5 | 6.3 | 25.7% |
| Astros: Brett Myers | 16 | 4 | 25.0% |
| Padres: Mat Latos | 16.1 | 4 | 24.8% |
| Giants: Tim Lincecum | 21.5 | 5.1 | 23.7% |
| Nationals: Livan Hernandez | 13.2 | 3 | 22.7% |
| Braves: Tommy Hanson | 20.5 | 4.3 | 21.0% |
| Cubs: Ryan Dempster | 18.3 | 3.5 | 19.1% |
| Reds: Johnny Cueto | 15.6 | 2.8 | 17.9% |
| Standard Deviation | 7% |
Source: fangraphs.com
American League 2010 WAR Leaders Relative to Team (Pitchers)
| Team: Pitching Leader | Team WAR | Player WAR | Percentage |
| Mariners: Felix Hernandez | 12.9 | 6.2 | 48.1% |
| Royals: Zack Greinke | 11.7 | 5.2 | 44.4% |
| Tigers: Justin Verlander | 16.5 | 6.3 | 38.2% |
| Angels: Jeff Weaver | 15.9 | 5.9 | 37.1% |
| Yankees: C.C. Sabathia | 14.3 | 5.1 | 35.7% |
| Twins: Francisco Liriano | 18.8 | 6 | 31.9% |
| Indians: Fausto Carmona/Justin Masterson | 9.4 | 2.7 | 28.7% |
| Rays: David Price | 15 | 4.3 | 28.7% |
| Red Sox: Jon Lester | 19.7 | 5.6 | 28.4% |
| Orioles: Brian Matusz | 10.4 | 2.7 | 26.0% |
| Rangers: CJ Wilson/Colby Lewis | 18 | 4.4 | 24.4% |
| Athletics: Gio Gonzalez | 13.1 | 3.2 | 24.4% |
| Blue Jays: Ricky Romero | 16.9 | 4 | 23.7% |
| White Sox: John Danks/Gavin Floyd | 24.9 | 4.3 | 17.3% |
| Standard Deviation | 9% |
Source: fangraphs.com
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