Here's a little exercise I like to do when looking at team-building and how different methods can achieve success. Obviously I'm starting with the Indians, but I'll tackle other teams throughout the offseason.
The exercise is simple: to identify where each player on a team came from, and the production gained vs. their salary. Now of course if you can afford to have a large payroll, the last part doesn't matter as much, but for a team like the Indians, salary matters very much.
Offense
C Victor Martinez
How Acquired: Non-drafted Free Agent, 7-96
2005 Salary: $500,000
2005 WARP: 5.1
C Josh Bard
How Acquired: Trade, 6-01
2005 Salary: $317,900
2005 WARP: 0.1
1B Ben Broussard
How Acquired: Trade, 6-02
2005 Salary: $365,000
2005 WARP: 2.2
1B Jose Hernandez
How Acquired: Free Agent, 12-04
2005 Salary: $1.8M
2005 WARP: 0.1
DH Travis Hafner
How Acquired: Trade, 12-02
2005 Salary: $500,000
2005 WARP: 5.6
2B Ronnie Belliard
How Acquired: Free Agent, 12-03
2005 Salary: $2.5M
2005 WARP: 6.3
SS Jhonny Peralta
How Acquired: Non-Drafted Free Agent, 4-99
2005 Salary: $316,700
2005 WARP: 8.6
3B Aaron Boone
How Acquired: Free Agent, 6-04
2005 Salary: $3.00M
2005 WARP: 2.3
IF Alex Cora
How Acquired: Free Agent, 1-05
2005 Salary: ~$650,000*
2005 WARP (Cleveland): 1.2
OF Coco Crisp
How Acquired: Trade, 8-02
2005 Salary: $364,900
2005 WARP: 5.1
OF Grady Sizemore
How Acquired: Trade, 6-02
2005 Salary: $318,300
2005 WARP: 6.2
OF Casey Blake
How Acquired: Minor-league Free Agent, 12-02
2005 Salary: $2.25M
2005 WARP: 3.6
OF Jody Gerut
How Acquired: Trade, 6-01
2005 Salary: ~$200,000*
2005 WARP (Cleveland): 0.9
Pitching
RHP Kevin Millwood
How Acquired: Free Agent, 1-05
2005 Salary: $7.0M
2005 WARP: 5.4
LHP CC Sabathia
How Acquired: 2001 Draft (1st Round)
2005 Salary: $5.20M
2005 WARP: 4.0
LHP Cliff Lee
How Acquired: Trade, 6-02
2005 Salary: $345,000
2005 WARP: 4.1
RHP Jake Westbrook
How Acquired: Trade, 7-00
2005 Salary: $2.90M
2005 WARP: 3.2
RHP Scott Elarton
How Acquired: Minor-league Free Agent, 5-04
2005 Salary: $850,000
2005 WARP: 1.9
RHP Bob Wickman
How Acquired: Trade, 7-00
2005 Salary: $2.75M
2005 WARP: 4.5
RHP Bob Howry
How Acquired: Minor-league Free Agent, 12-03
2005 Salary: $900,000
2005 WARP: 3.2
LHP Scott Sauerbeck
How Acquired: Minor-league Free Agent, 3-04
2005 Salary: $500,000
2005 WARP: 0.7
LHP Arthur Rhodes
How Acquired: Trade, 12-04
2005 Salary: $3.70M
2005 WARP: 1.7
RHP David Riske
How Acquired: 1996 Draft (56th Round)
2005 Salary: $1.425M
2005 WARP: 2.0
RHP Matt Miller
How Acquired: Minor-league Contract, 1-04
2005 Salary: $329,700
2005 WARP: 1.2
RHP Rafael Betancourt
How Acquired: Minor-League Free Agent, 2-03
2005 Salary: $338,600
2005 WARP: 2.0
*Estimated salary Cleveland responsible for
Totals
Salary: $39.371M
WARP: 81.2
Marginal$/Win: $392,493
Acquisition Breakdown:
Farm System: 4
Trade: 10
Free Agent: 5
Minor-League Free Agent: 6
There really isn't that many home-grown players on this team, although of the four that are, three of them are core players. Most of the players in the "trade" column were prospects when they were dealt to the Indians. Two of the pitchers in the bullpen were coming off injuries, and two more were unknown minor-league vets. The Indians have done a great job picking up "free" talent, and of course their 2002 trade binge is paying dividends this season.
It's difficult to make anything out of the WARP and Marginal$/WARP because there isn't anything to compare it to.