There’s nothing more valuable for a Major League Baseball team than a good bargain. A quality player who can deliver the goods for less than the market value would dictate frees up payroll to spend elsewhere and build a better team. Every team has at least one bargain, be it a young player who has yet to get expensive via arbitration or a guy who’s on a team-friendly deal.
Here is the best bargain on each team’s roster.
Arizona Diamondbacks — Paul Goldschmidt, first base
Goldschmidt has made himself a perennial MVP candidate in Arizona, a plus defender with unconventional speed. A career .302 hitter who averages 30 homers a year, he even stole 30 bases in 2016. The Diamondbacks get all of this for under $9 million a year — the fourth-highest salary on the club despite the unmatched production.
Atlanta Braves — Ender Inciarte, outfielder
Acquired as part of the Shelby Miller trade, Inciarte has been a total steal. A speedy outfielder, he has evolved into one of Atlanta’s most dangerous players. A Gold Glover in center and near-.300 hitter, he’s capable of stealing a base, too. He’ll be an incredible bargain for years to come, but particularly in 2017, when the Braves are playing their All-Star outfielder a minuscule $2.7 million.
Baltimore Orioles — Jonathan Schoop, second base
Schoop has always had some power, but he’s really established himself in 2017, hitting over .300 and being named to his first All-Star team. He has already matched his career-high with 25 home runs, and is almost certain to cross the 100-RBI plateau before the season ends as long as he remains healthy. The Orioles are paying him just under $3.5 million, a figure sure to rise as he moves through arbitration.
Boston Red Sox — Chris Sale, pitcher
Sale’s $12 million salary is a bit high on this list, but the caliber of player has to be taken into account. In a league where ace pitchers easily make upwards of $30 million, the lefty is an absolute steal, leading the American League in strikeouts and earned run average in his first season in Boston. He’d command three times his current salary if he hit the open market.
Chicago Cubs — Kris Bryant, third base
Already a National League MVP at age 25, Bryant isn’t even eligible for arbitration yet. He hasn’t been able to quite match his MVP campaign, but he still has 20 home runs, and his .390 OBP is actually higher than it was in 2016. The talented third baseman is giving the Cubs top-level production for just over $1 million in 2017.
Chicago White Sox — Jose Abreu, first base
Abreu has never quite been able to repeat the power numbers he put up in his first season, but he’s still a well-established .290 big league hitter who is good for 25-30 home runs per season. He’s been the mark of consistency since establishing himself in the majors, and he’s provided Chicago with a .291 average and 19 home runs in 2017 for a reasonable $11 million sum.
Cincinnati Reds — Raisel Iglesias, pitcher
One of baseball’s best under-the-radar relievers, Iglesias has racked up 19 saves with a 1.81 ERA so far in 2017, drawing serious trade interest. The Reds ultimately held onto him, because his value isn’t going down anytime soon. At a little over $4 million per season, he’s an absolute bargain just as the price of proven closers is going way up on the open market.
Cleveland Indians — Corey Kluber, pitcher
A man who at times is so ruthlessly efficient, he has earned the nickname “Klubot.” The Cleveland ace and former Cy Young winner is assembling another excellent campaign. He’s striking out batters at a career-best rate — 183 in 132.2 innings — and posting a 2.65 ERA. Cleveland has him on a very team-friendly contract, too, and he’s giving them ace-level innings in 2017 for $7.7 million.
Colorado Rockies — Charlie Blackmon, outfielder
The bearded outfielder is sure to pick up MVP votes for a second consecutive season, and with good reason. Nobody in the National League has more hits than Blackmon, who’s hitting .333 with power to the tune of 27 home runs. Coors effect or not, Blackmon has been one of baseball’s best offensive players this season, all for a $7.3 million payday.
Detroit Tigers — Michael Fulmer, pitcher
Fulmer has very quickly established himself as one of the best young pitchers in baseball, and he has an AL Rookie of the Year award to show for it. He’s kept it up in his second big league season, consistently proving himself to be Detroit’s best pitcher, with a 3.59 ERA and an All-Star nod to his name. Even better for the Tigers, he’s still making the league minimum — just over $550,000.
