WAR Calculator
Calculate Wins Above Replacement to measure overall player value in baseball
Calculate WAR (Wins Above Replacement)
Offensive value from batting
Value from base running
Defensive value from fielding
Adjustment based on position difficulty
League-specific adjustment
Replacement level baseline (typically ~20)
Runs needed for one additional win (typically ~10)
Results
Formula Used:
WAR Analysis
About WAR
What is WAR?
WAR (Wins Above Replacement) attempts to summarize a player's total contributions to their team in one statistic. It measures how many more wins a player provides compared to a replacement-level player.
Position Player Formula
WAR = (Batting + BaseRun + Field + PosAdj + LgAdj + Replacement) / RPW
Pitcher Formula
WAR = [((lgFIP - FIP) / RPW + Repl) × IP × Lev] / 9 + LgCorr
WAR Scale
- • 6+ WAR: MVP
- • 5-6 WAR: Superstar
- • 4-5 WAR: All-Star
- • 3-4 WAR: Good Player
- • 2-3 WAR: Solid Player
- • 1-2 WAR: Role Player
- • 0-1 WAR: Scrub
2019 WAR Leaders
- Cody Bellinger - 9.0
- Alex Bregman - 8.4
- Mike Trout - 8.3
- Marcus Semien - 8.1
- Justin Verlander - 7.8
- Mike Minor - 7.8
- Lance Lynn - 7.6
- Jacob deGrom - 7.3
- Christian Yelich - 7.1
- Ketel Marte - 6.9
Important Notes
Non-Standardized Metric
WAR is calculated differently by different organizations (FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference, etc.). This calculator uses FanGraphs methodology.
Interpretation Guidelines
- • WAR is best for grouping players by skill level
- • Differences of 1+ WAR are significant
- • Small differences (<0.5) may not be meaningful
- • Use alongside other metrics for complete evaluation
Data Requirements
Accurate WAR calculation requires detailed statistics. This calculator provides estimates based on the major components of WAR.
Understanding WAR (Wins Above Replacement)
The Purpose of WAR
WAR was created to answer a simple question: "If this player got injured and I had to replace them with a minor leaguer or someone from my bench, how much value would I be losing?" This makes it incredibly useful for comparing players across different positions and eras.
Unlike traditional statistics that focus on specific aspects of the game, WAR attempts to capture everything a player does on the field - hitting, fielding, base running, and positional value - in one comprehensive number.
The "replacement level" baseline represents the performance you could expect from a freely available player (minor league call-up, bench player, etc.), typically about 20% below league average.
Position Player vs Pitcher WAR
Position Player Components:
- Batting Runs: Offensive value above average
- Base Running: Value from stolen bases, advancement
- Fielding: Defensive value above average
- Positional Adjustment: Difficulty of position
- League/Replacement: Context adjustments
Pitcher Components:
- FIP vs League FIP: Skill-based pitching performance
- Innings Pitched: Volume of contribution
- Leverage: Situation difficulty (relievers)
- League Correction: Context adjustments
Using WAR Effectively
WAR is best used as a "telescope" rather than a "microscope." It's excellent for identifying the most valuable players and grouping players into tiers, but it shouldn't be used to make fine distinctions between similar players.
When evaluating players, consider WAR alongside context like park factors, league strength, and team quality. A 3 WAR player on a bad team might be more impressive than a 4 WAR player on a great team.
For roster construction and salary decisions, WAR provides a framework for understanding player value in terms of wins contributed, which can be translated into financial value.
Limitations and Considerations
Different organizations calculate WAR differently, leading to sometimes significant differences in values. FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference, and Baseball Prospectus all have their own methodologies.
WAR relies heavily on defensive metrics, which can be noisy and take multiple seasons to stabilize. Single-season defensive components should be interpreted cautiously.
For pitchers, WAR doesn't account for pitch framing, holding runners, or other subtle contributions. For position players, it may not fully capture leadership, clutch performance, or other intangible qualities.