Editor’s Note: All the graphics I use going forward will come directly from Stat Soldier. Go check it out by clicking here!
Happy Friday! Fridays are when I get paid from my day job, so I decided to put together a quick blog on guys who deserve a bigger payday based on their on-field performance from this season.
The main decision-maker for me when putting this article together was evaluating current contract values against a player’s fWAR and wRC+. These two statistics show how players differentiate themselves against league average and their replacement.
Let’s start behind the dish.
Catcher: Dillon Dingler (DET)
I have to go with Dillon Dingler of the Detroit Tigers. Dingler is the 42nd highest-paid catcher in baseball this season and leads the league in WAR at the position. Dingler is having a massive season, and he is doing it for less than $1M.
2026: 154 wRC+ | 5.1 fWAR | 19 HR | .293 AVG
Contract: $834,900
First Base: Jonathan Aranda (TBR)
Let’s be honest. The Tampa Bay Rays have yet another diamond in the rough performing at a very high level, and for not very much money. Aranda is still in pre-arbitration, but with back-to-back years of 14 or more home runs, I could see Aranda getting a pay bump when he enters Arb-1 in the offseason. That is… if we have a next season.
2026: 127 wRC+ | 1.9 fWAR | 14 HR | .277 AVG
Contract: $796,400
Second Base: Travis Bazzana (CLE)
The Guardians are right in the mix of the American League Central as always. Their number one overall selection from the 2024 MLB Draft is starting to show real promise through 78 career games. In 338 plate appearances, Bazzana is posting an above-league-average wRC+ and is just outside the top 10 among second basemen in fWAR for 2026.
2026: 111 wRC+ | 1.6 fWAR | 9 HR | .238 AVG
Contract: $780,000
Shortstop: Brayan Rocchio (CLE)
The Guardians have killed it by signing both Bazzana and Rocchio. One of the best middle infield combos in the league, and the Guardians are getting high-level results from both for less than $800,000 each.
2026: 107 wRC+ | 3.3 fWAR | 9 HR | .270 AVG
Contract: $797,600
Third Base: Junior Caminero (TBR)
This one wasn’t even close. There is simply no third baseman even close to Caminero’s production from the hot corner this season. Especially not at the pay grade Caminero is currently playing at. I fully expect Junior Caminero to become the highest-paid Ray at some point. The Rays are getting a steal in Caminero’s current contract.
2026: 149 wRC+ | 3.4 fWAR | 29 HR | .280 AVG
Contract: $794,800
Left Field: JJ Bleday (CIN)
Bleday is definitely one of the top left fielders in the league when it comes to production vs. paycheck. At a measly $1.4M, he is tied for the 10th highest fWAR in the position. He is showing plus-power with his 16 home runs and is getting on base by walking 14.3% of the time. Steal of a deal for the Reds.
2026: 123 wRC+ | 1.4 fWAR | 16 HR | .239 AVG
Contract: $1,400,000
Center Field: Andy Pages (LAD)
Also another pretty easy choice. I know the baseball world is upset with the spending of the Los Angeles Dodgers as a whole (unless you are a Dodger fan), but I need to give credit where credit is due. Pages is not one of these crazy free-agent acquisitions where the Dodgers went out and outbid everyone for the player. They signed Pages as a teenager back in 2018 and developed him into a stud.
2026: 119 wRC+ | 3.4 fWAR | 18 HR | .270 AVG
Contract: $800,000
Right Field: Jordan Walker (STL)
Home Run Derby Champion. All-Star. All for $799,000? The Cardinals are committing highway robbery with the Walker contract. Walker will enter ARB-1 next year, and I’d expect the Cardinals to try and get a long-term extension done in the offseason, as he is only 24 years old and could get him to sign on a team-friendly deal for the long haul. Plus, we are staring down the possibility of a lockout, and Walker might want to get paid in advance.
2026: 132 wRC+ | 2.3 fWAR | 20 HR | .285 AVG
Contract: $799,400
Awesome article. Love the topic and really like the look of your stat pages. Gotta check that page out.