Hot Stove Economics

The final out of the World Series marks the beginning of baseball's second season, when teams court free agents and orchestrate trades with the hope of building a championship contender. The real and anticipated transactions generate excitement among fans who discuss the merit of moves in the arena informally known as the "hot stove league." In Hot Stove Economics, economist J.C. Bradbury answers the hot stove league's most important question: what are baseball players worth? With in-depth analysis, Bradbury identifies the game's best and worst contracts-revealing the bargains, duds, and players who are worth every penny they receive. From minor-league prospects to major-league MVPs, Bradbury examines how factors such as revenue growth, labor rules, and aging- even down to the month in which players are born-shape players' worth and evaluates how well franchises manage their rosters. He broadly applies the principles of economics to baseball in a way that is both interesting and understandable to sports fanatics, team managers, armchair economists and students alike.

The American baseball leagues transfer prospects, known as the hot stove league, are the source of endless speculation and debate. In this book, economist J.C. Bradbury answers the hot stove league's number one question: what are baseball players worth?

Why Johnny Estrada Is Worth Kevin Millwood: Valuing Players asAssets.- Down with the Triple Crown: Evaluating On-Field Performance.- A Career Guide from Little League to Retirement: Age and Success inBaseball.- Putting a Dollar Sign on the Muscle: Valuing Players.- Deals, Duds, and Caveats: What Do the Estimates Reveal?- Building a Champion on a Dime: Winning and Winning Efficiently.- Is C.C. Sabathia Worth $161 Million? Valuing Long Run Contracts.- You Don't Need a Name to Be Traded: Valuing Minor-League Prospects