Posted by italyprof on 2/7/2016 9:57:00 AM (view original):

What was Wally Pipp's value over replacement player?
Why should we measure the value of an established player against that of a replacement player that is a minor league prospect if the team's strategy is to forego trying to win a pennant now and instead to trade players who can help other teams that are already contenders in exchange for prospects whose development is foreseen to take 3-5 years before they will really help the team? Shouldn't the replacement value be that prospect's performance 3-5 years later?
Otherwise the Jim Fregosi trade for Nolan Ryan looks pretty good for the Mets - Ryan was not that great in 1969, Fregosi was good.
Wouldn't any trade involving draft picks then be a loss for the team obtaining the draft picks? You are getting by definition a replacement player in exchange for someone with value above replacement?
Answers to these questions: see image above !