In recent years, the stat of Wins Above Replacement, or WAR, has become a vital method in how fans and pundits alike judge baseball players. Many an article or television piece is pushed that bases itself on this distinctive model. It\u2019s a curious intersection of mathematics, statistics, and the game we all know and love. There are multiple different applications, but the main objective is to guide a viewer towards a deeper understanding of what makes certain players special. In short, the higher a player\u2019s WAR metric, the more overall value he adds to his team.<\/p>\n
A replacement player\u2019s WAR metric is, ultimately, zero. A player\u2019s skill and success add to this number, thus making him more of a commodity than a replacement player. Anything less than zero and one would be looking at ample bench time. Garnering double digits in this category is substantial enough. However, the five players listed here have the greatest active career WAR measurements. To put this into perspective, nobody here has a mark under 70. That means that they were 70 (or more) wins better than the average replacement player. So, without further ado, let\u2019s see these players and how they got there.<\/p>\n
Max Scherzer<\/a>, or Mad Max, kicks off our list of the greatest active career WAR metrics. His potency on the mound is well documented, as he has won 214 games while striking out 3,367 batters. However, he didn\u2019t arrive overnight. His first two seasons were okay, posting WAR numbers of 1.2 and 1.3, respectively. In 2010, with the Detroit Tigers<\/a>, he broke out and he\u2019s never really looked back. From 2012 through 2023, he posted WAR metrics of two or higher. His time with the Washington Nationals<\/a> is of particular note, as he put up seven consecutive seasons of five or more WAR. In the end, Scherzer is destined for Cooperstown, and his WAR numbers are only a boon to that foregone conclusion.<\/p>\n Zack Greinke<\/a> makes this list thanks to a 20-year career. His longevity and tenacity have helped funnel him to the top of baseball\u2019s pitching mountain. He enters the 2024 season a mere 21 strikeouts shy of the coveted 3,000 mark. He\u2019s a six-time All-Star, a Cy Young winner, and even a two-time Silver Slugger. That being said, his WAR marks carry more highs and lows than the average roller coaster. His highest career mark was in 2009 with the Kansas City Royals<\/a>. He won the aforementioned Cy Young\u00a0and posted a staggering 10.4 WAR. In 2015, with the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a>, he broke the eight mark once more. However, he also has eight career years of a WAR measuring two or worse.<\/p>\n Clayton Kershaw<\/a> sits squarely in the middle of the greatest active career WAR metrics. His unbelievable consistency earlier in his career have helped push him to 210 wins and a sparkling 2.48 ERA. He won four consecutive ERA titles from 2011 to 2014 and took home three Cy Young Awards as well. He\u2019s a 10-time All-Star, and is also one of the only hurlers to win the Cy Young and MVP honors in the same season (2014). His consistency has stretched to the WAR boards as well. He has seven career seasons of five or more WAR and he led the league in the metric for three straight years. Recently, his numbers have dipped a bit. However, that does nothing to affect Kershaw\u2019s overall impact on the game itself.<\/p>\nZack Greinke, WAR: 77.5<\/h3>\n
Clayton Kershaw, WAR: 79.9<\/h3>\n
Justin Verlander, WAR: 80.9<\/h3>\n