Ranking the MLB Lifers: Part Two

This is Part Two of this Series. Here is Part One.

The following list contains all of the MLB players who have spent their entire careers with one organization and have ten or more years of major league experience. They are ranked by years with the team.

Stats are as of July 5, 2006

NAME	TEAM	YEARS	BRAR	BRAA	FRAA	WARP
Craig Biggio	Houston Astros	18	728	386	-131	121.9
Bernie Williams	New York Yankees	15	656	403	-60	99.9
Tim Salmon	Los Angeles Angels	13	539	343	40	81.7
Chipper Jones	Atlanta Braves	12	657	454	-179	79.5
Mike Lieberthal	Philadelphia Phillies	12	176	41	6	44.9
Garret Anderson	Los Angeles Angels	12	317	96	24	59.9
Mike Sweeney	Kansas City Royals	11	310	171	-8	41.1
Derek Jeter	New York Yankees	11	540	332	-132	85.9
Jorge Posada	New York Yankees	11	330	192	24	66.8
Andruw Jones	Atlanta Braves	10	357	166	138	82.6
Darin Erstad	Los Angeles Angels	10	221	45	106	51.4

All of the stats come from Baseball Prospectus.

In total, there are eleven players on this list. There are also three pitchers, John Smoltz, Brad Radke, and Mariano Rivera, but this series will only deal with batters. BRAR and BRAA are batting runs above replacement and batting runs above average. BRAR is a better indicator of long-term success, while BRAA indicates a higher peak. FRAA is fielding runs above average. WARP is Wins Above Replacement Player and takes into account every aspect of the game (i.e. baserunning, hitting, fielding).

This series of articles will attempt to rank these players careers by looking at a few of the batters each week. Part One ranked Mike Lieberthal, Mike Sweeney, and Darin Erstad, while this one will rank Jorge Posada and Garret Anderson.

Jorge Posada

Offensively, Posada's bat would be valuable from any position on the diamond. It just so happens, he plays catcher adequately, increasing his value to the Yankees. Posada peaked at the age of 28, with a career year. In 2000, the Yankees catcher played 151 games with 28 HRs and a .417 OBP. Catcher is the most physically demanding position on the diamond; however, Posada has been both durable and consistent. From 2000-2005, Posada has played in 137 to 151 games each year with an OBP higher than .400 three times, and no less than .363. Posada was a deserving MVP candidate in 2003, when he finished third behind Carlos Delgado and Alex Rodriguez, but should have been in the top in 2000 as well.

Best Years(WARP over 6.0)

2000, 2003, 2002, 2004, 2001, 1998

Awards

All-Star: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

Silver Slugger: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

Garret Anderson

Like Posada, Anderson received his MVP recognition in his second-best campaign. Anderson finished fourth in 2002; however, his best year was the next season, which he finished fourteenth. In 2003, Anderson hit 29 home runs, his fifth consecutive year over the twenty-homer mark. He also drove in 116 runs with a line of .315/.345/.541. The Angels' leftfielder was a doubles machine, with 49. This career year at bat coincided with his best defensive effort. Anderson made only one error with thirteen outfield assists. All three outfield positions have been manned by Anderson at some point. His defense has been above average at all three.

Best Years

2003, 2002, 1999, 1997

Awards

All-Star: 2002, 2003, 2005

Silver Slugger: 2002, 2003

Final Verdict

7. Jorge Posada

8. Garret Anderson

9. Darin Erstad

10. Mike Sweeney

11. Mike Lieberthal

Both of these players have multiple All-Star appearances and Silver Sluggers, as well as a Top Five finish in MVP voting. Both are about equal in fielding; although, both are about average with the glove, not to be mistaken with a Gold-Glove caliber defender. Overall, Posada is the superior hitter, at a weak-hitting position. Ultimately, this puts him ahead of Anderson.

Next article, I will take a look at Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, and Tim Salmon to decide where they rank on this list.