The Cleveland Indians Overtook the Chicago Cubs as MLB’s Team to Beat

Around this time last year, the Chicago Cubs controlled the most surplus value in baseball. This year, not so much:

Cleveland now controls the most surplus value in the sport, due mainly to Francisco Lindor’s continued excellence and affordability. The 23-year-old shortstop has four more years of team control at a projected 20 WAR and $23 million in total salary. That combination works out to $173 million in surplus value, second-most in the big leagues.

See the details at Beyond the Box Score.

(Photo of Corey Kluber by Erik Drost)