The great Bill Barnwell created a terrific NFL feature called 'The Perfect NFL Roster,' and he picked a 53-man team while staying under the NFL's salary cap of $167 million.
While Major League Baseball doesn't have a salary cap and houses less than half as many player per roster, the exercise in and of itself is interesting.
To make it more challenging than, for example, staying under MLB's luxury tax limits, here's the best MLB roster $100 million can buy.
For reference and context, there are only five MLB clubs with 2017 payrolls under the $100 million mark — Milwaukee, Oakland, San Diego, Tampa Bay and the Chicago White Sox.
The league average is $150.73 million.
All stats through August 15, 2017
| Player | 2017 Salary | 2017 fWAR |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Sale (L) | $12m | 7.4 |
| Corey Kluber (R) | $7.5m | 5.0 |
| Chris Archer (R) | $4.75m | 4.0 |
| James Paxton (L) | $2.35m | 4.2 |
| Luis Severino (R) | $550,975 | 4.1 |
| TOTAL | $27.150975m |
I targeted impact, top-of-the-rotation types as much as possible. Sale is a bargain at $12 million and Kluber is an even bigger one at $7.5 million. I wanted balance to go with the impact, so Paxton gives me a second left-hander, and a power arm at that.
Archer, also a steal at $4.75 million for 2017, is a No. 1 that is paid like a No. 4. All five are strikeout arms, two of which are Cy Young candidates.
| Player | 2017 Salary | 2017 fWAR |
|---|---|---|
| Kenley Jansen (R) | $10m | 2.9 |
| Andrew Miller (L) | $9m | 2.0 |
| Roberto Osuna (R) | $552,400 | 2.5 |
| Brad Hand (L) | $1.375m | 1.5 |
| Chris Devenski (R) | $554,500 | 1.3 |
| Tommy Kahnle (R) | $552,000 | 1.9 |
| Corey Knebel (R) | $538,900 | 2.4 |
| POSITIONAL | $22.5728m | |
| TOTAL | $49.723775m |
| Player | 2017 Salary | 2017 fWAR |
|---|---|---|
| Wilson Contreras (R) | $554,500 | 3.0 |
| J.T. Realmuto (R) | $562,500 | 2.8 |
| Alex Avila (L) | $2m | 3.8 |
| POSITIONAL | $3.117 | |
| TOTAL | $52.840775 |
| Player | 2017 Salary | 2017 fWAR |
|---|---|---|
| Cody Bellinger, 1B (L) | $552,000 | 3.6 |
| Jose Altuve, 2B (R) | $4.5m | 6.2 |
| Kris Bryant, 3B (R) | $1.05m | 4.2 |
| Corey Seager, SS (L) | $552,000 | 5.0 |
| Francisco Lindor SS (S) | $579,300 | 3.2 |
| POSITIONAL TOTAL | $7.23m | |
| TOTAL | $60.070775 |
Bellinger can also play outfield adequately, which is invaluable, but he's my first baseman at the league minimum. Altuve may be the AL MVP, does everything well and can bat anywhere in the lineup — literally.
Bryant beat out Nolan Arenado and Rendon easily due to salary. It was difficult to choose between Seager and Lindor, but Seager is having the better year, so he's my starting shortstop.
Lindor's roster spot is justified with his ability to play second base or shortstop, run and hit well from both sides of the plate for barely more than the minimum salary.
| Player | 2017 Salary | 2017 fWAR |
|---|---|---|
| Mookie Betts (R) | $950,000 | 4.1 |
| Mike Trout (R) | $19.25m | 5.3 |
| Bryce Harper (L) | $13.625m | 5.0 |
| Ender Inciarte (R) | $2m | 2.9 |
| Aaron Judge (R) | $552,000 | 6.1 |
| POSITIONAL TOTAL | $36.377 | |
| TOTAL | $96.447775 |
Because I passed on more established options at first base and at the back of the rotation, I have payroll for both Trout and Harper, rather than just one of them, or neither. Betts can play all three outfield spots well, including center, where he'd be playing regularly if the Red Sox didn't have Jackie Bradley Jr.
Judge is an average glove and a difference-making slugger for dirt cheap. Inciarte, who replaced Odubel Herrera, is a great defender with a solid bat and can play center, run, make contact and handle the bat for a low cost, and he's showing some pop in 2017. I made the change because Inciarte makes a lot more contact.
There was room for a more pricey fifth outfielder, but that's the least important of the 25 spots and I have more than $4 million in flexibility left after finalizing the roster.
