Jeff Bagwell headlines Houston Astros all-time roster by WAR

Jeff Bagwell headlines Houston Astros all-time roster by Wins Above Replacement

For the Boston Red Sox, Jeff Bagwell, like Babe Ruth, is “one who got away.” For the Houston Astros, the Boston-born slugger is not only the franchise’s all-time home run king, but also the team’s first, and only, National League MVP winner (second baseman Jose Altuve was named the American League MVP in 2017).

HOUSTON ASTROS ALL-TIME ROSTER

After being selected by the Red Sox in the 1989 draft, Bagwell was traded to the Astros where he played all 15 years of his MLB career. He leads the franchise’s all-time roster with a 79.6 WAR. The team’s other biggest contributions came from second baseman Craig Biggio (65.1) and outfielder Jose Cruz (51.2).

None of the 2017 World Series champions, which were implicated in the sign stealing scandal, have yet secured a place on the club’s all-time roster by WAR. Also absent are legendary pitchers Nolan Ryan (25.4) and Roger Clemens (16.8), neither of which played for the Astros long enough to crack the list.

UPDATED August 15, 2024