One of the best and most accurate ways to measure and evaluate offensive performance relative to the league average is weighted runs created plus, or wRC+.
Similar to OPS+, wRC+ is adjusted to account for park factors and tells the story of how a player has performed over a specific period.
The league-average wRC+ is 100: anything higher than that means above-average play and anything below represents below-average performance.
For example, if a hitter boasts a 124 wRC+, he has produced 24 percent more than the league-average hitter.
If he has an 84 wRC+, he has been 16 percent worse than his peers.
Why do we tell you all of this? Well, the Cleveland Guardians have a player whose wRC+ over the last month does not justify regular or even semi-regular playing time.
That player is Tyler Freeman.
“Tyler Freeman’s wRC+ over the last 30 calendar days is 4. F O U R,” famous Guardians-related Twitter account @FranmilsEyebrow tweeted.
Tyler Freeman’s wRC+ over the last 30 calendar days is 4.
F o u r.
— La Mole (@FranmilsEyebrow) August 26, 2024
Over the last calendar month, Freeman has been 96 percent worse than the league-average hitter.
His production over that timeframe has been non-existent, and he has done more harm than good.
Over the full season, he is hitting a disappointing .208/.305/.323 with seven homers and 10 stolen bases in 374 plate appearances.
His season wRC+ is a poor 83.
He has one minor league option left, but the Guardians probably don’t want to use it.
Even if he stays in the major leagues, it’s hard to explain why he has started 13 of the Guardians’ last 19 games.
With Kyle Manzardo, Chase DeLauter, Juan Brito, Angel Martinez, and many other potentially productive players in Triple-A, something has got to give.
NEXT: Guardians' AL Central Lead Hanging By A Thread As Royals Sweep Doubleheader
