Jon Jay signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs for $8 million prior to the 2017 season. A contract of that worth, according to some dollar-per-win models, equates to just a tad below one win above replacement. So, in a sense, the Cubs basically signed Jay to produce one incremental win.
The utility outfielder’s WAR has easily surpassed that benchmark and now stands at 1.6 going into an imminent division-clinching series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Jay has filled in nicely across all outfield positions — to the tune of a .333 wOBA — and was essential during the injuries of Ben Zobrist and Addison Russell.