Biographical

Portrait of Bret Saberhagen

Bret Saberhagen PRoyals

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Career Summary
Years G IP W L SV ERA WARP
16 399 2562.7 167 117 1 3.34 54.6
Birth Date4-11-1964
Height6' 1"
Weight200 lbs
Age60 years, 0 months, 15 days
BatsR
ThrowsR
WARP Summary

MLB Statistics

Historical (past-seasons) WARP is now based on DRA..
cFIP and DRA are not available on a by-team basis and display as zeroes(0). See TOT line for season totals of these stats.
Multiple stints are are currently shown —Click to hide.
YEAR Team Lg G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA- WARP
1984 KCA MLB 38 18 157.7 10 11 1 138 36 73 13 94 7.9 2.1 0.7 4.2 0% .245 1.10 3.61 3.48 101 3.86 90.3 2.1
1985 KCA MLB 32 32 235.3 20 6 0 211 38 158 19 94 8.1 1.5 0.7 6.0 0% .269 1.06 2.94 2.87 78 2.85 65.6 6.6
1986 KCA MLB 30 25 156.0 7 12 0 165 29 112 15 97 9.5 1.7 0.9 6.5 0% .304 1.24 3.19 4.15 78 3.41 77.0 3.5
1987 KCA MLB 33 33 257.0 18 10 0 246 53 163 27 99 8.6 1.9 0.9 5.7 0% .274 1.16 3.64 3.36 88 3.95 82.9 5.2
1988 KCA MLB 35 35 260.7 14 16 0 271 59 171 18 101 9.4 2.0 0.6 5.9 0% .302 1.27 3.12 3.80 87 3.64 87.7 4.2
1989 KCA MLB 36 35 262.3 23 6 0 209 43 193 13 98 7.2 1.5 0.4 6.6 0% .255 0.96 2.53 2.16 74 2.77 66.6 7.1
1990 KCA MLB 20 20 135.0 5 9 0 146 28 87 9 101 9.7 1.9 0.6 5.8 0% .314 1.29 3.02 3.27 84 3.70 86.1 2.4
1991 KCA MLB 28 28 196.3 13 8 0 165 45 136 12 99 7.6 2.1 0.6 6.2 0% .261 1.07 3.14 3.07 84 3.52 81.5 4.0
1992 NYN MLB 17 15 97.7 3 5 0 84 27 81 6 95 7.7 2.5 0.6 7.5 0% .280 1.14 2.86 3.50 74 2.49 60.4 2.9
1993 NYN MLB 19 19 139.3 7 7 0 131 17 93 11 96 8.5 1.1 0.7 6.0 0% .278 1.06 3.09 3.29 77 3.19 68.7 3.8
1994 NYN MLB 24 24 177.3 14 4 0 169 13 143 13 99 8.6 0.7 0.7 7.3 0% .298 1.03 2.69 2.74 66 2.20 44.3 7.1
1995 COL 0 9 9 43.0 2 1 0 60 13 29 8 125 12.6 2.7 1.7 6.1 0% .344 1.70 5.39 6.28 114 7.26 148.7 -0.6
1995 NYN 0 16 16 110.0 5 5 0 105 20 71 13 95 8.6 1.6 1.1 5.8 0% .268 1.14 3.99 3.35 94 3.80 77.8 2.5
1997 BOS MLB 6 6 26.0 0 1 0 30 10 14 5 100 10.4 3.5 1.7 4.8 0% .281 1.54 5.95 6.58 124 7.68 159.8 -0.5
1998 BOS MLB 31 31 175.0 15 8 0 181 29 100 22 102 9.3 1.5 1.1 5.1 0% .280 1.20 4.31 3.96 108 5.32 110.2 1.1
1999 BOS MLB 22 22 119.0 10 6 0 122 11 81 11 96 9.2 0.8 0.8 6.1 0% .296 1.12 3.36 2.95 88 3.78 73.6 3.2
2001 BOS MLB 3 3 15.0 1 2 0 19 0 10 3 92 11.4 0.0 1.8 6.0 0% .320 1.27 4.56 6.00 110 5.19 107.7 0.1
1995 TOT MLB 25 25 153.0 7 6 0 165 33 100 21 103 9.7 1.9 1.2 5.9 0% .000 1.29 4.38 4.18 100 4.77 97.7 1.8
CareerMLB3993712562.7167117124524711715218988.61.70.86.046%.2811.143.293.34853.5779.254.6

Statistics for All Levels

'opp' stats - Quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.
Minor league stats are currently shown —Click to hide.
YEAR Team Lg LG G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA-
1984 KCA MLB AL 38 18 157.7 10 11 1 138 36 73 13 94 7.9 2.1 0.7 4.2 0% .245 1.10 3.61 3.48 101 3.86 90.3
1985 KCA MLB AL 32 32 235.3 20 6 0 211 38 158 19 94 8.1 1.5 0.7 6.0 0% .269 1.06 2.94 2.87 78 2.85 65.6
1986 KCA MLB AL 30 25 156.0 7 12 0 165 29 112 15 97 9.5 1.7 0.9 6.5 0% .304 1.24 3.19 4.15 78 3.41 77.0
1987 KCA MLB AL 33 33 257.0 18 10 0 246 53 163 27 99 8.6 1.9 0.9 5.7 0% .274 1.16 3.64 3.36 88 3.95 82.9
1988 KCA MLB AL 35 35 260.7 14 16 0 271 59 171 18 101 9.4 2.0 0.6 5.9 0% .302 1.27 3.12 3.80 87 3.64 87.7
1989 KCA MLB AL 36 35 262.3 23 6 0 209 43 193 13 98 7.2 1.5 0.4 6.6 0% .255 0.96 2.53 2.16 74 2.77 66.6
1990 KCA MLB AL 20 20 135.0 5 9 0 146 28 87 9 101 9.7 1.9 0.6 5.8 0% .314 1.29 3.02 3.27 84 3.70 86.1
1991 KCA MLB AL 28 28 196.3 13 8 0 165 45 136 12 99 7.6 2.1 0.6 6.2 0% .261 1.07 3.14 3.07 84 3.52 81.5
1992 NYN MLB NL 17 15 97.7 3 5 0 84 27 81 6 95 7.7 2.5 0.6 7.5 0% .280 1.14 2.86 3.50 74 2.49 60.4
1993 NYN MLB NL 19 19 139.3 7 7 0 131 17 93 11 96 8.5 1.1 0.7 6.0 0% .278 1.06 3.09 3.29 77 3.19 68.7
1994 NYN MLB NL 24 24 177.3 14 4 0 169 13 143 13 99 8.6 0.7 0.7 7.3 0% .298 1.03 2.69 2.74 66 2.20 44.3
1995 COL MLB NL 9 9 43.0 2 1 0 60 13 29 8 125 12.6 2.7 1.7 6.1 0% .344 1.70 5.39 6.28 114 7.26 148.7
1995 NYN MLB NL 16 16 110.0 5 5 0 105 20 71 13 95 8.6 1.6 1.1 5.8 0% .268 1.14 3.99 3.35 94 3.80 77.8
1997 BOS MLB AL 6 6 26.0 0 1 0 30 10 14 5 100 10.4 3.5 1.7 4.8 0% .281 1.54 5.95 6.58 124 7.68 159.8
1998 BOS MLB AL 31 31 175.0 15 8 0 181 29 100 22 102 9.3 1.5 1.1 5.1 0% .280 1.20 4.31 3.96 108 5.32 110.2
1999 BOS MLB AL 22 22 119.0 10 6 0 122 11 81 11 96 9.2 0.8 0.8 6.1 0% .296 1.12 3.36 2.95 88 3.78 73.6
2001 BOS MLB AL 3 3 15.0 1 2 0 19 0 10 3 92 11.4 0.0 1.8 6.0 0% .320 1.27 4.56 6.00 110 5.19 107.7

Plate Discipline

YEAR Pits Zone% Swing% Contact% Z-Swing% O-Swing% Z-Contact% O-Contact% SwStr%

Injury History  —  No longer being updated

Last Update: 12/31/2014 23:59 ET

Date On Date Off Transaction Days Games Side Body Part Injury Severity Surgery Date Reaggravation
2001-08-08 2001-10-07 60-DL 60 49 Right Shoulder Inflammation Rotator Cuff -
2001-03-30 2001-07-27 60-DL 119 101 Right Shoulder Recovery From Surgery Partial Rotator Cuff Tear 1999-11-14
2000-04-04 2000-10-02 60-DL 181 162 Right Shoulder Recovery From Surgery Partial Rotator Cuff Tear 1999-11-14 -
1999-11-14 1999-11-14 Off 0 0 Right Shoulder Surgery Partial Rotator Cuff Tear 1999-11-14 -
1999-08-18 1999-09-12 15-DL 25 23 Right Shoulder Inflammation Frayed Rotator Cuff - -
1999-06-08 1999-06-23 15-DL 15 14 - Foot Laceration Required Sutures - -
1999-05-07 1999-06-01 15-DL 25 23 Right Shoulder Strain - -
1997-03-31 1997-08-22 60-DL 144 128 Right Shoulder Recovery From Surgery Anterior Capsule 1996-05-28 -
1996-04-02 1996-09-30 60-DL 181 162 Right Shoulder Surgery Anterior Capsule 1996-05-28 -
1995-10-25 1995-10-25 Off 0 0 Right Shoulder Surgery Labrum 1995-10-25 -
1993-08-03 1993-10-04 60-DL 62 57 Left Knee Surgery Meniscus 1993-08-09 -
1992-08-02 1992-09-11 15-DL 40 35 Right Fingers Inflammation Tendonitis Index Finger -
1992-05-16 1992-07-19 15-DL 64 55 Right Fingers Inflammation Tendonitis Index Finger - -
1991-06-13 1991-07-13 15-DL 30 26 Right Shoulder Inflammation Rotator Cuff Tendinitis - -
1990-07-16 1990-09-21 15-DL 67 63 Right Elbow Surgery Bone Chips 1990-07-23 -
1986-08-10 1986-09-06 27 25 Right Shoulder Inflammation - -

Compensation

Year Team Salary
2001 BOS $4,500,000
2000 BOS $4,500,000
1999 BOS $3,500,000
1998 BOS $1,600,000
1997 BOS $1,100,000
1996 NYN $5,133,333
1995 NYN $4,883,333
1994 NYN $3,883,333
1993 NYN $3,000,000
1992 NYN $2,950,000
1991 KCA $2,950,000
1990 KCA $1,375,000
1989 KCA $1,250,000
1988 KCA $1,100,000
1987 KCA $740,000
1986 KCA $925,000
1985 KCA $150,000
1984 KCA $40,000
YearsDescriptionSalary
18 yrPrevious$43,579,999
18 yrTotal$43,579,999

 

Service TimeAgentContract Status
Dennis Gilbert

Details
  • 3 years/$12.5M (1999-2001), plus 2002 option. Signed extension with Boston 9/98. 99:$3.5M, 00:$4.5M, 01:$4.5M, 02:$4M club option. 2002 option guaranteed at $5.5 million with 90 starts or 525 innings from 1999-01, or 60 starts or 350 innings in 2000-01. Boston declined 2002 option.
  • 1 year (1997), plus 1998 option. Signed by Boston as a free agent 12/9/96 (minor-league contract). Base salary of $0.5M in majors. $0.6M roster bonus with one day on active roster. 1998 club option at price of 1997 earnings ($1.6M). Performance bonuses based on starts (up to 25) and innings (up to 200) may increase value of contract to $3.5M.
  • 3 years/$15.38M (1994-96), plus 1997 club option. Signed extension with NY Mets 3/93. $2.5M signing bonus. 94:$3.05M, 95:$4.05M, 96:$4.3M, 97:$5M club option. Saberhagen additional $479,656 in deferred salary each year from 1994 to 1996. Acquired by Colorado in trade from NY Mets 7/95. As part of the trade, Saberhagen agreed to defer remaining salary and will receive $250,000 annually from 2004 to 2028. Colorado declined 1997 option 10/96.
  • 3 years/$8.9M (1991-93). Signed extension with Kansas City 11/89. $0.6M signing bonus. 91:$2.75M, 92:$2.75M, 93:$2.8M. Acquired by NY Mets in trade from Kansas City 12/91.
  • 2 years/$2.35M (1988-89), plus 1990 club option. Signed extension with Kansas City 2/9/88 (avoided arbitration, $1.2M-$0.95M). 88:$1.1M, 89:$1.25M, 90:$1.375M club option. May earn additional $50,000 in performance bonuses based on starts and innings. May earn additional $0.15M in award bonuses.
  • 1 year/$0.74M (1987). Renewed by Kansas City 3/87.
  • 1 year/$0.925M (1986). Won arbitration with Kansas City 2/86 ($0.925M-$0.625M).
  • 1 year/$0.15M (1985)
  • 1 year/$40,000 (1984)
  • Drafted by Kansas City 1982 (19-480) (Grover Cleveland HS, Reseda, Calif.).

2019 Preseason Forecast

Last Update: 1/27/2017 12:35 ET

PCT W L SV G GS IP H BB SO HR BABIP WHIP ERA DRA VORP WARP
Weighted Mean?????0.0?00?.0000.000.00?0.00.0

Comparable Players (Similarity Index )

Rank Score Name Year Run Average Trend

BP Annual Player Comments

No BP Book Comments have been found for this player.

BP Articles

Click here to see articles tagged with Bret Saberhagen

BP Chats

DateQuestionAnswer
2013-04-15 13:00:00 (link to chat)If you could go back and give any player a completely healthy career to see what they could do with their full capabilities, who would you pick? I'm having a tough time deciding between Mickey Mantle and Eric Davis...
(Nick from Los Feliz, CA)		Hey Nick, this is another fun one. I'm tempted to say Bo Jackson because of the tools, but I don't know how complete a ballplayer he would have become even without the injury. A healthy career from Davis boggles the mind. I literally get goosebumps thinking about it. I'll go with Davis. On the pitching side, Sandy Koufax or Bret Saberhagen. (Geoff Young)
2012-01-12 13:00:00 (link to chat)Which pitchers stand out as personal favorites that never panned out like you thought they would?
(PepeShady from St Paul)		Bret Saberhagen. Kevin Appier. I was sure both of them would be Hall of Famers. Though if Jack Morris gets in, I may start pushing their candidacies a little harder. Apparently you never know. They can get back on the ballot, right?

More recently, I had high hopes for Brett Anderson. I guess he may yet fulfill those. Erik Bedard...I sense a theme. I've been a big Gavin Floyd fan for a while, and though he's been good, he's never broken through to great. On a much lower tier, Chad Gaudin. (Mike Fast)
2011-06-20 14:00:00 (link to chat)Kirby Puckett is what I base that on. And Koufax, too, now that you bring him up. Does JAWS account for people being stopped right in their prime? I'm guessing not, perhaps because there are so few. But are there comparables to Kirby and Doc who didn't make it? I suspect there's just such a strong psychological at play there for voters.
(Richie from Washington)		Puckett had two World Series rings and 10 straight All-star appearances. As good as Halladay is, he doesn't have that.

Now, by considering peak and career, JAWS is built to allow for stopped-in-prime comparisons, and yes, Halladay is above the standard on that front (49.1 peak, with the average SP at 47.7). There aren't a lot of voters basing their decisions on JAWS, though - the great majority are still paying heed to more traditional numbers.

The annals are full of fast-starting pitchers who didn't make the Hall along the lines of Gooden. Denny McLain won his second Cy at 25 and didn't get in. Bret Saberhagen has two Cy Youngs and won't get in. Johan Santana probably won't get in barring a miraculous comeback from shoulder woes. (Jay Jaffe)


BP Roundtables

DateRoundtable NameComment
2010-10-06 10:00:002010 Playoffs Day OneI was going to ask a question about super-control pitchers being at a disadvantage against high-quality postseason offenses. Then I remembered that Bret Saberhagen was MVP of the 1985 World Series. (Steven Goldman)