Feb 29, 1924 (Spartanburg, SC) – Mar 13, 2015 (Rancho Mirage, CA) · died at 91
General manager for the Astros and Giants (1981–1992).
Across the full 8-season sample, the measured profile stands out most for avoidance of negative WAR (96th percentile), and net WAR per trade (94th percentile). The clearest contrast is cheap-talent surplus (23rd percentile): cost-controlled talent has created less surplus value than for most peers.
8 seasons with salary-era data across 2 stints. All figures are franchise-level outcomes during the tenure, not solely attributable to one executive.
1 pennant · 2 playoff appearances · 663–633 (0.512)
| Team | Role | Year | Pay $M |
Rel Pay |
Surp $M |
Surp WAR |
Dead % |
Cheap $M |
Draft $M |
Trd $M |
Int'l $M |
$ / WAR |
WAR | Depth | Dead WAR |
HG | Trade | Net/ Trd |
FA | R5 | RFA | PPA | CPA | WAB | TAB | W-L% | PO | Pen | WS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GM | 1985 83–79 | $9 | 93 | -2 | -5.9 | 10% | +1 | +1 | -0 | +0 | $0.3M | 32.3 | 7.0 | -3.9 | +7.5 | +23.7 | +11.86 | -6.8 | +0.0 | 1.67 | 0.17 | +2.0 | -1.0 | 0.512 | |||||
| GM | 1986 83–79 | $8 | 75 | +4 | +12.8 | 22% | +5 | +3 | +0 | +1 | $0.2M | 39.8 | 7.0 | -2.5 | +40.3 | -1.7 | -1.69 | +9.1 | +0.0 | 3.55 | 0.25 | +4.8 | +9.1 | 0.512 | |||||
| GM | 1987 90–72 | $8 | 75 | +4 | +13.0 | 24% | +5 | +2 | +2 | +0 | $0.2M | 42.1 | 8.0 | -1.3 | +2.0 | +3.6 | +0.71 | -26.9 | +0.0 | 3.66 | 0.26 | +11.7 | +11.3 | 0.556 | ✓ | ||||
| GM | 1988 83–79 | $12 | 105 | +0 | +1.6 | 36% | +4 | +2 | +1 | +0 | $0.3M | 41.6 | 7.0 | -1.4 | +7.6 | +6.2 | +1.55 | +0.5 | +0.0 | 3.48 | 0.25 | +0.5 | +6.8 | 0.512 | |||||
| GM | 1989 92–70 | $16 | 122 | -1 | -3.5 | 28% | +5 | +4 | +1 | +0 | $0.4M | 41.1 | 7.0 | -3.6 | -1.1 | -0.4 | -0.08 | -3.6 | +0.0 | 6.58 | 0.42 | +7.6 | +4.5 | 0.568 | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| GM | 1990 85–77 | $21 | 122 | -7 | -16.5 | 41% | +1 | +2 | -1 | -0 | $0.6M | 31.2 | 5.0 | -3.6 | -1.0 | +1.3 | +0.67 | -8.9 | +0.0 | 0.77 | 0.12 | +0.5 | -5.4 | 0.525 | |||||
| GM | 1991 75–87 | $31 | 137 | -17 | -28.5 | 30% | +2 | +3 | -2 | +0 | $0.9M | 29.0 | 7.0 | -4.6 | +3.5 | +4.5 | +4.52 | +2.2 | +0.5 | 0.43 | 0.09 | -11.0 | -9.0 | 0.463 | |||||
| GM | 1992 72–90 | $30 | 99 | -9 | -11.6 | 41% | +4 | +2 | +2 | +0 | $1.0M | 24.9 | 6.0 | -4.4 | +12.9 | -0.3 | -0.31 | +117.6 | +0.0 | 0.16 | 0.06 | -9.8 | -9.1 | 0.444 | |||||
| Career total (1985+ data) | $136 | 103 | -28 | -38.7 | 29% | +3 | +2 | +0 | +0 | $0.4M | 282.1 | 6.8 | -3.2 | +109.6 | +71.5 | +1.93 | +74.0 | -5.0 | – | 2.61 | 0.20 | +6.4 | +7.2 | 0.512 | 2 | 1 | – | ||
Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.
| Player | Pos | Team | How | Year | Szns | fWAR | WAR/yr | RFA | PPA | CPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry Bonds | OF | Free agency | 1992 | 15 | +116.0 | +7.7 | – | 63.2% | 5.81% | |
| Matt Williams | 3B | Draft | 1986 | 9 | +31.9 | +3.5 | – | – | – | |
| Mike Scott | P | Trade | 1982 | 6 | +21.9 | +3.6 | – | – | – | |
| Ken Caminiti | 3B | Draft | 1984 | 8 | +19.2 | +2.4 | – | – | – | |
| Kevin Mitchell | OF | Trade | 1987 | 5 | +18.7 | +3.7 | – | 10.3% | 0.72% | |
| Glenn Davis | 1B | Draft | 1981 | 6 | +18.1 | +3.0 | – | – | – | |
| Kevin Bass | OF | Trade | 1982 | 7 | +17.5 | +2.5 | – | – | – | |
| Nolan Ryan | P | Trade | 1985 | 4 | +16.2 | +4.1 | – | – | – | |
| Brett Butler | OF | Free agency | 1987 | 3 | +12.4 | +4.1 | – | 19.9% | 1.43% | |
| Bill Swift | P | Trade | 1992 | 3 | +10.0 | +3.3 | – | 0.4% | 0.16% | |
| Marvin Benard | OF | Draft | 1992 | 7 | +8.5 | +1.2 | – | – | – | |
| Kirt Manwaring | C | Draft | 1986 | 8 | +8.3 | +1.0 | – | – | – | |
| Don Robinson | P | Trade | 1987 | 5 | +7.9 | +1.6 | – | 3.0% | 0.21% | |
| Mike LaCoss | P | Free agency | 1986 | 6 | +7.6 | +1.3 | – | 9.2% | 0.65% | |
| Rick Reuschel | P | Trade | 1987 | 4 | +7.0 | +1.8 | – | 5.4% | 0.39% | |
| Tony Eusebio | C | Intl FA | 1985 | 8 | +6.9 | +0.9 | – | – | – | |
| Royce Clayton | SS | Draft | 1988 | 4 | +6.9 | +1.7 | – | – | – | |
| Willie McGee | OF | Free agency | 1990 | 4 | +5.9 | +1.5 | – | 0.9% | 0.19% | |
| Rod Beck | P | Trade | 1988 | 6 | +5.7 | +0.9 | – | – | – | |
| Candy Maldonado | OF | Trade | 1986 | 4 | +5.6 | +1.4 | – | 6.8% | 0.49% | |
| Jim Deshaies | P | Trade | 1985 | 7 | +5.4 | +0.8 | – | – | – | |
| Billy Hatcher | OF | Trade | 1985 | 4 | +4.6 | +1.1 | – | 8.4% | 0.57% | |
| Terry Kennedy | C | Trade | 1989 | 3 | +4.5 | +1.5 | – | 11.5% | 0.73% | |
| Gerald Young | OF | Trade | 1984 | 4 | +4.4 | +1.1 | – | – | – | |
| Ernie Riles | 3B/SS | Trade | 1988 | 3 | +3.8 | +1.3 | – | 6.5% | 0.46% | |
| William VanLandingham | P | Draft | 1991 | 3 | +3.5 | +1.2 | – | – | – | |
| Chris Speier | SS | Free agency | 1986 | 3 | +3.1 | +1.0 | – | – | – | |
| Bob Melvin | C | Trade | 1986 | 3 | +2.9 | +1.0 | – | 3.6% | 0.26% | |
| Mike Felder | OF | Free agency | 1991 | 2 | +2.8 | +1.4 | – | 0.6% | 0.12% | |
| Mike Jackson | P | Trade | 1991 | 3 | +2.5 | +0.8 | – | 0.1% | 0.02% | |
| Mark Bailey | C | Draft | 1982 | 3 | +2.4 | +0.8 | – | – | – | |
| Darren Lewis | OF | Trade | 1990 | 4 | +2.4 | +0.6 | – | 0.3% | 0.06% | |
| Phil Garner | 2B/3B | Trade | 1981 | 3 | +2.2 | +0.7 | – | – | – | |
| Dickie Thon | SS | Trade | 1981 | 3 | +2.0 | +0.7 | – | – | – | |
| Mike Benjamin | 3B/SS | Draft | 1987 | 5 | +2.0 | +0.4 | – | – | – | |
| Doug Mirabelli | C | Draft | 1992 | 3 | +1.8 | +0.6 | – | – | – | |
| Bryan Hickerson | P | Trade | 1987 | 3 | +1.6 | +0.5 | – | – | – | |
| Gary Carter | C | Free agency | 1990 | 1 | +1.5 | +1.5 | – | 1.1% | 0.17% | |
| Dave Burba | P | Trade | 1991 | 4 | +1.4 | +0.4 | – | 0.1% | 0.02% | |
| Calvin Murray | OF | Draft | 1992 | 4 | +1.4 | +0.4 | – | – | – | |
| Kevin Rogers | P | Draft | 1988 | 2 | +1.3 | +0.6 | – | – | – | |
| Cory Snyder | OF | Free agency | 1992 | 1 | +1.3 | +1.3 | – | 0.2% | 0.08% | |
| Donell Nixon | OF | Trade | 1988 | 2 | +1.2 | +0.6 | – | 3.6% | 0.26% | |
| Jerry Mumphrey | OF | Trade | 1983 | 1 | +1.1 | +1.1 | – | – | – | |
| Mark Leonard | OF | Draft | 1986 | 5 | +1.1 | +0.2 | – | – | – | |
| Aaron Fultz | P | Draft | 1992 | 2 | +1.0 | +0.5 | – | – | – | |
| Craig Lefferts | P | Trade | 1987 | 3 | +1.0 | +0.3 | – | 0.0% | 0.00% | |
| Buddy Black | P | Free agency | 1990 | 2 | +0.9 | +0.5 | – | 0.4% | 0.09% | |
| Ken Oberkfell | 2B/3B | Trade | 1989 | 1 | +0.9 | +0.9 | – | 6.0% | 0.38% | |
| Mike Simms | OF | Draft | 1985 | 3 | +0.8 | +0.3 | – | – | – | |
| Rick Leach | 1B/OF | Free agency | 1990 | 1 | +0.8 | +0.8 | – | 0.6% | 0.09% | |
| Eddie Milner | OF | Trade | 1987 | 1 | +0.8 | +0.8 | – | 2.8% | 0.20% | |
| Tony Walker | OF | Trade | 1983 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | – | – | – | |
| Joe Niekro | P | Trade | 1985 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | – | 1.2% | 0.12% | |
| Juan Berenguer | P | Trade | 1986 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | – | 2.6% | 0.19% | |
| Dave Anderson | 3B/SS | Free agency | 1989 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | – | 0.8% | 0.12% | |
| Steve Decker | C | Draft | 1988 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | – | – | – | |
| Charlie Kerfeld | P | Draft | 1982 | 2 | +0.4 | +0.2 | – | – | – | |
| Kevin Bass | OF | Free agency | 1989 | 2 | +0.4 | +0.2 | – | 0.3% | 0.06% | |
| Gil Heredia | P | Draft | 1987 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | – | – | – | |
| Joe Price | P | Free agency | 1987 | 2 | +0.4 | +0.2 | – | 1.0% | 0.07% | |
| Enos Cabell | 1B/3B | Trade | 1985 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | – | 0.7% | 0.07% | |
| Tom Herr | 2B | Trade | 1991 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | – | 0.2% | 0.03% | |
| Bill Bathe | C | Free agency | 1988 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | – | 0.2% | 0.03% | |
| Dave Dravecky | P | Trade | 1987 | 3 | +0.3 | +0.1 | – | 8.7% | 0.62% | |
| Mike Laga | 1B | Free agency | 1989 | 2 | +0.3 | +0.1 | – | 0.8% | 0.05% | |
| Mark Wasinger | 2B/3B | Trade | 1987 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | – | 1.1% | 0.08% | |
| Dave Henderson | OF | Trade | 1987 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | – | 0.9% | 0.07% | |
| Pat Sheridan | OF | Trade | 1989 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | – | 2.2% | 0.14% | |
| Chuck Jackson | 3B | Draft | 1984 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – | – | – | |
| Jamie Brewington | P | Draft | 1992 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – | – | – | |
| Mark Dewey | P | Draft | 1987 | 2 | +0.2 | +0.1 | – | – | – | |
| Marcus Jensen | C | Draft | 1990 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – | – | – | |
| Randy O'Neal | P | Free agency | 1990 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – | 0.2% | 0.02% | |
| Lary Sorensen | P | Free agency | 1988 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – | 0.6% | 0.04% | |
| Rusty Tillman | OF | Free agency | 1987 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – | 0.6% | 0.04% | |
| Brad Komminsk | OF | Trade | 1990 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – | 0.1% | 0.02% | |
| Mark Knudson | P | Draft | 1982 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | – | – | |
| Mike Madden | P | Trade | 1982 | 2 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | – | – | |
| Mike Kingery | OF | Free agency | 1990 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | 0.2% | 0.03% | |
| Rick Parker | OF | Trade | 1989 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | – | – | |
| Dave Righetti | P | Free agency | 1990 | 2 | +0.1 | +0.0 | – | 0.2% | 0.05% | |
| José Segura | P | Free agency | 1990 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | 0.0% | 0.01% | |
| Salomón Torres | P | Intl FA | 1989 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | – | – | |
| Cameron Drew | OF | Draft | 1985 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | – | – | |
| John Fishel | OF | Draft | 1985 | – | -0.0 | – | – | – | – | |
| Louie Meadows | OF | Draft | 1982 | 2 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | – | – | |
| Rafael Montalvo | P | Trade | 1985 | – | -0.0 | – | – | – | – | |
| Mark Bailey | C | Free agency | 1989 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | 0.0% | 0.00% | |
| Greg Booker | P | Free agency | 1990 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | 0.0% | 0.00% | |
| Ernie Camacho | P | Free agency | 1989 | 1 | -0.0 | -0.0 | – | 0.0% | 0.00% | |
| Craig Colbert | C | Draft | 1986 | 1 | -0.0 | -0.0 | – | – | – | |
| Rich Gossage | P | Free agency | 1989 | – | -0.0 | – | – | – | – | |
| Eric Gunderson | P | Draft | 1987 | 2 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | – | – | |
| Chris Jones | OF | Free agency | 1986 | – | -0.0 | – | – | – | – | |
| Dax Jones | OF | Draft | 1991 | – | -0.0 | – | – | – | – | |
| Jim Pena | P | Draft | 1986 | – | -0.0 | – | – | – | – | |
| J. R. Phillips | 1B | Trade | 1992 | 1 | -0.0 | -0.0 | – | – | – | |
| Pat Rapp | P | Draft | 1989 | – | -0.0 | – | – | – | – | |
| Steve Reed | P | Intl FA | 1988 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | – | – | |
| Rick Rodriguez | P | Free agency | 1990 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | 0.0% | 0.00% | |
| Steve Carlton | P | Trade | 1986 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | 0.1% | 0.01% | |
| Francisco Meléndez | 1B | Trade | 1987 | 1 | -0.0 | -0.0 | – | 0.3% | 0.02% | |
| Jeff Baldwin | OF | Draft | 1985 | – | -0.1 | – | – | – | – | |
| Germán Rivera | 3B | Trade | 1985 | – | -0.1 | – | – | – | – | |
| Darnell Coles | 3B/OF | Free agency | 1991 | – | -0.1 | – | – | – | – | |
| Phil Garner | 2B/3B | Free agency | 1988 | – | -0.1 | – | – | – | – | |
| Bob Knepper | P | Free agency | 1989 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | – | – | – | |
| Jim McNamara | C | Draft | 1986 | – | -0.1 | – | – | – | – | |
| Jon Perlman | P | Free agency | 1986 | – | -0.1 | – | – | – | – | |
| Carlos Valdez | P | Intl FA | 1990 | – | -0.1 | – | – | – | – | |
| Rob Wilfong | 2B | Free agency | 1987 | – | -0.1 | – | – | – | – | |
| Troy Afenir | C | Draft | 1983 | – | -0.2 | – | – | – | – | |
| Tom Funk | P | Draft | 1983 | – | -0.2 | – | – | – | – | |
| Dave Meads | P | Draft | 1984 | 1 | -0.2 | -0.2 | – | – | – | |
| Greg Brummett | P | Draft | 1989 | – | -0.2 | – | – | – | – | |
| Chuck Hensley | P | Trade | 1986 | – | -0.2 | – | – | – | – | |
| Chris James | OF | Free agency | 1992 | – | -0.2 | – | – | – | – | |
| Ed Jurak | 3B/SS | Free agency | 1988 | – | -0.2 | – | – | – | – | |
| Dave Martinez | OF | Free agency | 1992 | 1 | -0.2 | -0.2 | – | 1.4% | 0.21% | |
| Rafael Novoa | P | Draft | 1989 | – | -0.2 | – | – | – | – | |
| Dan Quisenberry | P | Free agency | 1990 | – | -0.2 | – | – | – | – | |
| Harry Spilman | 1B | Free agency | 1986 | 1 | -0.2 | -0.2 | – | 2.3% | 0.16% | |
| James Steels | OF | Free agency | 1989 | – | -0.2 | – | – | – | – | |
| Ed Vosberg | P | Free agency | 1990 | – | -0.2 | – | – | – | – | |
| Larry Carter | P | Trade | 1992 | – | -0.3 | – | – | – | – | |
| Ron Davis | P | Free agency | 1988 | – | -0.3 | – | – | – | – | |
| Erik Johnson | 2B/SS | Draft | 1987 | 1 | -0.3 | -0.3 | – | – | – | |
| Mike Remlinger | P | Draft | 1987 | – | -0.3 | – | – | – | – | |
| Bill Dawley | P | Trade | 1983 | – | -0.4 | – | – | – | – | |
| Ron Mathis | P | Trade | 1985 | – | -0.4 | – | – | – | – | |
| Dan Carlson | P | Draft | 1989 | – | -0.4 | – | – | – | – | |
| Brad Gulden | C | Trade | 1986 | – | -0.4 | – | – | – | – | |
| Steve Hosey | OF | Draft | 1989 | 1 | -0.4 | -0.4 | – | – | – | |
| Paul McClellan | P | Draft | 1986 | – | -0.4 | – | – | – | – | |
| Gino Minutelli | P | Free agency | 1992 | – | -0.4 | – | – | – | – | |
| John Patterson | 2B | Draft | 1988 | 1 | -0.4 | -0.4 | – | – | – | |
| Joe Rosselli | P | Draft | 1990 | – | -0.4 | – | – | – | – | |
| Harry Spilman | 1B | Trade | 1981 | 1 | -0.5 | -0.5 | – | – | – | |
| Robbie Wine | C | Draft | 1983 | – | -0.5 | – | – | – | – | |
| Russ Swan | P | Draft | 1986 | – | -0.5 | – | – | – | – | |
| Eric Bullock | OF | Draft | 1981 | – | -0.6 | – | – | – | – | |
| Ted Wood | OF | Draft | 1988 | – | -0.6 | – | – | – | – | |
| Dan Driessen | 1B | Trade | 1986 | 1 | -0.6 | -0.6 | – | 0.4% | 0.03% | |
| Rikkert Faneyte | OF | Draft | 1990 | 1 | -0.7 | -0.7 | – | – | – | |
| Rob Mallicoat | P | Draft | 1984 | 1 | -0.8 | -0.8 | – | – | – | |
| Frank DiPino | P | Trade | 1982 | – | -0.9 | – | – | – | – | |
| Francisco Oliveras | P | Trade | 1990 | 1 | -1.0 | -1.0 | – | 0.1% | 0.02% |
Trade-side columns: RFA is playoff-readiness percentage points added to the future roster foundation. It grades the franchise's entire side of a trade, so the same score repeats for every player acquired in that package. PPA/CPA remain player-level arrival-year probability points.
WAB = wins above what the team's payroll predicted (resource-controlled). WAR surplus = era-neutral value (WAR minus payroll in win-equivalents). Roster surplus $M = dollar value of WAR over cost. Build channels (realized fWAR): HG = home-grown via amateur draft / international signing; Trade = acquired minus surrendered (incl. purchases/waivers); FA = signed minus walked; R5 = Rule-5 / minor-league-draft pickups. Credit follows the acquisition year — home-grown to the regime at the player's draft/signing (not whoever was in the chair when he peaked), trade/FA/R5 to the GM who made the move. Players acquired as prospects before debuting (e.g. Smoltz, Bagwell; Rule-5 picks like Uggla) are counted as trade/R5, not home-grown. All are franchise-level outcomes during the stint, not solely attributable to one executive.