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AR

Al Rosen

Feb 29, 1924 (Spartanburg, SC) – Mar 13, 2015 (Rancho Mirage, CA) · died at 91

General manager for the Astros and Giants (1981–1992).

8 seasons with salary-era data across 2 stints. All figures are franchise-level outcomes during the tenure, not solely attributable to one executive.

Overview

Titles0
Pennants1
Playoffs2
Record663–633
Win %0.512
+0.7GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±4.959th/195 execs
6.8Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)67th/195 execs
-3.2Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)10th/195 execs
29%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)50th/195 execs
$3MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track151st/195 execs
$2MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)138th/195 execs
$0MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade132nd/195 execs
$0MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees120th/195 execs
+7.1TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total60th/195 execs
+6.3WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)53rd/195 execs
2.63Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)58th/195 execs
-28Roster surplus $M87th/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Giants GM 1986–1992 7 +4.2 +0.60 +8.1 -32.8 +64.2 +13.2 +90.0 +0.5 2.64 0.511 21– -27
▸ Astros GM 1981–1985 1 +2.0 +2.05 -1.0 -5.9 +45.3 +58.3 -16.0 -5.5 1.76 0.512 ––– -2
Career total (1985+ data) 8 +6.3 +7.1 -38.7 +109.6 +71.5 +74.0 -5.0 2.63 0.512 21 – -28

Roster Construction

How the roster was sourced

by valueby volume

Share of acquired fWAR by channel vs. league average.

Build channels — net fWAR

Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.

Home-grown (draft/intl)+109.6
Trade+71.5
Free agency+74.0
Rule 5 / minor draft-5.0
Sourcing mix: 30% draft · 43% FA · 26% trade · 0% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Al Rosen's seasons. Bars = his rosters; the black line = the league-average player at each slot. Staying above the line deep into the roster is the depth edge.

Players acquired — 146 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Barry Bonds OF SFG Free agency 1992 15 +116.0 +7.7 63.1
Matt Williams 3B SFG Draft 1986 9 +31.9 +3.5 –
Mike Scott P HOU Trade 1982 6 +21.9 +3.6 –
Ken Caminiti 3B HOU Draft 1984 8 +19.2 +2.4 –
Kevin Mitchell OF SFG Trade 1987 5 +18.7 +3.7 10.1
Glenn Davis 1B HOU Draft 1981 6 +18.1 +3.0 –
Kevin Bass OF HOU Trade 1982 7 +17.5 +2.5 –
Nolan Ryan P HOU Trade 1985 4 +16.2 +4.1 –
Brett Butler OF SFG Free agency 1987 3 +12.4 +4.1 19.7
Bill Swift P SFG Trade 1992 3 +10.0 +3.3 0.4
Marvin Benard OF SFG Draft 1992 7 +8.5 +1.2 –
Kirt Manwaring C SFG Draft 1986 8 +8.3 +1.0 –
Don Robinson P SFG Trade 1987 5 +7.9 +1.6 3.1
Mike LaCoss P SFG Free agency 1986 6 +7.6 +1.3 9.2
Rick Reuschel P SFG Trade 1987 4 +7.0 +1.8 5.4
Tony Eusebio C HOU Intl FA 1985 8 +6.9 +0.9 –
Royce Clayton SS SFG Draft 1988 4 +6.9 +1.7 –
Willie McGee OF SFG Free agency 1990 4 +5.9 +1.5 0.9
Rod Beck P SFG Trade 1988 6 +5.7 +0.9 –
Candy Maldonado OF SFG Trade 1986 4 +5.6 +1.4 7.0
Jim Deshaies P HOU Trade 1985 7 +5.4 +0.8 –
Billy Hatcher OF HOU Trade 1985 4 +4.6 +1.1 8.4
Terry Kennedy C SFG Free agency 1989 3 +4.5 +1.5 11.5
Gerald Young OF HOU Trade 1984 4 +4.4 +1.1 –
Ernie Riles 3B/SS SFG Trade 1988 3 +3.8 +1.3 6.5
William VanLandingham P SFG Draft 1991 3 +3.5 +1.2 –
Chris Speier SS SFG Free agency 1986 3 +3.1 +1.0 –
Bob Melvin C SFG Trade 1986 3 +2.9 +1.0 3.6
Mike Felder OF SFG Free agency 1991 2 +2.8 +1.4 0.6
Mike Jackson P SFG Trade 1991 3 +2.5 +0.8 0.1
Mark Bailey C HOU Draft 1982 3 +2.4 +0.8 –
Darren Lewis OF SFG Trade 1990 4 +2.4 +0.6 0.3
Phil Garner 2B/3B HOU Trade 1981 3 +2.2 +0.7 –
Dickie Thon SS HOU Trade 1981 3 +2.0 +0.7 –
Mike Benjamin 3B/SS SFG Draft 1987 5 +2.0 +0.4 –
Doug Mirabelli C SFG Draft 1992 3 +1.8 +0.6 –
Bryan Hickerson P SFG Trade 1987 3 +1.6 +0.5 –
Gary Carter C SFG Free agency 1990 1 +1.5 +1.5 1.1
Dave Burba P SFG Trade 1991 4 +1.4 +0.4 0.1
Calvin Murray OF SFG Draft 1992 4 +1.4 +0.4 –
Kevin Rogers P SFG Draft 1988 2 +1.3 +0.6 –
Cory Snyder OF SFG Free agency 1992 1 +1.3 +1.3 0.2
Donell Nixon OF SFG Trade 1988 2 +1.2 +0.6 3.7
Jerry Mumphrey OF HOU Trade 1983 1 +1.1 +1.1 –
Mark Leonard OF SFG Draft 1986 5 +1.1 +0.2 –
Aaron Fultz P SFG Draft 1992 2 +1.0 +0.5 –
Craig Lefferts P SFG Trade 1987 3 +1.0 +0.3 0.0
Buddy Black P SFG Free agency 1990 2 +0.9 +0.5 0.4
Ken Oberkfell 2B/3B SFG Trade 1989 1 +0.9 +0.9 6.0
Mike Simms OF HOU Draft 1985 3 +0.8 +0.3 –
Rick Leach 1B/OF SFG Free agency 1990 1 +0.8 +0.8 0.6
Eddie Milner OF SFG Trade 1987 1 +0.8 +0.8 2.8
Tony Walker OF HOU Trade 1983 1 +0.7 +0.7 –
Joe Niekro P HOU Trade 1985 1 +0.7 +0.7 1.3
Juan Berenguer P SFG Trade 1986 1 +0.7 +0.7 2.7
Dave Anderson 3B/SS SFG Free agency 1989 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.8
Steve Decker C SFG Draft 1988 1 +0.5 +0.5 –
Charlie Kerfeld P HOU Draft 1982 2 +0.4 +0.2 –
Kevin Bass OF SFG Free agency 1989 2 +0.4 +0.2 0.3
Gil Heredia P SFG Draft 1987 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Joe Price P SFG Free agency 1987 2 +0.4 +0.2 1.0
Tom Herr 2B SFG Trade 1991 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.2
Bill Bathe C SFG Free agency 1988 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.2
Dave Dravecky P SFG Trade 1987 3 +0.3 +0.1 8.8
Mike Laga 1B SFG Free agency 1989 2 +0.3 +0.1 0.8
Mark Wasinger 2B/3B SFG Trade 1987 1 +0.3 +0.3 1.1
Dave Henderson OF SFG Trade 1987 1 +0.3 +0.3 1.0
Pat Sheridan OF SFG Trade 1989 1 +0.3 +0.3 2.2
Chuck Jackson 3B HOU Draft 1984 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Jamie Brewington P SFG Draft 1992 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Mark Dewey P SFG Draft 1987 2 +0.2 +0.1 –
Marcus Jensen C SFG Draft 1990 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Randy O'Neal P SFG Free agency 1990 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.2
Lary Sorensen P SFG Free agency 1988 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.6
Rusty Tillman OF SFG Free agency 1987 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.6
Brad Komminsk OF SFG Trade 1990 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Mark Knudson P HOU Draft 1982 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Mike Madden P HOU Trade 1982 2 +0.1 +0.1 –
Mike Kingery OF SFG Free agency 1990 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.2
Rick Parker OF SFG Trade 1989 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Dave Righetti P SFG Free agency 1990 2 +0.1 +0.0 0.2
José Segura P SFG Free agency 1990 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Salomón Torres P SFG Intl FA 1989 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Cameron Drew OF HOU Draft 1985 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
John Fishel OF HOU Draft 1985 – -0.0 – –
Louie Meadows OF HOU Draft 1982 2 +0.0 +0.0 –
Rafael Montalvo P HOU Trade 1985 – -0.0 – –
Mark Bailey C SFG Free agency 1989 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Greg Booker P SFG Free agency 1990 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Ernie Camacho P SFG Free agency 1989 1 -0.0 -0.0 0.0
Craig Colbert C SFG Draft 1986 1 -0.0 -0.0 –
Rich Gossage P SFG Free agency 1989 – -0.0 – –
Eric Gunderson P SFG Draft 1987 2 +0.0 +0.0 –
Chris Jones OF SFG Free agency 1986 – -0.0 – –
Dax Jones OF SFG Draft 1991 – -0.0 – –
Jim Pena P SFG Draft 1986 – -0.0 – –
J. R. Phillips 1B SFG Trade 1992 1 -0.0 -0.0 –
Pat Rapp P SFG Draft 1989 – -0.0 – –
Steve Reed P SFG Intl FA 1988 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Rick Rodriguez P SFG Free agency 1990 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Steve Carlton P SFG Trade 1986 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
Francisco Meléndez 1B SFG Trade 1987 1 -0.0 -0.0 0.3
Jeff Baldwin OF HOU Draft 1985 – -0.1 – –
Germán Rivera 3B HOU Trade 1985 – -0.1 – –
Darnell Coles 3B/OF SFG Free agency 1991 – -0.1 – –
Phil Garner 2B/3B SFG Free agency 1988 – -0.1 – –
Bob Knepper P SFG Free agency 1989 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Jim McNamara C SFG Draft 1986 – -0.1 – –
Jon Perlman P SFG Free agency 1986 – -0.1 – –
Carlos Valdez P SFG Intl FA 1990 – -0.1 – –
Rob Wilfong 2B SFG Free agency 1987 – -0.1 – –
Troy Afenir C HOU Draft 1983 – -0.2 – –
Tom Funk P HOU Draft 1983 – -0.2 – –
Dave Meads P HOU Draft 1984 1 -0.2 -0.2 –
Greg Brummett P SFG Draft 1989 – -0.2 – –
Chuck Hensley P SFG Trade 1986 – -0.2 – –
Chris James OF SFG Free agency 1992 – -0.2 – –
Ed Jurak 3B/SS SFG Free agency 1988 – -0.2 – –
Dave Martinez OF SFG Free agency 1992 1 -0.2 -0.2 1.4
Rafael Novoa P SFG Draft 1989 – -0.2 – –
Dan Quisenberry P SFG Free agency 1990 – -0.2 – –
Harry Spilman 1B SFG Free agency 1986 1 -0.2 -0.2 2.3
James Steels OF SFG Free agency 1989 – -0.2 – –
Ed Vosberg P SFG Free agency 1990 – -0.2 – –
Larry Carter P SFG Trade 1992 – -0.3 – –
Ron Davis P SFG Free agency 1988 – -0.3 – –
Erik Johnson 2B/SS SFG Draft 1987 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
Mike Remlinger P SFG Draft 1987 – -0.3 – –
Bill Dawley P HOU Trade 1983 – -0.4 – –
Ron Mathis P HOU Trade 1985 – -0.4 – –
Dan Carlson P SFG Draft 1989 – -0.4 – –
Brad Gulden C SFG Trade 1986 – -0.4 – –
Steve Hosey OF SFG Draft 1989 1 -0.4 -0.4 –
Paul McClellan P SFG Draft 1986 – -0.4 – –
Gino Minutelli P SFG Free agency 1992 – -0.4 – –
John Patterson 2B SFG Draft 1988 1 -0.4 -0.4 –
Joe Rosselli P SFG Draft 1990 – -0.4 – –
Harry Spilman 1B HOU Trade 1981 1 -0.5 -0.5 –
Robbie Wine C HOU Draft 1983 – -0.5 – –
Russ Swan P SFG Draft 1986 – -0.5 – –
Eric Bullock OF HOU Draft 1981 – -0.6 – –
Ted Wood OF SFG Draft 1988 – -0.6 – –
Rikkert Faneyte OF SFG Draft 1990 1 -0.7 -0.7 –
Rob Mallicoat P HOU Draft 1984 1 -0.8 -0.8 –
Frank DiPino P HOU Trade 1982 – -0.9 – –
Francisco Oliveras P SFG Trade 1990 1 -1.0 -1.0 0.1

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.

Graphs

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Rosternomics — quantifying front-office skill, attribution-clean. Follow @rosternomics on X. Decision-makers on record back to 1933; resource-controlled metrics (WAR & payroll) cover 1985–2026.
Data: FanGraphs (WAR), Baseball-Reference & the Chadwick Bureau register (rosters, IDs), the Lahman Database, Baseball America prospect rankings (via The Baseball Cube), and public payroll records. Transaction and trade data was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Executive birth/death data via Wikidata (CC0); bios are original. Emoji graphics by OpenMoji (CC BY-SA 4.0).
All figures are franchise-level outcomes credited to the decision-maker in the acquisition year — not solely attributable to one executive.