Rosternomics
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).

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)

Percentile Rankings

vs. execs with toyrs exp.
PoorAverageGreat
Trade Decision Quality
Roster Construction
Depth
6.8
Dead WAR
-3.2
Dead money %
29%
PoorAverageGreat
Talent Creation
Cheap-talent surplus
$3M
Drafted surplus
$2M
Traded-for surplus
$0M
Int'l surplus
$0M
Results & Efficiency
GM WAR
+0.7
TAB
+7.2
WAB
+6.4
$ / WAR
$0.4M
Net WAR/trade
+1.93

Overview

TeamRoleYear 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% POPenWS
Astros 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
Giants 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
Giants 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
Giants 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
Giants 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
Giants 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
Giants 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
Giants 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 21

Roster Construction

How the roster was sourced

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

Trades

Trades made — 32 deals credited to Al Rosen, best expected value first; surplus is realized value in $M

1987 · SFG / SDP
SFG · Al Rosen +$181.6M
Dave Dravecky, Craig Lefferts, Kevin Mitchell
SDP · Jack McKeon −$181.6M
Chris Brown, Keith Comstock, Mark Davis, Mark Grant
SFG came out ahead by $181.6M
1990 · SFG / MIN
SFG · Al Rosen +$14.4M
Johnny Ard#77, Jimmy Williams
MIN · Andy MacPhail −$14.4M
Steve Bedrosian
SFG came out ahead by $14.4M
1987 · SFG / CIN
SFG · Al Rosen +$4.8M
Eddie Milner
CIN · Bill Bergesch −$4.8M
Frank Williams, Timber Mead, Mike Villa
SFG came out ahead by $4.8M
1990 · SFG / OAK
SFG · Al Rosen +$9.6M
Darren Lewis, Pedro Pena
OAK · Sandy Alderson −$9.6M
Ernie Riles
SFG came out ahead by $9.6M
1990 · SFG / SEA
SFG · Al Rosen +$4.0M
Gary Eave
SEA · Woody Woodward −$4.0M
Russ Swan
SFG came out ahead by $4.0M
1989 · PIT / SFG
PIT · Larry Doughty +$1.6M
Roger Samuels
SFG · Al Rosen −$1.6M
Ken Oberkfell
PIT came out ahead by $1.6M
1985 · HOU / LAD
HOU · Al Rosen +$9.6M
Rafael Montalvo, Germán Rivera
LAD · Al Campanis −$9.6M
Enos Cabell
HOU came out ahead by $9.6M
1987 · SFG / PIT
SFG · Al Rosen +$16.0M
Don Robinson
PIT · Syd Thrift −$16.0M
Mackey Sasser
SFG came out ahead by $16.0M
1988 · SFG / SEA
SFG · Al Rosen +$8.8M
Donell Nixon
SEA · Dick Balderson −$8.8M
Rod Scurry
SFG came out ahead by $8.8M
1985 · HOU / NYY
HOU · Al Rosen +$19.2M
Jim Deshaies, Neder Horta, Dody Rather
NYY · Clyde King −$19.2M
Joe Niekro
HOU came out ahead by $19.2M
1992 · SDP / SFG
SDP · Joe McIlvaine +$2.4M
Jim Pena
SFG · Al Rosen −$2.4M
Paul Faries
SDP came out ahead by $2.4M
1988 · SFG / MIN
SFG · Al Rosen +$0.0M
Karl Best
MIN · Andy MacPhail +$0.0M
Alan Cockrell
Even trade
1990 · WSN / SFG
WSN · Dave Dombrowski +$1.6M
Steve Hecht
SFG · Al Rosen −$1.6M
Andy McGaffigan
WSN came out ahead by $1.6M
1988 · OAK / SFG
OAK · Sandy Alderson +$6.4M
Charlie Corbell
SFG · Al Rosen −$6.4M
Rod Beck
OAK came out ahead by $6.4M
1992 · SFG / NYM
SFG · Al Rosen +$12.0M
Rob Katzaroff
NYM · Al Harazin −$12.0M
Kevin Bass
SFG came out ahead by $12.0M
1989 · CHW / SFG
CHW · Larry Himes +$1.6M
George Wright
SFG · Al Rosen −$1.6M
Jim Weaver
CHW came out ahead by $1.6M
1988 · SFG / WSN
SFG · Al Rosen +$0.0M
Wilfredo Tejada
WSN · Bill Stoneman +$0.0M
Ángel Escobar
Even trade
1986 · SFG / MIL
SFG · Al Rosen +$0.8M
Rob Dewolf
MIL · Harry Dalton −$0.8M
Steve Stanicek
SFG came out ahead by $0.8M
1987 · BOS / SFG
BOS · Lou Gorman +$7.2M
Randy Kutcher
SFG · Al Rosen −$7.2M
Dave Henderson
BOS came out ahead by $7.2M
1988 · SFG / MIL
SFG · Al Rosen +$21.6M
Ernie Riles
MIL · Harry Dalton −$21.6M
Jeffrey Leonard
SFG came out ahead by $21.6M
1989 · SFG / BAL
SFG · Al Rosen +$13.6M
Terry Kennedy
BAL · Roland Hemond −$13.6M
Bob Melvin
SFG came out ahead by $13.6M
1989 · SFG / BAL
SFG · Al Rosen +$0.8M
Ken Gerhart
BAL · Roland Hemond −$0.8M
Francisco Meléndez
SFG came out ahead by $0.8M
1990 · MIN / SFG
MIN · Andy MacPhail +$8.0M
Ed Gustafson
SFG · Al Rosen −$8.0M
Francisco Oliveras
MIN came out ahead by $8.0M
1987 · SFG / SDP
SFG · Al Rosen +$0.0M
Tom Meagher, Mark Wasinger
SDP · Jack McKeon +$0.0M
Colin Ward, Steve Miller
Even trade
1992 · WSN / SFG
WSN · Dan Duquette +$23.2M
Gil Heredia
SFG · Al Rosen −$23.2M
Brett Jenkins
WSN came out ahead by $23.2M
1985 · HOU / CHC
HOU · Al Rosen +$48.8M
Billy Hatcher, Steve Engel
CHC · Dallas Green −$48.8M
Jerry Mumphrey
HOU came out ahead by $48.8M
1989 · PHI / SFG
PHI · Lee Thomas +$181.6M
Terry Mulholland, Dennis Cook, Charlie Hayes
SFG · Al Rosen −$181.6M
Steve Bedrosian, Rick Parker
PHI came out ahead by $181.6M
1987 · SFG / PIT
SFG · Al Rosen +$58.4M
Rick Reuschel
PIT · Syd Thrift −$58.4M
Jeff Robinson, Scott Medvin
SFG came out ahead by $58.4M
1989 · SFG / DET
SFG · Al Rosen +$8.0M
Pat Sheridan
DET · Bill Lajoie −$8.0M
Tracy Jones
SFG came out ahead by $8.0M
1988 · WSN / SFG
WSN · Bill Stoneman +$8.0M
Mike Aldrete
SFG · Al Rosen −$8.0M
Tracy Jones
WSN came out ahead by $8.0M
1987 · SFG / MIN
SFG · Al Rosen +$0.8M
José Domínguez, Ray Velasquez, Bryan Hickerson
MIN · Andy MacPhail −$0.8M
Dan Gladden, Dave Blakley
SFG came out ahead by $0.8M
1991 · SFG / SEA
SFG · Al Rosen +$179.2M
Bill Swift, Mike Jackson, Dave Burba
SEA · Woody Woodward −$179.2M
Kevin Mitchell, Mike Remlinger
SFG came out ahead by $179.2M

Players acquired — 148 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr RFA PPA CPA
Barry Bonds OF SFG Free agency 1992 15 +116.0 +7.7 63.2% 5.81%
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 10.3% 0.72%
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 19.9% 1.43%
Bill Swift P SFG Trade 1992 3 +10.0 +3.3 0.4% 0.16%
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 3.0% 0.21%
Mike LaCoss P SFG Free agency 1986 6 +7.6 +1.3 9.2% 0.65%
Rick Reuschel P SFG Trade 1987 4 +7.0 +1.8 5.4% 0.39%
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% 0.19%
Rod Beck P SFG Trade 1988 6 +5.7 +0.9
Candy Maldonado OF SFG Trade 1986 4 +5.6 +1.4 6.8% 0.49%
Jim Deshaies P HOU Trade 1985 7 +5.4 +0.8
Billy Hatcher OF HOU Trade 1985 4 +4.6 +1.1 8.4% 0.57%
Terry Kennedy C SFG Trade 1989 3 +4.5 +1.5 11.5% 0.73%
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% 0.46%
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% 0.26%
Mike Felder OF SFG Free agency 1991 2 +2.8 +1.4 0.6% 0.12%
Mike Jackson P SFG Trade 1991 3 +2.5 +0.8 0.1% 0.02%
Mark Bailey C HOU Draft 1982 3 +2.4 +0.8
Darren Lewis OF SFG Trade 1990 4 +2.4 +0.6 0.3% 0.06%
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% 0.17%
Dave Burba P SFG Trade 1991 4 +1.4 +0.4 0.1% 0.02%
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% 0.08%
Donell Nixon OF SFG Trade 1988 2 +1.2 +0.6 3.6% 0.26%
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% 0.00%
Buddy Black P SFG Free agency 1990 2 +0.9 +0.5 0.4% 0.09%
Ken Oberkfell 2B/3B SFG Trade 1989 1 +0.9 +0.9 6.0% 0.38%
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% 0.09%
Eddie Milner OF SFG Trade 1987 1 +0.8 +0.8 2.8% 0.20%
Tony Walker OF HOU Trade 1983 1 +0.7 +0.7
Joe Niekro P HOU Trade 1985 1 +0.7 +0.7 1.2% 0.12%
Juan Berenguer P SFG Trade 1986 1 +0.7 +0.7 2.6% 0.19%
Dave Anderson 3B/SS SFG Free agency 1989 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.8% 0.12%
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% 0.06%
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% 0.07%
Enos Cabell 1B/3B HOU Trade 1985 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.7% 0.07%
Tom Herr 2B SFG Trade 1991 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.2% 0.03%
Bill Bathe C SFG Free agency 1988 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.2% 0.03%
Dave Dravecky P SFG Trade 1987 3 +0.3 +0.1 8.7% 0.62%
Mike Laga 1B SFG Free agency 1989 2 +0.3 +0.1 0.8% 0.05%
Mark Wasinger 2B/3B SFG Trade 1987 1 +0.3 +0.3 1.1% 0.08%
Dave Henderson OF SFG Trade 1987 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.9% 0.07%
Pat Sheridan OF SFG Trade 1989 1 +0.3 +0.3 2.2% 0.14%
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% 0.02%
Lary Sorensen P SFG Free agency 1988 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.6% 0.04%
Rusty Tillman OF SFG Free agency 1987 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.6% 0.04%
Brad Komminsk OF SFG Trade 1990 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1% 0.02%
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% 0.03%
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% 0.05%
José Segura P SFG Free agency 1990 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0% 0.01%
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% 0.00%
Greg Booker P SFG Free agency 1990 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0% 0.00%
Ernie Camacho P SFG Free agency 1989 1 -0.0 -0.0 0.0% 0.00%
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% 0.00%
Steve Carlton P SFG Trade 1986 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.1% 0.01%
Francisco Meléndez 1B SFG Trade 1987 1 -0.0 -0.0 0.3% 0.02%
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% 0.21%
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% 0.16%
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
Dan Driessen 1B SFG Trade 1986 1 -0.6 -0.6 0.4% 0.03%
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% 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.

Graphs

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