RRosternomics
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BG

Bob Gebhard

Born Jan 3, 1943 · Lamberton, MN · age 83

General manager for the Rockies and Diamondbacks (1991–2005).

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
Pennants0
Playoffs1
Record589–644
Win %0.478
-5.2GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±4.9180th/195 execs
4.6Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)155th/195 execs
-6.2Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)152nd/195 execs
37%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)119th/195 execs
$2MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track163rd/195 execs
$2MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)146th/195 execs
$0MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade137th/195 execs
$-0MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees177th/195 execs
-81.8TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total192nd/195 execs
-25.8WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)159th/195 execs
0.18Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)167th/195 execs
-120Roster surplus $M136th/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Diamondbacks GM 2005–2005 1 -3.3 -3.32 -8.4 -9.6 +19.4 +13.0 +8.2 +0.0 0.12 0.475 ––– -18
▸ Rockies GM 1991–1999 7 -22.5 -3.21 -73.5 -92.3 +119.5 -33.3 +49.3 -0.1 0.19 0.478 1–– -102
Career total (1985+ data) 8 -25.8 -81.8 -101.9 +139.0 -20.3 +57.5 -0.1 0.18 0.478 1– – -120

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)+139.0
Trade-20.3
Free agency+57.5
Rule 5 / minor draft-0.1
Sourcing mix: 50% draft · 39% FA · 11% trade · 0% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Bob Gebhard'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 — 170 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Todd Helton 1B COL Draft 1995 14 +54.9 +3.9 –
Larry Walker OF COL Free agency 1995 10 +42.8 +4.3 1.0
Matt Holliday OF COL Draft 1998 6 +20.3 +3.4 –
Aaron Cook P COL Draft 1997 10 +17.1 +1.7 –
Justin Upton OF ARI Draft 2005 5 +16.3 +3.3 –
Vinny Castilla 3B COL Trade 1995 6 +15.5 +2.6 0.6
Chris Young OF ARI Trade 2005 7 +14.5 +2.1 –
Jason Jennings P COL Draft 1999 6 +13.9 +2.3 –
Andrés Galarraga 1B COL Free agency 1992 5 +13.4 +2.7 0.0
Ellis Burks OF COL Free agency 1993 5 +10.3 +2.1 0.0
Eric Young 2B COL Trade 1993 5 +9.5 +1.9 0.0
Pedro Astacio P COL Trade 1997 5 +8.3 +1.7 0.6
John Thomson P COL Draft 1993 5 +7.3 +1.5 –
Kevin Ritz P COL Free agency 1993 5 +6.7 +1.3 0.0
Dante Bichette OF COL Trade 1993 6 +6.6 +1.1 0.0
Eric Byrnes OF ARI Free agency 2005 3 +5.8 +1.9 0.7
Charlie Hayes 3B COL Trade 1993 2 +4.8 +2.4 0.0
Bruce Ruffin P COL Free agency 1992 5 +4.7 +0.9 0.0
Brian Bohanon P COL Free agency 1998 3 +4.5 +1.5 0.0
Jeff Reed C COL Free agency 1995 3 +4.4 +1.5 0.4
Darryl Kile P COL Free agency 1997 2 +4.3 +2.1 1.9
Jamey Wright P COL Draft 1993 6 +4.3 +0.7 –
José Jiménez P COL Trade 1999 4 +4.2 +1.1 0.7
Armando Reynoso P COL Trade 1993 4 +4.2 +1.0 0.0
Micah Owings P ARI Draft 2005 2 +4.0 +2.0 –
Javier Vázquez P ARI Trade 2005 1 +4.0 +4.0 0.4
Darren Holmes P COL Trade 1993 4 +4.0 +1.0 0.0
Juan Pierre OF COL Draft 1998 2 +3.6 +1.8 –
Manny Corpas P COL Intl FA 1999 5 +3.3 +0.7 –
Troy Glaus 3B ARI Trade 2005 1 +3.2 +3.2 0.4
Walt Weiss SS COL Free agency 1994 3 +2.8 +0.9 0.4
Miguel Batista P ARI Trade 2005 4 +2.6 +0.6 6.3
Bill Swift P COL Free agency 1995 3 +2.5 +0.8 0.5
Marvin Freeman P COL Free agency 1993 3 +2.4 +0.8 0.0
Roger Bailey P COL Draft 1992 3 +2.3 +0.8 –
Tony Clark 1B ARI Free agency 2005 2 +2.2 +1.1 0.3
Jerry Dipoto P COL Trade 1996 4 +2.2 +0.6 1.9
Claudio Vargas P ARI Trade 2005 2 +2.2 +1.1 0.1
Brad Halsey P ARI Trade 2005 1 +1.8 +1.8 0.2
Chuck McElroy P COL Trade 1997 1 +1.8 +1.8 1.0
John Vander Wal OF COL Trade 1994 4 +1.8 +0.4 0.0
Terry Shumpert 2B COL Free agency 1997 3 +1.7 +0.6 0.0
Dave Veres P COL Trade 1998 2 +1.7 +0.9 0.9
Shawn Chacón P COL Draft 1996 3 +1.6 +0.5 –
Mike Kingery OF COL Free agency 1993 1 +1.4 +1.4 0.0
Mike Munoz P COL Free agency 1993 5 +1.4 +0.3 0.0
Steve Reed P COL Trade 1995 3 +1.4 +0.5 0.5
Jerald Clark OF COL Trade 1993 1 +1.3 +1.3 0.0
David Nied P COL Trade 1993 2 +1.3 +0.7 0.0
Bryan Rekar P COL Draft 1993 1 +0.9 +0.9 –
Jerry Dipoto P COL Free agency 1999 4 +0.8 +0.2 1.9
Willie Blair P COL Trade 1993 2 +0.8 +0.4 0.0
Joe Grahe P COL Free agency 1994 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.2
Shawn Estes P ARI Free agency 2005 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.1
Luis Vizcaíno P ARI Trade 2005 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.2
Lance Painter P COL Trade 1993 3 +0.6 +0.2 –
Shawn Green OF ARI Trade 2005 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.2
Rusty Ryal 1B/OF ARI Draft 2005 1 +0.5 +0.5 –
Henry Blanco C COL Free agency 1998 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.0
Mike DeJean P COL Trade 1995 3 +0.5 +0.2 –
Mike Harkey P COL Free agency 1994 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.0
Brent Mayne C COL Free agency 1999 2 +0.5 +0.2 0.3
Freddie Benavides 2B/SS COL Trade 1993 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.0
Jeff Manto 1B/3B COL Free agency 1999 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.2
Jeff Parrett P COL Free agency 1993 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.0
Frank Castillo P COL Trade 1997 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.5
Darryl Hamilton OF COL Trade 1998 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.7
Randy Choate P ARI Free agency 2005 2 +0.3 +0.2 0.0
Kevin Jarvis P COL Free agency 1999 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.2
Jayhawk Owens C COL Trade 1993 2 +0.3 +0.1 –
Andy Ashby P COL Trade 1993 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.0
Steve Decker C COL Trade 1996 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.2
Joe Girardi C COL Trade 1993 2 +0.3 +0.2 0.0
Derrick Gibson OF COL Draft 1993 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Trenidad Hubbard OF COL Trade 1994 3 +0.2 +0.1 –
Nelson Liriano 2B COL Free agency 1992 2 +0.2 +0.1 0.0
Bryn Smith P COL Free agency 1992 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.0
Juan Uribe 3B/SS COL Intl FA 1997 2 +0.2 +0.1 –
Tim Worrell P ARI Trade 2005 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.0
Greg Colbrunn 1B COL Trade 1998 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Mark Brownson P COL Draft 1993 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Darnell Coles 3B/OF COL Free agency 1997 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Elvis Peña 2B COL Intl FA 1993 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Ben Petrick C COL Draft 1995 4 +0.1 +0.0 –
Harvey Pulliam OF COL Free agency 1995 2 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Roberto Ramírez P COL Free agency 1998 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
René Reyes OF COL Intl FA 1996 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Gary Wayne P COL Trade 1993 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Royce Clayton SS ARI Trade 2005 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Bruce Hurst P COL Trade 1993 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Brian Raabe 2B/3B COL Trade 1997 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Bret Saberhagen P COL Trade 1995 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Mo Sanford P COL Trade 1993 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Garvin Alston P COL Draft 1992 – -0.0 – –
Stan Belinda P COL Trade 1999 – -0.0 – –
Kent Bottenfield P COL Trade 1993 1 -0.0 -0.0 0.0
Tim Christman P COL Draft 1996 – -0.0 – –
Alvin Colina C COL Intl FA 1998 – -0.0 – –
Craig Counsell 2B/3B/SS COL Draft 1992 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Lariel González P COL Intl FA 1993 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Rene Gonzales 2B/3B COL Free agency 1997 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
John Habyan P COL Free agency 1996 – -0.0 – –
Ryan Hawblitzel P COL Trade 1996 – -0.0 – –
Mike Kelly OF COL Free agency 1999 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
David Lee P COL Draft 1995 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Nate Minchey P COL Free agency 1997 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Chris Petersen 2B COL Trade 1999 – -0.0 – –
J. R. Phillips 1B COL Free agency 1998 – -0.0 – –
Fred Rath P COL Trade 1998 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
A. J. Sager P COL Free agency 1994 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Mark Thompson P COL Draft 1992 2 -0.0 -0.0 –
Ty Van Burkleo 1B COL Free agency 1993 – -0.0 – –
Buddy Groom P ARI Trade 2005 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Butch Henry P COL Trade 1993 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Tim Scott P COL Trade 1997 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Armando Almanza P ARI Free agency 2005 – -0.1 – –
Damion Easley 2B ARI Free agency 2005 – -0.1 – –
Jason Grimsley P ARI Free agency 2005 – -0.1 – –
César Valdez P ARI Intl FA 2005 – -0.1 – –
John Cangelosi OF COL Free agency 1999 – -0.1 – –
Alan Cockrell OF COL Trade 1996 – -0.1 – –
Mike Farmer P COL Rule 5 1993 – -0.1 – –
Justin Hampson P COL Draft 1999 – -0.1 – –
Terry Jones OF COL Draft 1993 – -0.1 – –
Jim Stoops P COL Trade 1998 – -0.1 – –
Mark Strittmatter C COL Draft 1992 – -0.1 – –
Pete Walker P COL Free agency 1999 – -0.1 – –
Bruce Walton P COL Free agency 1993 – -0.1 – –
Rigo Beltrán P COL Trade 1999 1 -0.2 -0.2 0.0
Jim Czajkowski P COL Trade 1994 – -0.2 – –
Scott Fredrickson P COL Trade 1993 – -0.2 – –
Howard Johnson 3B COL Free agency 1993 – -0.2 – –
Kerry Ligtenberg P ARI Free agency 2005 – -0.3 – –
Juan Acevedo P COL Draft 1992 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
Robbie Beckett P COL Trade 1996 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
Daryl Boston OF COL Free agency 1992 – -0.3 – –
John Burke P COL Draft 1992 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
Giovanni Carrara P COL Free agency 1999 – -0.3 – –
Luther Hackman P COL Draft 1994 – -0.3 – –
Chris Jones OF COL Free agency 1992 1 -0.3 -0.3 0.0
Quinton McCracken OF COL Draft 1992 – -0.3 – –
Mike Porzio P COL Trade 1998 – -0.3 – –
Mike Saipe P COL Draft 1994 – -0.3 – –
Chris Sexton 2B/SS COL Trade 1995 – -0.3 – –
Dave Wainhouse P COL Free agency 1997 – -0.3 – –
Pat Watkins OF COL Trade 1999 – -0.3 – –
Gerald Young OF COL Free agency 1992 – -0.3 – –
Greg Harris P COL Trade 1994 1 -0.3 -0.3 0.0
Jay Gainer 1B COL Trade 1993 – -0.4 – –
Craig House P COL Draft 1999 – -0.4 – –
Mark Knudson P COL Free agency 1992 – -0.4 – –
Jorge Brito C COL Trade 1995 – -0.5 – –
Edgard Clemente OF COL Draft 1993 – -0.5 – –
Curtis Goodwin OF COL Trade 1997 – -0.5 – –
Chin-hui Tsao P COL Intl FA 1999 1 -0.5 -0.5 –
Dale Murphy OF COL Free agency 1993 – -0.6 – –
Mike Lansing 2B COL Trade 1998 1 -0.6 -0.6 0.1
Danny Sheaffer C COL Free agency 1992 – -0.7 – –
Jeff Barry OF COL Free agency 1997 – -0.9 – –
Kurt Abbott 2B/SS COL Trade 1998 – -1.0 – –
Angel Echevarria 1B/OF COL Draft 1992 1 -1.0 -1.0 –
Jim Tatum 1B/3B COL Free agency 1993 – -1.0 – –
Alfredo Marte OF ARI Intl FA 2005 – -1.3 – –
Pedro Castellano 1B/3B COL Trade 1993 – -1.3 – –
Choo Freeman OF COL Draft 1998 1 -1.4 -1.4 –
Roberto Mejía 2B COL Trade 1993 1 -1.4 -1.4 –
Brent Butler 2B/3B COL Trade 1999 – -2.1 – –
Jason Bates 2B COL Draft 1992 – -2.4 – –
Kirt Manwaring C COL Free agency 1996 – -2.4 – –
Neifi Pérez SS COL Intl FA 1992 3 -2.8 -0.9 –

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.