Rosternomics
BC

Bobby Cox

May 21, 1941 (Tulsa, OK) – May 9, 2026 · died at 84

General manager for the Braves (1986–1990).

5 seasons with salary-era data across 1 stint. All figures are franchise-level outcomes during the tenure, not solely attributable to one executive.

Titles0
Pennants0
Playoffs0
Record323–481
Win %0.402
-81.8WAB — wins above budget193rd/195 execs
-56.8Talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation)185th/195 execs
0.34Acquisition leverage — playoff pts each bought win added, given the roster it joined (did you buy where wins matter?)153rd/195 execs
-76.3WAR surplus (era-neutral, win-equiv)157th/195 execs
-23Roster surplus $M80th/195 execs

How the roster was sourced

Share of gross-positive acquired fWAR by channel (vs. league average).

Build channels — net fWAR

Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.

Home-grown (draft/intl)+165.2
Trade+59.9
Free agency+22.5
Rule 5 / minor draft+0.5
Sourcing mix: 54% draft · 15% FA · 31% trade · 0% R5

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
Braves GM 1986–1990 5 -81.8 -16.35 -56.8 -76.3 +165.2 +59.9 +22.5 +0.5 0.34 0.402 -23
Career total (1985+ data) 5 -81.8 -56.8 -76.3 +165.2 +59.9 +22.5 +0.5 0.34 0.402 -23

Players acquired — 68 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year fWAR
Chipper Jones 3B ATL Draft 1990 +84.6
John Smoltz P ATL Trade 1987 +81.6
Javy López C ATL Intl FA 1987 +26.1
Steve Avery P ATL Draft 1988 +21.4
Lonnie Smith OF ATL Free agency 1988 +14.9
Terry Pendleton 3B ATL Free agency 1990 +13.6
Ryan Klesko 1B/OF ATL Draft 1989 +12.8
Charlie Leibrandt P ATL Free agency 1990 +9.9
Mark Wohlers P ATL Draft 1988 +7.8
David Palmer P ATL Free agency 1986 +5.1
Kent Mercker P ATL Draft 1986 +3.7
Greg Olson C ATL Free agency 1989 +3.1
Mike Stanton P ATL Draft 1987 +3.0
Sid Bream 1B ATL Free agency 1990 +2.7
Eddie Pérez C ATL Intl FA 1986 +2.7
Dion James OF ATL Trade 1987 +2.1
Derek Lilliquist P ATL Draft 1987 +2.1
Tony Castillo P ATL Trade 1989 +1.4
Tony Graffanino 2B ATL Draft 1990 +1.1
Ken Griffey OF ATL Free agency 1987 +1.0
Joe Boever P ATL Trade 1987 +0.9
David Nied P ATL Draft 1987 +0.9
Brian Hunter 1B ATL Draft 1987 +0.8
Francisco Cabrera 1B ATL Trade 1989 +0.7
Gerónimo Berroa DH/OF ATL Rule 5 1988 +0.5
Germán Jiménez P ATL Draft 1988 +0.5
Gary Roenicke OF ATL Free agency 1987 +0.5
Keith Mitchell OF ATL Draft 1987 +0.2
Ramon Caraballo 2B ATL Intl FA 1988 +0.1
Rick Luecken P ATL Trade 1989 +0.1
Larry McWilliams P ATL Free agency 1987 +0.1
Cliff Speck P ATL Trade 1986 +0.1
Jim Acker P ATL Free agency 1989 -0.0
Jay Aldrich P ATL Trade 1989 -0.0
Joe Ayrault C ATL Draft 1990 +0.0
Juan Eichelberger P ATL Trade 1988 -0.0
Mike Fischlin 2B/SS ATL Free agency 1987 +0.0
Jim Morrison 2B/3B ATL Free agency 1988 -0.0
Matt Murray P ATL Draft 1988 +0.0
Phil Niekro P ATL Free agency 1987 -0.0
Melvin Nieves OF ATL Intl FA 1988 +0.0
Víctor Rosario 2B/SS ATL Trade 1990 -0.0
Rico Rossy 3B/SS ATL Trade 1990 -0.0
Tony Tarasco OF ATL Draft 1988 +0.0
Chuck Cary P ATL Trade 1987 -0.1
Trench Davis OF ATL Free agency 1986 -0.1
Brian Kowitz OF ATL Draft 1990 -0.1
Oddibe McDowell OF ATL Trade 1989 -0.1
John Mizerock C ATL Free agency 1987 -0.1
Jeff Parrett P ATL Trade 1990 -0.1
Kelly Mann C ATL Trade 1989 -0.2
Graig Nettles 3B ATL Free agency 1987 -0.2
Sergio Valdez P ATL Trade 1989 -0.2
Mike Bell 1B ATL Draft 1986 -0.3
Ed Olwine P ATL Trade 1986 -0.3
Rusty Richards P ATL Intl FA 1986 -0.3
Doyle Alexander P ATL Free agency 1987 -0.4
Ed Giovanola 2B/3B ATL Draft 1990 -0.4
Mike Mordecai 2B/3B ATL Draft 1989 -0.5
Nick Esasky 1B/3B ATL Free agency 1989 -0.6
Jerry Royster 2B/3B ATL Free agency 1988 -0.6
Ed Whited 3B ATL Trade 1987 -0.8
Jimmy Kremers C ATL Draft 1988 -0.9
Jim Presley 3B ATL Trade 1990 -1.0
Rafael Belliard SS ATL Free agency 1990 -1.1
Ted Simmons C ATL Trade 1986 -1.1
Darrell Evans 1B/3B ATL Free agency 1988 -1.4
Omar Moreno OF ATL Free agency 1986 -1.6

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.