RRosternomics
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CB

Cam Bonifay

Born Feb 12, 1952 · St. Petersburg, FL · age 74

General manager for the Pirates (1993–2001).

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

Overview

Titles0
Pennants0
Playoffs0
Record616–775
Win %0.443
-2.6GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±4.7144th/195 execs
4.9Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)149th/195 execs
-7.4Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)177th/195 execs
45%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)161st/195 execs
$9MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track119th/195 execs
$3MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)127th/195 execs
$4MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade78th/195 execs
$2MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees68th/195 execs
-32.3TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total162nd/195 execs
-14.1WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)126th/195 execs
0.37Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)155th/195 execs
+18Roster surplus $M31st/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Pirates GM 1993–2001 9 -14.1 -1.57 -32.3 +20.8 +53.9 +41.0 +6.0 +1.8 0.37 0.443 ––– +18
Career total (1985+ data) 9 -14.1 -32.3 +20.8 +53.9 +41.0 +6.0 +1.8 0.37 0.443 –– – +18

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)+53.9
Trade+41.0
Free agency+6.0
Rule 5 / minor draft+1.8
Sourcing mix: 36% draft · 10% FA · 53% trade · 1% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Cam Bonifay'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 — 130 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Brian Giles OF PIT Trade 1998 5 +25.4 +5.1 3.5
Zach Duke P PIT Draft 2001 5 +12.6 +2.5 –
Francisco Córdova P PIT Intl FA 1996 5 +11.2 +2.2 –
Jack Wilson SS PIT Trade 2000 8 +11.0 +1.4 –
Jon Lieber P PIT Trade 1993 5 +9.8 +2.0 –
Denny Neagle P PIT Trade 1993 4 +9.1 +2.3 0.1
Todd Ritchie P PIT Free agency 1998 3 +8.8 +2.9 1.8
Kris Benson P PIT Draft 1996 5 +8.5 +1.7 –
Jason Schmidt P PIT Trade 1996 6 +8.0 +1.3 0.1
Kip Wells P PIT Trade 2001 5 +7.5 +1.5 0.1
Ian Snell P PIT Draft 2000 5 +6.7 +1.3 –
Craig Wilson 1B/OF PIT Trade 1996 6 +6.5 +1.1 –
Nate McLouth OF PIT Draft 2000 4 +5.6 +1.4 –
Rob Mackowiak OF PIT Draft 1996 5 +5.5 +1.1 –
José Silva P PIT Trade 1996 4 +4.8 +1.2 0.1
Joe Randa 3B PIT Trade 1996 1 +3.7 +3.7 0.9
John Vander Wal OF PIT Trade 2000 2 +3.5 +1.7 1.2
Jimmy Anderson P PIT Draft 1994 3 +3.4 +1.1 –
Ronny Paulino C PIT Intl FA 1997 4 +3.2 +0.8 –
Salomón Torres P PIT Free agency 2001 6 +3.2 +0.5 0.0
Scott Sauerbeck P PIT Rule 5 1998 4 +2.9 +0.7 –
Danny Darwin P PIT Trade 1996 1 +2.8 +2.8 0.7
Dámaso Marte P PIT Trade 2001 4 +2.7 +0.7 0.0
Dan Plesac P PIT Free agency 1994 2 +2.6 +1.3 0.1
Turner Ward OF PIT Free agency 1997 2 +2.6 +1.3 0.4
Mike Williams P PIT Free agency 1997 5 +2.6 +0.5 0.4
Lonnie Smith OF PIT Trade 1993 1 +2.3 +2.3 1.3
Chris Duffy OF PIT Draft 2001 2 +2.2 +1.1 –
Aramis Ramírez 3B PIT Intl FA 1994 3 +1.9 +0.6 –
Tike Redman OF PIT Draft 1996 3 +1.8 +0.6 –
John Grabow P PIT Draft 1997 6 +1.7 +0.3 –
Ricardo Rincón P PIT Draft 1997 2 +1.7 +0.9 –
Chris Peters P PIT Draft 1993 3 +1.5 +0.5 –
Warren Morris 2B PIT Trade 1998 1 +1.4 +1.4 –
Mike Benjamin 3B/SS PIT Free agency 1998 2 +1.2 +0.6 0.9
Adam Hyzdu OF PIT Trade 2000 3 +1.2 +0.4 –
Josías Manzanillo P PIT Free agency 2000 2 +1.2 +0.6 0.0
Ryan Vogelsong P PIT Trade 2001 5 +1.2 +0.2 0.2
Mark Parent C PIT Trade 1995 1 +1.2 +1.2 0.1
John Ericks P PIT Trade 1995 1 +1.0 +1.0 –
Steve Parris P PIT Trade 1995 2 +1.0 +0.5 –
Dale Sveum 3B/SS PIT Free agency 1994 3 +0.9 +0.3 0.1
Shawon Dunston SS PIT Trade 1997 1 +0.9 +0.9 0.3
Tom Foley 2B/SS PIT Trade 1994 1 +0.8 +0.8 0.2
Bronson Arroyo P PIT Draft 1995 2 +0.7 +0.3 –
David Williams P PIT Draft 1998 3 +0.7 +0.2 –
Shane Youman P PIT Draft 2001 2 +0.7 +0.3 –
Todd Van Poppel P PIT Trade 1998 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.2
Rich Loiselle P PIT Trade 1996 3 +0.6 +0.2 –
Mark Dewey P PIT Trade 1993 2 +0.6 +0.3 0.2
Mark Smith OF PIT Trade 1997 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.3
Elmer Dessens P PIT Intl FA 1993 3 +0.5 +0.2 –
Gary Matthews OF PIT Trade 2001 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.0
Mike Lincoln P PIT Free agency 2001 2 +0.4 +0.2 0.0
Ed Sprague 3B PIT Free agency 1998 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.3
Lance Parrish C PIT Trade 1994 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.1
Luis Sojo 2B PIT Trade 2000 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.2
Greg Hansell P PIT Free agency 1999 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.2
Manny Martínez OF PIT Free agency 1996 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.1
Charlie Hayes 3B PIT Trade 1996 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.1
Andy Barkett 1B/OF PIT Draft 2001 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Mike Garcia P PIT Trade 1999 2 +0.2 +0.1 –
Jim Gott P PIT Free agency 1995 3 +0.2 +0.1 2.6
Humberto Cota C PIT Trade 1999 5 +0.1 +0.0 –
Jerry Goff C PIT Free agency 1993 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.3
Pete Schourek P PIT Free agency 1998 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Mike Maddux P PIT Trade 1995 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Omar Olivares P PIT Trade 2001 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Alejandro Peña P PIT Trade 1994 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Dan Serafini P PIT Trade 2000 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Tony Alvarez OF PIT Intl FA 1995 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Jeff Ballard P PIT Free agency 1993 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.3
Steve Bieser OF PIT Free agency 1997 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Jacob Brumfield OF PIT Trade 1994 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Jim Dougherty P PIT Free agency 1998 – -0.0 – –
Kevin Elster SS PIT Free agency 1996 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Luis Figueroa 2B/SS PIT Intl FA 1997 – -0.0 – –
Yamid Haad C PIT Intl FA 1994 – -0.0 – –
Tim Laker C PIT Trade 1999 1 -0.0 -0.0 0.0
José Parra P PIT Free agency 2000 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Armando Ríos OF PIT Trade 2001 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Matt Skrmetta P PIT Trade 2000 – -0.0 – –
Brian Smith P PIT Rule 5 1999 – -0.0 – –
Steve Sparks P PIT Draft 1998 – -0.0 – –
Billy Taylor P PIT Free agency 2001 – -0.0 – –
Don Wengert P PIT Free agency 2001 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Brad Clontz P PIT Free agency 1999 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0
Iván Cruz 1B PIT Free agency 1998 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.1
Yurendell de Caster DH PIT Rule 5 2000 – -0.1 – –
Mike Dyer P PIT Free agency 1994 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0
J. R. House C PIT Draft 1999 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Mendy López SS PIT Free agency 2001 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0
Clint Sodowsky P PIT Trade 1996 – -0.1 – –
Jeff Tabaka P PIT Free agency 1994 – -0.1 – –
Andy Tomberlin DH/OF PIT Trade 1993 – -0.1 – –
Rajai Davis OF PIT Draft 2001 – -0.2 – –
Mike Johnston P PIT Draft 1998 – -0.2 – –
Brian O'Connor P PIT Draft 1995 – -0.2 – –
Chris Tremie C PIT Free agency 1998 – -0.2 – –
Dave Wainhouse P PIT Free agency 1996 – -0.2 – –
Jeff Wallace P PIT Trade 1996 2 -0.2 -0.1 –
Glenn Wilson OF PIT Free agency 1993 2 -0.2 -0.1 0.5
Joe Beimel P PIT Draft 1998 2 -0.3 -0.1 –
Jason Boyd P PIT Trade 1999 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
Sean Burnett P PIT Draft 2000 2 -0.3 -0.1 –
Javier Martínez P PIT Trade 1997 – -0.3 – –
Mackey Sasser C PIT Free agency 1994 – -0.3 – –
Gary Varsho OF PIT Free agency 1994 1 -0.3 -0.3 4.1
Ravelo Manzanillo P PIT Free agency 1994 – -0.4 – –
Ramón Martínez P PIT Free agency 2001 – -0.5 – –
Freddy García 3B/OF PIT Rule 5 1994 1 -0.6 -0.6 –
Abraham Núñez 2B/3B/SS PIT Trade 1996 3 -0.6 -0.2 –
Joe Oliver C PIT Trade 1999 – -0.6 – –
John Van Benschoten P PIT Draft 2001 1 -0.6 -0.6 –
J. J. Davis OF PIT Draft 1997 – -0.7 – –
Brendan Donnelly P PIT Free agency 1999 – -0.7 – –
Derek Bell OF PIT Free agency 2000 – -0.9 – –
Emil Brown OF PIT Rule 5 1996 1 -0.9 -0.9 –
Dan Miceli P PIT Trade 1993 2 -0.9 -0.4 –
Alex Hernández 1B/OF PIT Draft 1995 – -1.0 – –
Steve Pegues OF PIT Free agency 1994 1 -1.0 -1.0 0.1
Carlos Rivera 1B PIT Draft 1996 – -1.0 – –
Brant Brown OF PIT Trade 1998 – -1.5 – –
Pat Meares SS PIT Free agency 1999 1 -1.7 -1.7 0.1
Doug Strange 2B/3B PIT Free agency 1997 – -1.8 – –
Jermaine Allensworth OF PIT Draft 1993 1 -2.0 -2.0 –
Mike Kingery OF PIT Free agency 1995 – -2.1 – –
Chad Hermansen OF PIT Draft 1995 1 -2.3 -2.3 –
José Castillo 2B/3B PIT Intl FA 1997 1 -2.7 -2.7 –
Ryan Doumit C PIT Draft 1999 2 -5.0 -2.5 –

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.