RRosternomics
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DM

Dal Maxvill

Born Feb 18, 1939 · Granite City, IL · age 87

General manager for the Cardinals (1986–1994).

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
Pennants1
Playoffs1
Record713–696
Win %0.506
-0.2GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±4.782nd/195 execs
7.0Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)50th/195 execs
-3.9Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)24th/195 execs
28%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)43rd/195 execs
$5MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track137th/195 execs
$3MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)135th/195 execs
$1MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade118th/195 execs
$1MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees82nd/195 execs
+9.4TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total55th/195 execs
+3.8WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)59th/195 execs
2.52Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)63rd/195 execs
-11Roster surplus $M63rd/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Cardinals GM 1986–1994 9 +3.8 +0.42 +9.4 -26.7 +123.3 -35.7 -43.4 -1.0 2.52 0.506 11– -11
Career total (1985+ data) 9 +3.8 +9.4 -26.7 +123.3 -35.7 -43.4 -1.0 2.52 0.506 11 – -11

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)+123.3
Trade-35.7
Free agency-43.4
Rule 5 / minor draft-1.0
Sourcing mix: 66% draft · 16% FA · 18% trade · 0% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Dal Maxvill'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 — 128 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Ray Lankford OF STL Draft 1987 13 +39.8 +3.1 –
Brian Jordan OF STL Draft 1988 6 +19.3 +3.2 –
Bob Tewksbury P STL Free agency 1988 6 +16.6 +2.8 1.4
José DeLeón P STL Trade 1988 5 +11.7 +2.3 1.5
Todd Zeile 3B STL Draft 1986 6 +10.6 +1.8 –
Donovan Osborne P STL Draft 1990 7 +10.5 +1.5 –
Milt Thompson OF STL Trade 1989 4 +9.7 +2.4 30.4
Gregg Jefferies 1B/OF STL Trade 1993 2 +7.2 +3.6 7.4
Rheal Cormier P STL Draft 1988 4 +6.4 +1.6 –
Félix José OF STL Trade 1990 3 +5.6 +1.9 0.9
Bryn Smith P STL Free agency 1989 2 +5.4 +2.7 7.7
Ken Hill P STL Trade 1986 5 +5.1 +1.0 –
Plácido Polanco 2B/3B STL Draft 1994 3 +5.0 +1.7 –
Eli Marrero C/OF STL Draft 1993 5 +4.6 +0.9 –
Scott Terry P STL Trade 1987 5 +4.6 +0.9 0.4
Omar Olivares P STL Trade 1990 4 +4.5 +1.1 –
Pedro Guerrero 1B/OF STL Trade 1988 4 +4.2 +1.0 0.3
Alan Benes P STL Draft 1993 4 +4.1 +1.0 –
Luis Alicea 2B STL Draft 1986 4 +4.0 +1.0 –
Mark Whiten OF STL Trade 1993 2 +3.5 +1.7 1.2
Tony Peña C STL Trade 1987 2 +3.3 +1.7 1.0
Lee Smith P STL Trade 1990 3 +3.1 +1.0 5.4
René Arocha P STL Intl FA 1991 2 +2.8 +1.4 –
Tom Brunansky OF STL Trade 1988 2 +2.4 +1.2 0.9
José Jiménez P STL Intl FA 1991 2 +2.4 +1.2 –
Tom Urbani P STL Draft 1990 3 +2.3 +0.8 –
Mark Petkovsek P STL Free agency 1994 3 +2.2 +0.7 0.3
John Mabry 1B/OF STL Draft 1991 5 +2.0 +0.4 –
Allen Watson P STL Draft 1991 3 +1.8 +0.6 –
Manny Aybar P STL Intl FA 1991 3 +1.7 +0.6 –
Joe McEwing 2B/OF STL Draft 1992 1 +1.6 +1.6 –
Tom Henke P STL Free agency 1994 1 +1.3 +1.3 0.2
T. J. Mathews P STL Draft 1992 4 +1.3 +0.3 –
Mike Pérez P STL Draft 1986 3 +1.3 +0.4 –
Gerald Perry 1B STL Free agency 1990 3 +1.2 +0.4 2.2
Rigo Beltrán P STL Draft 1991 1 +1.0 +1.0 –
Danny Jackson P STL Free agency 1994 2 +1.0 +0.5 0.1
Steve Lake C STL Free agency 1986 3 +1.0 +0.3 0.1
Dan Quisenberry P STL Free agency 1988 2 +1.0 +0.5 0.0
John Habyan P STL Free agency 1994 2 +0.9 +0.4 1.7
Larry McWilliams P STL Free agency 1988 1 +0.9 +0.9 0.4
Ted Power P STL Free agency 1989 1 +0.9 +0.9 5.5
Cris Carpenter P STL Draft 1987 3 +0.8 +0.3 –
Lee Tunnell P STL Trade 1987 1 +0.8 +0.8 3.4
Rich Croushore P STL Intl FA 1993 1 +0.7 +0.7 –
Frank DiPino P STL Free agency 1988 3 +0.7 +0.2 2.4
Erik Pappas C STL Free agency 1993 1 +0.7 +0.7 2.4
Tim Conroy P STL Trade 1986 2 +0.6 +0.3 0.1
Mike Difelice C STL Draft 1991 3 +0.5 +0.2 –
Paul Kilgus P STL Free agency 1992 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.9
Rich Batchelor P STL Trade 1993 2 +0.4 +0.2 –
Allen Battle OF STL Draft 1991 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Lee Guetterman P STL Free agency 1993 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.7
Don Heinkel P STL Free agency 1989 1 +0.4 +0.4 2.2
Curtis King P STL Draft 1994 2 +0.4 +0.2 –
Stan Royer 1B/3B STL Trade 1990 3 +0.4 +0.1 –
Gerald Young OF STL Free agency 1993 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.7
Tom Niedenfuer P STL Free agency 1990 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.8
Dmitri Young 1B/OF STL Draft 1991 1 +0.3 +0.3 –
Chuck Carr OF STL Trade 1991 1 +0.2 +0.2 1.0
Les Lancaster P STL Free agency 1993 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.3
Keith McDonald C STL Draft 1994 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Vicente Palacios P STL Free agency 1993 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.7
Brady Raggio P STL Draft 1992 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Mike Heath C STL Trade 1986 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Terry Bradshaw OF STL Draft 1990 2 +0.1 +0.1 –
Rod Brewer 1B/OF STL Draft 1987 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Mike Busby P STL Draft 1991 2 +0.1 +0.1 –
Stan Clarke P STL Free agency 1989 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.2
Scott Coolbaugh 3B STL Free agency 1993 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Doug Creek P STL Draft 1991 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
John Frascatore P STL Draft 1991 2 +0.1 +0.0 –
David Green 1B/OF STL Free agency 1987 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.3
Bob Horner 1B/3B STL Free agency 1988 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Rich Rodriguez P STL Free agency 1994 2 +0.1 +0.0 0.1
Gibson Alba P STL Rule 5 1987 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Skeeter Barnes 1B/3B/OF STL Free agency 1987 – -0.0 – –
Bill Earley P STL Trade 1986 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Bryan Eversgerd P STL Intl FA 1989 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Andrés Galarraga 1B STL Trade 1991 – -0.0 – –
Mark Grater P STL Draft 1986 – -0.0 – –
Alan Knicely C STL Free agency 1986 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Fred Manrique 2B STL Trade 1986 – -0.0 – –
Rob Murphy P STL Free agency 1993 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Denny Walling 1B/3B/OF STL Trade 1988 1 +0.0 +0.0 5.1
Tracy Woodson 3B STL Free agency 1991 1 -0.0 -0.0 2.3
Brian Barber P STL Draft 1991 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Gary Buckels P STL Trade 1994 – -0.1 – –
Mark Clark P STL Draft 1988 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Dave Collins OF STL Free agency 1990 – -0.1 – –
Dan Driessen 1B STL Free agency 1987 – -0.1 – –
Ray Giannelli 3B STL Free agency 1994 – -0.1 – –
Aaron Holbert 2B STL Draft 1990 – -0.1 – –
Dave LaPoint P STL Free agency 1987 – -0.1 – –
Terry McGriff C STL Free agency 1993 – -0.1 – –
Luis Saturria OF STL Intl FA 1994 – -0.1 – –
Tim Sherrill P STL Draft 1987 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Duane Walker OF STL Free agency 1986 – -0.1 – –
Jerry White OF STL Trade 1986 – -0.1 – –
Jeff Berblinger 2B STL Draft 1993 – -0.2 – –
Frank Cimorelli P STL Draft 1989 – -0.2 – –
Bien Figueroa 2B/SS STL Draft 1986 – -0.2 – –
Mike Gulan 3B STL Draft 1992 – -0.2 – –
Jamie Moyer P STL Free agency 1991 – -0.2 – –
Marc Ronan C STL Draft 1990 – -0.2 – –
Héctor Villanueva C STL Free agency 1992 – -0.2 – –
Greg Bargar P STL Trade 1986 – -0.3 – –
Ramon Caraballo 2B STL Trade 1994 – -0.3 – –
Steve Dixon P STL Draft 1989 – -0.3 – –
Leon Durham 1B/OF STL Free agency 1989 – -0.3 – –
Scarborough Green OF STL Draft 1992 – -0.3 – –
Sean Lowe P STL Draft 1992 – -0.3 – –
Lonnie Maclin OF STL Draft 1986 – -0.3 – –
Randy O'Neal P STL Trade 1987 1 -0.3 -0.3 0.9
Juan Agosto P STL Free agency 1990 – -0.4 – –
Willie Smith P STL Trade 1994 – -0.4 – –
Ray Soff P STL Trade 1986 – -0.4 – –
Ozzie Canseco OF STL Free agency 1992 1 -0.5 -0.5 0.1
Rick Sutcliffe P STL Free agency 1994 – -0.5 – –
Tripp Cromer SS STL Draft 1989 – -0.6 – –
Bill Dawley P STL Trade 1986 – -0.6 – –
Ray Burris P STL Free agency 1986 – -0.7 – –
Pedro Guerrero 1B/OF STL Free agency 1992 4 -0.8 -0.2 0.3
Bob McClure P STL Free agency 1991 1 -0.8 -0.8 1.3
Danny Sheaffer C STL Free agency 1994 1 -1.1 -1.1 0.0
Mike Laga 1B STL Trade 1986 1 -1.1 -1.1 0.2
Rich Gedman C STL Free agency 1991 – -1.4 – –
Rex Hudler 2B/OF STL Trade 1990 1 -1.5 -1.5 5.2

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.