Born Feb 17, 1967 · Wichita, KS · age 59
Patiently rebuilt the Kansas City Royals through scouting and player development into back-to-back pennant winners and the 2015 World Series champion, ending a 30-year postseason drought.
16 seasons with salary-era data across 1 stint. All figures are franchise-level outcomes during the tenure, not solely attributable to one executive.
Share of gross-positive acquired fWAR by channel (vs. league average).
Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.
| Team | Role | Years | Szns | WAB | WAB/yr | TAB | WAR surp | HG | Trade | FA | R5 | AcqLev | W-L% | PO | Pen | WS | Surp $M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▸ Royals | GM | 2007–2022 | 15 | -67.3 | -4.49 | -83.6 | -84.7 | +167.5 | -31.3 | -60.5 | +0.5 | 0.56 | 0.455 | 2 | 2 | 1 | -260 |
| Career total (1985+ data) | 16 | -67.3 | -83.6 | -84.7 | +167.5 | -31.3 | -60.5 | +0.5 | 0.56 | 0.455 | 2 | 2 | 1 | -260 | |||
| Player | Pos | Team | How | Year | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Witt | SS | KCR | Draft | 2022 | +30.4 |
| Whit Merrifield | 2B/OF | KCR | Draft | 2010 | +16.8 |
| Danny Duffy | P | KCR | Draft | 2007 | +16.3 |
| Mike Moustakas | 3B | KCR | Draft | 2007 | +11.2 |
| Greg Holland | P | KCR | Draft | 2007 | +10.8 |
| Maikel García | 3B | KCR | Draft | 2022 | +10.5 |
| Brady Singer | P | KCR | Draft | 2018 | +10.4 |
| Eric Hosmer | 1B | KCR | Draft | 2008 | +10.0 |
| Brad Keller | P | KCR | Trade | 2017 | +7.9 |
| Kris Bubic | P | KCR | Draft | 2018 | +6.9 |
| Adalberto Mondesí | SS | KCR | Intl FA | 2011 | +6.9 |
| Yordano Ventura | P | KCR | Intl FA | 2008 | +6.9 |
| Nicky Lopez | 2B/SS | KCR | Draft | 2016 | +6.1 |
| Bruce Chen | P | KCR | Free agency | 2009 | +5.9 |
| Kyle Isbel | OF | KCR | Draft | 2018 | +5.2 |
| Jason Vargas | P | KCR | Free agency | 2013 | +4.9 |
| Mike Minor | P | KCR | Free agency | 2016 | +4.5 |
| Vinnie Pasquantino | 1B | KCR | Draft | 2022 | +4.3 |
| Edinson Vólquez | P | KCR | Free agency | 2014 | +4.3 |
| Jakob Junis | P | KCR | Draft | 2011 | +4.2 |
| Ian Kennedy | P | KCR | Free agency | 2016 | +3.9 |
| Melky Cabrera | OF | KCR | Free agency | 2010 | +3.8 |
| Freddy Fermin | C | KCR | Draft | 2022 | +3.7 |
| Jorge Soler | DH/OF | KCR | Trade | 2016 | +3.7 |
| Michael Taylor | OF | KCR | Free agency | 2020 | +3.7 |
| Jason Hammel | P | KCR | Free agency | 2017 | +3.1 |
| Alberto Callaspo | 2B/3B | KCR | Trade | 2007 | +3.0 |
| Kendrys Morales | 1B/DH | KCR | Free agency | 2014 | +3.0 |
| Ervin Santana | P | KCR | Trade | 2012 | +2.6 |
| Michael Massey | 2B | KCR | Draft | 2022 | +2.3 |
| Miguel Olivo | C | KCR | Free agency | 2007 | +2.2 |
| Cam Gallagher | C | KCR | Draft | 2011 | +2.1 |
| Daniel Lynch | P | KCR | Draft | 2018 | +2.1 |
| Nori Aoki | OF | KCR | Trade | 2013 | +1.8 |
| Paulo Orlando | OF | KCR | Trade | 2008 | +1.8 |
| Ramón Ramírez | P | KCR | Trade | 2008 | +1.8 |
| Dairon Blanco | OF | KCR | Draft | 2022 | +1.7 |
| Jeff Francis | P | KCR | Free agency | 2011 | +1.6 |
| Jeff Francoeur | OF | KCR | Free agency | 2010 | +1.6 |
| David Lough | OF | KCR | Draft | 2007 | +1.6 |
| Andrew Benintendi | OF | KCR | Trade | 2021 | +1.4 |
| Josh Staumont | P | KCR | Draft | 2015 | +1.4 |
| Scott Alexander | P | KCR | Draft | 2010 | +1.3 |
| Coco Crisp | OF | KCR | Trade | 2008 | +1.3 |
| Carlos Hernández | P | KCR | Intl FA | 2016 | +1.2 |
| Wilson Betemit | 3B | KCR | Free agency | 2009 | +1.1 |
| Tim Collins | P | KCR | Trade | 2010 | +1.1 |
| Christian Colón | 2B/3B | KCR | Draft | 2010 | +1.1 |
| Maikel Franco | 3B | KCR | Free agency | 2019 | +1.1 |
| Jeremy Guthrie | P | KCR | Free agency | 2012 | +1.1 |
| Tim Hill | P | KCR | Draft | 2014 | +1.0 |
| Ryan Madson | P | KCR | Free agency | 2015 | +0.9 |
| Kevin McCarthy | P | KCR | Draft | 2013 | +0.9 |
| Taylor Clarke | P | KCR | Free agency | 2021 | +0.8 |
| Will Smith | P | KCR | Trade | 2010 | +0.8 |
| Angel Zerpa | P | KCR | Intl FA | 2016 | +0.8 |
| Hunter Dozier | 3B/OF | KCR | Draft | 2013 | +0.7 |
| Chris Getz | 2B | KCR | Trade | 2009 | +0.7 |
| Drew Waters | OF | KCR | Trade | 2022 | +0.7 |
| Kyle Farnsworth | P | KCR | Free agency | 2008 | +0.6 |
| Terrance Gore | DH/OF | KCR | Draft | 2011 | +0.6 |
| Kris Medlen | P | KCR | Free agency | 2014 | +0.6 |
| Peter Moylan | P | KCR | Free agency | 2016 | +0.6 |
| Edward Olivares | OF | KCR | Trade | 2020 | +0.6 |
| Yuniesky Betancourt | SS | KCR | Trade | 2009 | +0.5 |
| Francisley Bueno | P | KCR | Free agency | 2011 | +0.5 |
| Hanser Alberto | 2B/3B | KCR | Free agency | 2021 | +0.4 |
| Louis Coleman | P | KCR | Draft | 2009 | +0.4 |
| Brian Flynn | P | KCR | Trade | 2014 | +0.4 |
| Nate Karns | P | KCR | Trade | 2017 | +0.4 |
| Ron Mahay | P | KCR | Free agency | 2007 | +0.4 |
| Franklin Morales | P | KCR | Free agency | 2015 | +0.4 |
| Sidney Ponson | P | KCR | Free agency | 2009 | +0.4 |
| Matt Strahm | P | KCR | Draft | 2012 | +0.4 |
| Brandon Finnegan | P | KCR | Draft | 2014 | +0.3 |
| Amir Garrett | P | KCR | Trade | 2022 | +0.3 |
| Philip Humber | P | KCR | Free agency | 2009 | +0.3 |
| Brett Phillips | OF | KCR | Trade | 2018 | +0.3 |
| Miguel Tejada | SS | KCR | Free agency | 2012 | +0.3 |
| Jorge Bonifacio | OF | KCR | Intl FA | 2009 | +0.2 |
| Drew Butera | C | KCR | Free agency | 2016 | +0.2 |
| Dylan Coleman | P | KCR | Trade | 2020 | +0.2 |
| Heath Fillmyer | P | KCR | Trade | 2018 | +0.2 |
| Richard Lovelady | P | KCR | Draft | 2016 | +0.2 |
| Jordan Lyles | P | KCR | Free agency | 2022 | +0.2 |
| Trevor Oaks | P | KCR | Trade | 2018 | +0.2 |
| Yohan Pino | P | KCR | Free agency | 2014 | +0.2 |
| Gabe Speier | P | KCR | Trade | 2018 | +0.2 |
| John Thomson | P | KCR | Free agency | 2007 | +0.2 |
| Kyle Zimmer | P | KCR | Draft | 2012 | +0.2 |
| Franchy Cordero | 1B/OF | KCR | Trade | 2020 | +0.1 |
| Josh Fields | 3B | KCR | Trade | 2009 | +0.1 |
| Foster Griffin | P | KCR | Draft | 2014 | +0.1 |
| Ryan McBroom | 1B/OF | KCR | Trade | 2019 | +0.1 |
| Daniel Mengden | P | KCR | Free agency | 2022 | +0.1 |
| Adam Moore | C | KCR | Free agency | 2013 | +0.1 |
| Ervin Santana | P | KCR | Free agency | 2020 | +0.1 |
| Nathan Adcock | P | KCR | Rule 5 | 2010 | -0.0 |
| Scott Blewett | P | KCR | Draft | 2014 | +0.0 |
| Brad Boxberger | P | KCR | Free agency | 2019 | +0.0 |
| Jake Brentz | P | KCR | Trade | 2021 | +0.0 |
| Bryan Bullington | P | KCR | Free agency | 2009 | -0.0 |
| Casey Coleman | P | KCR | Free agency | 2014 | -0.0 |
| Aaron Crow | P | KCR | Draft | 2009 | -0.0 |
| Juan Cruz | P | KCR | Free agency | 2009 | +0.0 |
| José Cuas | P | KCR | Draft | 2022 | -0.0 |
| Chris Dwyer | P | KCR | Draft | 2009 | +0.0 |
| Chris Ellis | P | KCR | Trade | 2018 | +0.0 |
| Jeff Fulchino | P | KCR | Free agency | 2008 | -0.0 |
| Kelvin Gutiérrez | 3B | KCR | Trade | 2018 | +0.0 |
| Jesse Hahn | P | KCR | Free agency | 2019 | +0.0 |
| Nick Heath | OF | KCR | Draft | 2016 | -0.0 |
| Óscar Hernández | C | KCR | Free agency | 2020 | +0.0 |
| Jeremy Jeffress | P | KCR | Trade | 2010 | -0.0 |
| Donnie Joseph | P | KCR | Trade | 2012 | +0.0 |
| Michael Mariot | P | KCR | Draft | 2010 | -0.0 |
| Justin Marks | P | KCR | Trade | 2010 | -0.0 |
| Mike Mayers | P | KCR | Free agency | 2022 | -0.0 |
| Alec Mills | P | KCR | Draft | 2012 | -0.0 |
| Mike Montgomery | P | KCR | Trade | 2019 | -0.0 |
| Jake Odorizzi | P | KCR | Trade | 2010 | -0.0 |
| Francisco Peña | C | KCR | Trade | 2014 | +0.0 |
| Manny Piña | C | KCR | Trade | 2009 | +0.0 |
| Emmanuel Rivera | 3B | KCR | Draft | 2015 | -0.0 |
| Wilking Rodríguez | P | KCR | Trade | 2014 | +0.0 |
| Eric Skoglund | P | KCR | Draft | 2014 | +0.0 |
| Nick Wittgren | P | KCR | Free agency | 2022 | +0.0 |
| Tony Abreu | 2B/3B | KCR | Free agency | 2011 | -0.1 |
| Lane Adams | OF | KCR | Draft | 2009 | -0.1 |
| Willie Bloomquist | SS/OF | KCR | Free agency | 2009 | -0.1 |
| Billy Burns | OF | KCR | Trade | 2016 | -0.1 |
| Orlando Calixte | OF | KCR | Intl FA | 2010 | -0.1 |
| Tony Cruz | C | KCR | Trade | 2015 | -0.1 |
| Lenny DiNardo | P | KCR | Free agency | 2008 | -0.1 |
| Nate Eaton | 3B/OF | KCR | Draft | 2022 | -0.1 |
| Ryan Goins | 2B/SS | KCR | Free agency | 2018 | -0.1 |
| Brewer Hicklen | OF | KCR | Draft | 2022 | -0.1 |
| Brooks Kriske | P | KCR | Free agency | 2022 | -0.1 |
| Chris Owings | 2B/SS | KCR | Free agency | 2018 | -0.1 |
| Horacio Ramírez | P | KCR | Free agency | 2008 | -0.1 |
| Clint Robinson | 1B/OF | KCR | Draft | 2007 | -0.1 |
| Josh Rupe | P | KCR | Free agency | 2009 | -0.1 |
| Samad Taylor | 2B/OF | KCR | Trade | 2022 | -0.1 |
| Ramón Torres | 2B/3B | KCR | Intl FA | 2009 | -0.1 |
| Ryan Verdugo | P | KCR | Trade | 2011 | -0.1 |
| Doug Waechter | P | KCR | Free agency | 2008 | -0.1 |
| Chien-Ming Wang | P | KCR | Free agency | 2016 | -0.1 |
| Aaron Brooks | P | KCR | Draft | 2011 | -0.2 |
| Jesse Chavez | P | KCR | Trade | 2010 | -0.2 |
| Dusty Coleman | SS | KCR | Trade | 2015 | -0.2 |
| Nick Dini | C | KCR | Draft | 2015 | -0.2 |
| Rey Fuentes | OF | KCR | Trade | 2014 | -0.2 |
| Onelki García | P | KCR | Free agency | 2016 | -0.2 |
| Tommy Hottovy | P | KCR | Free agency | 2011 | -0.2 |
| Andrés Machado | P | KCR | Intl FA | 2010 | -0.2 |
| Seth Maness | P | KCR | Free agency | 2017 | -0.2 |
| Matt Reynolds | 3B/SS | KCR | Free agency | 2019 | -0.2 |
| Alex Ríos | OF | KCR | Free agency | 2014 | -0.2 |
| Jason Standridge | P | KCR | Free agency | 2007 | -0.2 |
| Eric Stout | P | KCR | Draft | 2014 | -0.2 |
| Arodys Vizcaíno | P | KCR | Free agency | 2022 | -0.2 |
| Jason Adam | P | KCR | Draft | 2010 | -0.3 |
| CJ Alexander | 3B | KCR | Trade | 2022 | -0.3 |
| Ronald Bolaños | P | KCR | Trade | 2020 | -0.3 |
| Román Colón | P | KCR | Free agency | 2009 | -0.3 |
| Cheslor Cuthbert | 3B | KCR | Intl FA | 2009 | -0.3 |
| Wade Davis | P | KCR | Free agency | 2021 | -0.3 |
| Dillon Gee | P | KCR | Free agency | 2015 | -0.3 |
| Jorge López | P | KCR | Trade | 2018 | -0.3 |
| Erick Mejia | 3B/OF | KCR | Trade | 2018 | -0.3 |
| Neal Musser | P | KCR | Trade | 2007 | -0.3 |
| Hideo Nomo | P | KCR | Free agency | 2008 | -0.3 |
| Humberto Quintero | C | KCR | Trade | 2012 | -0.3 |
| Brad Thompson | P | KCR | Free agency | 2009 | -0.3 |
| Jason Bourgeois | OF | KCR | Trade | 2012 | -0.4 |
| Matt Harvey | P | KCR | Free agency | 2020 | -0.4 |
| Lucas May | C | KCR | Trade | 2010 | -0.4 |
| John Parrish | P | KCR | Free agency | 2010 | -0.4 |
| Sebastián Rivero | C | KCR | Intl FA | 2015 | -0.4 |
| Frank Schwindel | 1B | KCR | Draft | 2013 | -0.4 |
| Collin Snider | P | KCR | Draft | 2022 | -0.4 |
| Yasuhiko Yabuta | P | KCR | Draft | 2008 | -0.4 |
| Chris Young | P | KCR | Free agency | 2015 | -0.4 |
| Miguel Almonte | P | KCR | Intl FA | 2010 | -0.5 |
| Luis Hernández | SS | KCR | Free agency | 2008 | -0.5 |
| Brooks Pounders | P | KCR | Trade | 2011 | -0.5 |
| Tyler Zuber | P | KCR | Draft | 2017 | -0.5 |
| Johnny Giavotella | 2B | KCR | Draft | 2008 | -0.6 |
| Brandon Moss | 1B/OF | KCR | Free agency | 2017 | -0.6 |
| Sean O'Sullivan | P | KCR | Trade | 2010 | -0.6 |
| Wily Peralta | P | KCR | Free agency | 2017 | -0.6 |
| Jonathan Heasley | P | KCR | Draft | 2018 | -0.7 |
| Jackson Kowar | P | KCR | Draft | 2018 | -0.7 |
| Blaine Boyer | P | KCR | Free agency | 2013 | -0.8 |
| Anthony Lerew | P | KCR | Free agency | 2009 | -0.8 |
| Brandon Maurer | P | KCR | Trade | 2017 | -0.8 |
| Jake Newberry | P | KCR | Draft | 2012 | -0.8 |
| Nick Pratto | 1B | KCR | Draft | 2022 | -0.8 |
| Carlos Santana | 1B | KCR | Free agency | 2020 | -0.8 |
| Humberto Arteaga | SS | KCR | Intl FA | 2010 | -0.9 |
| Yuniesky Betancourt | SS | KCR | Free agency | 2011 | -0.9 |
| Alcides Escobar | SS | KCR | Free agency | 2018 | -0.9 |
| Jason Kendall | C | KCR | Free agency | 2009 | -1.0 |
| Bubba Starling | OF | KCR | Draft | 2011 | -1.0 |
| Lucas Duda | 1B/OF | KCR | Free agency | 2018 | -1.1 |
| Omar Infante | 2B | KCR | Free agency | 2013 | -1.1 |
| MJ Melendez | OF | KCR | Draft | 2022 | -1.1 |
| Meibrys Viloria | C | KCR | Intl FA | 2013 | -1.1 |
| Ryan O'Hearn | 1B | KCR | Draft | 2014 | -1.5 |
| Tony Peña | SS | KCR | Trade | 2007 | -1.5 |
| José Guillén | OF | KCR | Free agency | 2007 | -3.1 |
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.