RRosternomics
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EW

Ed Wade

Born Jan 31, 1956 · Carbondale, PA · age 70

General manager for the Phillies and Astros (1998–2011).

12 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
Playoffs0
Record935–1007
Win %0.481
-1.2GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±4.3109th/195 execs
6.5Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)85th/195 execs
-5.1Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)97th/195 execs
30%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)55th/195 execs
$16MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track92nd/195 execs
$11MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)59th/195 execs
$4MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade79th/195 execs
$2MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees71st/195 execs
-14.0TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total130th/195 execs
-30.9WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)161st/195 execs
2.14Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)77th/195 execs
-126Roster surplus $M140th/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Astros GM 2008–2011 4 -31.8 -7.95 -35.6 -46.4 +57.8 +14.4 -3.9 -0.5 0.63 0.451 ––– -110
▸ Phillies GM 1998–2005 8 +0.9 +0.11 +21.6 -6.3 +192.3 -14.1 -49.6 -0.9 2.73 0.497 ––– -16
Career total (1985+ data) 12 -30.9 -14.0 -52.7 +250.2 +0.3 -53.4 -1.4 2.14 0.481 –– – -126

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)+250.2
Trade+0.3
Free agency-53.4
Rule 5 / minor draft-1.4
Sourcing mix: 70% draft · 16% FA · 14% trade · 0% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Ed Wade'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 — 207 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Chase Utley 2B PHI Draft 2000 12 +59.5 +5.0 –
Bobby Abreu OF PHI Trade 1998 9 +47.2 +5.2 3.0
Cole Hamels P PHI Draft 2002 10 +38.7 +3.9 –
George Springer OF HOU Draft 2011 7 +25.8 +3.7 –
Shane Victorino OF PHI Trade 2005 8 +24.1 +3.0 0.6
Ryan Howard 1B PHI Draft 2001 9 +19.4 +2.2 –
Dallas Keuchel P HOU Draft 2009 6 +17.4 +2.9 –
Pat Burrell OF PHI Draft 1998 9 +16.8 +1.9 –
Carlos Ruiz C PHI Intl FA 1998 10 +12.8 +1.3 –
Brett Myers P PHI Draft 1999 6 +12.1 +2.0 –
Jason Castro C HOU Draft 2008 6 +12.0 +2.0 –
Michael Bourn OF HOU Trade 2008 4 +11.8 +2.9 0.0
Marwin González SS HOU Trade 2011 5 +9.2 +1.8 –
Plácido Polanco 2B/3B PHI Free agency 2004 7 +8.7 +1.2 2.4
Ryan Madson P PHI Draft 1998 9 +8.6 +1.0 –
Jim Thome 1B/DH PHI Free agency 2002 3 +8.4 +2.8 17.2
Vicente Padilla P PHI Trade 2000 5 +8.1 +1.6 1.2
Kevin Millwood P PHI Free agency 2003 2 +7.2 +3.6 16.8
Jason Michaels OF PHI Draft 1998 4 +6.9 +1.7 –
Aaron Rowand OF PHI Trade 2005 2 +6.7 +3.3 7.0
Jon Lieber P PHI Free agency 2004 3 +6.4 +2.1 17.2
Kyle Kendrick P PHI Draft 2003 7 +6.3 +0.9 –
Robert Person P PHI Trade 1999 4 +5.9 +1.5 0.5
Brett Myers P HOU Free agency 2010 2 +5.7 +2.9 0.7
Miguel Tejada SS HOU Trade 2008 2 +4.3 +2.1 3.2
David Bell 2B/3B PHI Free agency 2002 4 +4.1 +1.0 0.4
Marlon Byrd OF PHI Draft 1999 3 +4.1 +1.4 –
Ron Gant OF PHI Trade 1999 2 +4.1 +2.1 1.8
Kenny Lofton OF PHI Trade 2004 1 +3.9 +3.9 25.5
Brett Oberholtzer P HOU Trade 2011 3 +3.7 +1.2 –
Antonio Bastardo P PHI Intl FA 2005 6 +3.7 +0.6 –
Billy Wagner P PHI Trade 2003 2 +3.6 +1.8 8.5
Carlos Corporán C HOU Free agency 2010 4 +3.3 +0.8 0.0
Cory Lidle P PHI Free agency 2004 3 +3.3 +1.1 8.2
Todd Pratt C PHI Trade 2001 7 +3.1 +0.4 –
Terry Adams P PHI Free agency 2002 2 +2.9 +1.4 3.3
Clint Barmes 2B/SS HOU Trade 2010 1 +2.7 +2.7 0.2
Jed Lowrie 2B/SS HOU Trade 2011 2 +2.4 +1.2 0.0
Travis Lee 1B PHI Trade 2000 3 +2.2 +0.7 0.1
José Mesa P PHI Free agency 2000 2 +2.1 +1.1 2.4
Lucas Harrell P HOU Trade 2011 2 +1.9 +1.0 0.0
Jeremy Giambi DH/OF PHI Trade 2002 1 +1.9 +1.9 3.4
Omar Daal P PHI Trade 2000 2 +1.8 +0.9 0.4
José Valverde P HOU Trade 2008 2 +1.8 +0.9 1.5
Kazuo Matsui 2B HOU Trade 2008 2 +1.8 +0.9 2.5
Jordan Lyles P HOU Draft 2008 3 +1.7 +0.6 –
Rheal Cormier P PHI Free agency 2000 4 +1.7 +0.4 0.4
Jeff Keppinger 2B HOU Trade 2009 3 +1.5 +0.5 0.0
Rob Ducey OF PHI Free agency 1998 2 +1.5 +0.7 1.1
J. A. Happ P PHI Draft 2004 3 +1.5 +0.5 –
Mike Hampton P HOU Free agency 2008 6 +1.4 +0.2 11.8
Eric Milton P PHI Trade 2004 1 +1.4 +1.4 8.0
Bruce Chen P PHI Trade 2000 2 +1.4 +0.7 0.4
Nelson Figueroa P PHI Trade 2001 2 +1.4 +0.7 1.6
Aaron Fultz P PHI Trade 2005 2 +1.3 +0.7 3.6
Geoff Geary P PHI Draft 1998 3 +1.2 +0.4 –
Ricky Ledée OF PHI Free agency 2002 3 +1.2 +0.4 0.9
Paul Byrd P PHI Trade 1998 3 +1.2 +0.4 0.5
Rob Tejeda P PHI Intl FA 1998 1 +1.1 +1.1 –
Tim Worrell P PHI Free agency 2003 1 +1.1 +1.1 6.4
Randy Wolf P HOU Trade 2008 1 +1.1 +1.1 1.5
Jason Bourgeois OF HOU Trade 2010 2 +1.1 +0.5 0.0
Mark Melancon P HOU Trade 2010 2 +1.1 +0.5 0.1
Michael Bourn OF PHI Draft 2003 1 +1.0 +1.0 –
Joe Roa P PHI Trade 2002 2 +1.0 +0.5 1.4
J. A. Happ P HOU Trade 2010 3 +0.9 +0.3 0.1
Vince Velasquez P HOU Draft 2010 1 +0.9 +0.9 –
Brian Hunter OF PHI Free agency 2001 1 +0.9 +0.9 1.3
Cliff Politte P PHI Trade 1998 3 +0.9 +0.3 0.2
Alberto Árias P HOU Trade 2008 2 +0.8 +0.4 0.2
Scott Moore 1B/3B HOU Free agency 2011 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.0
Russ Ortiz P HOU Free agency 2009 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.2
Dan Plesac P PHI Trade 2002 1 +0.7 +0.7 2.9
Matt Downs 2B HOU Trade 2011 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.1
Brandon Lyon P HOU Free agency 2009 2 +0.6 +0.3 0.2
Clay Condrey P PHI Free agency 2004 4 +0.6 +0.1 0.9
Tom Gordon P PHI Free agency 2005 2 +0.6 +0.3 4.0
Nelson Figueroa P HOU Trade 2010 2 +0.6 +0.3 0.1
Félix Rodríguez P PHI Trade 2004 1 +0.6 +0.6 3.2
Reggie Abercrombie OF HOU Free agency 2008 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.8
Mickey Storey P HOU Trade 2011 1 +0.5 +0.5 –
Yorkis Pérez P PHI Free agency 1998 2 +0.5 +0.2 0.3
Ugueth Urbina P PHI Trade 2005 1 +0.5 +0.5 3.3
Jarred Cosart P HOU Trade 2011 2 +0.4 +0.2 –
LaTroy Hawkins P HOU Free agency 2008 2 +0.4 +0.2 1.1
Ángel Sánchez SS HOU Trade 2010 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.0
Nick Tropeano P HOU Draft 2011 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Joe Grahe P PHI Free agency 1999 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.3
Jeff Fulchino P HOU Trade 2009 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.2
Eric Junge P PHI Trade 2001 2 +0.3 +0.2 –
Tom Prince C PHI Free agency 1998 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.1
Kent Bottenfield P PHI Trade 2000 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.1
Gustavo Chacín P HOU Free agency 2009 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.0
Jason Michaels OF HOU Free agency 2008 2 +0.2 +0.1 0.0
Fernando Rodriguez P HOU Free agency 2010 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.0
JB Shuck OF HOU Draft 2008 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Henry Sosa P HOU Trade 2011 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Eude Brito P PHI Intl FA 1998 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Kirk Bullinger P PHI Free agency 2000 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Sergio Escalona P PHI Intl FA 2004 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Yoel Hernández P PHI Intl FA 1998 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Steve Schrenk P PHI Trade 1999 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Ed Vosberg P PHI Free agency 2000 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.6
Darin Erstad 1B/OF HOU Trade 2008 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.9
Iván Rodríguez C HOU Trade 2009 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Matt Lindstrom P HOU Trade 2010 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.0
Brian Hunter 1B PHI Trade 2000 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Todd Jones P PHI Trade 2004 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.9
Xavier Cedeño P HOU Trade 2011 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Matt Duffy 1B/3B HOU Draft 2011 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Teoscar Hernández OF HOU Intl FA 2011 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Josh Hancock P PHI Trade 2002 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.3
Lou Marson C PHI Draft 2004 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Brian Powell P PHI Free agency 2004 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.8
Amaury Telemaco P PHI Free agency 2001 1 +0.1 +0.1 2.8
Geoff Geary P HOU Trade 2008 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.8
Kelly Stinnett C PHI Trade 2003 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.3
Valerio De Los Santos P PHI Trade 2003 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.2
Aquilino López P PHI Trade 2005 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.4
Juan Abreu P HOU Trade 2011 – -0.0 – –
Travis Buck OF HOU Free agency 2011 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Kevin Cash C HOU Free agency 2010 – +0.0 – –
Sergio Escalona P HOU Trade 2011 – -0.0 – –
Jandel Gustave P HOU Intl FA 2010 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Runelvys Hernández P HOU Free agency 2008 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Aneury Rodríguez P HOU Rule 5 2010 – -0.0 – –
Billy Sadler P HOU Free agency 2009 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
José Valdez P HOU Trade 2011 1 -0.0 -0.0 –
Scott Aldred P PHI Trade 1999 2 +0.0 +0.0 0.3
Clemente Álvarez C PHI Trade 2000 – -0.0 – –
Joe Bisenius P PHI Draft 2004 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
P. J. Forbes 2B PHI Free agency 1999 – -0.0 – –
A. J. Hinch C PHI Free agency 2004 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.2
Mark Holzemer P PHI Free agency 1999 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Tyler Houston C/3B PHI Free agency 2003 – -0.0 – –
Anderson Machado SS PHI Intl FA 1998 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Scott Mathieson P PHI Draft 2002 1 -0.0 -0.0 –
Héctor Mercado P PHI Trade 2002 1 -0.0 -0.0 0.7
Steve Montgomery P PHI Free agency 1998 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
David Newhan OF PHI Trade 2000 2 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
Doug Nickle P PHI Trade 1998 1 -0.0 -0.0 –
Jim Poole P PHI Free agency 1998 1 -0.0 -0.0 0.1
Elizardo Ramírez P PHI Intl FA 1999 – -0.0 – –
Chris Roberson OF PHI Draft 2001 1 -0.0 -0.0 –
Zack Segovia P PHI Draft 2002 – -0.0 – –
Turner Ward OF PHI Free agency 2000 – -0.0 – –
Jim Crowell P PHI Trade 2004 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.2
Paul Spoljaric P PHI Trade 1999 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Michael Tucker OF PHI Trade 2005 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Matt Walbeck C PHI Trade 2001 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
Bryan Ward P PHI Trade 2000 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Josh Banks P HOU Free agency 2009 – -0.1 – –
David Carpenter P HOU Trade 2010 – -0.1 – –
Shawn Chacón P HOU Free agency 2008 – -0.1 – –
Brian Esposito C HOU Free agency 2008 – -0.1 – –
Mike Foltynewicz P HOU Draft 2010 – -0.1 – –
Matt Kata 2B HOU Free agency 2008 – -0.1 – –
Gary Majewski P HOU Free agency 2009 – -0.1 – –
J. D. Martinez DH/OF HOU Draft 2009 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Jonathan Villar 2B/SS HOU Trade 2010 2 -0.1 -0.1 –
Travis Chapman 3B PHI Draft 2000 – -0.1 – –
Lou Collier SS PHI Free agency 2004 – -0.1 – –
Brad Harman 2B/3B PHI Intl FA 2003 – -0.1 – –
Torey Lovullo 2B PHI Free agency 1998 – -0.1 – –
Eddie Oropesa P PHI Trade 2001 – -0.1 – –
Chris Pritchett 1B PHI Free agency 1999 – -0.1 – –
Julio Santana P PHI Free agency 2003 – -0.1 – –
Mike Zagurski P PHI Draft 2005 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Yorman Bazardo P HOU Free agency 2009 – -0.2 – –
Robinson Cancel C HOU Free agency 2011 – -0.2 – –
Oswaldo Navarro SS HOU Free agency 2009 – -0.2 – –
David Newhan OF HOU Free agency 2008 – -0.2 – –
Greg Golson OF PHI Draft 2004 – -0.2 – –
Roberto Hernández P PHI Free agency 2003 – -0.2 – –
Ken Ryan P PHI Free agency 1998 1 -0.2 -0.2 0.2
José Santiago P PHI Trade 2001 1 -0.2 -0.2 1.4
Eric Valent 1B/OF PHI Draft 1998 – -0.2 – –
Alex Arias 3B/SS PHI Trade 1998 2 -0.2 -0.1 0.1
Aaron Boone 3B HOU Free agency 2008 – -0.3 – –
Jake Buchanan P HOU Draft 2010 – -0.3 – –
Reymin Guduan P HOU Intl FA 2009 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
Chris Brock P PHI Free agency 2001 – -0.3 – –
Danny Sandoval 2B/SS PHI Trade 2005 – -0.3 – –
Casey Daigle P HOU Free agency 2009 – -0.4 – –
Jordan Schafer OF HOU Trade 2011 1 -0.4 -0.4 0.0
Jeff Brantley P PHI Free agency 1999 1 -0.4 -0.4 0.1
Nick Punto 2B/3B/SS PHI Draft 1998 1 -0.4 -0.4 –
Matt Whiteside P PHI Free agency 1998 – -0.4 – –
Rhiner Cruz P HOU Rule 5 2011 – -0.5 – –
Domingo Santana OF HOU Trade 2011 1 -0.5 -0.5 –
Cory Sullivan OF HOU Free agency 2010 – -0.5 – –
Rico Brogna 1B PHI Trade 1998 2 -0.5 -0.2 0.4
Jason Smith 2B/SS HOU Free agency 2009 – -0.6 – –
Josh Zeid P HOU Trade 2011 1 -0.6 -0.6 –
Shawn Wooten 1B/DH PHI Free agency 2003 – -0.6 – –
Chris Brock P PHI Trade 1999 – -0.7 – –
Doug Glanville OF PHI Free agency 2004 5 -0.7 -0.1 1.2
Joel Bennett P PHI Free agency 1998 – -0.8 – –
Gavin Floyd P PHI Draft 2001 1 -0.8 -0.8 –
Tomás Pérez 2B/3B/SS PHI Free agency 1999 2 -0.8 -0.4 2.0
Brett Wallace 1B HOU Trade 2010 1 -0.9 -0.9 –
Tim Byrdak P HOU Free agency 2008 – -1.2 – –
Jon Singleton 1B HOU Trade 2011 1 -1.2 -1.2 –
Brian Sanches P PHI Trade 2004 – -1.3 – –
Paul Clemens P HOU Trade 2011 – -1.5 – –
Jimmy Paredes 3B/DH/OF HOU Trade 2010 1 -1.7 -1.7 –
Abraham Núñez 2B/3B/SS PHI Free agency 2005 – -1.8 – –

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.