RRosternomics
Erik Neander

Erik Neander

★ active

Born 1985 · Silver Spring, MD · age 41

Head of baseball operations for the Tampa Bay Rays, sustaining one of the sport's most efficient low-payroll contenders, including the 2020 American League pennant.

10 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
Playoffs5
Record810–651
Win %0.554
+9.1GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±4.92nd/195 execs
6.7Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)70th/195 execs
-3.1Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)8th/195 execs
30%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)60th/195 execs
$71MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track5th/195 execs
$12MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)53rd/195 execs
$48MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade1st/195 execs
$3MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees36th/195 execs
+133.1TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total5th/195 execs
+138.5WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)6th/195 execs
3.51Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)27th/195 execs
+743Roster surplus $M1st/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
Rays POBO/GM 2017–present 9 +138.5 +15.39 +133.1 +190.2 +42.2 -14.6 -39.3 +0.9 3.51 0.554 51 +743
Career total (1985+ data) 10 +138.5 +133.1 +190.2 +42.2 -14.6 -39.3 +0.9 3.51 0.554 51 +743

Roster Construction

How the roster was sourced

Share of acquired fWAR by channel vs. league average.

Build channels — net fWAR

Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.

Home-grown (draft/intl)+42.2
Trade-14.6
Free agency-39.3
Rule 5 / minor draft+0.9
Sourcing mix: 22% draft · 20% FA · 58% trade · 1% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Erik Neander'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 — 208 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Yandy Díaz 1B/3B/DH TBR Trade 2018 8 +19.7 +2.5 6.9
Randy Arozarena OF TBR Trade 2020 5 +11.5 +2.3 13.3
Drew Rasmussen P TBR Trade 2021 6 +10.7 +1.8 8.6
Shane McClanahan P TBR Draft 2018 4 +10.2 +2.6
Wander Franco SS TBR Intl FA 2017 3 +9.4 +3.1
Isaac Paredes 3B TBR Trade 2022 3 +9.4 +3.1 3.5
Tyler Glasnow P TBR Trade 2018 6 +9.3 +1.5 2.0
Joey Wendle 2B/3B/SS TBR Trade 2017 4 +8.7 +2.2 14.9
Junior Caminero 3B TBR Draft 2023 4 +8.6 +2.2
Charlie Morton P TBR Free agency 2018 2 +6.9 +3.4 31.9
Austin Meadows DH/OF TBR Trade 2018 4 +5.8 +1.4
Pete Fairbanks P TBR Trade 2019 7 +5.7 +0.8 1.2
Ryan Yarbrough P TBR Trade 2017 5 +5.7 +1.1
Jonathan Aranda 1B TBR Draft 2022 4 +4.9 +1.2
Zach Eflin P TBR Free agency 2022 2 +4.9 +2.4 22.0
José Siri OF TBR Trade 2022 3 +4.4 +1.5 1.9
Jeffrey Springs P TBR Trade 2021 4 +4.4 +1.1 1.4
Manuel Margot OF TBR Trade 2020 4 +4.4 +1.1 8.5
Zack Littell P TBR Trade 2023 3 +4.3 +1.4 5.1
Ryan Pepiot P TBR Trade 2023 2 +3.9 +2.0 0.7
Mallex Smith OF TBR Trade 2017 2 +3.8 +1.9 0.8
Ji Man Choi 1B TBR Trade 2018 5 +3.6 +0.7 4.0
Mike Zunino C TBR Free agency 2020 2 +3.5 +1.8 2.6
Shane Baz P TBR Trade 2018 4 +3.4 +0.8
Tommy Pham OF TBR Trade 2018 2 +3.4 +1.7 10.1
Corey Kluber P TBR Free agency 2021 1 +3.1 +3.1 4.5
Logan Morrison 1B/OF TBR Free agency 2017 2 +3.0 +1.5 0.3
Wilson Ramos C TBR Trade 2017 2 +3.0 +1.5 0.9
Jonny DeLuca OF TBR Trade 2023 3 +2.6 +0.9 0.3
Edwin Uceta P TBR Free agency 2023 2 +2.5 +1.3 0.6
Taj Bradley P TBR Draft 2023 3 +2.4 +0.8
Chandler Simpson OF TBR Draft 2025 2 +2.4 +1.2
Luke Raley OF TBR Trade 2022 1 +2.3 +2.3 10.2
C. J. Cron 1B TBR Trade 2018 1 +2.3 +2.3 8.8
Harold Ramírez DH/OF TBR Trade 2022 2 +2.3 +1.1 2.0
Nick Martínez P TBR Free agency 2026 1 +2.2 +2.2 11.1
Jalen Beeks P TBR Trade 2018 4 +2.1 +0.5
Kevin Kelly P TBR Trade 2022 3 +2.1 +0.7
Brett Phillips OF TBR Trade 2020 2 +2.0 +1.0 4.4
Avisaíl García OF TBR Free agency 2019 1 +1.9 +1.9 8.8
Travis d'Arnaud C TBR Trade 2019 1 +1.9 +1.9 9.1
José Caballero SS TBR Trade 2024 2 +1.8 +0.9 0.7
Jake Mangum OF TBR Trade 2023 1 +1.8 +1.8
Collin McHugh P TBR Free agency 2021 1 +1.8 +1.8 11.3
Ian Seymour P TBR Draft 2025 2 +1.8 +0.9
Garrett Cleavinger P TBR Trade 2022 4 +1.8 +0.4 0.8
Jason Adam P TBR Free agency 2022 3 +1.7 +0.6 2.1
Richie Palacios 2B/OF TBR Trade 2024 3 +1.6 +0.5 0.5
Christian Bethancourt C TBR Trade 2022 2 +1.6 +0.8 1.9
Adeiny Hechavarría SS TBR Trade 2017 2 +1.6 +0.8 1.8
Emilio Pagán P TBR Trade 2018 1 +1.5 +1.5 6.8
Aaron Civale P TBR Trade 2023 2 +1.4 +0.7 4.3
Shawn Armstrong P TBR Free agency 2022 3 +1.3 +0.4 0.9
Ben Rortvedt C TBR Trade 2024 1 +1.3 +1.3 0.5
Taylor Walls SS TBR Draft 2017 4 +1.3 +0.3
Francisco Mejía C TBR Trade 2021 2 +1.3 +0.7 7.0
Colin Poche P TBR Trade 2018 2 +1.2 +0.6
Ryan Thompson P TBR Rule 5 2018 3 +1.2 +0.4
Robert Stephenson P TBR Trade 2023 1 +1.2 +1.2 5.2
Bryan Baker P TBR Trade 2025 2 +1.1 +0.5 0.2
Nick Fortes C TBR Trade 2025 2 +1.1 +0.6 0.4
Tommy Hunter P TBR Free agency 2017 1 +1.1 +1.1 1.7
Michael Wacha P TBR Free agency 2020 1 +1.1 +1.1 6.4
Joe Boyle P TBR Trade 2024 2 +1.0 +0.5 0.4
J. P. Feyereisen P TBR Trade 2021 2 +1.0 +0.5 0.8
Brooks Raley P TBR Free agency 2021 1 +1.0 +1.0 1.5
Colby Rasmus OF TBR Free agency 2017 1 +1.0 +1.0 1.4
Cole Sulser P TBR Trade 2018 4 +1.0 +0.3
Victor Mesa OF TBR Trade 2026 1 +0.9 +0.9 4.6
Cedric Mullins OF TBR Free agency 2025 1 +0.9 +0.9 4.9
Manuel Rodríguez P TBR Trade 2023 2 +0.9 +0.4 0.1
Danny Jansen C TBR Trade 2025 1 +0.9 +0.9 0.7
Griffin Jax P TBR Trade 2025 2 +0.9 +0.4 0.2
Brendan McKay P TBR Draft 2017 1 +0.8 +0.8
Ryan Vilade OF TBR Trade 2025 1 +0.7 +0.7 3.6
Rich Hill P TBR Trade 2021 1 +0.7 +0.7 4.1
Steve Cishek P TBR Trade 2017 1 +0.7 +0.7 1.1
Nathan Eovaldi P TBR Trade 2018 1 +0.7 +0.7 2.7
Amed Rosario SS TBR Trade 2024 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.3
Dietrich Enns P TBR Free agency 2020 1 +0.6 +0.6 3.6
Guillermo Heredia OF TBR Trade 2018 1 +0.6 +0.6 2.7
Mason Montgomery P TBR Draft 2024 2 +0.6 +0.3
Denard Span OF TBR Trade 2018 1 +0.6 +0.6 2.3
Jake Diekman P TBR Trade 2023 1 +0.6 +0.6 2.5
Eric Sogard 2B TBR Trade 2019 1 +0.6 +0.6 2.6
Wilmer Font P TBR Trade 2018 2 +0.6 +0.3 1.6
Adrian Houser P TBR Trade 2025 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.5
Louis Head P TBR Trade 2021 1 +0.5 +0.5
Sergio Romo P TBR Free agency 2018 2 +0.5 +0.2 1.0
Aaron Slegers P TBR Free agency 2020 1 +0.5 +0.5 8.4
Christian Arroyo 2B TBR Trade 2017 2 +0.4 +0.2 1.1
John Curtiss P TBR Free agency 2020 1 +0.4 +0.4 6.6
Carlos Gómez OF TBR Free agency 2018 1 +0.4 +0.4 1.6
Oliver Drake P TBR Trade 2019 1 +0.4 +0.4 2.4
Yu Chang SS TBR Trade 2022 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.6
Mason Englert P TBR Trade 2025 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.5
Hunter Feduccia C TBR Trade 2025 1 +0.3 +0.3 1.7
Josh Fleming P TBR Draft 2017 2 +0.3 +0.1
René Pinto C TBR Draft 2022 2 +0.3 +0.1
Austin Shenton 1B/DH TBR Draft 2024 1 +0.3 +0.3
Shane Peterson OF TBR Trade 2017 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.4
Roman Quinn OF TBR Trade 2022 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.5
Eric Orze P TBR Trade 2025 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.3
Anthony Banda P TBR Trade 2018 2 +0.2 +0.1 0.9
Cam Booser P TBR Free agency 2026 1 +0.2 +0.2 1.3
Tristan Gray 3B TBR Draft 2023 2 +0.2 +0.1
Michael Grove P TBR Free agency 2026 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.9
Aaron Loup P TBR Free agency 2020 1 +0.2 +0.2 3.3
Michael Pérez C TBR Trade 2018 2 +0.2 +0.1
Elvin Rodríguez P TBR Free agency 2023 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.8
Phoenix Sanders P TBR Draft 2022 1 +0.2 +0.2
Ryan Sherriff P TBR Free agency 2018 2 +0.2 +0.1 1.8
Kevan Smith C TBR Free agency 2020 1 +0.2 +0.2 3.6
Ben Williamson 2B/3B TBR Trade 2026 1 +0.2 +0.2 1.3
Matt Wisler P TBR Trade 2021 2 +0.2 +0.1 6.6
David Peralta OF TBR Trade 2022 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.3
Hunter Strickland P TBR Trade 2021 1 +0.2 +0.2 1.4
Zack Burdi P TBR Free agency 2023 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.3
Adam Conley P TBR Free agency 2021 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.5
Logan Driscoll C TBR Draft 2024 1 +0.1 +0.1
Jake Fraley OF TBR Free agency 2025 1 +0.1 +0.1
Tristan Gray 3B TBR Trade 2025 2 +0.1 +0.1
Kevin Herget P TBR Draft 2022 1 +0.1 +0.1
Jacob Lopez P TBR Draft 2023 1 +0.1 +0.1
Chris Mazza P TBR Trade 2021 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.7
Kameron Misner OF TBR Draft 2024 1 +0.1 +0.1
Adam Moore C TBR Free agency 2018 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.2
Derek Norris C TBR Free agency 2017 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Cristofer Ogando P TBR Draft 2022 1 +0.1 +0.1
Trevor Richards P TBR Trade 2019 3 +0.1 +0.0 2.0
David Robertson P TBR Free agency 2021 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.5
Justin Sterner P TBR Draft 2024 1 +0.1 +0.1
Yoshi Tsutsugo 1B/DH/OF TBR Draft 2020 1 +0.1 +0.1
Jonny Venters P TBR Trade 2018 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.3
Jumbo Díaz P TBR Trade 2017 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.2
Chase Anderson P TBR Trade 2023 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.3
Craig Kimbrel P TBR Trade 2026 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.7
Jesús Aguilar 1B TBR Trade 2019 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.5
Chris Ellis P TBR Trade 2021 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.6
Austin Slater OF TBR Trade 2026 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.6
Taylor Featherston 2B/3B TBR Trade 2017 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Raimel Tapia OF TBR Trade 2023 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.3
Travis Jankowski OF TBR Trade 2025 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Matt Thaiss C TBR Trade 2025 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Connor Seabold P TBR Trade 2025 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Richard Lovelady P TBR Trade 2024 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Robert Dugger P TBR Trade 2022 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.2
Braden Bristo P TBR Trade 2023 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.4
Joel Kuhnel P TBR Trade 2024 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Ha-Seong Kim SS TBR Trade 2025 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Garrett Acton P TBR Free agency 2023 -0.0
J. T. Chargois P TBR Trade 2021 -0.0
Johnny Davis OF TBR Trade 2019 1 +0.0 +0.0
Joey Gerber P TBR Free agency 2024 -0.0
Heath Hembree P TBR Free agency 2023 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
José Lopez P TBR Draft 2023 1 +0.0 +0.0
Steven Matz P TBR Free agency 2025 -0.0
Curtis Mead 1B/3B TBR Draft 2023 2 +0.0 +0.0
Coco Montes 2B TBR Free agency 2025 -0.0
Vidal Nuño P TBR Free agency 2017 -0.0
Joseph Odom C TBR Free agency 2020 -0.0
Brian O'Grady OF TBR Trade 2019 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.2
Luis Patiño P TBR Trade 2020 1 +0.0 +0.0 4.0
Joe Rock P TBR Trade 2024 1 +0.0 +0.0
Chaz Roe P TBR Free agency 2021 5 +0.0 +0.0 0.2
Brandon Snyder 1B/3B TBR Free agency 2017 -0.0
Jesús Sucre C TBR Trade 2017 1 +0.0 +0.0 1.4
Brian Van Belle P TBR Trade 2025 1 +0.0 +0.0
Jacob Waguespack P TBR Free agency 2024 -0.0
Ryan Weber P TBR Free agency 2018 -0.0
Rickie Weeks 2B TBR Free agency 2017 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Cole Wilcox P TBR Draft 2025 -0.0
Nelson Cruz DH/OF TBR Trade 2021 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.2
Luke Bard P TBR Trade 2022 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Casey Sadler P TBR Trade 2019 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.2
Joey Krehbiel P TBR Trade 2021 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
Sean Poppen P TBR Trade 2021 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.2
Casey Legumina P TBR Trade 2026 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
Rob Brantly C TBR Free agency 2024 -0.1
José De León P TBR Trade 2017 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.1
Jonathan Heasley P TBR Free agency 2026 -0.1
Alex Jackson C TBR Trade 2023 -0.1
Jordan Luplow OF TBR Trade 2021 1 -0.1 -0.1 1.1
Christopher Morel DH/OF TBR Trade 2024 -0.1
Ricardo Pinto P TBR Free agency 2019 -0.1
Cody Reed P TBR Trade 2020 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.9
Hunter Renfroe OF TBR Trade 2019 -0.1
Andrew Wantz P TBR Free agency 2025 -0.1
Tyler Zuber P TBR Free agency 2024 -0.1
Jesse Scholtens P TBR Trade 2025 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.1
Osleivis Basabe SS TBR Draft 2023 -0.2
Calvin Faucher P TBR Draft 2022 1 -0.2 -0.2
Sean Gilmartin P TBR Free agency 2020 -0.2
Miles Mastrobuoni 3B TBR Draft 2022 -0.2
Danny Farquhar P TBR Trade 2017 1 -0.2 -0.2 0.2
Hoby Milner P TBR Trade 2019 1 -0.2 -0.2 0.4
Cooper Criswell P TBR Trade 2022 1 -0.2 -0.2 0.2
Trevor Kelley P TBR Free agency 2023 -0.3
Dusten Knight P TBR Free agency 2022 -0.3
Trevor Martin P TBR Draft 2026 -0.3
Bob Seymour 1B TBR Draft 2025 -0.3
Edgar García P TBR Trade 2020 -0.4
Tristan Peters OF TBR Trade 2022 -0.4
Chris Mazza P TBR Free agency 2022 1 -0.5 -0.5 0.7
Everson Pereira OF TBR Trade 2025 -0.5
Erasmo Ramírez P TBR Free agency 2023 2 -0.5 -0.3 4.0
Chris Devenski P TBR Free agency 2023 1 -0.7 -0.7 0.8
Carson Williams SS TBR Draft 2025 -0.8

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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