Rosternomics
JF

Jim Frey

May 26, 1931 (Cleveland, OH) – Apr 12, 2020 (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) · died at 88

General manager for the Cubs (1988–1991).

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

Titles0
Pennants0
Playoffs1
Record324–322
Win %0.502
+0.6WAB — wins above budget68th/195 execs
-11.1Talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation)119th/195 execs
0.70Acquisition leverage — playoff pts each bought win added, given the roster it joined (did you buy where wins matter?)121st/195 execs
-30.1WAR surplus (era-neutral, win-equiv)99th/195 execs
-15Roster surplus $M70th/195 execs

How the roster was sourced

Share of gross-positive acquired fWAR by channel (vs. league average).

Build channels — net fWAR

Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.

Home-grown (draft/intl)+14.9
Trade-45.5
Free agency-37.1
Rule 5 / minor draft-0.1
Sourcing mix: 36% draft · 9% FA · 55% trade · 0% R5

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
Cubs GM 1988–1991 4 +0.6 +0.15 -11.1 -30.1 +14.9 -45.5 -37.1 -0.1 0.70 0.502 1 -15
Career total (1985+ data) 4 +0.6 -11.1 -30.1 +14.9 -45.5 -37.1 -0.1 0.70 0.502 1 -15

Players acquired — 44 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year fWAR
Steve Trachsel P CHC Draft 1991 +10.8
Mike Morgan P CHC Free agency 1991 +5.4
Mike Bielecki P CHC Trade 1988 +4.4
Paul Assenmacher P CHC Trade 1989 +4.2
Rey Sánchez 2B/SS CHC Trade 1990 +3.9
Terry Adams P CHC Draft 1991 +2.8
Steve Wilson P CHC Trade 1988 +2.2
Geremi González P CHC Intl FA 1991 +2.1
George Bell OF CHC Free agency 1990 +1.7
Doug Glanville OF CHC Draft 1991 +1.6
Bob Scanlan P CHC Trade 1991 +1.6
Chuck McElroy P CHC Trade 1991 +1.5
José Vizcaíno 2B/SS CHC Trade 1990 +1.5
Luis Salazar 3B CHC Trade 1989 +1.2
Mitch Webster OF CHC Trade 1988 +1.2
Paul Kilgus P CHC Trade 1988 +1.0
Lloyd McClendon OF CHC Trade 1988 +1.0
Ozzie Timmons OF CHC Draft 1991 +0.8
Amaury Telemaco P CHC Intl FA 1991 +0.6
José Núñez P CHC Trade 1989 +0.3
Turk Wendell P CHC Trade 1991 +0.3
Rich Gossage P CHC Trade 1988 +0.2
Yorkis Pérez P CHC Trade 1991 +0.1
Pat Perry P CHC Trade 1988 +0.1
Domingo Ramos 3B/SS CHC Free agency 1988 +0.1
Lance Dickson P CHC Draft 1990 -0.0
Bill Landrum P CHC Trade 1988 -0.0
Bill Long P CHC Trade 1990 -0.0
Scott May P CHC Free agency 1991 +0.0
Dave Swartzbaugh P CHC Draft 1989 -0.0
Kevin Coffman P CHC Trade 1988 -0.1
Dave Meier OF CHC Trade 1988 -0.1
Erik Pappas C CHC Rule 5 1988 -0.1
Pedro Valdés OF CHC Draft 1990 -0.1
Jeff Hartsock P CHC Trade 1991 -0.2
Jessie Hollins P CHC Draft 1988 -0.2
Angel Salazar SS CHC Free agency 1988 -0.5
Danny Jackson P CHC Free agency 1990 -0.6
Robin Jennings OF CHC Draft 1991 -1.0
Kevin Roberson OF CHC Draft 1988 -1.0
Dave Smith P CHC Free agency 1990 -1.1
Doug Strange 2B/3B CHC Free agency 1990 -1.3
Curt Wilkerson 2B/SS CHC Trade 1988 -1.3
Gary Scott 3B CHC Draft 1989 -1.5

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.