RRosternomics
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JM

Joe McIlvaine

Born 1947 · age 79

General manager for the Padres and Mets (1991–1997).

7 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
Record510–557
Win %0.478
-0.4GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±5.287th/195 execs
5.3Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)134th/195 execs
-5.1Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)93rd/195 execs
25%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)23rd/195 execs
$6MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track127th/195 execs
$3MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)132nd/195 execs
$3MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade92nd/195 execs
$1MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees91st/195 execs
-1.8TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total86th/195 execs
-11.3WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)114th/195 execs
1.43Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)107th/195 execs
-8Roster surplus $M58th/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Mets GM 1994–1997 4 -1.6 -0.41 -0.2 +0.6 +4.4 +11.5 +2.6 +1.4 0.66 0.487 ––– -3
▸ Padres GM 1991–1993 3 -9.6 -3.21 -1.6 -8.3 +15.8 +4.9 -25.0 -1.0 2.83 0.467 ––– -6
Career total (1985+ data) 7 -11.3 -1.8 -7.7 +20.2 +16.4 -22.3 +0.4 1.43 0.478 –– – -8

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)+20.2
Trade+16.4
Free agency-22.3
Rule 5 / minor draft+0.4
Sourcing mix: 13% draft · 33% FA · 54% trade · 0% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Joe McIlvaine'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 — 135 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Trevor Hoffman P SDP Trade 1993 16 +19.0 +1.2 0.0
John Olerud 1B NYM Free agency 1997 3 +18.3 +6.1 3.4
Andy Ashby P SDP Trade 1993 7 +17.6 +2.5 1.7
Joey Hamilton P SDP Draft 1991 5 +11.8 +2.4 –
Rick Reed P NYM Free agency 1995 5 +10.8 +2.2 3.1
Fred McGriff 1B SDP Trade 1991 3 +10.4 +3.5 8.9
Bernard Gilkey OF NYM Trade 1996 3 +10.0 +3.3 4.1
Gary Sheffield OF SDP Trade 1992 1 +6.5 +6.5 34.5
Lance Johnson OF NYM Free agency 1995 2 +6.4 +3.2 4.0
John Franco P NYM Free agency 1995 11 +5.3 +0.5 4.4
Dave Mlicki P NYM Trade 1994 4 +4.7 +1.2 0.7
Brad Ausmus C SDP Trade 1993 3 +4.1 +1.4 –
Tony Fernández SS SDP Trade 1991 2 +4.0 +2.0 6.7
Todd Pratt C NYM Free agency 1996 4 +3.9 +1.0 1.0
Rico Brogna 1B NYM Trade 1994 3 +3.7 +1.2 0.9
Matt Clement P SDP Draft 1993 3 +3.5 +1.2 –
Mark Clark P NYM Trade 1996 2 +3.4 +1.7 2.3
Brian McRae OF NYM Trade 1997 1 +2.9 +2.9 2.5
Mike Maddux P SDP Free agency 1991 2 +2.9 +1.4 3.7
Jay Payton OF NYM Draft 1994 5 +2.5 +0.5 –
Carl Everett OF NYM Trade 1994 3 +2.4 +0.8 0.9
Larry Andersen P SDP Trade 1991 2 +2.4 +1.2 4.3
Armando Reynoso P NYM Trade 1996 2 +2.1 +1.0 1.3
José Meléndez P SDP Trade 1991 2 +2.0 +1.0 2.2
Alex Ochoa OF NYM Trade 1995 2 +1.9 +0.9 –
Dennis Rasmussen P SDP Free agency 1991 4 +1.8 +0.5 8.2
Phil Plantier OF SDP Trade 1993 2 +1.8 +0.9 0.0
Pete Harnisch P NYM Free agency 1995 2 +1.7 +0.9 0.9
Wally Whitehurst P SDP Trade 1993 2 +1.6 +0.8 0.0
Tim Teufel 2B SDP Free agency 1992 3 +1.5 +0.5 3.4
Chris Jones OF NYM Free agency 1994 2 +1.4 +0.7 0.8
Rudy Seánez P SDP Free agency 1993 1 +1.4 +1.4 3.4
Jim Deshaies P SDP Free agency 1992 1 +1.2 +1.2 6.0
Brian Bohanon P NYM Free agency 1996 2 +1.1 +0.5 1.0
Carlos Baerga 2B NYM Trade 1996 2 +1.0 +0.5 0.9
Grant Roberts P NYM Draft 1995 4 +1.0 +0.2 –
Paul Wilson P NYM Draft 1994 1 +1.0 +1.0 –
Greg McMichael P NYM Trade 1997 2 +1.0 +0.5 1.4
Roger Mason P SDP Trade 1993 1 +0.9 +0.9 0.0
Manny Alexander 2B/SS NYM Trade 1997 1 +0.8 +0.8 0.8
John Cangelosi OF NYM Trade 1994 1 +0.8 +0.8 0.6
Jerry Dipoto P NYM Trade 1994 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.5
Dicky Gonzalez P NYM Draft 1996 1 +0.7 +0.7 –
Doug Henry P NYM Trade 1994 2 +0.7 +0.4 0.4
Luis Rivera SS NYM Free agency 1994 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.6
Dave Eiland P SDP Free agency 1992 2 +0.7 +0.3 2.9
Brett Butler OF NYM Trade 1995 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.4
Josías Manzanillo P NYM Trade 1994 2 +0.7 +0.3 0.6
Cory Lidle P NYM Trade 1996 1 +0.6 +0.6 –
Mike Birkbeck P NYM Trade 1995 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.5
Álvaro Espinoza SS NYM Trade 1996 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.5
Robert Person P NYM Trade 1994 2 +0.5 +0.3 –
Doug Bochtler P SDP Trade 1993 2 +0.5 +0.2 –
Glenn Dishman P SDP Intl FA 1993 1 +0.5 +0.5 –
Jim Lindeman 1B/OF NYM Trade 1994 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.4
Phil Clark 1B/OF SDP Trade 1993 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.0
Jack Howell 3B SDP Trade 1991 1 +0.5 +0.5 1.3
Matt Franco 1B/3B NYM Free agency 1996 3 +0.4 +0.1 0.2
Jason Phillips C/1B NYM Draft 1997 2 +0.4 +0.2 –
Jarvis Brown OF SDP Free agency 1992 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.0
Gary Matthews OF SDP Draft 1993 2 +0.4 +0.2 –
Tim Mauser P SDP Trade 1993 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.3
Eric Gunderson P NYM Trade 1994 2 +0.4 +0.2 0.1
Kevin Roberson OF NYM Free agency 1995 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.3
Derrek Lee 1B SDP Draft 1993 1 +0.3 +0.3 –
Randy Myers P SDP Trade 1991 1 +0.3 +0.3 1.6
Paul Byrd P NYM Trade 1994 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Andy Tomberlin DH/OF NYM Free agency 1996 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.2
Gene Harris P SDP Trade 1992 2 +0.2 +0.1 2.1
Damon Buford OF NYM Trade 1995 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Doug Linton P NYM Trade 1994 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Blas Minor P NYM Trade 1995 2 +0.2 +0.1 0.1
Don Florence P NYM Trade 1995 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Ricardo Jordan P NYM Trade 1996 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Kevin Lomon P NYM Rule 5 1994 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Jim Tatum 1B/3B NYM Free agency 1997 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Todd Erdos P SDP Draft 1992 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Pat Gomez P SDP Trade 1992 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Kevin Ward OF SDP Trade 1991 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
John Costello P SDP Trade 1991 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.3
Toby Borland P NYM Trade 1996 – -0.0 – –
Eric Cammack P NYM Draft 1997 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Kevin Morgan 3B NYM Trade 1994 – -0.0 – –
Roberto Petagine 1B NYM Trade 1996 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
Ricky Trlicek P NYM Free agency 1996 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Dann Bilardello C SDP Free agency 1991 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.8
Pat Clements P SDP Free agency 1991 2 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
Donnie Elliott P SDP Trade 1993 1 -0.0 -0.0 –
Marc Kroon P SDP Trade 1993 2 -0.0 -0.0 –
Sean Mulligan PH/PR SDP Draft 1991 – -0.0 – –
Jim Vatcher OF SDP Trade 1992 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.7
Steve Bieser OF NYM Trade 1997 – -0.1 – –
Reid Cornelius P NYM Trade 1995 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Todd Haney 2B NYM Free agency 1997 – -0.1 – –
Jason Hardtke 2B NYM Rule 5 1994 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Terrence Long OF NYM Draft 1994 – -0.1 – –
Luis López 2B/SS NYM Trade 1997 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.2
Bob Macdonald P NYM Free agency 1996 – -0.1 – –
Brent Mayne C NYM Trade 1995 – -0.1 – –
Craig Paquette 3B NYM Free agency 1997 – -0.1 – –
Jason Roach P NYM Draft 1997 – -0.1 – –
Gary Thurman OF NYM Free agency 1995 – -0.1 – –
Derek Wallace P NYM Trade 1995 – -0.1 – –
Marty Barrett 2B SDP Free agency 1991 – -0.1 – –
Domingo Guzmán P SDP Intl FA 1993 – -0.1 – –
Joey Long P SDP Draft 1991 – -0.1 – –
José Martínez P SDP Trade 1993 – -0.1 – –
Tyler Walker P NYM Draft 1997 – -0.2 – –
Derek Bell OF SDP Trade 1993 1 -0.2 -0.2 0.3
Andrés Berumen P SDP Trade 1993 – -0.2 – –
Brian Dorsett C SDP Free agency 1991 – -0.2 – –
Mark Ettles P SDP Trade 1993 – -0.2 – –
Bob Geren C SDP Free agency 1992 – -0.2 – –
Jason Thompson 1B SDP Draft 1993 – -0.2 – –
Shawn Gilbert 2B/OF NYM Trade 1997 – -0.3 – –
Vicente Palacios P SDP Free agency 1993 – -0.3 – –
Steve Rosenberg P SDP Trade 1991 – -0.3 – –
Darío Veras P SDP Rule 5 1993 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
David Segui 1B NYM Trade 1995 1 -0.3 -0.3 0.2
Alex Escobar OF NYM Intl FA 1995 – -0.4 – –
Takashi Kashiwada P NYM Draft 1997 – -0.4 – –
Mike Campbell P SDP Free agency 1993 – -0.4 – –
Mark Davis P SDP Free agency 1993 3 -0.4 -0.1 0.1
Tim Hyers 1B SDP Rule 5 1993 – -0.4 – –
Adam Peterson P SDP Trade 1991 – -0.4 – –
Kerry Taylor P SDP Rule 5 1992 – -0.4 – –
Guillermo Velasquez 1B SDP Draft 1992 1 -0.4 -0.4 –
Mel Rojas P NYM Trade 1997 1 -0.4 -0.4 0.3
José Vizcaíno 2B/SS NYM Trade 1994 2 -0.5 -0.3 0.4
Phil Stephenson 1B SDP Free agency 1992 2 -0.5 -0.3 –
Jeff Gardner 2B SDP Trade 1991 – -0.7 – –
Jim Presley 3B SDP Free agency 1991 – -1.1 – –
Ricky Gutiérrez SS SDP Trade 1992 1 -1.5 -1.5 –
Billy Bean OF SDP Free agency 1992 – -1.6 – –
Kurt Stillwell SS SDP Free agency 1992 – -1.9 – –

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.