RRosternomics
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LT

Lee Thomas

Feb 5, 1936 (Peoria, IL) – Aug 31, 2022 (St. Louis, MO) · died at 86

General manager for the Phillies (1989–1997).

9 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
Playoffs1
Record647–746
Win %0.464
-3.5GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±4.7160th/195 execs
4.9Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)150th/195 execs
-6.3Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)155th/195 execs
36%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)107th/195 execs
$2MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track162nd/195 execs
$0MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)174th/195 execs
$2MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade103rd/195 execs
$0MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees124th/195 execs
-46.1TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total181st/195 execs
-39.1WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)174th/195 execs
0.98Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)127th/195 execs
-43Roster surplus $M99th/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Phillies GM 1989–1997 9 -39.1 -4.35 -46.1 -54.9 +134.4 +112.7 -52.6 +0.4 0.98 0.464 11– -43
Career total (1985+ data) 9 -39.1 -46.1 -54.9 +134.4 +112.7 -52.6 +0.4 0.98 0.464 11 – -43

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)+134.4
Trade+112.7
Free agency-52.6
Rule 5 / minor draft+0.4
Sourcing mix: 43% draft · 17% FA · 40% trade · 0% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Lee Thomas'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 — 162 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Jimmy Rollins SS PHI Draft 1996 14 +49.0 +3.5 –
Bobby Abreu OF PHI Trade 1997 9 +45.3 +5.0 3.0
Curt Schilling P PHI Free agency 1995 9 +27.0 +3.0 3.9
Lenny Dykstra OF PHI Trade 1990 7 +26.4 +3.8 2.7
Scott Rolen 3B PHI Draft 1993 6 +26.0 +4.3 –
Mike Lieberthal C PHI Draft 1990 11 +20.0 +1.8 –
John Kruk 1B/OF PHI Trade 1989 6 +18.4 +3.1 0.0
Randy Wolf P PHI Draft 1997 8 +17.8 +2.2 –
Tommy Greene P PHI Trade 1990 5 +9.4 +1.9 0.1
Doug Glanville OF PHI Trade 1997 5 +9.3 +1.9 1.2
Curt Schilling P PHI Trade 1992 9 +9.3 +1.0 3.9
Jim Eisenreich OF PHI Free agency 1993 4 +8.9 +2.2 13.8
Danny Jackson P PHI Trade 1993 2 +6.8 +3.4 18.5
Dickie Thon SS PHI Trade 1989 3 +4.4 +1.5 0.1
Brandon Duckworth P PHI Intl FA 1997 3 +4.0 +1.3 –
Ken Howell P PHI Trade 1989 2 +3.9 +2.0 0.1
Gregg Jefferies 1B/OF PHI Free agency 1994 4 +3.8 +1.0 0.7
Tom Herr 2B PHI Trade 1989 2 +3.5 +1.7 0.1
Mark Whiten OF PHI Trade 1995 2 +3.1 +1.6 0.8
Kevin Stocker SS PHI Draft 1991 4 +3.0 +0.8 –
Heathcliff Slocumb P PHI Trade 1993 2 +2.8 +1.4 0.7
Benito Santiago C PHI Free agency 1996 1 +2.6 +2.6 0.6
David West P PHI Trade 1992 4 +2.6 +0.6 4.2
Mike Grace P PHI Draft 1991 4 +2.4 +0.6 –
Ricky Bottalico P PHI Intl FA 1991 5 +2.3 +0.5 –
Charlie Hayes 3B PHI Free agency 1995 3 +2.3 +0.8 0.0
Pete Incaviglia OF PHI Free agency 1992 2 +2.2 +1.1 16.1
Mark Portugal P PHI Free agency 1996 2 +2.2 +1.1 0.0
Marlon Anderson 2B PHI Draft 1995 3 +2.0 +0.7 –
José de Jesús P PHI Trade 1990 2 +2.0 +1.0 0.5
Tyler Green P PHI Draft 1991 4 +2.0 +0.5 –
Wes Chamberlain OF PHI Trade 1990 5 +1.9 +0.4 –
Dave Coggin P PHI Draft 1995 3 +1.9 +0.6 –
Mark Leiter P PHI Free agency 1996 2 +1.9 +0.9 0.3
Midre Cummings OF PHI Trade 1997 1 +1.9 +1.9 0.4
Jeff Parrett P PHI Trade 1989 3 +1.9 +0.6 0.0
Carlton Loewer P PHI Draft 1994 2 +1.8 +0.9 –
Doug Jones P PHI Trade 1993 1 +1.6 +1.6 0.7
Kevin Sefcik OF PHI Draft 1993 2 +1.6 +0.8 –
Paul Quantrill P PHI Trade 1995 1 +1.6 +1.6 0.8
Sid Fernandez P PHI Free agency 1995 2 +1.5 +0.8 0.4
Bobby Muñoz P PHI Trade 1994 2 +1.5 +0.7 0.7
Jerry Spradlin P PHI Free agency 1996 2 +1.5 +0.7 0.1
Garrett Stephenson P PHI Trade 1997 1 +1.5 +1.5 0.3
Tony Barron OF PHI Free agency 1996 1 +1.4 +1.4 0.3
Mike Williams P PHI Draft 1990 6 +1.3 +0.2 –
Stan Javier OF PHI Trade 1992 1 +1.3 +1.3 1.4
Rubén Amaro OF PHI Trade 1991 4 +1.2 +0.3 0.8
Todd Zeile 3B PHI Trade 1996 1 +1.2 +1.2 0.3
Wayne Gomes P PHI Draft 1993 4 +1.1 +0.3 –
Mariano Duncan 2B/SS PHI Free agency 1991 2 +1.0 +0.5 1.2
Matt Beech P PHI Draft 1994 3 +0.8 +0.3 –
Carlos Silva P PHI Intl FA 1996 2 +0.8 +0.4 –
Dave Gallagher OF PHI Trade 1995 1 +0.8 +0.8 0.4
Wally Backman 2B PHI Free agency 1991 2 +0.7 +0.4 0.1
Tony Longmire OF PHI Trade 1990 2 +0.7 +0.4 –
Roger McDowell P PHI Trade 1989 3 +0.7 +0.2 0.0
Dale Murphy OF PHI Trade 1990 2 +0.7 +0.3 0.3
Dennis Cook P PHI Trade 1989 2 +0.7 +0.4 0.0
Carmelo Martínez 1B/OF PHI Trade 1990 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.3
Jim Lindeman 1B/OF PHI Free agency 1991 2 +0.6 +0.3 0.1
Milt Thompson OF PHI Free agency 1992 5 +0.6 +0.1 0.5
Billy McMillon OF PHI Trade 1997 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.1
Russ Springer P PHI Trade 1996 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.2
Mike Benjamin 3B/SS PHI Trade 1995 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.1
Jeff Juden P PHI Trade 1993 2 +0.5 +0.2 0.0
Michael Mimbs P PHI Rule 5 1994 2 +0.5 +0.3 –
Dwayne Murphy OF PHI Free agency 1989 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.0
Rubén Amaro OF PHI Free agency 1996 4 +0.4 +0.1 0.8
Ricardo Jordan P PHI Trade 1995 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.1
Don Robinson P PHI Free agency 1992 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.6
Keith Shepherd P PHI Trade 1992 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Andy Van Slyke OF PHI Trade 1995 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.2
Bob Ayrault P PHI Draft 1992 1 +0.3 +0.3 –
Randy Ready 2B/3B/OF PHI Free agency 1994 4 +0.3 +0.1 0.0
Fernando Valenzuela P PHI Free agency 1994 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.1
Donn Pall P PHI Trade 1993 1 +0.3 +0.3 1.9
Gary Bennett C PHI Draft 1990 4 +0.2 +0.1 –
Steve Lake C PHI Free agency 1989 2 +0.2 +0.1 0.0
Steve Ontiveros P PHI Free agency 1989 2 +0.2 +0.1 0.0
Chuck Ricci P PHI Trade 1995 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Gary Varsho OF PHI Free agency 1995 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Kevin Elster SS PHI Trade 1995 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Omar Olivares P PHI Trade 1995 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Ken Ryan P PHI Trade 1996 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.2
Shawn Boskie P PHI Trade 1994 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Norm Charlton P PHI Free agency 1994 – +0.1 – –
Terry Mulholland P PHI Free agency 1996 6 +0.1 +0.0 0.0
Erik Plantenberg P PHI Free agency 1996 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Anthony Shumaker P PHI Draft 1995 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Dennis Springer P PHI Trade 1995 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Lenny Webster C PHI Free agency 1995 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Jim Adduci 1B/OF PHI Trade 1989 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Rob Butler OF PHI Trade 1997 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Sil Campusano OF PHI Trade 1990 2 +0.1 +0.0 0.0
Gordon Dillard P PHI Trade 1989 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Kyle Abbott P PHI Free agency 1994 – -0.0 – –
Ron Blazier P PHI Intl FA 1989 – -0.0 – –
Billy Brewer P PHI Free agency 1997 2 -0.0 -0.0 0.0
Robert Dodd P PHI Draft 1994 – -0.0 – –
Reggie Harris P PHI Free agency 1996 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Bronson Heflin P PHI Draft 1994 – -0.0 – –
Barry Jones P PHI Trade 1991 – -0.0 – –
Ryan Karp P PHI Trade 1994 – -0.0 – –
Larry Mitchell P PHI Draft 1992 – -0.0 – –
Dickie Noles P PHI Free agency 1990 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Julio Peguero OF PHI Trade 1990 – -0.0 – –
Gene Schall 1B PHI Draft 1991 1 -0.0 -0.0 –
Bobby Thigpen P PHI Trade 1993 – -0.0 – –
Tom Edens P PHI Trade 1994 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Randy O'Neal P PHI Trade 1989 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Joe Boever P PHI Trade 1990 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.6
Rico Brogna 1B PHI Trade 1996 2 -0.1 -0.1 0.4
Darrin Chapin P PHI Trade 1992 – -0.1 – –
Carlos Crawford P PHI Trade 1995 – -0.1 – –
José DeLeón P PHI Free agency 1992 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.5
Rich Hunter P PHI Draft 1993 – -0.1 – –
Thomas Jacquez P PHI Draft 1997 – -0.1 – –
Dave LaPoint P PHI Free agency 1991 – -0.1 – –
Jeff Manto 1B/3B PHI Free agency 1992 – -0.1 – –
Larry McWilliams P PHI Free agency 1989 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0
Tom Quinlan 3B PHI Free agency 1993 – -0.1 – –
Steve Searcy P PHI Free agency 1991 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0
Steve Stanicek DH PHI Free agency 1989 – -0.1 – –
Danny Tartabull DH/OF PHI Free agency 1997 – -0.1 – –
Juan Bell 2B/SS PHI Trade 1992 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.4
Alex Arias 3B/SS PHI Free agency 1997 2 -0.2 -0.1 0.1
Jim Deshaies P PHI Free agency 1995 – -0.2 – –
David Doster 2B PHI Draft 1993 – -0.2 – –
John Morris OF PHI Free agency 1991 – -0.2 – –
Ryan Nye P PHI Draft 1994 – -0.2 – –
Ricky Otero OF PHI Trade 1995 1 -0.2 -0.2 0.0
Rafael Quirico P PHI Trade 1996 – -0.2 – –
Mickey Weston P PHI Free agency 1991 – -0.2 – –
Mitch Williams P PHI Free agency 1991 2 -0.2 -0.1 0.0
Mike Hartley P PHI Trade 1992 1 -0.2 -0.2 0.1
Kyle Abbott P PHI Trade 1991 – -0.3 – –
Danny Cox P PHI Free agency 1990 1 -0.3 -0.3 0.3
Darrin Fletcher C PHI Trade 1990 – -0.3 – –
Kevin Foster P PHI Trade 1993 – -0.3 – –
Rex Hudler 2B/OF PHI Free agency 1996 1 -0.3 -0.3 0.0
Edgar Ramos P PHI Rule 5 1996 – -0.3 – –
Reggie Taylor OF PHI Draft 1995 – -0.3 – –
Bobby Estalella C PHI Draft 1992 2 -0.4 -0.2 –
Johnny Estrada C PHI Draft 1997 – -0.4 – –
Steve Frey P PHI Free agency 1995 – -0.4 – –
Greg Mathews P PHI Free agency 1992 – -0.5 – –
Glenn Murray OF PHI Trade 1996 – -0.5 – –
Mike Welch P PHI Trade 1997 – -0.5 – –
Calvin Maduro P PHI Trade 1996 1 -0.6 -0.6 –
Jay Baller P PHI Free agency 1991 – -0.7 – –
Dale Murphy OF PHI Free agency 1992 2 -0.7 -0.3 0.3
Braulio Castillo OF PHI Trade 1991 – -0.8 – –
Derrick May OF PHI Free agency 1997 – -0.8 – –
Jon Zuber 1B PHI Draft 1992 – -0.8 – –
Rod Booker 2B/SS PHI Free agency 1989 – -0.9 – –
Darrin Winston P PHI Trade 1997 – -1.0 – –
Mark Lewis 2B/3B PHI Free agency 1997 – -1.1 – –
Wendell Magee OF PHI Draft 1994 2 -1.3 -0.7 –
Mark Parent C PHI Free agency 1996 – -1.5 – –
Desi Relaford SS PHI Trade 1996 – -1.5 – –
Kevin Jordan 1B/2B/3B PHI Trade 1994 2 -2.0 -1.0 –

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.