RRosternomics
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MC

Murray Cook

Born Dec 6, 1940 · Sackville · age 85

General manager for the Yankees, Nationals, and Reds (1984–1989).

5 seasons with salary-era data across 3 stints. All figures are franchise-level outcomes during the tenure, not solely attributable to one executive.

Overview

Titles0
Pennants0
Playoffs0
Record415–392
Win %0.514
+0.9GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±5.755th/195 execs
7.8Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)29th/195 execs
-5.2Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)100th/195 execs
35%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)102nd/195 execs
$3MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track155th/195 execs
$1MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)161st/195 execs
$1MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade114th/195 execs
$0MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees113th/195 execs
+11.0TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total49th/195 execs
+17.9WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)39th/195 execs
2.30Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)74th/195 execs
+3Roster surplus $M41st/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Reds GM 1988–1989 2 +3.3 +1.66 +2.1 +4.0 +5.3 -29.1 +1.7 +0.4 2.12 0.502 ––– +1
▸ Nationals GM 1985–1987 3 +14.6 +4.88 +8.9 +6.4 +20.7 +5.4 -25.6 -0.1 2.47 0.523 ––– +2
▸ Yankees GM 1984–1984 0 +0.0 – +0.0 +0.0 +0.9 +11.8 +0.0 +0.0 – – ––– –
Career total (1985+ data) 5 +17.9 +11.0 +10.4 +26.9 -11.9 -23.9 +0.3 2.30 0.514 –– – +3

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)+26.9
Trade-11.9
Free agency-23.9
Rule 5 / minor draft+0.3
Sourcing mix: 20% draft · 27% FA · 53% trade · 0% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Murray Cook'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 — 96 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
José Rijo P CIN Trade 1988 9 +35.8 +4.0 11.9
Rickey Henderson OF NYY Trade 1984 5 +26.6 +5.3 –
Dennis Martínez P WSN Free agency 1987 8 +22.6 +2.8 1.6
Delino DeShields 2B WSN Draft 1987 4 +11.6 +2.9 –
Pascual Pérez P WSN Free agency 1987 3 +8.3 +2.8 4.0
Danny Jackson P CIN Trade 1988 3 +7.7 +2.6 16.7
Mitch Webster OF WSN Trade 1985 4 +7.1 +1.8 7.5
Mel Rojas P WSN Intl FA 1985 6 +5.4 +0.9 –
Bob Sebra P WSN Trade 1986 2 +4.9 +2.4 2.4
Mark Gardner P WSN Draft 1985 4 +4.8 +1.2 –
Andy McGaffigan P WSN Trade 1986 4 +4.5 +1.1 2.7
Rick Mahler P CIN Free agency 1988 2 +4.1 +2.1 1.1
Randy Myers P CIN Trade 1989 2 +3.4 +1.7 8.9
Jay Tibbs P WSN Trade 1986 2 +3.4 +1.7 4.5
Tom Foley 2B/SS WSN Trade 1986 4 +3.3 +0.8 1.1
Brian Fisher P NYY Trade 1984 1 +2.9 +2.9 –
Tim Pugh P CIN Draft 1989 4 +2.6 +0.6 –
Ron Hassey C NYY Trade 1984 2 +2.0 +1.0 –
Rich Bordi P NYY Trade 1984 1 +1.7 +1.7 –
Jeff Reed C CIN Trade 1988 4 +1.6 +0.4 2.2
Neal Heaton P WSN Trade 1987 1 +1.6 +1.6 6.3
Mariano Duncan 2B/SS CIN Trade 1989 2 +1.5 +0.8 7.6
Doug Drabek P NYY Trade 1984 1 +1.5 +1.5 –
Rex Hudler 2B/OF WSN Free agency 1987 3 +1.5 +0.5 2.4
Tim Leary P CIN Trade 1989 1 +1.5 +1.5 0.5
Luis Quiñones 2B/3B/SS CIN Trade 1988 3 +1.4 +0.5 0.5
Jeff Branson 2B/3B/SS CIN Draft 1988 3 +1.3 +0.4 –
Steve Foster P CIN Draft 1988 3 +1.0 +0.3 –
Al Leiter P NYY Draft 1984 4 +1.0 +0.3 –
Ken Griffey OF CIN Free agency 1988 2 +0.9 +0.4 –
Herm Winningham OF CIN Trade 1988 3 +0.8 +0.3 0.1
Reid Nichols OF WSN Free agency 1987 1 +0.8 +0.8 2.0
Rolando Roomes OF CIN Trade 1988 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.2
Kent Bottenfield P WSN Draft 1986 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Randy Johnson P WSN Draft 1985 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
U. L. Washington SS WSN Trade 1985 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Dan Driessen 1B WSN Trade 1985 1 +0.4 +0.4 2.4
Ross Powell P CIN Draft 1989 1 +0.3 +0.3 –
Mo Sanford P CIN Draft 1988 1 +0.3 +0.3 –
Jerry Spradlin P CIN Draft 1988 2 +0.3 +0.1 –
Bob Owchinko P WSN Trade 1986 1 +0.3 +0.3 –
Dale Berra 3B/SS NYY Trade 1984 2 +0.2 +0.1 –
Dave Engle C/OF WSN Free agency 1987 2 +0.2 +0.1 0.4
Mickey Mahler P WSN Trade 1985 1 +0.1 +0.1 2.8
Jack O'Connor P WSN Trade 1985 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Tim Birtsas P CIN Trade 1989 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.2
Mike Griffin P CIN Free agency 1988 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Kip Gross P CIN Trade 1989 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Van Snider OF CIN Trade 1988 1 -0.0 -0.0 –
Randy St. Claire P CIN Trade 1988 – -0.0 – –
Kent Tekulve P CIN Free agency 1989 – -0.0 – –
Henry Cotto OF NYY Trade 1984 2 -0.0 -0.0 –
Curt Brown P WSN Trade 1986 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Ed Glynn P WSN Trade 1985 – -0.0 – –
Bob McClure P WSN Trade 1986 1 +0.0 +0.0 1.7
Mike O'Berry C WSN Trade 1985 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Mike Smith P WSN Trade 1986 – -0.0 – –
Rich Thompson P WSN Free agency 1987 2 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Candy Sierra P CIN Trade 1988 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.2
Skeeter Barnes 1B/3B/OF CIN Free agency 1988 – -0.1 – –
Tim Layana P CIN Rule 5 1989 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Bob Davidson P NYY Draft 1984 – -0.1 – –
Skeeter Barnes 1B/3B/OF WSN Trade 1985 – -0.1 – –
Bill Campbell P WSN Free agency 1987 – -0.1 – –
Archi Cianfrocco 1B/3B WSN Draft 1987 – -0.1 – –
Jeff Fischer P WSN Draft 1985 – -0.1 – –
Ubaldo Heredia P WSN Trade 1987 – -0.1 – –
Dennis Martínez P WSN Trade 1986 8 -0.1 -0.0 1.6
George Riley P WSN Trade 1985 – -0.1 – –
Tom Romano OF WSN Trade 1986 – -0.1 – –
Wilfredo Tejada C WSN Rule 5 1985 – -0.1 – –
Jason Thompson 1B WSN Trade 1986 – -0.1 – –
Dave Tomlin P WSN Free agency 1985 – -0.1 – –
Mike Anderson P CIN Intl FA 1988 – -0.2 – –
Jay Buhner OF NYY Trade 1984 1 -0.2 -0.2 –
Greg Colbrunn 1B WSN Draft 1987 1 -0.2 -0.2 –
Wayne Krenchicki 3B WSN Trade 1986 – -0.2 – –
Bob Natal C WSN Draft 1987 – -0.2 – –
Nelson Norman SS WSN Trade 1985 – -0.2 – –
Lary Sorensen P WSN Trade 1986 – -0.2 – –
John Vander Wal OF WSN Draft 1987 1 -0.2 -0.2 –
Bobby Ayala P CIN Intl FA 1988 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
Scotti Madison 3B CIN Free agency 1989 – -0.3 – –
Marty Bystrom P NYY Trade 1984 – -0.3 – –
Jeff Huson 2B/SS WSN Intl FA 1985 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
Joe Siddall C WSN Intl FA 1987 – -0.3 – –
Ron Roenicke OF CIN Free agency 1988 – -0.4 – –
Donnie Scott C CIN Free agency 1989 – -0.4 – –
Manny Trillo 2B CIN Free agency 1988 – -0.4 – –
Bob McClure P WSN Free agency 1987 1 -0.4 -0.4 1.7
Alonzo Powell OF WSN Trade 1985 – -0.4 – –
Joel Youngblood OF CIN Free agency 1988 – -0.5 – –
Ned Yost C WSN Trade 1985 – -0.5 – –
Howard Farmer P WSN Draft 1987 – -0.6 – –
Scott Nielsen P NYY Trade 1984 – -0.9 – –
Jeff Reed C WSN Trade 1987 – -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.