RRosternomics
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RS

Randy Smith

Born Jun 15, 1963 · Houston, TX · age 63

General manager for the Padres and Tigers (1994–2002).

9 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
Record583–810
Win %0.419
-4.2GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±4.7167th/195 execs
5.2Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)137th/195 execs
-7.2Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)174th/195 execs
38%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)122nd/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 track129th/195 execs
$6MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)91st/195 execs
$-0MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade159th/195 execs
$-0MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees166th/195 execs
-66.7TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total187th/195 execs
-80.2WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)191st/195 execs
0.43Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)154th/195 execs
-65Roster surplus $M116th/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Tigers GM 1996–2002 7 -74.9 -10.70 -60.2 -44.9 +70.5 +15.5 +5.6 +0.8 0.49 0.412 ––– -67
▸ Padres GM 1994–1995 2 -5.3 -2.65 -6.5 +1.5 +0.1 +19.5 -2.2 +0.1 0.31 0.448 ––– +2
Career total (1985+ data) 9 -80.2 -66.7 -43.4 +70.6 +35.0 +3.5 +0.9 0.43 0.419 –– – -65

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)+70.6
Trade+35.0
Free agency+3.5
Rule 5 / minor draft+0.9
Sourcing mix: 36% draft · 10% FA · 53% trade · 1% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Randy Smith'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 — 176 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Curtis Granderson OF DET Draft 2002 6 +20.2 +3.4 –
Andy Ashby P SDP Trade 1994 7 +17.5 +2.5 1.7
Ken Caminiti 3B SDP Trade 1994 4 +17.4 +4.4 0.7
Jeremy Bonderman P DET Trade 2002 7 +15.8 +2.3 –
Damion Easley 2B DET Trade 1996 7 +15.4 +2.2 0.0
Brandon Inge 3B DET Draft 1998 8 +14.2 +1.8 –
Wally Joyner 1B SDP Trade 1995 4 +9.4 +2.4 12.8
Jeff Weaver P DET Draft 1998 4 +8.7 +2.2 –
Mike Maroth P DET Trade 1999 4 +7.6 +1.9 –
Steve Finley OF SDP Trade 1995 3 +7.5 +2.5 0.3
Brad Ausmus C DET Trade 1996 3 +7.2 +2.4 0.0
Steve Sparks P DET Free agency 2000 3 +6.4 +2.1 3.2
Omar Infante 2B DET Intl FA 1999 6 +5.5 +0.9 –
Shane Halter 3B/SS DET Trade 2000 4 +5.0 +1.3 0.6
Ramón Santiago 2B/SS DET Intl FA 1998 7 +4.9 +0.7 –
Doug Brocail P DET Trade 1996 4 +4.7 +1.2 0.1
Willie Blair P DET Trade 1996 3 +4.6 +1.5 0.4
Robert Fick 1B/OF DET Draft 1996 5 +4.5 +0.9 –
Todd Jones P DET Trade 1996 7 +4.4 +0.6 0.2
Omar Olivares P DET Trade 1996 2 +4.1 +2.0 0.0
Mark Redman P DET Trade 2001 2 +4.0 +2.0 0.0
Dmitri Young 1B/OF DET Trade 2001 3 +4.0 +1.3 0.0
Deivi Cruz SS DET Trade 1996 3 +3.5 +1.2 –
Bob Tewksbury P SDP Free agency 1995 1 +3.2 +3.2 14.3
Ryan Raburn OF DET Draft 2001 4 +3.1 +0.8 –
Carlos Peña 1B DET Trade 2002 4 +3.1 +0.8 0.0
Joel Zumaya P DET Draft 2002 3 +2.7 +0.9 –
Fernando Rodney P DET Intl FA 1997 6 +2.6 +0.4 –
Rickey Henderson OF SDP Free agency 1995 3 +2.5 +0.8 9.9
Nook Logan OF DET Draft 2000 2 +2.1 +1.1 –
Hideo Nomo P DET Free agency 2000 1 +2.1 +2.1 3.2
Ben Davis C SDP Draft 1995 2 +2.1 +1.0 –
Brian Hunter OF DET Trade 1996 3 +1.9 +0.6 0.1
Jamie Walker P DET Free agency 2001 4 +1.9 +0.5 0.0
A. J. Sager P DET Trade 1996 3 +1.9 +0.6 0.0
Wil Ledezma P DET Rule 5 2002 3 +1.8 +0.6 –
Joe Randa 3B DET Trade 1997 1 +1.8 +1.8 0.9
Fernando Valenzuela P SDP Free agency 1995 3 +1.8 +0.6 0.1
Juan González OF DET Trade 1999 1 +1.7 +1.7 2.6
Luis Gonzalez OF DET Free agency 1997 1 +1.7 +1.7 0.8
Seth Greisinger P DET Draft 1996 2 +1.6 +0.8 –
Scott Livingstone 3B SDP Trade 1994 3 +1.6 +0.5 0.0
Bryce Florie P DET Trade 1997 2 +1.5 +0.8 0.7
Danny Patterson P DET Trade 1999 3 +1.3 +0.4 1.1
Bob Hamelin 1B/DH DET Free agency 1997 1 +1.2 +1.2 0.2
Dean Palmer 3B DET Free agency 1998 3 +1.1 +0.4 0.4
Luis Polonia OF DET Free agency 1998 1 +1.1 +1.1 0.3
Curtis Pride OF DET Free agency 1996 1 +1.1 +1.1 0.0
Brian Williams P SDP Trade 1995 1 +1.1 +1.1 0.3
Matt Anderson P DET Draft 1997 3 +1.0 +0.3 –
Frank Castillo P DET Free agency 1997 1 +1.0 +1.0 0.5
Nate Cornejo P DET Draft 1998 3 +1.0 +0.3 –
Nelson Cruz P DET Free agency 1998 2 +1.0 +0.5 0.1
Juan Acevedo P DET Free agency 2001 1 +0.9 +0.9 0.0
Warren Morris 2B DET Free agency 2002 1 +0.9 +0.9 0.0
Chris Holt P DET Trade 2000 1 +0.8 +0.8 0.1
Damian Jackson 2B/SS DET Trade 2002 1 +0.8 +0.8 0.0
Billy McMillon OF DET Free agency 2000 1 +0.8 +0.8 1.4
Dave Mlicki P DET Trade 1999 2 +0.8 +0.4 0.8
Scott Sanders P DET Trade 1997 2 +0.8 +0.4 0.1
Paul Bako C DET Trade 1997 1 +0.6 +0.6 –
Rob Deer OF SDP Free agency 1995 1 +0.6 +0.6 2.4
Tim Worrell P DET Trade 1998 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.3
Andy Van Hekken P DET Trade 1999 1 +0.5 +0.5 –
C. J. Nitkowski P DET Trade 1999 2 +0.5 +0.3 0.2
Masao Kida P DET Draft 1999 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Chris Wakeland OF DET Draft 1996 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Willie Blair P SDP Free agency 1995 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.2
Bill Krueger P SDP Free agency 1994 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.7
Jody Reed 2B SDP Free agency 1995 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.3
Kevin Walker P SDP Draft 1995 2 +0.4 +0.2 –
Dusty Allen 1B DET Trade 2000 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.6
Tim Mauser P SDP Trade 1994 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.3
Brent Clevlen OF DET Draft 2002 2 +0.3 +0.1 –
Richie Lewis P DET Trade 1996 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.0
Dan Miceli P DET Trade 1996 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.0
Orlando Miller SS DET Trade 1996 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.0
Roberto Petagine 1B SDP Trade 1994 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.1
Glenn Dishman P DET Trade 1997 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.0
Mark Parent C DET Trade 1996 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.0
Jacob Cruz OF DET Free agency 2001 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.0
Eric Eckenstahler P DET Draft 1999 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Bill Haselman C DET Free agency 1998 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Adam Pettyjohn P DET Draft 1998 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Tim Pugh P DET Free agency 1996 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.0
Matt Walbeck C DET Trade 1996 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.0
Rich Becker OF DET Trade 2000 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.2
Adam Bernero P DET Intl FA 1999 3 +0.1 +0.0 –
Karim García OF DET Trade 1998 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Mitch Meluskey C DET Trade 2000 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Billy Ripken 2B DET Free agency 1997 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Joe Siddall C DET Free agency 1997 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Kevin Tolar P DET Trade 2000 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Brandon Kolb P SDP Draft 1995 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Wascar Serrano P SDP Intl FA 1995 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Pete Smith P SDP Free agency 1995 2 +0.1 +0.0 0.0
Jeff Tabaka P SDP Trade 1994 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.4
Jeff Manto 1B/3B DET Trade 1998 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Hal Morris 1B DET Trade 2000 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.2
Jason Beverlin P DET Trade 2002 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Marc Newfield OF SDP Trade 1995 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Craig Shipley 3B/SS SDP Trade 1994 2 +0.1 +0.1 0.5
Trey Beamon OF DET Trade 1997 – -0.0 – –
Willie Blair P DET Free agency 2001 3 -0.0 -0.0 0.4
Jermaine Clark 2B/OF DET Rule 5 2000 – -0.0 – –
Frankie De La Cruz P DET Intl FA 2001 – -0.0 – –
Denny Harriger P DET Trade 1998 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Fernando Hernández P DET Trade 1996 – -0.0 – –
Jimmy Hurst OF DET Trade 1997 – -0.0 – –
Rod Lindsey OF DET Trade 1998 – -0.0 – –
George Lombard OF DET Trade 2002 – -0.0 – –
Allen McDill P DET Free agency 1999 – -0.0 – –
Matt Miller P DET Draft 1996 1 -0.0 -0.0 –
Cody Ross OF DET Draft 1999 – -0.0 – –
Oscar Salazar OF DET Trade 2002 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Max St. Pierre C DET Draft 1997 – -0.0 – –
Brandon Villafuerte P DET Trade 1999 – -0.0 – –
Mark Woodyard P DET Draft 2000 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Mike Oquist P SDP Free agency 1995 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.2
Ron Villone P SDP Trade 1995 2 -0.0 -0.0 –
Joey Eischen P DET Trade 1996 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Dean Crow P DET Trade 1997 – -0.1 – –
Roberto Durán P DET Trade 1996 – -0.1 – –
Jeff Farnsworth P DET Rule 5 2001 – -0.1 – –
Mark Johnson P DET Rule 5 1999 – -0.1 – –
Kris Keller P DET Draft 1996 – -0.1 – –
Roberto Novoa P DET Trade 2002 – -0.1 – –
Jarrod Patterson 3B DET Trade 2001 – -0.1 – –
Terry Pearson P DET Intl FA 2001 – -0.1 – –
Mike Rabelo C DET Draft 2001 – -0.1 – –
Mike Rivera C DET Intl FA 1997 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Sean Runyan P DET Rule 5 1997 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Marino Santana P DET Trade 1998 – -0.1 – –
Ernie Young OF DET Free agency 2002 – -0.1 – –
Joe Hall OF DET Trade 1997 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0
Will Brunson P DET Trade 1998 1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0
Vince Coleman OF DET Free agency 1997 – -0.2 – –
John Cummings P DET Trade 1996 1 -0.2 -0.2 0.0
Jack Hannahan 3B DET Draft 2001 – -0.2 – –
Óscar Henríquez P DET Free agency 2001 – -0.2 – –
Erik Hiljus P DET Trade 1999 – -0.2 – –
Matt Perisho P DET Trade 2000 – -0.2 – –
Doug Dascenzo OF SDP Free agency 1995 – -0.2 – –
Derek Bell OF SDP Trade 1994 1 -0.2 -0.2 0.3
Beiker Graterol P DET Trade 1998 – -0.3 – –
Randall Simon 1B DET Free agency 2000 1 -0.3 -0.3 0.0
Roger Cedeño OF DET Trade 2000 – -0.4 – –
Andy Tomberlin DH/OF DET Free agency 1997 – -0.4 – –
Brian Williams P DET Free agency 1996 – -0.4 – –
Greg LaRocca 3B SDP Draft 1994 – -0.4 – –
Heath Murray P SDP Draft 1994 – -0.4 – –
Jason Wood 1B DET Trade 1998 1 -0.4 -0.4 0.0
Fausto Cruz 2B/SS DET Trade 1996 – -0.5 – –
Ryan Jackson 1B/OF DET Free agency 2000 1 -0.5 -0.5 0.0
Shane Loux P DET Draft 1997 – -0.5 – –
Jody Reed 2B DET Trade 1997 – -0.5 – –
Matt Roney P DET Trade 2002 – -0.5 – –
Julio Santana P DET Free agency 2001 – -0.5 – –
Hiram Bocachica OF DET Trade 2002 – -0.6 – –
José Paniagua P DET Trade 2002 – -0.6 – –
Jorge Velandia 2B/SS SDP Trade 1994 – -0.6 – –
Raúl Casanova C DET Trade 1996 1 -0.8 -0.8 –
Heath Murray P DET Free agency 2001 – -0.8 – –
Wil Nieves C SDP Draft 1995 – -0.8 – –
Wendell Magee OF DET Trade 2000 1 -0.9 -0.9 0.0
Andrés Torres OF DET Draft 1998 1 -0.9 -0.9 –
Dustin Hermanson P SDP Draft 1994 – -1.0 – –
Melvin Nieves OF SDP Trade 1994 1 -1.0 -1.0 0.0
Eric Munson 3B DET Draft 1999 1 -1.1 -1.1 –
Gabe Alvarez 3B DET Trade 1997 – -1.3 – –
Franklyn Germán P DET Trade 2002 1 -1.3 -1.3 –
Gregg Jefferies 1B/OF DET Free agency 1998 1 -1.3 -1.3 0.1
Eddie Williams 1B/3B DET Free agency 1996 – -1.3 – –
Matt Walbeck C DET Free agency 2002 1 -1.5 -1.5 0.0
Archi Cianfrocco 1B/3B SDP Free agency 1994 1 -2.0 -2.0 0.1
Craig Paquette 3B DET Free agency 2001 – -2.5 – –

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.

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.