RRosternomics
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SB

Sal Bando

Feb 13, 1944 (Cleveland, OH) – Jan 20, 2023 (Oconomowoc, WI) · died at 78

General manager for the Brewers (1992–1999).

8 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
Pennants0
Playoffs0
Record585–644
Win %0.476
-3.2GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±4.9157th/195 execs
5.8Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)122nd/195 execs
-5.3Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)113th/195 execs
39%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)129th/195 execs
$7MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track124th/195 execs
$5MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)102nd/195 execs
$2MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade102nd/195 execs
$0MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees123rd/195 execs
-30.4TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total159th/195 execs
-5.6WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)91st/195 execs
0.55Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)145th/195 execs
-20Roster surplus $M79th/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Brewers GM 1992–1999 8 -5.6 -0.70 -30.4 -19.0 +91.2 +27.7 -83.8 -0.5 0.55 0.476 ––– -20
Career total (1985+ data) 8 -5.6 -30.4 -19.0 +91.2 +27.7 -83.8 -0.5 0.55 0.476 –– – -20

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)+91.2
Trade+27.7
Free agency-83.8
Rule 5 / minor draft-0.5
Sourcing mix: 55% draft · 16% FA · 29% trade · 0% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Sal Bando'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 — 130 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Ben Sheets P MIL Draft 1999 8 +29.0 +3.6 –
Geoff Jenkins OF MIL Draft 1995 9 +24.2 +2.7 –
Jeromy Burnitz OF MIL Trade 1996 5 +17.1 +3.4 1.6
Bill Hall 3B/SS MIL Draft 1998 4 +10.5 +2.6 –
Scott Karl P MIL Draft 1992 5 +10.1 +2.0 –
José Valentín SS MIL Trade 1992 7 +9.9 +1.4 –
Ben McDonald P MIL Free agency 1996 2 +7.2 +3.6 3.2
Steve Woodard P MIL Draft 1994 4 +6.6 +1.6 –
José Hernández 3B/SS MIL Free agency 1999 2 +6.3 +3.2 0.1
Kevin Seitzer 3B MIL Free agency 1992 5 +6.0 +1.2 3.8
Fernando Viña 2B MIL Trade 1994 5 +5.4 +1.1 0.1
Ronnie Belliard 2B MIL Draft 1994 3 +5.2 +1.7 –
Mark Loretta 2B MIL Draft 1993 7 +5.0 +0.7 –
Mike Fetters P MIL Trade 1992 6 +4.7 +0.8 0.9
Jeff D'Amico P MIL Draft 1993 4 +3.9 +1.0 –
Ricky Bones P MIL Trade 1992 3 +3.5 +1.2 0.1
Bob Wickman P MIL Trade 1996 4 +2.9 +0.7 0.5
Doug Jones P MIL Free agency 1996 2 +2.8 +1.4 –
Scott Fletcher 2B/SS MIL Free agency 1992 1 +2.4 +2.4 3.6
Hideo Nomo P MIL Free agency 1999 1 +2.4 +2.4 1.0
Jesse Orosco P MIL Free agency 1992 3 +2.4 +0.8 0.5
Jamey Wright P MIL Trade 1999 2 +2.3 +1.2 0.1
Alex Ochoa OF MIL Trade 1998 2 +2.2 +1.1 0.9
Chad Fox P MIL Trade 1997 3 +2.1 +0.7 0.2
Bob Scanlan P MIL Trade 1994 3 +1.8 +0.6 0.4
Turner Ward OF MIL Trade 1994 2 +1.8 +0.9 0.3
Kyle Peterson P MIL Draft 1997 2 +1.6 +0.8 –
Jody Reed 2B MIL Free agency 1994 1 +1.5 +1.5 0.4
Brian Givens P MIL Trade 1995 2 +1.4 +0.7 –
Jesse Levis C MIL Trade 1996 3 +1.3 +0.4 0.3
Graeme Lloyd P MIL Trade 1992 4 +1.2 +0.3 –
Bryce Florie P MIL Trade 1996 1 +0.9 +0.9 0.4
Joe Oliver C MIL Free agency 1995 1 +0.9 +0.9 0.1
Rich Becker OF MIL Trade 1999 1 +0.9 +0.9 0.4
Chuck Carr OF MIL Trade 1995 1 +0.8 +0.8 0.7
Tim Van Egmond P MIL Free agency 1996 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.6
David Weathers P MIL Free agency 1999 4 +0.7 +0.2 0.1
Dave Valle C MIL Trade 1994 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.2
Matt Mieske OF MIL Trade 1992 3 +0.5 +0.2 –
Jack Voigt OF MIL Free agency 1997 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.2
Mike Boddicker P MIL Trade 1993 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.1
Curt Leskanic P MIL Trade 1999 2 +0.4 +0.2 0.0
Jamie McAndrew P MIL Trade 1993 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
James Mouton OF MIL Free agency 1999 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.0
Bronswell Patrick P MIL Trade 1998 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Tim Unroe 1B MIL Draft 1992 2 +0.4 +0.2 –
Gerald Williams OF MIL Trade 1996 2 +0.4 +0.2 0.2
Lou Collier SS MIL Trade 1999 2 +0.4 +0.2 0.1
Rick Wrona C MIL Trade 1994 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.1
Julio Franco 2B/SS MIL Trade 1997 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.1
Joel Adamson P MIL Trade 1996 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.1
Valerio De Los Santos P MIL Intl FA 1993 3 +0.3 +0.1 –
Ben Hendrickson P MIL Draft 1999 2 +0.3 +0.2 –
Joe Kmak C MIL Trade 1993 1 +0.3 +0.3 –
Carlos Maldonado P MIL Trade 1992 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.0
Jason Bere P MIL Free agency 1999 2 +0.1 +0.0 0.2
Darrin Jackson OF MIL Trade 1997 2 +0.1 +0.0 0.3
Héctor Ramírez P MIL Trade 1999 2 +0.1 +0.1 –
Kevin Wickander P MIL Trade 1995 2 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Dante Bichette OF MIL Trade 1992 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.8
Pete Harnisch P MIL Trade 1997 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Andy Allanson C MIL Free agency 1992 – -0.0 – –
Jeff Bronkey P MIL Trade 1994 1 -0.0 -0.0 0.0
Cris Carpenter P MIL Free agency 1996 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Todd Dunn DH/OF MIL Draft 1993 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Greg Hansell P MIL Free agency 1997 – -0.0 – –
Reggie Harris P MIL Free agency 1998 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Sean Maloney P MIL Draft 1993 – -0.0 – –
Greg Mullins P MIL Intl FA 1995 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Alberto Reyes P MIL Rule 5 1994 2 +0.0 +0.0 –
Ron Rightnowar P MIL Trade 1993 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Travis Smith P MIL Draft 1995 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Mike Thomas P MIL Trade 1995 – -0.0 – –
Ron Villone P MIL Trade 1996 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Bobby Chouinard P MIL Trade 1998 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Neal Heaton P MIL Trade 1992 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Josías Manzanillo P MIL Trade 1993 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Mike Myers P MIL Trade 1998 2 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Rod Henderson P MIL Free agency 1998 – -0.1 – –
Greg Martinez OF MIL Draft 1993 – -0.1 – –
José Mercedes P MIL Rule 5 1993 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Rafael Novoa P MIL Free agency 1992 – -0.1 – –
Dave Pember P MIL Draft 1999 – -0.1 – –
Jim Tatum 1B/3B MIL Trade 1992 – -0.1 – –
Brad Woodall P MIL Free agency 1997 – -0.1 – –
Eddie Zosky SS MIL Free agency 1997 – -0.1 – –
Terry Burrows P MIL Free agency 1996 – -0.2 – –
Matt Childers P MIL Draft 1997 – -0.2 – –
Carl Dale P MIL Trade 1999 – -0.2 – –
Steve Falteisek P MIL Free agency 1998 – -0.2 – –
Brian Harper C MIL Free agency 1994 – -0.2 – –
Jeff Juden P MIL Trade 1997 1 -0.2 -0.2 0.1
Brian Mallette P MIL Draft 1997 – -0.2 – –
Luis Martínez P MIL Intl FA 1996 – -0.2 – –
Danny Perez OF MIL Draft 1992 – -0.2 – –
Joe Slusarski P MIL Free agency 1995 – -0.2 – –
Rocky Coppinger P MIL Trade 1999 1 -0.2 -0.2 0.0
Kevin Barker 1B MIL Draft 1996 – -0.3 – –
Bobby Hughes C MIL Draft 1992 – -0.3 – –
Marcus Jensen C MIL Free agency 1998 – -0.3 – –
Matt Maysey P MIL Free agency 1992 – -0.3 – –
Santiago Pérez SS/OF MIL Trade 1997 – -0.3 – –
Dickie Thon SS MIL Free agency 1993 – -0.3 – –
Paul Wagner P MIL Free agency 1997 – -0.3 – –
Jim Abbott P MIL Free agency 1999 – -0.4 – –
Tom Brunansky OF MIL Free agency 1993 – -0.4 – –
Robinson Cancel C MIL Draft 1994 – -0.4 – –
Eddy Díaz 2B MIL Trade 1997 – -0.4 – –
Kevin Koslofski OF MIL Free agency 1995 – -0.4 – –
Mike Misuraca P MIL Trade 1996 – -0.4 – –
Nick Neugebauer P MIL Draft 1998 1 -0.4 -0.4 –
Mike Potts P MIL Trade 1996 – -0.4 – –
Sid Roberson P MIL Draft 1992 – -0.4 – –
Kelly Stinnett C MIL Trade 1996 1 -0.4 -0.4 0.1
Matt Williams P MIL Rule 5 1999 – -0.4 – –
Bill Pulsipher P MIL Trade 1998 1 -0.5 -0.5 0.1
Ed Núñez P MIL Trade 1992 1 -0.5 -0.5 0.1
Bob Hamelin 1B/DH MIL Free agency 1998 – -0.6 – –
Horacio Estrada P MIL Intl FA 1992 – -0.7 – –
Ramón García P MIL Free agency 1996 – -0.7 – –
Antone Williamson 1B MIL Draft 1994 – -0.7 – –
Eric Plunk P MIL Trade 1998 1 -0.7 -0.7 0.1
Allen Levrault P MIL Draft 1996 1 -0.8 -0.8 –
Rafael Roque P MIL Trade 1998 – -0.8 – –
Marquis Grissom OF MIL Trade 1998 2 -0.8 -0.4 0.2
Brian Banks C/1B/OF MIL Draft 1993 2 -0.9 -0.5 –
Marc Newfield OF MIL Trade 1996 1 -1.1 -1.1 0.5
Jeff Huson 2B/SS MIL Trade 1997 – -1.4 – –
David Hulse OF MIL Trade 1995 – -1.5 – –
Sean Berry 3B MIL Free agency 1998 – -2.2 – –

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.