RRosternomics
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TL

Thad Levine

Born Nov 12, 1971 · Alexandria, VA · age 54

General manager for the Twins (2017–2024).

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
Playoffs4
Record620–574
Win %0.519
+2.8GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±5.230th/195 execs
7.1Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)41st/195 execs
-3.8Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)20th/195 execs
26%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)27th/195 execs
$48MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track16th/195 execs
$25MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)6th/195 execs
$11MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade41st/195 execs
$8MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees5th/195 execs
+35.9TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total27th/195 execs
+20.6WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)35th/195 execs
3.35Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)34th/195 execs
+81Roster surplus $M15th/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Twins GM 2017–2024 7 +20.6 +2.94 +35.9 +22.2 +51.0 +1.4 -26.8 -5.7 3.35 0.519 4–– +81
Career total (1985+ data) 8 +20.6 +35.9 +22.2 +51.0 +1.4 -26.8 -5.7 3.35 0.519 4– – +81

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)+51.0
Trade+1.4
Free agency-26.8
Rule 5 / minor draft-5.7
Sourcing mix: 37% draft · 38% FA · 25% trade · 0% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Thad Levine'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 — 136 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Joe Ryan P MIN Trade 2021 6 +14.6 +2.4 –
Carlos Correa SS MIN Free agency 2022 4 +10.5 +2.6 3.8
Ryan Jeffers C MIN Draft 2018 7 +10.2 +1.5 –
Bailey Ober P MIN Draft 2017 6 +9.8 +1.6 –
Pablo López P MIN Trade 2023 3 +9.6 +3.2 17.2
Sonny Gray P MIN Trade 2022 2 +7.8 +3.9 2.3
Nelson Cruz DH/OF MIN Free agency 2019 3 +6.5 +2.2 21.0
Willi Castro 2B/OF MIN Free agency 2022 3 +5.4 +1.8 9.4
Kenta Maeda P MIN Trade 2020 3 +5.3 +1.8 31.6
Royce Lewis 3B MIN Draft 2022 5 +5.2 +1.0 –
Michael Pineda P MIN Free agency 2017 3 +4.9 +1.6 11.6
Trevor Larnach DH/OF MIN Draft 2018 6 +4.6 +0.8 –
Josh Donaldson 3B MIN Free agency 2020 2 +4.2 +2.1 11.9
Jake Odorizzi P MIN Free agency 2019 2 +4.2 +2.1 1.0
Matt Wallner OF MIN Draft 2022 4 +4.2 +1.1 –
Jhoan Durán P MIN Draft 2022 4 +3.8 +1.0 –
Jason Castro C MIN Trade 2017 3 +3.4 +1.1 5.6
Carlos Santana 1B MIN Free agency 2024 1 +2.9 +2.9 17.0
Simeon Woods Richardson P MIN Draft 2022 2 +2.9 +1.5 –
Ehire Adrianza 3B/SS MIN Trade 2017 4 +2.9 +0.7 2.1
Jake Cave OF MIN Trade 2018 4 +2.6 +0.6 –
Gio Urshela 3B MIN Trade 2022 1 +2.6 +2.6 2.4
Cole Sands P MIN Draft 2022 2 +2.1 +1.0 –
Jonathan Schoop 2B MIN Free agency 2018 1 +2.1 +2.1 9.4
Chris Paddack P MIN Trade 2022 4 +2.0 +0.5 0.9
Marwin González SS MIN Free agency 2019 2 +1.9 +0.9 6.6
Michael Taylor OF MIN Trade 2023 1 +1.9 +1.9 7.1
Kyle Farmer 2B/SS MIN Trade 2023 2 +1.9 +1.0 5.3
Edouard Julien 2B MIN Draft 2023 1 +1.8 +1.8 –
Martín Pérez P MIN Free agency 2019 1 +1.8 +1.8 8.1
Christian Vázquez C MIN Free agency 2022 3 +1.8 +0.6 3.2
Austin Martin OF MIN Draft 2024 2 +1.6 +0.8 –
David Festa P MIN Draft 2024 2 +1.4 +0.7 –
Zebby Matthews P MIN Draft 2024 2 +1.4 +0.7 –
Gary Sánchez C MIN Trade 2022 1 +1.4 +1.4 1.4
Brooks Lee 3B/SS MIN Draft 2024 2 +1.3 +0.6 –
José Miranda 1B/3B MIN Draft 2022 2 +1.3 +0.7 –
C. J. Cron 1B MIN Trade 2019 1 +1.3 +1.3 5.5
Randy Dobnak P MIN Draft 2019 2 +1.2 +0.6 –
Chris Gimenez C MIN Free agency 2017 2 +1.1 +0.6 3.1
Emilio Pagán P MIN Trade 2022 1 +1.1 +1.1 4.5
Donovan Solano 2B MIN Free agency 2023 1 +1.1 +1.1 4.2
Brock Stewart P MIN Free agency 2022 3 +1.0 +0.3 3.3
Andrelton Simmons SS MIN Free agency 2021 1 +0.9 +0.9 1.1
Dylan Bundy P MIN Free agency 2021 1 +0.8 +0.8 0.8
Tyler Clippard P MIN Free agency 2019 1 +0.8 +0.8 10.4
Zach Duke P MIN Trade 2018 1 +0.8 +0.8 0.3
Joey Gallo OF MIN Free agency 2022 1 +0.7 +0.7 2.8
Rich Hill P MIN Free agency 2019 1 +0.7 +0.7 9.4
Lance Lynn P MIN Trade 2018 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.3
Matt Belisle P MIN Free agency 2017 1 +0.6 +0.6 1.6
Devin Smeltzer P MIN Trade 2018 3 +0.6 +0.2 –
Matt Wisler P MIN Trade 2020 1 +0.6 +0.6 7.7
Chris Archer P MIN Free agency 2022 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.6
Josh Winder P MIN Draft 2022 3 +0.5 +0.2 –
Fernando Rodney P MIN Trade 2018 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.2
Dillon Gee P MIN Trade 2017 1 +0.5 +0.5 1.5
Justin Topa P MIN Trade 2024 2 +0.5 +0.3 0.4
Jorge Alcalá P MIN Trade 2018 4 +0.4 +0.1 –
Kody Funderburk P MIN Draft 2023 2 +0.4 +0.2 –
Rob Refsnyder OF MIN Free agency 2020 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.5
John Gant P MIN Trade 2021 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.5
Trevor Megill P MIN Trade 2022 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.4
Kyle Garlick OF MIN Trade 2021 2 +0.4 +0.2 0.4
Danny Coulombe P MIN Free agency 2019 4 +0.3 +0.1 0.1
Juan Minaya P MIN Free agency 2020 2 +0.3 +0.1 0.2
Logan Forsythe 2B MIN Trade 2018 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.1
Tyler Austin 1B MIN Trade 2018 2 +0.3 +0.1 0.1
Aaron Sanchez P MIN Trade 2022 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.3
Tyler Mahle P MIN Trade 2023 1 +0.3 +0.3 1.4
Alex Avila C MIN Free agency 2019 1 +0.2 +0.2 2.4
José De León P MIN Free agency 2022 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.7
Dallas Keuchel P MIN Free agency 2023 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.6
Josh Staumont P MIN Free agency 2023 1 +0.2 +0.2 1.2
Bartolo Colón P MIN Trade 2017 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.5
Jaime García P MIN Trade 2017 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.6
Oliver Drake P MIN Trade 2018 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Dylan Floro P MIN Trade 2023 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.8
Willians Astudillo C/3B MIN Trade 2018 2 +0.1 +0.0 –
Homer Bailey P MIN Free agency 2019 1 +0.1 +0.1 1.3
Charlie Barnes P MIN Draft 2017 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Scott Blewett P MIN Free agency 2024 2 +0.1 +0.0 0.3
Diego Castillo 2B/SS MIN Trade 2024 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.8
Alex Colomé P MIN Free agency 2021 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Michael Helman OF MIN Draft 2024 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Ronny Henriquez P MIN Trade 2022 2 +0.1 +0.1 –
Darren McCaughan P MIN Free agency 2024 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.3
Gregorio Petit 2B/SS MIN Free agency 2017 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
JT Riddle SS MIN Free agency 2021 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Sergio Romo P MIN Trade 2019 2 +0.1 +0.1 2.2
Nick Vincent P MIN Free agency 2021 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.2
Bobby Wilson C MIN Free agency 2017 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Mike Morin P MIN Trade 2019 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.4
Jhon Romero P MIN Trade 2022 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.1
Caleb Boushley P MIN Free agency 2024 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
Diego Castillo P MIN Free agency 2024 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
Mark Contreras OF MIN Draft 2022 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Daniel Duarte P MIN Free agency 2024 – -0.0 – –
Cory Gearrin P MIN Free agency 2020 – -0.0 – –
Ryan LaMarre OF MIN Free agency 2017 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.3
Derek Law P MIN Free agency 2020 – -0.0 – –
Tzu-Wei Lin 2B/SS MIN Free agency 2020 – -0.0 – –
Gabriel Moya P MIN Trade 2017 1 -0.0 -0.0 –
Andrew Stevenson OF MIN Free agency 2023 – -0.0 – –
Ronald Torreyes 2B/3B/SS MIN Free agency 2018 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Louis Varland P MIN Draft 2022 3 +0.0 +0.0 –
Chris Heston P MIN Trade 2017 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
Chase De Jong P MIN Trade 2018 1 -0.0 -0.0 0.0
Johnny Field OF MIN Trade 2018 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Shaun Anderson P MIN Trade 2021 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Jordan Luplow OF MIN Trade 2023 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Trevor Richards P MIN Trade 2024 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
Jair Camargo C/DH MIN Draft 2024 – -0.1 – –
Dietrich Enns P MIN Trade 2017 – -0.1 – –
Luke Farrell P MIN Free agency 2020 – -0.1 – –
Zack Littell P MIN Trade 2017 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Ian Miller OF MIN Trade 2019 – -0.1 – –
Caleb Hamilton C/1B MIN Draft 2022 – -0.2 – –
Steven Okert P MIN Trade 2024 – -0.2 – –
Brent Rooker DH/OF MIN Draft 2017 1 -0.2 -0.2 –
Kyle Barraclough P MIN Free agency 2021 – -0.3 – –
Brent Headrick P MIN Draft 2023 – -0.3 – –
Jay Jackson P MIN Free agency 2024 – -0.3 – –
Matt Magill P MIN Free agency 2018 1 -0.3 -0.3 0.6
Addison Reed P MIN Free agency 2018 – -0.3 – –
Nik Turley P MIN Trade 2017 – -0.3 – –
Jordan Balazovic P MIN Draft 2023 – -0.4 – –
Gilberto Celestino OF MIN Trade 2018 1 -0.4 -0.4 –
Tim Beckham SS MIN Free agency 2022 – -0.5 – –
Dereck Rodríguez P MIN Free agency 2022 – -0.5 – –
Mickey Gasper C/DH MIN Trade 2024 – -0.7 – –
Logan Morrison 1B/OF MIN Free agency 2018 – -0.7 – –
Jermaine Palacios 2B/SS MIN Draft 2022 – -0.8 – –
Matt Shoemaker P MIN Free agency 2021 – -0.8 – –
Joe Smith P MIN Free agency 2022 – -0.8 – –
DaShawn Keirsey OF MIN Draft 2024 – -0.9 – –

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.