RRosternomics
𝕏
TG

Tom Grieve

Born Mar 4, 1948 · Pittsfield, MA · age 78

General manager for the Rangers (1985–1994).

10 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
Record760–810
Win %0.484
+0.4GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±4.667th/195 execs
6.4Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)88th/195 execs
-5.3Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)111th/195 execs
30%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)58th/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 track157th/195 execs
$1MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)166th/195 execs
$0MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade141st/195 execs
$1MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees75th/195 execs
-5.2TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total93rd/195 execs
+0.7WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)68th/195 execs
1.66Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)100th/195 execs
-14Roster surplus $M69th/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Rangers GM 1985–1994 10 +0.7 +0.07 -5.2 +0.2 +159.2 +9.2 -95.4 -0.0 1.66 0.484 ––– -14
Career total (1985+ data) 10 +0.7 -5.2 +0.2 +159.2 +9.2 -95.4 -0.0 1.66 0.484 –– – -14

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)+159.2
Trade+9.2
Free agency-95.4
Rule 5 / minor draft-0.0
Sourcing mix: 49% draft · 20% FA · 31% trade · 0% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Tom Grieve'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 — 172 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Iván Rodríguez C TEX Intl FA 1988 13 +49.3 +3.8 –
Juan González OF TEX Intl FA 1986 12 +30.3 +2.5 –
Rafael Palmeiro 1B TEX Trade 1988 10 +22.4 +2.2 4.9
Kevin Brown P TEX Draft 1986 8 +21.7 +2.7 –
Nolan Ryan P TEX Free agency 1988 5 +21.3 +4.3 10.8
Julio Franco 2B/SS TEX Trade 1989 4 +18.7 +4.7 9.2
Rusty Greer OF TEX Draft 1990 8 +18.2 +2.3 –
Bobby Witt P TEX Draft 1985 10 +13.4 +1.3 –
Will Clark 1B TEX Free agency 1993 5 +13.2 +2.6 1.0
John Burkett P TEX Trade 1994 4 +11.0 +2.7 10.0
Darren Oliver P TEX Draft 1988 9 +9.2 +1.0 –
Roger Pavlik P TEX Draft 1986 6 +8.7 +1.5 –
Mark McLemore 2B TEX Free agency 1994 5 +8.3 +1.7 0.5
Pete Incaviglia OF TEX Trade 1985 5 +7.2 +1.4 –
Scott Fletcher 2B/SS TEX Trade 1985 4 +6.4 +1.6 2.4
Dean Palmer 3B TEX Draft 1986 5 +6.4 +1.3 –
Jeff Russell P TEX Trade 1985 9 +5.3 +0.6 –
Greg Harris P TEX Trade 1985 3 +5.1 +1.7 –
Geno Petralli C TEX Trade 1985 6 +4.6 +0.8 –
Brian Downing C/DH/OF TEX Free agency 1991 2 +4.4 +2.2 10.3
Scott Fletcher 2B/SS TEX Free agency 1988 4 +3.9 +1.0 2.4
Toby Harrah 3B/SS TEX Trade 1985 1 +3.9 +3.9 –
Mike Jeffcoat P TEX Free agency 1986 5 +3.2 +0.6 0.0
Ed Correa P TEX Trade 1986 1 +2.8 +2.8 2.0
Gary Pettis OF TEX Free agency 1989 2 +2.7 +1.3 4.8
José Canseco DH/OF TEX Trade 1992 2 +2.6 +1.3 1.9
Danny Patterson P TEX Draft 1989 3 +2.6 +0.9 –
Jeff Huson 2B/SS TEX Trade 1990 3 +2.3 +0.8 2.7
Kevin Gross P TEX Free agency 1994 2 +2.2 +1.1 0.6
Tom Henke P TEX Free agency 1992 2 +2.2 +1.1 –
Charlie Leibrandt P TEX Trade 1992 1 +2.2 +2.2 4.7
Don Slaught C TEX Trade 1985 2 +2.1 +1.1 –
Matt Whiteside P TEX Draft 1990 5 +2.1 +0.4 –
Jeff Frye 2B TEX Draft 1988 3 +1.9 +0.6 –
Dale Mohorcic P TEX Draft 1986 2 +1.9 +1.0 –
Doug Strange 2B/3B TEX Free agency 1993 1 +1.8 +1.8 4.5
Scott Chiamparino P TEX Trade 1990 3 +1.4 +0.5 –
Darrell Porter C TEX Free agency 1986 2 +1.4 +0.7 0.6
Jamie Moyer P TEX Trade 1988 2 +1.2 +0.6 0.4
Todd Burns P TEX Free agency 1991 2 +1.1 +0.5 3.2
Chris James OF TEX Trade 1993 2 +1.1 +0.6 1.3
Dickie Thon SS TEX Free agency 1991 1 +1.1 +1.1 3.5
Harold Baines DH/OF TEX Trade 1989 2 +1.1 +0.5 0.0
Rick Leach 1B/OF TEX Free agency 1989 1 +1.0 +1.0 2.1
Manuel Lee 2B/SS TEX Free agency 1992 2 +1.0 +0.5 1.6
Kevin Reimer DH/OF TEX Draft 1985 2 +0.9 +0.4 –
Fred Manrique 2B TEX Trade 1989 1 +0.9 +0.9 1.8
Gary Redus OF TEX Free agency 1993 1 +0.8 +0.8 2.1
Dave Valle C TEX Free agency 1994 1 +0.8 +0.8 4.1
Brian Bohanon P TEX Draft 1987 3 +0.7 +0.2 –
Burt Hooton P TEX Trade 1985 1 +0.7 +0.7 –
Otis Nixon OF TEX Trade 1994 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.5
Jim Sundberg C TEX Free agency 1988 2 +0.7 +0.3 –
John Barfield P TEX Draft 1986 3 +0.6 +0.2 –
Benji Gil SS TEX Draft 1991 3 +0.6 +0.2 –
Cris Carpenter P TEX Trade 1993 2 +0.5 +0.3 0.3
Steve Howe P TEX Free agency 1987 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.1
Al Newman 2B/SS TEX Free agency 1992 1 +0.5 +0.5 1.7
Tom O'Malley 3B TEX Free agency 1986 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.1
Dave Rozema P TEX Trade 1985 2 +0.5 +0.2 –
Jack Daugherty 1B/OF TEX Trade 1988 2 +0.4 +0.2 1.1
Héctor Fajardo P TEX Trade 1991 4 +0.4 +0.1 –
Terry Mathews P TEX Draft 1987 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Fernando Tatís 3B TEX Intl FA 1992 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Matt Williams P TEX Trade 1985 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Ray Hayward P TEX Trade 1988 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.4
Mickey Mahler P TEX Trade 1986 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.3
Bob Patterson P TEX Free agency 1992 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.7
Ed Vande Berg P TEX Free agency 1988 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.3
Ed Núñez P TEX Trade 1992 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.8
Frank Tanana P TEX Trade 1985 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.0
Kevin Belcher OF TEX Draft 1987 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Kevin Brown C TEX Draft 1994 2 +0.2 +0.1 –
Steve Dreyer P TEX Draft 1990 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Cecilio Guante P TEX Free agency 1989 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.4
Mike Loynd P TEX Draft 1986 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Julio Santana P TEX Intl FA 1990 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Drew Hall P TEX Trade 1989 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.4
Junior Ortiz C TEX Trade 1994 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Steve Balboni 1B/DH TEX Free agency 1991 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.2
Doug Davis C/3B TEX Free agency 1992 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.2
David Hulse OF TEX Draft 1990 2 +0.1 +0.1 –
Bruce Hurst P TEX Free agency 1993 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Rubén Mateo OF TEX Intl FA 1994 2 +0.1 +0.0 –
Eric Moody P TEX Draft 1993 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Luis Pujols C TEX Trade 1985 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Billy Ripken 2B TEX Free agency 1993 2 +0.1 +0.0 0.1
Jon Shave 3B/SS TEX Draft 1990 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Mike Stanley C TEX Draft 1985 3 +0.1 +0.0 –
Jim Poole P TEX Trade 1991 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.3
Wilson Álvarez P TEX Intl FA 1986 – +0.0 – –
Jack Armstrong P TEX Free agency 1994 – -0.0 – –
Floyd Bannister P TEX Free agency 1992 – -0.0 – –
Mark Brandenburg P TEX Draft 1992 2 +0.0 +0.0 –
Don Carman P TEX Free agency 1992 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
Butch Davis OF TEX Free agency 1992 1 -0.0 -0.0 0.2
John Dettmer P TEX Draft 1992 2 +0.0 +0.0 –
Steve Fireovid P TEX Free agency 1991 – -0.0 – –
Rich Gossage P TEX Free agency 1991 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.2
Rick Honeycutt P TEX Free agency 1993 – -0.0 – –
John Hoover P TEX Trade 1990 – -0.0 – –
Chuck Jackson 3B TEX Free agency 1991 – -0.0 – –
Ramón Mañón P TEX Rule 5 1989 – -0.0 – –
Barry Manuel P TEX Draft 1987 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Tom Paciorek 1B/OF TEX Free agency 1985 1 -0.0 -0.0 0.0
Rick Reed P TEX Free agency 1993 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Mike Schooler P TEX Free agency 1993 – -0.0 – –
Paul Wilmet P TEX Trade 1989 – -0.0 – –
Darrel Akerfelds P TEX Trade 1989 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.1
Oil Can Boyd P TEX Trade 1991 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Duff Brumley P TEX Trade 1993 – -0.1 – –
Glenn Brummer C TEX Trade 1985 – -0.1 – –
Mike Campbell P TEX Free agency 1991 – -0.1 – –
Keith Creel P TEX Free agency 1986 – -0.1 – –
Rob Ducey OF TEX Free agency 1992 1 -0.1 -0.1 1.0
Bill Haselman C TEX Draft 1987 3 -0.1 -0.0 –
James Hurst P TEX Trade 1994 – -0.1 – –
Tim Leary P TEX Free agency 1994 – -0.1 – –
Lance McCullers P TEX Free agency 1992 – -0.1 – –
Dave Meier OF TEX Free agency 1986 – -0.1 – –
Tony Scruggs OF TEX Draft 1987 – -0.1 – –
Dan Smith P TEX Draft 1990 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Bill Stein 3B TEX Trade 1985 – -0.1 – –
Steve Wilson P TEX Draft 1985 – -0.1 – –
Thad Bosley OF TEX Free agency 1989 – -0.2 – –
José Cecena P TEX Rule 5 1986 – -0.2 – –
Cris Colón SS TEX Intl FA 1986 – -0.2 – –
Scott Coolbaugh 3B TEX Draft 1987 1 -0.2 -0.2 –
Rob Maurer 1B/DH TEX Draft 1988 – -0.2 – –
Scott May P TEX Trade 1987 – -0.2 – –
Russ McGinnis C TEX Trade 1992 – -0.2 – –
Orlando Mercado C TEX Trade 1985 – -0.2 – –
Wayne Rosenthal P TEX Draft 1986 – -0.2 – –
Ellis Valentine OF TEX Trade 1985 – -0.2 – –
DeWayne Vaughn P TEX Trade 1988 – -0.2 – –
José Alberro P TEX Intl FA 1991 – -0.3 – –
Joe Bitker P TEX Trade 1990 1 -0.3 -0.3 0.2
Eric Fox OF TEX Free agency 1994 – -0.3 – –
José Hernández 3B/SS TEX Intl FA 1987 – -0.3 – –
Steve Kemp OF TEX Free agency 1987 – -0.3 – –
Craig Lefferts P TEX Free agency 1993 – -0.3 – –
Bob Malloy P TEX Draft 1986 – -0.3 – –
Gerald Alexander P TEX Draft 1989 1 -0.4 -0.4 –
Monty Fariss OF TEX Draft 1988 1 -0.4 -0.4 –
Bárbaro Garbey 1B TEX Free agency 1987 – -0.4 – –
Rick Helling P TEX Draft 1992 5 -0.4 -0.1 –
Bob Jones OF TEX Trade 1985 – -0.4 – –
Larry See 1B/DH TEX Trade 1987 – -0.4 – –
Buddy Bell 3B TEX Free agency 1989 1 -0.5 -0.5 0.1
Mario Díaz SS TEX Free agency 1990 – -0.5 – –
Hanley Frias SS TEX Intl FA 1990 – -0.5 – –
Guy Hoffman P TEX Free agency 1988 – -0.5 – –
Danny Leon P TEX Trade 1992 – -0.5 – –
Ron Meridith P TEX Trade 1986 1 -0.5 -0.5 0.0
Brad Arnsberg P TEX Trade 1987 1 -0.6 -0.6 0.6
Wilson Heredia P TEX Intl FA 1990 – -0.6 – –
Gary Mielke P TEX Draft 1985 – -0.6 – –
Marc Sagmoen OF TEX Draft 1993 – -0.6 – –
Denny Walling 1B/3B/OF TEX Free agency 1991 – -0.6 – –
Jay Howell P TEX Free agency 1994 – -0.7 – –
Craig McMurtry P TEX Free agency 1987 1 -0.7 -0.7 0.2
Terry Burrows P TEX Draft 1990 – -0.8 – –
James Steels OF TEX Free agency 1987 – -0.9 – –
Esteban Beltré SS TEX Trade 1994 – -1.0 – –
John Cangelosi OF TEX Free agency 1991 – -1.0 – –
Mark Petkovsek P TEX Draft 1987 – -1.0 – –
Doug Dascenzo OF TEX Free agency 1992 – -1.1 – –
Dan Peltier OF TEX Draft 1989 – -1.1 – –
Luis Ortiz 3B TEX Trade 1994 1 -1.2 -1.2 0.5
John Russell C/OF TEX Free agency 1990 1 -1.2 -1.2 0.1
Chad Kreuter C TEX Draft 1985 1 -1.4 -1.4 –
Donald Harris OF TEX Draft 1989 – -1.5 – –

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

drag to zoom · double-click to reset
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.