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White Sox CHW

199780–81 (0.497)
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GM: Ron Schueler

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 1997, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$52M
Surplus $M
-22
Win %
0.497
TAB
-9.1
WAB
-5.0
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
28.3
Dead money %
30%
Depth Players
6.0
Dead WAR
-7.6

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

1997 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

LJorge Fabregas⇄113
RRon Karkovice51
RRobert Machado10

1B

RFrank Thomas97
LDave Martinez52
LMario Valdez47
BChad Kreuter⇄2
LJorge Fabregas⇄1

2B

BRay Durham153
BTony Phillips⇄36
RNorberto Martin9
BChad Fonville⇄5

3B

RChris Snopek82
LRobin Ventura54
RNorberto Martin17
BGreg Norton11
LMario Valdez1
RTony Peña Sr.⇄1

SS

LOzzie Guillen139
RNorberto Martin28
RChris Snopek4
BChad Fonville⇄2

LF

RAlbert Belle154
RLyle Mouton16
RJeff Abbott5
LDave Martinez4
BChad Fonville⇄1

CF

RMike Cameron102
LDave Martinez45
BChad Fonville⇄2
RJeff Abbott1

RF

LDave Martinez75
RLyle Mouton55
RMike Cameron37
RMagglio Ordonez19
RJeff Abbott4
LHarold Baines⇄1

DH

RFrank Thomas49
RAlbert Belle7
RLyle Mouton6
RJeff Abbott2
RNorberto Martin2
BRay Durham1

Starters

LWilson Alvarez⇄3.2 WAR
RJaime Navarro3.1 WAR
RJames Baldwin2.8 WAR
LMike Sirotka0.5 WAR
RDanny Darwin⇄0.3 WAR
RJason Bere0.0 WAR
RDoug Drabek-0.1 WAR
LScott Eyre-0.1 WAR
LTom Fordham-0.1 WAR
RCarlos Castillo-0.2 WAR
RChris Clemons-0.3 WAR

Bullpen

★ RMatt Karchner15 sv
LTony Castillo0 h
LChuck McElroy⇄0 h
RRoberto Hernandez⇄0 h
RBill Simas0 h
RCarlos Castillo0 h
RAl Levine0 h
RNelson Cruz0 h

Each position shows its top 3 by games (top = starter) — click "+more" for the rest. The letter is bats/throws; ⇄ marks a player traded mid-season. Starters are ranked by WAR, bullpen by holds; ★ marks the closer (most save chances). MLB Stats API.

Key additions (new vs 1996)

PlayerfWAR
Jaime Navarro3.1
Albert Belle1.9
Magglio Ordonez1.3
Chuck McElroy1.0
Jorge Fabregas0.8
Danny Darwin0.3

Key subtractions (gone from 1996)

Player1996 fWAR
Alex Fernandez4.7
Kevin Tapani2.7
Brian Keyser0.2
Pat Borders0.1
Danny Tartabull0.1
Marvin Freeman0.0

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by White Sox. Guaranteed contracts from the 2015-present contract-data period use the known contract period through 1997; everyone else is shown as a 1997 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Frank Thomas 1997 +7.2 +78.6 7.2 +71.5 $1.0M 1.37× –
Mike Cameron 1997 +4.3 +62.1 0.2 +61.9 $0.0M 1.79× –
Wilson Alvarez↔ 1997 +3.2 +49.7 3.1 +46.6 $1.0M 1.96× –
James Baldwin 1997 +2.8 +44.3 0.2 +44.1 $0.1M 1.96× –
Jaime Navarro 1997 +3.1 +49.0 5.0 +44.0 $1.6M 1.96× –
Dave Martinez 1997 +2.6 +32.8 0.9 +31.9 $0.4M 1.60× –
Albert Belle 1997 +1.9 +18.4 10.0 +8.4 $5.3M 1.22× –
Magglio Ordonez 1997 +1.3 +8.4 0.1 +8.2 $0.1M 0.83× –
Harold Baines↔ 1997 +1.3 +8.9 1.3 +7.6 $1.0M 0.83× –
Robin Ventura 1997 +1.8 +12.1 6.0 +6.1 $3.4M 0.85× –
Chuck McElroy↔ 1997 +1.0 +5.2 0.6 +4.5 $0.7M 0.67× –
Mike Sirotka 1997 +0.5 +4.4 0.2 +4.3 $0.3M 1.02× –
Tony Phillips↔ 1997 +0.9 +4.1 0.6 +3.6 $0.6M 0.56× –
Jorge Fabregas↔ 1997 +0.8 +3.5 0.2 +3.3 $0.3M 0.52× –
Darren Lewis↔ 1997 +0.6 +4.1 1.0 +3.1 $1.6M 0.83× –
Danny Darwin↔ 1997 +0.3 +2.6 0.3 +2.3 $1.0M 1.02× –
Matt Karchner 1997 +0.2 +2.1 0.2 +1.9 $1.0M 1.34× –
Keith Foulke↔ 1997 +0.3 +1.5 0.1 +1.4 $0.3M 0.67× –
Ray Durham 1997 +0.3 +1.6 0.3 +1.3 $0.9M 0.56× –
Chad Kreuter↔ 1997 +0.3 +1.3 0.1 +1.2 $0.5M 0.56× –
Tony Castillo 1997 +0.4 +2.1 1.2 +0.9 $3.0M 0.67× –
Mike Bertotti 1997 +0.1 +0.5 0.2 +0.3 $1.9M 0.67× –
Jeff Darwin 1997 +0.1 +0.3 0.2 +0.1 $3.0M 0.67× –
Jason Bere 1997 +0.0 +0.2 0.4 -0.2 $15.4M 1.02× –
Mario Valdez 1997 -0.0 -0.2 0.1 -0.3 – 0.56× –
Roberto Hernandez↔ 1997 +0.4 +2.4 2.9 -0.5 $6.5M 0.67× –
Greg Norton 1997 -0.1 -0.5 0.2 -0.7 – 0.58× –
Scott Eyre 1997 -0.1 -0.6 0.1 -0.7 – 1.02× –
Chad Fonville↔ 1997 -0.2 -0.8 0.1 -0.9 – 0.56× –
Carlos Castillo 1997 -0.2 -0.8 0.1 -1.0 – 0.67× –
Bill Simas 1997 -0.2 -0.9 0.2 -1.1 – 0.67× –
Al Levine 1997 -0.2 -1.0 0.2 -1.2 – 0.67× –
Doug Drabek 1997 -0.1 -0.8 1.3 -2.1 – 1.02× –
Norberto Martin 1997 -0.4 -1.8 0.3 -2.2 – 0.61× –
Ron Karkovice 1997 -0.2 -0.8 1.5 -2.3 – 0.52× –
Lyle Mouton 1997 -0.5 -3.2 0.2 -3.4 – 0.83× –
Tony Peña Sr.↔ 1997 -1.0 -4.5 0.3 -4.8 – 0.58× –
Chris Snopek 1997 -1.5 -7.1 0.2 -7.3 – 0.58× –
Ozzie Guillen 1997 -2.0 -9.8 4.5 -14.3 – 0.61× –
Chris Clemons 1997 -0.3 -1.9 – – – 0.67× –
Jeff Abbott 1997 -0.2 -1.3 – – – 0.83× –
Larry Thomas 1997 -0.1 -0.7 – – – 0.67× –
Nelson Cruz 1997 -0.2 -1.0 – – – 0.67× –
Robert Machado 1997 -0.0 -0.1 – – – 0.52× –
Tom Fordham 1997 -0.1 -0.7 – – – 0.67× –
Total—+28.1+361.751.8+315.5—

Trades

Every graded 1997 deal involving the White Sox — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 7 total.

1997 · CHW / BAL
CHW · Ron Schueler +$4.0M
Juan Bautista
BAL · Pat Gillick −$4.0M
Harold Baines
CHW came out ahead by $4.0M
1997 · CHW / ANA
CHW · Ron Schueler +$10.4M
Chuck McElroy, Jorge Fábregas
ANA · Bill Bavasi −$10.4M
Tony Phillips, Chad Kreuter
CHW came out ahead by $10.4M
1997 · TEX / CHW
TEX · Douglas Melvin +$0.0M
Al Levine, Larry Thomas
CHW · Ron Schueler +$0.0M
Benji Gil
Even trade
1997 · CHW / PHI
CHW · Ron Schueler +$0.8M
Gene Schall
PHI · Lee Thomas −$0.8M
Mike Robertson
CHW came out ahead by $0.8M
1997 · CHW / HOU
CHW · Ron Schueler +$2.4M
Julien Tucker
HOU · Gerry Hunsicker −$2.4M
Tony Peña
CHW came out ahead by $2.4M
1997 · CHW / LAD
CHW · Ron Schueler +$1.6M
Chad Fonville
LAD · Fred Claire −$1.6M
Darren Lewis
CHW came out ahead by $1.6M
1997 · CHW / SFG
CHW · Ron Schueler +$84.0M
Lorenzo Barceló, Mike Caruso, Keith Foulke, Bob Howry, Brian Manning, Ken Vining
SFG · Brian Sabean −$84.0M
Wilson Álvarez, Danny Darwin, Roberto Hernández
CHW came out ahead by $84.0M

Current & Historical Payroll

1997 payroll
$52.0M

What the front office was committed to as of 1997, 1997–2003. Pre-2015 has no contract-terms data — forward italic $ are realized actuals (hindsight, not commitments known then). Control labels (ARB/FA) are point-in-time.

current $ guaranteed $ actual $ (hindsight) arbitration (proj) pre-arb (proj) free agent

Guaranteed / signed (18)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Albert Belle308.000$10.0M$10.0MFREE AGENT
Frank Thomas297.000$7.2M$7.0M$7.0M$7.1M$9.9M$9.9M$5.0M
Robin Ventura298.000$6.0M$6.1MFREE AGENT
Jaime Navarro308.000$5.0M$5.0M$5.0MFREE AGENT
Ozzie Guillen3312.000$4.5MFREE AGENT
Wilson Alvarez278.000$3.1MFREE AGENT
Roberto Hernandez326.000$2.9MFREE AGENT
Ron Karkovice3311.000$1.5MFREE AGENT
Harold Baines3817.000$1.3MFREE AGENT$1.5M$1.0M
Doug Drabek3411.000$1.3MFREE AGENT
Tony Castillo349.000$1.2M$1.2MFREE AGENT
Darren Lewis297.000$1.0MFREE AGENT
Dave Martinez3211.000$950kFREE AGENT
Chuck McElroy298.000$646kFREE AGENT
Tony Phillips3815.000$562kFREE AGENT
Tony Peña Sr.4017.000$329kFREE AGENT
Danny Darwin4119.000$322kFREE AGENT
Chad Kreuter329.000$138k$688kFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (4)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Jason Bere264.000$420kARB 3FREE AGENT
Norberto Martin304.000$350kARB 3FREE AGENT
Jorge Fabregas273.000$227kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jeff Darwin273.000$172kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (23)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Ray Durham252.000$310kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
James Baldwin252.000$250kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Lyle Mouton282.000$225kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bill Simas252.000$200kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Matt Karchner302.000$200kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chris Snopek262.000$185kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Sirotka262.000$165kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Bertotti272.000$160kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Cameron242.000$160kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Al Levine291.000$158kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Greg Norton241.000$155kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Carlos Castillo220.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Magglio Ordonez230.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Scott Eyre250.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mario Valdez220.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chad Fonville262.000$120kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Keith Foulke240.000$89kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jeff Abbott240.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chris Clemons24–—
Nelson Cruz240.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tom Fordham230.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Robert Machado241.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Larry Thomas272.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 1997 acquisition stacked onto White Sox's playoff-odds curve. The side table is ranked by PPA.

Rosternomics — front-office performance, roster value, and transaction history. Follow @rosternomics on X.
Decision-maker records extend to 1933; resource-controlled WAR and payroll metrics cover 1985–2026. Data sources include FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference, the Chadwick Bureau register, the Lahman Database, prospect rankings from Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and FanGraphs, 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).
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