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Reds CIN

199776–86 (0.469)
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GM: Jim Bowden

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
$40M
Surplus $M
-14
Win %
0.469
TAB
-10.9
WAB
-6.0
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
23.4
Dead money %
46%
Depth Players
6.0
Dead WAR
-7.5

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

1997 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RJoe Oliver106
LEddie Taubensee64
RBrook Fordyce30

1B

LHal Morris89
REduardo Perez67
LLenny Harris11
LEddie Taubensee7
LWillie Greene7
RJoe Oliver4
LPete Rose Jr.1

2B

RBret Boone136
LJeff Branson⇄65
LLenny Harris20
RChris Stynes8
RPokey Reese8
RDamian Jackson⇄4
REric Owens2
RAaron Boone1

3B

LWillie Greene103
BTerry Pendleton32
RAaron Boone13
LLenny Harris13
RPokey Reese8
REduardo Perez8
RChris Stynes3
LPete Rose Jr.2

SS

RPokey Reese110
RBarry Larkin63
RDamian Jackson⇄11
LWillie Greene3

LF

RChris Stynes38
LDeion Sanders37
LCurtis Goodwin32
LLenny Harris26
RMike Kelly17
LJon Nunnally⇄15
REduardo Perez11
REric Owens9
LEddie Taubensee6
LWillie Greene6
ROzzie Timmons1

CF

LDeion Sanders77
LJon Nunnally⇄46
LCurtis Goodwin41
RPat Watkins15
RMike Kelly11
REric Owens8

RF

RReggie Sanders85
LWillie Greene33
RMike Kelly31
LJon Nunnally⇄19
LLenny Harris17
LEddie Taubensee5
LCurtis Goodwin1
REric Owens1
REduardo Perez1

DH

LEddie Taubensee3
RBarry Larkin2
RBrook Fordyce1

Starters

RMike Morgan2.4 WAR
LMike Remlinger2.2 WAR
RBrett Tomko1.5 WAR
RDave Burba1.3 WAR
LJohn Smiley⇄1.2 WAR
LKent Mercker1.1 WAR
LGabe White0.3 WAR
RFelix Rodriguez0.0 WAR
RRicky Bones⇄-0.2 WAR
LJim Crowell-0.2 WAR
LPete Schourek-0.3 WAR
RGiovanni Carrara-0.4 WAR

Bullpen

★ RJeff Shaw42 sv
RStan Belinda0 h
RScott Sullivan0 h
RHector Carrasco⇄0 h
RFelix Rodriguez0 h
RJeff Brantley0 h
RDanny Graves⇄0 h
RRicky Bones⇄0 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
Chris Stynes2.2
Jon Nunnally2.2
Brett Tomko1.5
Stan Belinda1.3
Kent Mercker1.1
Deion Sanders0.6

Key subtractions (gone from 1996)

Player1996 fWAR
Eric Davis3.4
Mark Portugal1.7
Kevin Mitchell1.6
Chris Sabo0.7
Curt Lyons0.2
Lee Smith0.1

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Reds. 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
Jeff Shaw 1997 +2.2 +34.7 0.7 +34.0 $0.3M 1.95× –
Mike Morgan 1997 +2.4 +28.0 0.5 +27.5 $0.2M 1.49× –
Barry Larkin 1997 +3.5 +32.6 5.3 +27.2 $1.5M 1.18× –
Chris Stynes 1997 +2.2 +21.8 0.2 +21.6 $0.1M 1.22× –
Jon Nunnally↔ 1997 +2.2 +21.0 0.2 +20.9 $0.1M 1.22× –
Mike Remlinger 1997 +2.2 +17.5 0.2 +17.3 $0.1M 0.98× –
Reggie Sanders 1997 +1.9 +18.8 3.7 +15.1 $1.9M 1.22× –
Willie Greene 1997 +1.9 +12.8 0.3 +12.5 $0.2M 0.85× –
Brett Tomko 1997 +1.5 +11.9 0.1 +11.8 $0.1M 1.02× –
Dave Burba 1997 +1.3 +10.3 2.1 +8.2 $1.7M 1.02× –
Kent Mercker 1997 +1.1 +9.0 1.7 +7.3 $1.5M 1.02× –
Mike Kelly 1997 +1.1 +7.3 0.2 +7.1 $0.2M 0.83× –
John Smiley↔ 1997 +1.2 +9.5 2.9 +6.6 $2.5M 1.02× –
Stan Belinda 1997 +1.3 +6.8 0.9 +5.8 $0.7M 0.67× –
Joe Oliver 1997 +1.2 +5.0 0.4 +4.6 $0.3M 0.52× –
Lenny Harris 1997 +0.7 +4.8 0.7 +4.1 $0.9M 0.83× –
Scott Sullivan 1997 +0.7 +3.5 0.1 +3.3 $0.2M 0.67× –
Deion Sanders 1997 +0.6 +4.0 1.2 +2.8 $2.0M 0.83× –
Gabe White 1997 +0.3 +2.7 0.1 +2.6 $0.5M 1.02× –
Eduardo Perez 1997 +0.4 +1.8 0.2 +1.6 $0.4M 0.56× –
Hector Carrasco↔ 1997 +0.4 +2.0 0.3 +1.6 $0.9M 0.67× –
Danny Graves↔ 1997 +0.0 +0.0 0.1 -0.1 $436.4M 0.67× –
Felix Rodriguez 1997 +0.0 +0.0 0.2 -0.1 $18.9M 0.67× –
Joey Eischen 1997 +0.0 +0.0 0.2 -0.2 $94.2M 0.67× –
Eddie Taubensee 1997 -0.0 -0.0 0.9 -0.9 – 0.52× –
Ricky Bones↔ 1997 -0.2 -0.8 0.1 -0.9 – 0.67× –
Eric Owens 1997 -0.2 -1.3 0.2 -1.5 – 0.83× –
Terry Pendleton 1997 -0.2 -1.1 0.3 -1.5 – 0.58× –
Kevin Jarvis↔ 1997 -0.3 -1.5 0.1 -1.6 – 0.67× –
Pedro Martinez 1997 -0.2 -1.3 0.2 -1.6 – 0.67× –
Richie Lewis↔ 1997 -0.3 -1.7 0.1 -1.7 – 0.67× –
Brook Fordyce 1997 -0.7 -2.7 0.1 -2.9 – 0.52× –
Jeff Brantley 1997 -0.1 -0.3 2.8 -3.1 – 0.67× –
Jeff Branson↔ 1997 -0.7 -3.1 0.4 -3.5 – 0.56× –
Ruben Sierra↔ 1997 +0.1 +0.6 4.3 -3.7 $50.5M 0.83× –
Hal Morris 1997 -0.4 -1.8 3.1 -4.9 – 0.56× –
Pokey Reese 1997 -1.0 -4.9 0.1 -5.1 – 0.61× –
Pete Schourek 1997 -0.3 -2.6 2.6 -5.3 – 1.02× –
Bret Boone 1997 -1.0 -4.7 1.7 -6.4 – 0.56× –
Aaron Boone 1997 -0.6 -2.7 – – – 0.58× –
Curtis Goodwin 1997 +0.5 +3.4 – – – 0.83× –
Damian Jackson↔ 1997 +0.1 +0.5 – – – 0.61× –
Giovanni Carrara 1997 -0.4 -3.0 – – – 1.02× –
Jeff Tabaka 1997 -0.1 -0.6 – – – 0.67× –
Jim Crowell 1997 -0.2 -1.7 – – – 1.02× –
Ozzie Timmons 1997 +0.0 +0.2 – – – 0.83× –
Pat Watkins 1997 -0.2 -1.2 – – – 0.83× –
Pete Rose Jr. 1997 -0.3 -1.5 – – – 0.58× –
Scott Service↔ 1997 -0.0 -0.2 – – – 0.67× –
Scott Winchester 1997 -0.0 -0.2 – – – 0.67× –
Total—+23.6+231.639.5+198.5—

Trades

Every graded 1997 deal involving the Reds — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 9 total.

1997 · CIN / KCR
CIN · Jim Bowden +$34.4M
Jon Nunnally, Chris Stynes
KCR · Herk Robinson −$34.4M
Héctor Carrasco, Scott Service
CIN came out ahead by $34.4M
1997 · CIN / STL
CIN · Jim Bowden +$45.6M
Dmitri Young
STL · Walt Jocketty −$45.6M
Jeff Brantley
CIN came out ahead by $45.6M
1997 · CHC / CIN
CHC · Ed Lynch +$0.8M
Curt Lyons
CIN · Jim Bowden −$0.8M
Jay Peterson, Ozzie Timmons
CHC came out ahead by $0.8M
1997 · ARI / CIN
ARI · Joe Garagiola +$2.4M
Félix Rodríguez
CIN · Jim Bowden −$2.4M
Scott Winchester
ARI came out ahead by $2.4M
1997 · SDP / CIN
SDP · Kevin Towers +$0.8M
Ray Brown
CIN · Jim Bowden −$0.8M
Joey Eischen
SDP came out ahead by $0.8M
1997 · CIN / COL
CIN · Jim Bowden +$0.0M
Mark Hutton
COL · Bob Gebhard +$0.0M
Curtis Goodwin
Even trade
1997 · CIN / TBR
CIN · Jim Bowden +$32.8M
Dmitri Young
TBR · Chuck Lamar −$32.8M
Mike Kelly
CIN came out ahead by $32.8M
1997 · DET / CIN
DET · Randy Smith +$4.0M
Paul Bako, Donne Wall
CIN · Jim Bowden −$4.0M
Melvin Nieves
DET came out ahead by $4.0M
1997 · CIN / CLE
CIN · Jim Bowden +$25.6M
Jim Crowell, Danny Graves, Damian Jackson, Scott Winchester
CLE · John Hart −$25.6M
Jeff Branson, John Smiley
CIN came out ahead by $25.6M

Current & Historical Payroll

1997 payroll
$39.5M

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 (20)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Barry Larkin3311.000$5.3M$5.3M$5.3M$5.3M$9.0M$9.0M$9.0M
Ruben Sierra3111.000$4.3MFREE AGENT
Reggie Sanders296.000$3.7M$3.7MFREE AGENT
Hal Morris329.000$3.1MFREE AGENT$450k$298k
John Smiley3211.000$2.9MFREE AGENT
Jeff Brantley339.000$2.8MFREE AGENT
Pete Schourek286.000$2.6MFREE AGENT
Dave Burba307.000$2.1MFREE AGENT
Kent Mercker298.000$1.7MFREE AGENT$402k
Deion Sanders298.000$1.2MFREE AGENT
Stan Belinda308.000$950k$835k$835kFREE AGENT
Eddie Taubensee286.000$900k$975k$1.2M$1.4MFREE AGENT
Lenny Harris329.000$650k$440kFREE AGENT
Jeff Shaw307.000$650k$347kFREE AGENT
Mike Morgan3719.000$500kFREE AGENT
Joe Oliver318.000$375kFREE AGENT
Terry Pendleton3613.000$350kFREE AGENT
Mike Remlinger316.000$155k$300kFREE AGENT
Ricky Bones286.000$113kFREE AGENT
Scott Service309.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (12)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Bret Boone285.000$1.7MFREE AGENT
Jeff Branson305.000$380kFREE AGENT
Hector Carrasco273.000$322kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Willie Greene255.000$300kFREE AGENT
Pedro Martinez284.000$216kARB 3FREE AGENT
Joey Eischen273.000$215kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Eduardo Perez274.000$180kARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Kelly273.000$175kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Gabe White253.000$150kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Richie Lewis315.000$56kFREE AGENT
Kevin Jarvis273.000$55kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jeff Tabaka333.000—ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (18)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Eric Owens262.000$175kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Felix Rodriguez242.000$175kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chris Stynes242.000$165kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jon Nunnally252.000$158kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Pokey Reese240.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Scott Sullivan262.000$150kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brett Tomko240.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brook Fordyce272.000$150kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Danny Graves231.000$107kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Aaron Boone240.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Giovanni Carrara292.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jim Crowell23–—
Curtis Goodwin242.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Damian Jackson231.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Pete Rose Jr.27–—
Ozzie Timmons262.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Pat Watkins240.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Scott Winchester240.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 1997 acquisition stacked onto Reds'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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