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Guardians CLE

199786–75 (0.534)Lost World Series
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GM: John Hart

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
$56M
Surplus $M
-13
Win %
0.534
TAB
+4.8
WAB
-0.0
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
43.1
Dead money %
24%
Depth Players
9.0
Dead WAR
-2.5

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

1997 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RSandy Alomar Jr.119
RPat Borders53
REinar Díaz5

1B

LJim Thome145
RKevin Seitzer19
RJeff Manto6
RRichie Sexson2
LSean Casey1

2B

BTony Fernández109
RJulio Franco⇄35
LJeff Branson⇄12
BCasey Candaele9
RDamian Jackson⇄8
BBip Roberts⇄3
BEnrique Wilson1

3B

RMatt Williams151
RKevin Seitzer13
LJeff Branson⇄12
RJeff Manto7
BCasey Candaele1

SS

BOmar Vizquel152
BTony Fernández10
LJeff Branson⇄5
BEnrique Wilson4

LF

LBrian Giles82
LDavid Justice74
BBip Roberts⇄20
RBruce Aven10
RTrenidad Hubbard5
RJeff Manto1
RKevin Mitchell1

CF

RMarquis Grissom144
LBrian Giles20
RBruce Aven1
RTrenidad Hubbard1

RF

RManny Ramirez146
LBrian Giles25
LDavid Justice5
RBruce Aven2

DH

LDavid Justice59
RKevin Seitzer23
RKevin Mitchell15
LBrian Giles6
RManny Ramirez4
LSean Casey2
RSandy Alomar Jr.1

Starters

RCharles Nagy2.9 WAR
RChad Ogea1.6 WAR
ROrel Hershiser1.4 WAR
RJaret Wright1.2 WAR
RBartolo Colon0.7 WAR
RJack McDowell0.5 WAR
LBrian Anderson0.4 WAR
RJeff Juden⇄0.2 WAR
RTerry Clark⇄0.2 WAR
RDavid Weathers⇄0.1 WAR
RAlbie Lopez0.0 WAR
LJohn Smiley⇄-0.0 WAR
LJason Jacome⇄-0.1 WAR
LSteve Kline⇄-0.5 WAR

Bullpen

★ RJose Mesa16 sv
LPaul Assenmacher0 h
RMike Jackson0 h
REric Plunk0 h
RPaul Shuey0 h
LAlvin Morman0 h
LJason Jacome⇄0 h
LSteve Kline⇄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
David Justice4.2
Matt Williams4.1
Tony Fernandez2.1
Marquis Grissom2.0
Mike Jackson1.7
Jaret Wright1.2

Key subtractions (gone from 1996)

Player1996 fWAR
Albert Belle5.2
Kenny Lofton4.6
Dennis Martinez1.5
Jeromy Burnitz1.2
Julian Tavarez0.9
Mark Carreon0.5

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Guardians. 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
Manny Ramirez 1997 +4.6 +66.3 2.1 +64.2 $0.5M 1.79× –
David Justice 1997 +4.2 +60.4 6.3 +54.1 $1.5M 1.79× –
Jim Thome 1997 +5.1 +56.1 2.6 +53.5 $0.5M 1.37× –
Charles Nagy 1997 +2.9 +45.5 3.4 +42.1 $1.2M 1.96× –
Sandy Alomar Jr. 1997 +4.2 +37.6 2.6 +35.0 $0.6M 1.12× –
Matt Williams 1997 +4.1 +41.3 7.2 +34.2 $1.7M 1.25× –
Mike Jackson 1997 +1.7 +26.6 2.0 +24.6 $1.2M 1.95× –
Omar Vizquel 1997 +2.7 +25.2 3.0 +22.1 $1.1M 1.18× –
Brian Giles 1997 +2.1 +20.2 0.2 +20.0 $0.1M 1.22× –
Chad Ogea 1997 +1.6 +19.2 0.5 +18.7 $0.3M 1.49× –
Marquis Grissom 1997 +2.0 +19.0 4.8 +14.2 $2.5M 1.22× –
Tony Fernandez 1997 +2.1 +13.9 1.6 +12.3 $0.7M 0.82× –
Jaret Wright 1997 +1.2 +9.8 0.1 +9.6 $0.1M 1.02× –
Jose Mesa 1997 +1.0 +11.2 1.9 +9.2 $1.9M 1.34× –
Orel Hershiser 1997 +1.4 +11.7 3.1 +8.6 $2.2M 1.02× –
Bartolo Colon 1997 +0.7 +5.4 0.1 +5.2 $0.2M 1.02× –
Paul Assenmacher 1997 +1.0 +5.2 0.9 +4.3 $0.9M 0.67× –
Pat Borders 1997 +0.6 +2.4 0.4 +2.0 $0.7M 0.52× –
Chad Curtis↔ 1997 +0.3 +1.8 0.2 +1.6 $0.6M 0.83× –
Jeff Juden↔ 1997 +0.2 +1.7 0.0 +1.6 $0.2M 1.02× –
Terry Clark↔ 1997 +0.2 +1.3 0.1 +1.3 $0.4M 1.02× –
Jeff Branson↔ 1997 +0.2 +0.9 0.2 +0.8 $0.8M 0.56× –
Paul Shuey 1997 +0.1 +0.5 0.2 +0.3 $1.9M 0.67× –
Bip Roberts↔ 1997 +0.1 +0.6 0.4 +0.2 $4.3M 0.83× –
David Weathers↔ 1997 +0.1 +0.4 0.2 +0.2 $3.1M 0.67× –
Albie Lopez 1997 +0.0 +0.0 0.2 -0.2 $136.9M 0.67× –
Jason Jacome↔ 1997 -0.1 -0.7 0.2 -0.9 – 0.67× –
John Smiley↔ 1997 -0.0 -0.1 0.9 -0.9 – 1.02× –
Jack McDowell 1997 +0.5 +3.8 4.8 -1.0 $10.3M 1.02× –
Alvin Morman 1997 -0.2 -1.1 0.2 -1.3 – 0.67× –
Danny Graves↔ 1997 -0.3 -1.4 0.1 -1.4 – 0.67× –
Julio Franco↔ 1997 +0.1 +0.5 2.1 -1.7 $20.5M 0.56× –
Steve Kline↔ 1997 -0.5 -2.5 0.1 -2.5 – 0.67× –
Kevin Seitzer 1997 -0.3 -1.6 1.2 -2.8 – 0.69× –
Kevin Mitchell 1997 -0.5 -2.5 0.5 -3.0 – 0.69× –
Eric Plunk 1997 -0.3 -1.7 1.9 -3.6 – 0.67× –
Jeff Manto 1997 +0.0 +0.2 0.2 -0.0 $5.7M 0.58× –
Brian Anderson 1997 +0.4 +3.7 – – – 1.02× –
Bruce Aven 1997 -0.1 -0.5 – – – 0.83× –
Casey Candaele 1997 +0.1 +0.6 – – – 0.56× –
Damian Jackson↔ 1997 -0.1 -0.3 – – – 0.56× –
Einar Díaz 1997 -0.1 -0.2 – – – 0.52× –
Enrique Wilson 1997 +0.0 +0.1 – – – 0.61× –
Richie Sexson 1997 -0.1 -0.3 – – – 0.56× –
Sean Casey 1997 -0.1 -0.3 – – – 0.69× –
Trenidad Hubbard 1997 +0.0 +0.1 – – – 0.83× –
Total—+42.8+480.056.5+420.6—

Trades

Every graded 1997 deal involving the Guardians — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 10 total.

1997 · CLE / MIL
CLE · John Hart +$54.4M
Mike Fetters, Ben McDonald, Ron Villone
MIL · Sal Bando −$54.4M
Marquis Grissom, Jeff Juden
CLE came out ahead by $54.4M
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
1997 · CLE / OAK
CLE · John Hart +$33.6M
Steve Karsay
OAK · Sandy Alderson −$33.6M
Mike Fetters
CLE came out ahead by $33.6M
1997 · WSN / CLE
WSN · Jim Beattie +$8.8M
Steve Kline
CLE · John Hart −$8.8M
Jeff Juden
WSN came out ahead by $8.8M
1997 · NYY / CLE
NYY · Bob Watson +$10.4M
Chad Curtis
CLE · John Hart −$10.4M
David Weathers
NYY came out ahead by $10.4M
1997 · KCR / CLE
KCR · Herk Robinson +$6.4M
Roland de la Maza
CLE · John Hart −$6.4M
Bip Roberts
KCR came out ahead by $6.4M
1997 · HOU / CLE
HOU · Gerry Hunsicker +$1.6M
José Cabrera
CLE · John Hart −$1.6M
Alvin Morman
HOU came out ahead by $1.6M
1997 · TOR / CLE
TOR · Gord Ash +$3.2M
Ryan Thompson
CLE · John Hart −$3.2M
Jeff Manto
TOR came out ahead by $3.2M
1997 · CLE / ARI
CLE · John Hart +$42.4M
Travis Fryman, Tom Martin
ARI · Joe Garagiola −$42.4M
Matt Williams
CLE came out ahead by $42.4M
1997 · ATL / CLE
ATL · John Schuerholz +$24.0M
Alan Embree, Kenny Lofton
CLE · John Hart −$24.0M
Marquis Grissom, David Justice
ATL came out ahead by $24.0M

Current & Historical Payroll

1997 payroll
$56.5M

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 (25)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Matt Williams3110.000$7.2MFREE AGENT
David Justice318.000$6.3M$6.5M$7.0M$3.7MFREE AGENT
Marquis Grissom308.000$4.8MFREE AGENT
Jack McDowell3110.000$4.8MFREE AGENT
Charles Nagy307.000$3.4M$3.4M$6.0M$6.0M$6.0M$6.0MFREE AGENT
Orel Hershiser3814.000$3.1MFREE AGENT
Omar Vizquel308.000$3.0M$3.0M$3.0M$3.0M$3.0M$4.5M$5.5M
Jim Thome266.000$2.6M$4.8M$8.2M$8.2M$7.9M$8.0MFREE AGENT
Sandy Alomar Jr.319.000$2.6M$2.7M$2.8M$2.7MFREE AGENT
Julio Franco3815.000$2.1MFREE AGENT
Mike Jackson3211.000$2.0M$2.0M$2.1MFREE AGENT
Jose Mesa3110.000$1.9M$984kFREE AGENT
Eric Plunk3311.000$1.9M$1.1MFREE AGENT
Tony Fernandez3514.000$1.6MFREE AGENT
Kevin Seitzer3511.000$1.2MFREE AGENT
Paul Assenmacher3611.000$875k$1.3M$1.5MFREE AGENT
John Smiley3211.000$865kFREE AGENT
Kevin Mitchell3513.000$500kFREE AGENT
Pat Borders349.000$400k$500k$135kFREE AGENT
Bip Roberts3311.000$374kFREE AGENT
Jeff Manto327.000$240k$129kFREE AGENT
David Weathers276.000$206kFREE AGENT
Terry Clark369.000$62kFREE AGENT
Jeff Juden266.000$49kFREE AGENT
Casey Candaele3611.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (9)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Manny Ramirez254.000$2.1MARB 3FREE AGENT
Chad Ogea263.000$533kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Paul Shuey263.000$197kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Albie Lopez254.000$176kARB 3FREE AGENT
Chad Curtis285.000$172kFREE AGENT
Jeff Branson305.000$170kFREE AGENT
Jason Jacome263.000$165kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brian Anderson254.000—ARB 3FREE AGENT
Trenidad Hubbard333.000—ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (12)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Brian Giles262.000$175kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alvin Morman281.000$165kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jaret Wright210.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bartolo Colon240.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steve Kline240.000$65kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Danny Graves231.000$53kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bruce Aven250.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Sean Casey220.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Einar Díaz241.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Damian Jackson231.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Richie Sexson220.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Enrique Wilson230.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 1997 acquisition stacked onto Guardians'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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