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Guardians CLE

199889–73 (0.549)Made Playoffs
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GM: John Hart

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 1998, 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
-10
Win %
0.549
TAB
+4.2
WAB
+3.2
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
42.1
Dead money %
20%
Depth Players
8.0
Dead WAR
-4.5

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

1998 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RSandy Alomar Jr.111
RPat Borders53
REinar Díaz17

1B

LJim Thome117
RRichie Sexson45
RJeff Manto⇄10
RCecil Fielder⇄9
LJeff Branson3

2B

LJeff Branson31
BJoey Cora⇄24
BEnrique Wilson22
BTorey Lovullo5
RJeff Manto⇄1

3B

RTravis Fryman144
LJeff Branson20
RJeff Manto⇄5
BEnrique Wilson2
RPat Borders1
LRussell Branyan1
BTorey Lovullo1

SS

BOmar Vizquel151
BEnrique Wilson10
RTravis Fryman3
LJeff Branson2
RDavid Bell⇄1
RJolbert Cabrera1

LF

LBrian Giles95
BMark Whiten43
LDavid Justice19
RShawon Dunston⇄11
RRichie Sexson3
RAlex Ramirez2

CF

LKenny Lofton154
BMark Whiten22
LBrian Giles3

RF

RManny Ramirez148
BMark Whiten13
LBrian Giles6
LDavid Justice2
RAlex Ramirez1

DH

LDavid Justice116
RGeronimo Berroa⇄20
LJim Thome6
RCecil Fielder⇄5
LBrian Giles5
RShawon Dunston⇄5
BMark Whiten3
RRichie Sexson2
RManny Ramirez2
RSandy Alomar Jr.2
RTravis Fryman2

Starters

RBartolo Colon4.4 WAR
RJaret Wright2.3 WAR
RDave Burba1.9 WAR
RDwight Gooden1.7 WAR
RCharles Nagy1.2 WAR
RChad Ogea0.4 WAR
RSteve Karsay0.1 WAR
LRick Krivda⇄-0.1 WAR
LJason Jacome-0.2 WAR

Bullpen

★ RMike Jackson40 sv
LPaul Assenmacher0 h
RJose Mesa⇄0 h
RPaul Shuey0 h
REric Plunk⇄0 h
LAlvin Morman⇄0 h
LRon Villone0 h
RDoug Jones⇄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 1997)

PlayerfWAR
Kenny Lofton5.6
Travis Fryman2.6
Dave Burba1.9
Mark Whiten1.8
Dwight Gooden1.7
Doug Jones0.7

Key subtractions (gone from 1997)

Player1997 fWAR
Matt Williams4.1
Tony Fernandez2.1
Marquis Grissom2.0
Orel Hershiser1.4
Jack McDowell0.5
Brian Anderson0.4

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 1998; everyone else is shown as a 1998 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Manny Ramirez 1998 +5.4 +88.4 2.9 +85.6 $0.5M 2.05× –
Kenny Lofton 1998 +5.6 +91.8 7.5 +84.2 $1.3M 2.05× –
Bartolo Colon 1998 +4.4 +77.6 0.2 +77.5 $0.0M 2.19× –
Brian Giles 1998 +4.0 +57.3 0.3 +57.0 $0.1M 1.79× –
Omar Vizquel 1998 +3.4 +32.4 3.0 +29.3 $0.9M 1.18× –
Mike Jackson 1998 +1.9 +29.5 2.0 +27.5 $1.1M 1.95× –
Jaret Wright 1998 +2.3 +26.8 0.2 +26.6 $0.1M 1.49× –
Jim Thome 1998 +3.3 +28.4 4.8 +23.6 $1.4M 1.07× –
Dave Burba 1998 +1.9 +22.7 2.8 +19.9 $1.5M 1.49× –
Travis Fryman 1998 +2.6 +23.7 5.4 +18.3 $2.0M 1.12× –
Dwight Gooden 1998 +1.7 +20.5 2.8 +17.8 $1.6M 1.49× –
Mark Whiten 1998 +1.8 +17.1 0.2 +16.9 $0.1M 1.22× –
David Justice 1998 +1.7 +13.7 6.5 +7.2 $3.8M 1.01× –
Doug Jones↔ 1998 +0.7 +7.9 0.8 +7.1 $1.1M 1.34× –
Charles Nagy 1998 +1.2 +10.1 3.4 +6.7 $2.8M 1.02× –
Richie Sexson 1998 +1.0 +4.3 0.2 +4.1 $0.2M 0.56× –
David Bell↔ 1998 +0.5 +2.4 0.2 +2.2 $0.3M 0.61× –
Paul Shuey 1998 +0.5 +2.8 0.6 +2.2 $1.1M 0.67× –
Paul Assenmacher 1998 +0.6 +3.4 1.3 +2.1 $2.1M 0.67× –
Enrique Wilson 1998 +0.5 +2.0 0.2 +1.9 $0.4M 0.56× –
Alvin Morman↔ 1998 +0.3 +1.6 0.2 +1.4 $0.6M 0.67× –
Chad Ogea 1998 +0.4 +1.9 1.0 +0.9 $2.8M 0.67× –
Jim Poole↔ 1998 +0.2 +1.2 0.3 +0.9 $1.4M 0.67× –
Steve Reed↔ 1998 +0.1 +0.7 0.3 +0.5 $2.1M 0.67× –
Einar Díaz 1998 +0.1 +0.5 0.2 +0.4 $1.4M 0.52× –
Tim Worrell↔ 1998 +0.1 +0.3 0.1 +0.2 $1.4M 0.67× –
Steve Karsay 1998 +0.1 +0.5 0.4 +0.1 $4.3M 0.67× –
Eric Plunk↔ 1998 +0.2 +1.0 1.1 -0.1 $5.9M 0.67× –
Jacob Cruz↔ 1998 -0.0 -0.2 0.0 -0.2 – 0.83× –
Matt Luke↔ 1998 -0.0 -0.3 0.0 -0.3 – 0.83× –
Jolbert Cabrera 1998 -0.0 -0.2 0.2 -0.4 – 0.61× –
Rick Krivda↔ 1998 -0.1 -0.4 0.1 -0.5 – 0.67× –
Russell Branyan 1998 -0.1 -0.5 0.2 -0.6 – 0.58× –
Jose Mesa↔ 1998 -0.0 -0.2 1.0 -1.2 – 0.67× –
Jeff Manto↔ 1998 -0.3 -1.4 0.1 -1.5 – 0.56× –
Geronimo Berroa↔ 1998 -0.3 -1.4 0.6 -2.0 – 0.69× –
Ron Villone 1998 -0.3 -1.8 0.2 -2.1 – 0.67× –
Tom Martin 1998 -0.4 -1.9 0.2 -2.1 – 0.67× –
Joey Cora↔ 1998 -0.5 -2.2 0.3 -2.5 – 0.56× –
Pat Borders 1998 -0.5 -2.1 0.5 -2.6 – 0.52× –
Sandy Alomar Jr. 1998 +0.0 +0.1 2.7 -2.6 $121.6M 0.52× –
Shawon Dunston↔ 1998 -0.3 -2.3 0.6 -2.9 – 0.83× –
Cecil Fielder↔ 1998 -0.6 -2.7 0.3 -3.1 – 0.56× –
Jeff Branson 1998 -0.6 -2.8 0.6 -3.4 – 0.56× –
Alex Ramirez 1998 -0.1 -0.9 – – – 0.83× –
Jason Jacome 1998 -0.2 -1.2 – – – 1.02× –
Jason Rakers 1998 -0.0 -0.2 – – – 0.67× –
Torey Lovullo 1998 -0.0 -0.0 – – – 0.56× –
Total—+42.2+547.956.5+494.0—

Trades

Every graded 1998 deal involving the Guardians — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 10 total.

1998 · CLE / OAK
CLE · John Hart +$0.8M
Adam Robinson
OAK · Billy Beane −$0.8M
Tim Worrell
CLE came out ahead by $0.8M
1998 · CLE / DET
CLE · John Hart +$6.4M
Dave Roberts, Tim Worrell
DET · Randy Smith −$6.4M
Gerónimo Berroa
CLE came out ahead by $6.4M
1998 · SEA / CLE
SEA · Woody Woodward +$21.6M
David Bell
CLE · John Hart −$21.6M
Joey Cora
SEA came out ahead by $21.6M
1998 · CLE / MIL
CLE · John Hart +$14.4M
Doug Jones
MIL · Sal Bando −$14.4M
Eric Plunk
CLE came out ahead by $14.4M
1998 · CLE / SFG
CLE · John Hart +$4.8M
Jacob Cruz, Steve Reed
SFG · Brian Sabean −$4.8M
Shawon Dunston, José Mesa, Alvin Morman
CLE came out ahead by $4.8M
1998 · CLE / CIN
CLE · John Hart +$4.8M
Eddie Priest, Christian Rojas
CIN · Jim Bowden −$4.8M
Rick Krivda
CLE came out ahead by $4.8M
1998 · CLE / PHI
CLE · John Hart +$7.2M
Jerry Spradlin
PHI · Ed Wade −$7.2M
Chad Ogea
CLE came out ahead by $7.2M
1998 · CLE / CIN
CLE · John Hart +$19.2M
Dave Burba
CIN · Jim Bowden −$19.2M
Sean Casey
CLE came out ahead by $19.2M
1998 · CLE / MIL
CLE · John Hart +$0.0M
Mark Watson
MIL · Sal Bando +$0.0M
Ben McDonald
Even trade
1998 · PIT / CLE
PIT · Cam Bonifay +$401.6M
Brian Giles
CLE · John Hart −$401.6M
Ricardo Rincón
PIT came out ahead by $401.6M

Current & Historical Payroll

1998 payroll
$56.4M

What the front office was committed to as of 1998, 1998–2004. 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)

PlayerAgeSvc1998199920002001200220032004
Kenny Lofton317.000$7.5M$7.5M$7.5M$8.0MFREE AGENT
David Justice329.000$6.5M$7.0M$3.7MFREE AGENT
Travis Fryman298.000$5.4M$5.2M$5.5M$5.8M$5.8MFREE AGENT
Jim Thome277.000$4.8M$8.2M$8.2M$7.9M$8.0MFREE AGENT
Charles Nagy318.000$3.4M$6.0M$6.0M$6.0M$6.0MFREE AGENT
Omar Vizquel319.000$3.0M$3.0M$3.0M$3.0M$4.5M$5.5M$6.0M
Dave Burba318.000$2.8M$4.7M$5.0M$5.0M$1.3MFREE AGENT
Dwight Gooden3314.000$2.8M$2.6MFREE AGENT
Sandy Alomar Jr.3210.000$2.7M$2.8M$2.7MFREE AGENT
Mike Jackson3312.000$2.0M$2.1MFREE AGENT
Paul Assenmacher3712.000$1.3M$1.5MFREE AGENT
Eric Plunk3412.000$1.1MFREE AGENT
Jose Mesa3211.000$984kFREE AGENT
Doug Jones4116.000$833kFREE AGENT
Shawon Dunston3513.000$633kFREE AGENT
Geronimo Berroa339.000$611kFREE AGENT
Jeff Branson316.000$550kFREE AGENT
Pat Borders3510.000$500k$135kFREE AGENT
Cecil Fielder3413.000$335kFREE AGENT
Jim Poole328.000$316k$472kFREE AGENT
Steve Reed336.000$286k$1.4M$1.6M$891kFREE AGENT
Joey Cora3311.000$263kFREE AGENT
Mark Whiten318.000$200k$450kFREE AGENT
Jeff Manto338.000$121kFREE AGENT
Torey Lovullo3210.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (10)

PlayerAgeSvc1998199920002001200220032004
Manny Ramirez265.000$2.9MFREE AGENT
Chad Ogea274.000$1.0MARB 3FREE AGENT
Paul Shuey274.000$568kARB 3FREE AGENT
Steve Karsay265.000$400kFREE AGENT
Brian Giles273.000$300kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ron Villone283.000$240kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
David Bell253.000$162kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Rick Krivda283.000$84kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tim Worrell305.000$70kFREE AGENT
Jason Jacome274.000—ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (13)

PlayerAgeSvc1998199920002001200220032004
Tom Martin281.000$190kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jaret Wright221.000$190kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bartolo Colon251.000$180kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Einar Díaz252.000$178kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Richie Sexson231.000$175kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Enrique Wilson241.000$175kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alvin Morman292.000$170kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Russell Branyan220.000$170kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jolbert Cabrera250.000$170kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jacob Cruz252.000$43kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Matt Luke272.000$3kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jason Rakers250.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alex Ramirez230.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 1998 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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