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Guardians CLE

200480–82 (0.494)
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GM: Mark Shapiro

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2004, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$34M
Surplus $M
+27
Win %
0.494
TAB
+9.9
WAB
+6.4
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
36.2
Dead money %
38%
Depth Players
9.0
Dead WAR
-4.6

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2004 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

BVictor Martinez132
RTim Laker41
BJosh Bard7
LSandy Martinez⇄1

1B

LBen Broussard133
RLou Merloni42
LTravis Hafner11
RCasey Blake8
RJosh Phelps⇄5

2B

RRonnie Belliard151
RJohn McDonald12
RLou Merloni7
RBrandon Phillips6

3B

RCasey Blake152
RLou Merloni10
RJohn McDonald9
RJhonny Peralta2

SS

BOmar Vizquel147
RJohn McDonald30
RJhonny Peralta7

LF

LMatt Lawton III124
BCoco Crisp37
RAlex Escobar8
RMark Little4
RLou Merloni4
LJody Gerut2
RRaul Gonzalez1

CF

BCoco Crisp94
LGrady Sizemore42
RAlex Escobar21
LJody Gerut12
RMark Little5

RF

LJody Gerut118
LMatt Lawton III19
RAlex Escobar15
RRyan Ludwick15
RMark Little4
RRaul Gonzalez3

DH

LTravis Hafner121
RJosh Phelps⇄19
BVictor Martinez7
RAlex Escobar3
BCoco Crisp3
LMatt Lawton III3
RErnie Young1
LJody Gerut1
RRonnie Belliard1

Starters

RJake Westbrook3.0 WAR
LCC Sabathia2.8 WAR
LCliff Lee1.1 WAR
RJason Davis0.9 WAR
RKazuhito Tadano0.5 WAR
LJason Stanford0.3 WAR
RJeff D'Amico0.1 WAR
RScott Elarton⇄0.1 WAR
RFrancisco Cruceta0.1 WAR
RJoe Dawley0.0 WAR
RKyle Denney-0.0 WAR
RChad Durbin⇄-0.3 WAR

Bullpen

★ RBob Wickman13 sv
RRafael Betancourt12 h
RDavid Riske9 h
RBob Howry8 h
RMatt Miller7 h
LCliff Bartosh3 h
RRick White2 h
RJose Jimenez1 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 2003)

PlayerfWAR
Ronnie Belliard3.1
Matt Miller1.2
Grady Sizemore1.0
Kazuhito Tadano0.5
Bob Howry0.4
Josh Phelps0.2

Key subtractions (gone from 2003)

Player2003 fWAR
Milton Bradley4.1
Brian Anderson1.4
Billy Traber1.0
Shane Spencer0.8
Danys Baez0.8
Ellis Burks0.6

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 2004; everyone else is shown as a 2004 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Coco Crisp 2004 +4.0 +56.7 0.3 +56.4 $0.1M 1.79× –
Travis Hafner 2004 +4.7 +56.5 0.3 +56.2 $0.1M 1.49× –
Jake Westbrook 2004 +3.0 +46.4 0.9 +45.5 $0.3M 1.96× –
CC Sabathia 2004 +2.8 +43.4 2.7 +40.7 $1.0M 1.96× –
Casey Blake 2004 +3.4 +30.0 0.4 +29.6 $0.1M 1.12× –
Rafael Betancourt 2004 +1.8 +27.4 0.3 +27.1 $0.2M 1.95× –
Victor Martinez 2004 +3.3 +26.7 0.3 +26.4 $0.1M 1.00× –
Ronnie Belliard 2004 +3.1 +26.9 1.1 +25.8 $0.4M 1.07× –
Omar Vizquel 2004 +3.2 +30.4 6.0 +24.4 $1.9M 1.18× –
Ben Broussard 2004 +2.1 +13.5 0.3 +13.1 $0.2M 0.81× –
Cliff Lee 2004 +1.1 +9.0 0.3 +8.7 $0.3M 1.02× –
Jason Davis 2004 +0.9 +7.5 0.3 +7.1 $0.4M 1.02× –
Alex Escobar 2004 +0.9 +5.8 0.3 +5.5 $0.3M 0.83× –
Jody Gerut 2004 +0.7 +4.5 0.3 +4.2 $0.5M 0.83× –
Jason Stanford 2004 +0.3 +2.0 0.3 +1.7 $1.2M 1.02× –
Josh Bard 2004 +0.4 +1.7 0.3 +1.4 $0.8M 0.52× –
Josh Phelps↔ 2004 +0.2 +1.3 0.1 +1.2 $0.3M 0.69× –
Scott Elarton↔ 2004 +0.1 +1.1 0.3 +0.8 $2.5M 1.02× –
Jeff D'Amico 2004 +0.1 +1.2 0.8 +0.4 $5.2M 1.02× –
John McDonald 2004 +0.1 +0.6 0.3 +0.3 $2.7M 0.61× –
Scott Stewart↔ 2004 +0.2 +0.8 0.6 +0.2 $3.7M 0.67× –
David Riske 2004 +0.1 +1.1 1.0 +0.1 $9.9M 1.34× –
Ryan Ludwick 2004 +0.1 +0.4 0.3 +0.1 $4.7M 0.83× –
Lou Merloni 2004 +0.1 +0.3 0.6 -0.3 $8.5M 0.56× –
Jeremy Guthrie 2004 -0.0 -0.1 0.6 -0.7 – 0.67× –
Chad Durbin↔ 2004 -0.3 -1.5 0.2 -1.7 – 0.67× –
Tim Laker 2004 -0.3 -1.2 0.5 -1.7 – 0.52× –
Jack Cressend 2004 -0.4 -2.4 0.3 -2.7 – 0.67× –
Matt Lawton III 2004 +0.6 +4.1 7.2 -3.1 $11.7M 0.83× –
Bob Wickman 2004 +0.1 +1.4 6.0 -4.6 $45.2M 1.34× –
Jose Jimenez 2004 -0.6 -5.9 1.0 -6.9 – 1.34× –
Bob Howry 2004 +0.4 +2.3 – – – 0.67× –
Brandon Phillips 2004 -0.3 -1.2 – – – 0.56× –
Cliff Bartosh 2004 -0.0 -0.3 – – – 0.67× –
David Lee 2004 +0.0 +0.0 – – – 0.67× –
Ernie Young 2004 +0.1 +0.4 – – – 0.69× –
Fernando Cabrera 2004 +0.1 +0.6 – – – 0.67× –
Francisco Cruceta 2004 +0.1 +0.8 – – – 1.02× –
Grady Sizemore 2004 +1.0 +6.6 – – – 0.83× –
Jake Robbins 2004 -0.1 -0.4 – – – 0.67× –
Jason Anderson 2004 -0.1 -0.6 – – – 0.67× –
Jeriome Robertson 2004 -0.8 -4.0 – – – 0.67× –
Jhonny Peralta 2004 -0.3 -1.3 – – – 0.61× –
Joe Dawley 2004 +0.0 +0.2 – – – 1.02× –
Kazuhito Tadano 2004 +0.5 +2.5 – – – 0.67× –
Kyle Denney 2004 -0.0 -0.1 – – – 1.02× –
Lou Pote 2004 +0.1 +0.5 – – – 0.67× –
Mark Little 2004 -0.4 -2.5 – – – 0.83× –
Matt Miller 2004 +1.2 +6.2 – – – 0.67× –
Raul Gonzalez 2004 -0.1 -0.8 – – – 0.83× –
Rick White 2004 -0.9 -5.0 – – – 0.67× –
Sandy Martinez↔ 2004 -0.0 -0.2 – – – 0.52× –
Total—+36.3+393.334.2+355.2—

Trades

Every graded 2004 deal involving the Guardians — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 10 total.

2004 · CLE / TOR
CLE · Mark Shapiro +$0.8M
Josh Phelps
TOR · JP Ricciardi −$0.8M
Eric Crozier
CLE came out ahead by $0.8M
2004 · HOU / CLE
HOU · Gerry Hunsicker +$40.0M
Luke Scott
CLE · Mark Shapiro −$40.0M
Jeriome Robertson
HOU came out ahead by $40.0M
2004 · CLE / PIT
CLE · Mark Shapiro +$9.6M
Arthur Rhodes
PIT · Dave Littlefield −$9.6M
Matt Lawton
CLE came out ahead by $9.6M
2004 · PHI / CLE
PHI · Ed Wade +$0.0M
Robert Ellis
CLE · Mark Shapiro +$0.0M
Scott Youngbauer
Even trade
2004 · CLE / ATL
CLE · Mark Shapiro +$4.0M
Russell Branyan
ATL · John Schuerholz −$4.0M
Scott Sturkie
CLE came out ahead by $4.0M
2004 · TOR / CLE
TOR · JP Ricciardi +$6.4M
John McDonald
CLE · Mark Shapiro −$6.4M
Tom Mastny
TOR came out ahead by $6.4M
2004 · WSN / CLE
WSN · Omar Minaya +$56.8M
Ryan Church, Maicer Izturis
CLE · Mark Shapiro −$56.8M
Scott Stewart
WSN came out ahead by $56.8M
2004 · LAD / CLE
LAD · Dan Evans +$5.6M
Trey Dyson
CLE · Mark Shapiro −$5.6M
Rick White
LAD came out ahead by $5.6M
2004 · WSN / CLE
WSN · Omar Minaya +$0.0M
Jeriome Robertson
CLE · Mark Shapiro +$0.0M
Pierre-Luc Marceau
Even trade
2004 · LAD / CLE
LAD · Dan Evans +$20.8M
Milton Bradley
CLE · Mark Shapiro −$20.8M
Franklin Gutiérrez, Andrew Brown
LAD came out ahead by $20.8M

Current & Historical Payroll

2004 payroll
$34.4M

What the front office was committed to as of 2004, 2004–2010. 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 (14)

PlayerAgeSvc2004200520062007200820092010
Matt Lawton III329.000$7.2MFREE AGENT
Bob Wickman3512.000$6.0M$2.8M$2.5MFREE AGENT
Omar Vizquel3715.000$6.0MFREE AGENT
Ronnie Belliard296.000$1.1M$2.5M$2.5MFREE AGENT
Jose Jimenez306.000$1.0MFREE AGENT
Jeff D'Amico288.000$750kFREE AGENT
Lou Merloni336.000$560kFREE AGENT
Tim Laker3412.000$450kFREE AGENT
Scott Elarton286.000$348k$850kFREE AGENT
Sandy Martinez339.000—FREE AGENT
Rick White3510.000—FREE AGENT
Ernie Young3410.000—FREE AGENT
Bob Howry306.000—$900kFREE AGENT
Mark Little316.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (12)

PlayerAgeSvc2004200520062007200820092010
CC Sabathia233.000$2.7MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
David Riske275.000$1.0MFREE AGENT
Jake Westbrook264.000$925kARB 3FREE AGENT
Scott Stewart283.000$575kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Casey Blake305.000$352kFREE AGENT
John McDonald295.000$324kFREE AGENT
Jack Cressend294.000$322kARB 3FREE AGENT
Alex Escobar253.000$302kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chad Durbin265.000$223kFREE AGENT
Josh Phelps264.000$80kARB 3FREE AGENT
Lou Pote325.000—FREE AGENT
David Lee315.000—FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (26)

PlayerAgeSvc2004200520062007200820092010
Jeremy Guthrie250.000$625kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jason Davis242.000$327kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jody Gerut261.000$326kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ben Broussard272.000$324kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Coco Crisp242.000$319kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Josh Bard262.000$317kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Travis Hafner272.000$316kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Rafael Betancourt291.000$305kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ryan Ludwick252.000$305kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Victor Martinez252.000$304kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Cliff Lee252.000$303kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jason Stanford271.000$303kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jeriome Robertson272.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Raul Gonzalez30–—
Matt Miller321.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jake Robbins28–—
Cliff Bartosh240.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brandon Phillips232.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Joe Dawley322.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jason Anderson251.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Fernando Cabrera220.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jhonny Peralta221.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Francisco Cruceta22–—
Grady Sizemore210.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Denney26–—
Kazuhito Tadano24–—

Graphs

How each 2004 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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