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Tigers DET

198959–103 (0.364)
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GM: Bill Lajoie

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 1989, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$16M
Surplus $M
-10
Win %
0.364
TAB
-20.8
WAB
-24.6
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
15.0
Dead money %
36%
Depth Players
5.0
Dead WAR
-9.4

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

1989 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RMike Heath117
LMatt Nokes51
RMatt Sinatro13
RJeff Datz6
RKeith Moreland⇄1

1B

LDave Bergman123
RKeith Moreland⇄31
RGary Ward⇄26
BTorey Lovullo18
RRick Schu3
LBilly Bean⇄2
RKenny Williams1

2B

LLou Whitaker145
BMike Brumley24
BDoug Strange9
RAl Pedrique8
RRick Schu6

3B

RRick Schu83
BDoug Strange54
RChris Brown17
RAl Pedrique12
RKeith Moreland⇄12
BMike Brumley11
BTorey Lovullo11
RMike Heath4

SS

RAlan Trammell117
BMike Brumley42
RAl Pedrique12
BDoug Strange9
RRick Schu3

LF

LFred Lynn68
RGary Ward⇄35
RKenny Williams28
RTracy Jones⇄27
LRob Richie11
LScott Lusader4
RMike Heath3
LDave Bergman1
RFrank Williams1
BMike Brumley1

CF

BGary Pettis119
RKenny Williams35
LScott Lusader8
RGary Ward⇄5
BMike Brumley1

RF

RChet Lemon111
RKenny Williams27
LScott Lusader24
RGary Ward⇄20
RTracy Jones⇄16
LRob Richie2
BMike Brumley2
RFrank Williams1

DH

LFred Lynn34
LMatt Nokes27
RGary Ward⇄17
RChet Lemon10
LPat Sheridan⇄8
RRick Schu7
LDave Bergman3
RTracy Jones⇄3
RJeff Datz1
RAlan Trammell1
BDoug Strange1
RMike Heath1
BMike Brumley1
LLou Whitaker1
LRob Richie1

Starters

LFrank Tanana3.1 WAR
RJack Morris1.4 WAR
RKevin Ritz1.3 WAR
RDoyle Alexander0.9 WAR
LPaul Gibson0.8 WAR
LBrian Dubois0.2 WAR
RDavid Palmer0.2 WAR
RMike Trujillo0.0 WAR
LSteve Searcy-0.1 WAR
RJeff Robinson-0.2 WAR
RMike Schwabe-0.3 WAR
RRandy Nosek-0.3 WAR
RDave Beard-0.4 WAR
LBrad Havens⇄-0.4 WAR
RCharles Hudson-1.1 WAR

Bullpen

★ LWillie Hernandez15 sv
RMike Henneman0 h
RFrank Williams0 h
REdwin Nunez0 h
RMike Schwabe0 h
LBrad Havens⇄0 h
LSteve Searcy0 h
RRamon Pena0 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 1988)

PlayerfWAR
Kevin Ritz1.3
Keith Moreland0.7
Gary Ward0.4
Brian Dubois0.2
David Palmer0.2
Ramon Pena0.2

Key subtractions (gone from 1988)

Player1988 fWAR
Luis Salazar2.1
Walt Terrell1.5
Dwayne Murphy1.3
Darrell Evans1.1
Tom Brookens1.0
Eric King0.4

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Tigers. Guaranteed contracts from the 2015-present contract-data period use the known contract period through 1989; everyone else is shown as a 1989 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Lou Whitaker 1989 +5.1 +56.2 1.0 +55.2 $0.2M 1.38× –
Frank Tanana 1989 +3.1 +48.0 0.9 +47.1 $0.3M 1.96× –
Alan Trammell 1989 +3.0 +28.0 1.1 +26.9 $0.4M 1.18× –
Gary Pettis 1989 +2.4 +23.6 0.4 +23.2 $0.2M 1.22× –
Mike Heath 1989 +2.6 +20.7 0.4 +20.2 $0.2M 1.00× –
Kevin Ritz 1989 +1.3 +10.7 0.1 +10.7 $0.1M 1.02× –
Jack Morris 1989 +1.4 +11.5 2.0 +9.5 $1.4M 1.02× –
Doyle Alexander 1989 +0.9 +7.3 1.0 +6.3 $1.1M 1.02× –
Mike Henneman 1989 +0.5 +5.9 0.2 +5.7 $0.4M 1.34× –
Paul Gibson 1989 +0.8 +4.1 0.1 +4.0 $0.1M 0.67× –
Gary Ward↔ 1989 +0.4 +2.8 0.1 +2.8 $0.1M 0.83× –
Fred Lynn 1989 +0.6 +3.8 1.6 +2.2 $2.8M 0.83× –
Keith Moreland↔ 1989 +0.7 +3.0 1.1 +1.9 $1.6M 0.56× –
Brian Dubois 1989 +0.2 +1.6 0.1 +1.6 $0.3M 1.02× –
Dave Bergman 1989 +0.4 +1.8 0.4 +1.4 $1.1M 0.56× –
Matt Nokes 1989 +0.4 +1.6 0.2 +1.4 $0.5M 0.52× –
David Palmer 1989 +0.2 +1.5 0.2 +1.3 $0.9M 1.02× –
Pat Sheridan↔ 1989 -0.1 -0.5 0.2 -0.6 – 0.69× –
Rick Schu 1989 -0.1 -0.4 0.2 -0.6 – 0.58× –
Steve Searcy 1989 -0.1 -0.7 0.1 -0.7 – 0.67× –
Billy Bean↔ 1989 -0.3 -1.2 0.0 -1.2 – 0.56× –
Tracy Jones↔ 1989 -0.2 -1.1 0.2 -1.3 – 0.83× –
Chris Brown 1989 -0.2 -1.2 0.3 -1.4 – 0.58× –
Willie Hernandez 1989 -0.0 -0.1 1.3 -1.4 – 1.34× –
Jeff Robinson 1989 -0.2 -1.4 0.2 -1.6 – 1.02× –
Brad Havens↔ 1989 -0.4 -2.1 0.1 -2.3 – 0.67× –
Doug Strange 1989 -0.6 -2.8 0.1 -2.8 – 0.58× –
Dave Beard 1989 -0.4 -3.1 0.1 -3.2 – 1.02× –
Frank Williams 1989 -0.6 -3.0 0.4 -3.4 – 0.67× –
Kenny Williams 1989 -0.5 -3.6 0.1 -3.7 – 0.83× –
Charles Hudson 1989 -1.1 -5.6 0.5 -6.2 – 0.67× –
Chet Lemon 1989 -1.0 -6.5 0.8 -7.4 – 0.83× –
Mike Brumley 1989 -1.7 -8.2 0.1 -8.3 – 0.61× –
Al Pedrique 1989 -0.1 -0.4 – – – 0.58× –
Ed Nunez 1989 -0.4 -2.1 – – – 0.67× –
Jeff Datz 1989 +0.1 +0.4 – – – 0.52× –
Matt Sinatro 1989 -0.3 -1.3 – – – 0.52× –
Mike Schwabe 1989 -0.3 -1.5 – – – 0.67× –
Mike Trujillo 1989 +0.0 +0.3 – – – 1.02× –
Ramon Pena 1989 +0.2 +0.9 – – – 0.67× –
Randy Bockus 1989 +0.1 +0.3 – – – 0.67× –
Randy Nosek 1989 -0.3 -2.8 – – – 1.02× –
Rob Richie 1989 +0.0 +0.2 – – – 0.83× –
Scott Lusader 1989 +0.1 +0.5 – – – 0.83× –
Shawn Holman 1989 -0.0 -0.1 – – – 0.67× –
Torey Lovullo 1989 -0.6 -2.7 – – – 0.56× –
Total—+15.0+182.315.6+175.3—

Trades

Every graded 1989 deal involving the Tigers — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 7 total.

1989 · SFG / DET
SFG · Al Rosen +$8.0M
Pat Sheridan
DET · Bill Lajoie −$8.0M
Tracy Jones
SFG came out ahead by $8.0M
1989 · DET / BAL
DET · Bill Lajoie +$20.0M
Brian Dubois
BAL · Roland Hemond −$20.0M
Keith Moreland
DET came out ahead by $20.0M
1989 · NYY / DET
NYY · Bob Quinn +$1.6M
Tom Brookens
DET · Bill Lajoie −$1.6M
Charles Hudson
NYY came out ahead by $1.6M
1989 · CHW / DET
CHW · Larry Himes +$29.6M
Eric King
DET · Bill Lajoie −$29.6M
Ken Williams
CHW came out ahead by $29.6M
1989 · SDP / DET
SDP · Jack McKeon +$12.0M
Luis Salazar
DET · Bill Lajoie −$12.0M
Mike Brumley
SDP came out ahead by $12.0M
1989 · STL / DET
STL · Dal Maxvill +$1.6M
Pat Austin, Bill Henderson, Marcos Betances
DET · Bill Lajoie −$1.6M
Jim Lindeman, Matt Kinzer
STL came out ahead by $1.6M
1989 · DET / LAD
DET · Bill Lajoie +$3.2M
Steve Green, Domingo Michel
LAD · Fred Claire −$3.2M
Billy Bean
DET came out ahead by $3.2M

Current & Historical Payroll

1989 payroll
$15.5M

What the front office was committed to as of 1989, 1989–1995. 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)

PlayerAgeSvc1989199019911992199319941995
Jack Morris3412.000$2.0M$2.1MFREE AGENT
Fred Lynn3715.000$1.6MFREE AGENT
Willie Hernandez3412.000$1.3MFREE AGENT
Alan Trammell3112.000$1.1M$1.8M$2.2M$2.4M$1.8M$3.0M$1.3M
Keith Moreland3511.000$1.1MFREE AGENT
Lou Whitaker3212.000$1.0M$1.8M$2.0M$2.2M$3.4M$2.8M$3.8M
Doyle Alexander3818.000$1.0MFREE AGENT
Frank Tanana3516.000$925k$1.1M$1.9M$1.7MFREE AGENT
Chet Lemon3414.000$829k$829kFREE AGENT
Charles Hudson306.000$525kFREE AGENT
Gary Pettis317.000$440kFREE AGENT
Dave Bergman3614.000$438k$525k$575k$375kFREE AGENT
Mike Heath3411.000$425k$600kFREE AGENT
Pat Sheridan318.000$179kFREE AGENT
David Palmer3111.000$175kFREE AGENT
Brad Havens298.000$146kFREE AGENT
Dave Beard299.000$90kFREE AGENT
Gary Ward3510.000$63k$538kFREE AGENT
Ed Nunez267.000—$400kFREE AGENT
Matt Sinatro298.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (7)

PlayerAgeSvc1989199019911992199319941995
Frank Williams315.000$425kFREE AGENT
Chris Brown275.000$278kFREE AGENT
Matt Nokes254.000$195kARB 3FREE AGENT
Rick Schu275.000$185kFREE AGENT
Tracy Jones283.000$160kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kenny Williams253.000$118kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Trujillo294.000—ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (19)

PlayerAgeSvc1989199019911992199319941995
Mike Henneman272.000$195kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jeff Robinson272.000$175kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Paul Gibson291.000$92kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Brumley262.000$75kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steve Searcy251.000$69kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brian Dubois220.000$68kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Doug Strange250.000$68kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kevin Ritz240.000$68kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Billy Bean252.000$11kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Randy Bockus28–—
Jeff Datz29–—
Shawn Holman24–—
Torey Lovullo231.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Scott Lusader242.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Randy Nosek220.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Al Pedrique282.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ramon Pena27–—
Rob Richie23–—
Mike Schwabe240.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 1989 acquisition stacked onto Tigers'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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