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Tigers DET

199865–97 (0.401)
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GM: Randy Smith

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
$22M
Surplus $M
+10
Win %
0.401
TAB
+2.9
WAB
-8.8
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
29.4
Dead money %
40%
Depth Players
5.0
Dead WAR
-4.7

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

1998 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

LPaul Bako94
LJoe Siddall27
BRaul Casanova14
LRobert Fick3

1B

BTony Clark142
LFrank Catalanotto18
RJeff Manto⇄12
RJason Wood⇄6
RJoe Oliver⇄2
RBilly Ripken2
LRobert Fick1
RJoe Randa1

2B

RDamion Easley140
LFrank Catalanotto31
RJoe Randa20
BBip Roberts⇄8
RBilly Ripken2

3B

RJoe Randa118
RGabe Alvarez55
LFrank Catalanotto3
RBilly Ripken2

SS

RDeivi Cruz135
RDamion Easley30
RBilly Ripken21
RJason Wood⇄3

LF

LLuis Gonzalez132
LBobby Higginson17
RGerónimo Berroa⇄16
RKimera Bartee11
RJuan Encarnacion8
LAndy Tomberlin4
LTrey Beamon2
RJeff Manto⇄1

CF

RBrian L. Hunter139
RKimera Bartee18
RJuan Encarnacion13
LLuis Gonzalez3

RF

LBobby Higginson136
RJuan Encarnacion21
RGabe Kapler6
RGerónimo Berroa⇄2
LTrey Beamon2
LAndy Tomberlin1
LJoe Siddall1
RKimera Bartee1

DH

RGerónimo Berroa⇄36
BBip Roberts⇄26
LFrank Catalanotto19
LAndy Tomberlin17
LLuis Gonzalez17
BTony Clark15
LTrey Beamon7
RJason Wood⇄3
RKimera Bartee3
RJeff Manto⇄3
RPete Incaviglia⇄3
RDamion Easley2
LBobby Higginson2
RGabe Alvarez2
LRobert Fick2
RBilly Ripken1

Starters

LJustin Thompson4.3 WAR
RBrian Moehler3.1 WAR
RBryce Florie1.5 WAR
RSeth Greisinger1.3 WAR
RFrank Castillo1.0 WAR
RTim Worrell⇄0.6 WAR
RGreg Keagle0.2 WAR
RScott Sanders⇄0.1 WAR
RA.J. Sager0.0 WAR
RDenny Harriger0.0 WAR
RBrian Powell-0.0 WAR

Bullpen

★ RTodd Jones28 sv
LSean Runyan0 h
RDoug Brocail0 h
RDoug Bochtler0 h
RMatt Anderson0 h
RDean Crow0 h
RA.J. Sager0 h
LRoberto Duran0 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
Joe Randa1.8
Luis Gonzalez1.7
Bryce Florie1.5
Seth Greisinger1.3
Frank Castillo1.0
Paul Bako0.6

Key subtractions (gone from 1997)

Player1997 fWAR
Travis Fryman3.1
Willie Blair2.9
Omar Olivares2.0
Bob Hamelin1.2
Felipe Lira0.5
Glenn Dishman0.3

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

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Justin Thompson 1998 +4.3 +75.8 0.4 +75.4 $0.1M 2.19× –
Brian Moehler 1998 +3.1 +47.9 0.2 +47.7 $0.1M 1.96× –
Damion Easley 1998 +4.8 +46.1 2.0 +44.1 $0.4M 1.20× –
Tony Clark 1998 +3.3 +27.9 0.8 +27.1 $0.2M 1.07× –
Bobby Higginson 1998 +2.3 +21.9 2.4 +19.5 $1.1M 1.22× –
Luis Gonzalez 1998 +1.7 +17.0 2.0 +15.0 $1.1M 1.22× –
Doug Brocail 1998 +1.7 +13.0 0.8 +12.2 $0.5M 0.98× –
Joe Randa 1998 +1.8 +12.3 0.4 +11.9 $0.2M 0.85× –
Bryce Florie 1998 +1.5 +12.0 0.6 +11.4 $0.4M 0.98× –
Seth Greisinger 1998 +1.3 +10.2 0.2 +10.0 $0.1M 1.02× –
Brian L. Hunter 1998 +1.4 +9.6 0.6 +9.0 $0.4M 0.83× –
Deivi Cruz 1998 +1.4 +7.1 0.2 +6.8 $0.2M 0.61× –
Frank Castillo 1998 +1.0 +7.9 1.8 +6.2 $1.8M 1.02× –
Juan Encarnacion 1998 +0.7 +4.9 0.2 +4.7 $0.2M 0.83× –
Tim Worrell↔ 1998 +0.6 +4.5 0.3 +4.1 $0.6M 1.02× –
Kimera Bartee 1998 +0.4 +2.8 0.2 +2.6 $0.5M 0.83× –
Paul Bako 1998 +0.6 +2.3 0.2 +2.2 $0.3M 0.52× –
Matt Anderson 1998 +0.4 +2.2 0.2 +2.1 $0.4M 0.67× –
Greg Keagle 1998 +0.2 +1.9 0.2 +1.7 $0.9M 1.02× –
Robert Fick 1998 +0.4 +1.8 0.2 +1.6 $0.5M 0.52× –
Todd Jones 1998 +0.3 +3.7 2.2 +1.4 $6.6M 1.34× –
Frank Catalanotto 1998 +0.3 +1.4 0.2 +1.2 $0.5M 0.56× –
Joe Siddall 1998 +0.1 +0.5 0.2 +0.3 $1.5M 0.52× –
Scott Sanders↔ 1998 +0.1 +0.5 0.2 +0.3 $3.5M 1.02× –
Jason Wood↔ 1998 +0.1 +0.4 0.1 +0.2 $1.6M 0.56× –
Jeff Manto↔ 1998 +0.1 +0.4 0.1 +0.2 $1.9M 0.69× –
Billy Ripken 1998 +0.1 +0.5 0.4 +0.1 $4.3M 0.61× –
A.J. Sager 1998 +0.0 +0.1 0.3 -0.2 $23.9M 0.67× –
Roberto Duran 1998 -0.0 -0.2 0.2 -0.4 – 0.67× –
Trey Beamon 1998 -0.0 -0.2 0.2 -0.4 – 0.69× –
Brian Powell 1998 -0.0 -0.4 0.2 -0.6 – 1.02× –
Sean Runyan 1998 -0.1 -0.6 0.2 -0.8 – 0.67× –
Raul Casanova 1998 -0.2 -0.7 0.2 -0.9 – 0.52× –
Joe Oliver↔ 1998 -0.2 -0.7 0.5 -1.2 – 0.56× –
Pete Incaviglia↔ 1998 -0.3 -1.5 0.1 -1.6 – 0.69× –
Bip Roberts↔ 1998 -0.3 -1.9 0.8 -2.7 – 0.69× –
Geronimo Berroa↔ 1998 -0.5 -3.0 1.6 -4.6 – 0.69× –
Gabe Alvarez 1998 -1.0 -4.6 0.2 -4.7 – 0.58× –
Doug Bochtler 1998 -1.2 -6.6 0.3 -6.9 – 0.67× –
Andy Tomberlin 1998 -0.4 -2.1 – – – 0.69× –
Dean Crow 1998 -0.1 -0.6 – – – 0.67× –
Denny Harriger 1998 +0.0 +0.1 – – – 1.02× –
Gabe Kapler 1998 -0.2 -1.0 – – – 0.83× –
Marino Santana 1998 -0.1 -0.4 – – – 0.67× –
Will Brunson↔ 1998 +0.1 +0.3 – – – 0.67× –
Total—+29.5+312.522.1+294.0—

Trades

Every graded 1998 deal involving the Tigers — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 7 total.

1998 · TOR / DET
TOR · Gord Ash +$1.6M
Eric Ludwick
DET · Randy Smith −$1.6M
Beiker Graterol
TOR came out ahead by $1.6M
1998 · DET / OAK
DET · Randy Smith +$0.8M
Jason Wood
OAK · Billy Beane −$0.8M
Bip Roberts
DET 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 · DET / CIN
DET · Randy Smith +$0.0M
Tim Belk
CIN · Jim Bowden +$0.0M
Kevin Baez
Even trade
1998 · ARI / DET
ARI · Joe Garagiola +$373.6M
Luis Gonzalez
DET · Randy Smith −$373.6M
Karim García
ARI came out ahead by $373.6M
1998 · DET / SDP
DET · Randy Smith +$5.6M
Rod Lindsey
SDP · Kevin Towers −$5.6M
Scott Sanders
DET came out ahead by $5.6M
1998 · NYM / DET
NYM · Steve Phillips +$13.6M
Joe Randa
DET · Randy Smith −$13.6M
Willie Blair
NYM came out ahead by $13.6M

Current & Historical Payroll

1998 payroll
$22.0M

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 (10)

PlayerAgeSvc1998199920002001200220032004
Damion Easley286.000$2.0M$3.4M$4.0M$5.1M$6.2MFREE AGENT
Luis Gonzalez308.000$2.0MFREE AGENT
Frank Castillo297.000$1.8MFREE AGENT
Geronimo Berroa339.000$1.6MFREE AGENT
Doug Brocail316.000$850k$900k$1.3MFREE AGENT
Bip Roberts3412.000$823kFREE AGENT
Joe Oliver329.000$475kFREE AGENT
Billy Ripken3311.000$400kFREE AGENT
Jeff Manto338.000$129kFREE AGENT
Pete Incaviglia3412.000$105kFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (12)

PlayerAgeSvc1998199920002001200220032004
Bobby Higginson273.000$2.4MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Todd Jones305.000$2.2MFREE AGENT
Tony Clark263.000$762kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bryce Florie284.000$600kARB 3FREE AGENT
Brian L. Hunter274.000$562kARB 3FREE AGENT
Joe Randa283.000$375kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tim Worrell305.000$349kFREE AGENT
A.J. Sager334.000$288kARB 3FREE AGENT
Doug Bochtler273.000$288kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Scott Sanders295.000$196kFREE AGENT
Joe Siddall305.000$190kFREE AGENT
Andy Tomberlin315.000—FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (23)

PlayerAgeSvc1998199920002001200220032004
Justin Thompson252.000$400kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Deivi Cruz251.000$245kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brian Moehler262.000$240kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Raul Casanova252.000$225kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Robert Fick240.000$200kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Greg Keagle272.000$200kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kimera Bartee252.000$190kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Trey Beamon242.000$188kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Roberto Duran251.000$178kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Paul Bako260.000$170kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Frank Catalanotto241.000$170kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Juan Encarnacion221.000$170kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brian Powell240.000$170kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Gabe Alvarez240.000$170kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Seth Greisinger220.000$170kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Sean Runyan240.000$170kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Matt Anderson210.000$170kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jason Wood280.000$131kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dean Crow25–—
Denny Harriger28–—
Will Brunson28–—
Marino Santana26–—
Gabe Kapler220.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 1998 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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