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Brewers MIL

199778–83 (0.484)
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GM: Sal Bando

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
$25M
Surplus $M
+4
Win %
0.484
TAB
-1.4
WAB
+2.1
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
27.4
Dead money %
22%
Depth Players
5.0
Dead WAR
-6.3

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

1997 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RMike Matheny121
LJesse Levis78
RKelly Stinnett25

1B

LDave Nilsson74
RJohn Jaha27
RTim Unroe23
LJeff Huson21
RJack Voigt19
RMark Loretta19
RAntone Williamson14
RJulio Franco⇄7
BBrian Banks5
RMike Matheny2

2B

LFernando Viña77
RMark Loretta63
LJeff Huson32
REddy Diaz14
RTim Unroe1
RJulio Franco⇄1

3B

RJeff Cirillo150
RMark Loretta15
RJack Voigt6
LJeff Huson2
RTim Unroe2
REddy Diaz1
BBrian Banks1

SS

BJose Valentin134
RMark Loretta44
REddy Diaz1

LF

RGerald Williams39
RJack Voigt35
RMarc Newfield28
RMatt Mieske26
LDave Nilsson22
RTodd Dunn19
BBrian Banks15
LJeff Huson8
RDarrin Jackson⇄7
LJeromy Burnitz5
RTim Unroe1

CF

RGerald Williams129
LJeromy Burnitz26
RDarrin Jackson⇄18
RJack Voigt2
RTodd Dunn2

RF

LJeromy Burnitz124
RMatt Mieske52
RTodd Dunn7
RJack Voigt5
LJeff Huson1
RDarrin Jackson⇄1
BBrian Banks1
RTim Unroe1

DH

LDave Nilsson59
RJulio Franco⇄35
RJohn Jaha19
RMarc Newfield17
RTodd Dunn13
LJesse Levis5
RAntone Williamson3
RJeff Cirillo2
BBrian Banks1
LFernando Viña1
RJack Voigt1
BJose Valentin1
RKelly Stinnett1
RMatt Mieske1

Starters

RBen McDonald3.0 WAR
LScott Karl2.4 WAR
RJose Mercedes0.9 WAR
RBryce Florie0.9 WAR
RCal Eldred0.8 WAR
RSteve Woodard0.8 WAR
RJeff D'Amico0.6 WAR
LJoel Adamson0.3 WAR
RPete Harnisch⇄0.1 WAR
RJamie McAndrew-0.2 WAR

Bullpen

★ RDoug Jones36 sv
RBob Wickman0 h
RMike Fetters0 h
LRon Villone0 h
RAl Reyes0 h
LMark Davis0 h
LAngel Miranda0 h
RMike Misuraca0 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
Steve Woodard0.8
Darrin Jackson0.6
Jack Voigt0.5
Julio Franco0.4
Joel Adamson0.3
Pete Harnisch0.1

Key subtractions (gone from 1996)

Player1996 fWAR
Kevin Seitzer2.7
Greg Vaughn2.3
Graeme Lloyd0.8
Tim Van Egmond0.7
Kevin Wickander0.1
Brian Givens0.0

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Brewers. 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
Jeromy Burnitz 1997 +4.9 +69.6 0.2 +69.4 $0.0M 1.79× –
Doug Jones 1997 +2.8 +57.5 0.6 +56.9 $0.2M 2.57× –
Jeff Cirillo 1997 +5.0 +49.5 0.3 +49.2 $0.1M 1.25× –
Ben McDonald 1997 +3.0 +46.4 5.0 +41.4 $1.7M 1.96× –
Scott Karl 1997 +2.4 +28.4 0.2 +28.1 $0.1M 1.49× –
Mike Fetters 1997 +1.2 +12.7 1.7 +11.0 $1.5M 1.34× –
Jose Mercedes 1997 +0.9 +7.1 0.2 +6.9 $0.2M 1.02× –
Steve Woodard 1997 +0.8 +6.2 0.1 +6.0 $0.2M 1.02× –
Jose Valentin 1997 +1.5 +7.1 1.4 +5.7 $1.0M 0.61× –
Cal Eldred 1997 +0.8 +6.4 0.8 +5.6 $1.0M 1.02× –
Jeff D'Amico 1997 +0.6 +5.2 0.2 +5.0 $0.3M 1.02× –
Bob Wickman 1997 +1.1 +6.1 1.2 +4.9 $1.1M 0.67× –
Bryce Florie 1997 +0.9 +4.8 0.2 +4.6 $0.2M 0.67× –
Darrin Jackson↔ 1997 +0.6 +4.3 0.1 +4.2 $0.1M 0.83× –
Dave Nilsson 1997 +1.4 +6.2 2.7 +3.5 $1.9M 0.56× –
Jack Voigt 1997 +0.5 +3.2 0.1 +3.0 $0.3M 0.83× –
Mike Matheny 1997 +0.7 +3.1 0.2 +2.9 $0.3M 0.52× –
Jesse Levis 1997 +0.7 +3.0 0.2 +2.8 $0.3M 0.52× –
Mark Loretta 1997 +0.7 +2.9 0.2 +2.7 $0.3M 0.56× –
Fernando Viña 1997 +0.7 +3.0 0.8 +2.1 $1.2M 0.56× –
Gerald Williams 1997 +0.4 +2.6 0.7 +1.9 $1.8M 0.83× –
Joel Adamson 1997 +0.3 +1.4 0.2 +1.3 $0.6M 0.67× –
Al Reyes 1997 +0.2 +1.0 0.2 +0.8 $0.8M 0.67× –
John Jaha 1997 +0.9 +4.1 3.4 +0.8 $3.6M 0.56× –
Julio Franco↔ 1997 +0.4 +2.0 1.2 +0.8 $3.2M 0.69× –
Paul Wagner↔ 1997 -0.1 -0.6 0.0 -0.7 – 0.67× –
Pete Harnisch↔ 1997 +0.1 +0.6 1.3 -0.7 $18.3M 1.02× –
Angel Miranda 1997 -0.1 -0.6 0.3 -0.9 – 0.67× –
Jamie McAndrew 1997 -0.2 -1.8 0.2 -1.9 – 1.02× –
Brian Banks 1997 -0.4 -2.4 0.1 -2.5 – 0.83× –
Chuck Carr↔ 1997 -0.5 -3.1 0.1 -3.2 – 0.83× –
Matt Mieske 1997 -0.6 -4.3 0.5 -4.8 – 0.83× –
Jeff Huson 1997 -1.4 -6.2 0.2 -6.5 – 0.56× –
Marc Newfield 1997 -1.2 -7.8 0.2 -8.0 – 0.83× –
Ron Villone 1997 +0.0 +0.2 0.2 +0.0 $5.1M 0.67× –
Antone Williamson 1997 -0.7 -2.9 – – – 0.56× –
Eddy Diaz 1997 -0.4 -2.0 – – – 0.56× –
Greg Hansell 1997 -0.0 -0.0 – – – 0.67× –
Kelly Stinnett 1997 +0.2 +0.7 – – – 0.52× –
Mark Davis 1997 -0.2 -1.0 – – – 0.67× –
Mike Misuraca 1997 -0.4 -2.0 – – – 0.67× –
Sean Maloney 1997 -0.0 -0.1 – – – 0.67× –
Tim Unroe 1997 +0.3 +1.2 – – – 0.56× –
Todd Dunn 1997 -0.1 -0.5 – – – 0.83× –
Total—+27.7+311.225.2+292.3—

Trades

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

1997 · MIL / MIN
MIL · Sal Bando +$1.6M
Darrin Jackson
MIN · Terry Ryan −$1.6M
Mick Fieldbinder
MIL came out ahead by $1.6M
1997 · DET / MIL
DET · Randy Smith +$12.0M
Bryce Florie
MIL · Sal Bando −$12.0M
Rick Greene, Mike Myers, Santiago Pérez
DET came out ahead by $12.0M
1997 · MIL / STL
MIL · Sal Bando +$0.0M
Keith Johns
STL · Walt Jocketty +$0.0M
Scotty Pace
Even trade
1997 · OAK / MIL
OAK · Sandy Alderson +$12.0M
Tony Phillips
MIL · Sal Bando −$12.0M
Creighton Gubanich
OAK came out ahead by $12.0M
1997 · SDP / MIL
SDP · Kevin Towers +$12.8M
Brian Tollberg
MIL · Sal Bando −$12.8M
Antonio Fernandez
SDP came out ahead by $12.8M
1997 · COL / MIL
COL · Bob Gebhard +$8.0M
Creighton Gubanich
MIL · Sal Bando −$8.0M
Jeff Huson
COL came out ahead by $8.0M
1997 · NYM / MIL
NYM · Joe McIlvaine +$13.6M
Donnie Moore
MIL · Sal Bando −$13.6M
Pete Harnisch
NYM came out ahead by $13.6M
1997 · ATL / MIL
ATL · John Schuerholz +$28.8M
Gerald Williams
MIL · Sal Bando −$28.8M
Chad Fox
ATL came out ahead by $28.8M
1997 · KCR / MIL
KCR · Herk Robinson +$6.4M
Jason Grimsley
MIL · Sal Bando −$6.4M
Jamie Brewington
KCR came out ahead by $6.4M
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

Current & Historical Payroll

1997 payroll
$25.4M

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 (10)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Ben McDonald298.000$5.0MFREE AGENT
Mike Fetters328.000$1.7MFREE AGENT
Pete Harnisch309.000$1.3MFREE AGENT
Julio Franco3815.000$1.2MFREE AGENT
Cal Eldred296.000$767k$3.3M$4.8MFREE AGENT
Doug Jones4015.000$600k$1.7MFREE AGENT
Jeff Huson329.000$240kFREE AGENT
Darrin Jackson3312.000$95k$550kFREE AGENT
Chuck Carr297.000$95kFREE AGENT
Mark Davis3617.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (18)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
John Jaha315.000$3.4MFREE AGENT
Dave Nilsson275.000$2.7MFREE AGENT
Jose Valentin275.000$1.4MFREE AGENT
Bob Wickman285.000$1.2MFREE AGENT
Fernando Viña284.000$810kARB 3FREE AGENT
Gerald Williams305.000$700kFREE AGENT
Matt Mieske294.000$500kARB 3FREE AGENT
Angel Miranda274.000$350kARB 3FREE AGENT
Jeff Cirillo273.000$350kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jeromy Burnitz284.000$225kARB 3FREE AGENT
Marc Newfield244.000$225kARB 3FREE AGENT
Bryce Florie273.000$215kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Matheny263.000$210kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jesse Levis295.000$208kFREE AGENT
Jose Mercedes263.000$153kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jack Voigt315.000$150kFREE AGENT
Paul Wagner295.000$38kFREE AGENT
Kelly Stinnett273.000—ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (16)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Scott Karl252.000$250kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ron Villone272.000$205kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jeff D'Amico211.000$172kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mark Loretta252.000$168kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jamie McAndrew292.000$155kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Al Reyes272.000$153kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Joel Adamson251.000$151kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brian Banks261.000$150kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steve Woodard220.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Eddy Diaz25–—
Todd Dunn26–—
Greg Hansell262.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Sean Maloney260.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Misuraca28–—
Tim Unroe262.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Antone Williamson23–—

Graphs

How each 1997 acquisition stacked onto Brewers'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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