Rosternomics
Log in Sign up 𝕏

Mets NYM

199788–74 (0.543)
‹ Previous Next ›

GM: Joe McIlvaine

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
$39M
Surplus $M
-2
Win %
0.543
TAB
+0.6
WAB
+6.3
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
34.7
Dead money %
22%
Depth Players
6.0
Dead WAR
-4.1

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

1997 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

BTodd Hundley122
RTodd Pratt36
RAlberto Castillo34
LSteve Bieser2

1B

LJohn Olerud146
RButch Huskey22
LMatt Franco13
LRoberto Petagine6

2B

BCarlos Baerga131
BJason Hardtke21
BLuis Lopez20
RShawn Gilbert8
REdgardo Alfonzo3

3B

REdgardo Alfonzo143
LMatt Franco39
RButch Huskey15
BLuis Lopez4
RShawn Gilbert3
BJason Hardtke1
RKevin Morgan1
RManny Alexander⇄1

SS

RRey Ordonez118
BLuis Lopez45
REdgardo Alfonzo12
RShawn Gilbert6

LF

RBernard Gilkey136
RButch Huskey30
LSteve Bieser9
BCarl Everett9
RGary Thurman3
LCarlos Mendoza2
LAndy Tomberlin1
LMatt Franco1
LRoberto Petagine1
RShawn Gilbert1

CF

BCarl Everett71
BBrian McRae⇄45
LSteve Bieser13
RGary Thurman4
RAlex Ochoa4
LCarlos Mendoza3
RBernard Gilkey1

RF

RAlex Ochoa84
RButch Huskey72
BCarl Everett65
LAndy Tomberlin1
RGary Thurman1
LSteve Bieser1

DH

RButch Huskey4
RBernard Gilkey2
BTodd Hundley2
LMatt Franco1

Starters

RRick Reed4.0 WAR
RDave Mlicki2.6 WAR
RBobby Jones1.7 WAR
RArmando Reynoso1.3 WAR
LBrian Bohanon1.1 WAR
RCory Lidle0.6 WAR
RMark Clark⇄0.5 WAR
RJason Isringhausen0.0 WAR
LJoe Crawford-0.2 WAR
RJuan Acevedo-0.3 WAR
RPete Harnisch⇄-0.3 WAR

Bullpen

★ LJohn Franco36 sv
RGreg McMichael0 h
RCory Lidle0 h
LTakashi Kashiwada0 h
RJuan Acevedo0 h
RMel Rojas⇄0 h
LRicardo Jordan0 h
RBarry Manuel0 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
John Olerud4.4
Rick Reed4.0
Greg McMichael1.5
Armando Reynoso1.3
Todd Pratt1.1
Brian Bohanon1.1

Key subtractions (gone from 1996)

Player1996 fWAR
Jose Vizcaino1.7
Jeff Kent1.3
Paul Wilson1.0
Alvaro Espinoza0.6
Kevin Roberson0.3
Robert Person0.2

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Mets. 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
Rick Reed 1997 +4.0 +70.1 0.2 +69.9 $0.1M 2.19× –
Edgardo Alfonzo 1997 +5.6 +64.1 0.2 +63.9 $0.0M 1.43× –
Dave Mlicki 1997 +2.6 +41.3 0.6 +40.7 $0.2M 1.96× –
John Olerud 1997 +4.4 +42.2 6.5 +35.7 $1.5M 1.20× –
Todd Hundley 1997 +4.4 +39.3 4.2 +35.1 $0.9M 1.12× –
Bernard Gilkey 1997 +2.4 +23.2 3.9 +19.3 $1.6M 1.22× –
Bobby Jones 1997 +1.7 +20.5 1.9 +18.6 $1.1M 1.49× –
Greg McMichael 1997 +1.5 +16.0 1.1 +14.9 $0.7M 1.34× –
Lance Johnson↔ 1997 +1.6 +15.9 2.0 +13.9 $1.2M 1.22× –
John Franco 1997 +1.3 +13.5 3.0 +10.5 $2.4M 1.34× –
Armando Reynoso 1997 +1.3 +11.0 1.0 +10.0 $0.7M 1.02× –
Brian Bohanon 1997 +1.1 +8.7 0.2 +8.5 $0.2M 1.02× –
Butch Huskey 1997 +1.2 +8.2 0.2 +8.0 $0.2M 0.83× –
Todd Pratt 1997 +1.1 +4.5 0.2 +4.3 $0.2M 0.52× –
Manny Alexander↔ 1997 +0.8 +3.7 0.1 +3.6 $0.2M 0.58× –
Cory Lidle 1997 +0.6 +3.4 0.1 +3.2 $0.2M 0.67× –
Rey Ordonez 1997 +0.6 +2.8 0.2 +2.6 $0.3M 0.61× –
Mark Clark↔ 1997 +0.5 +3.7 1.6 +2.1 $3.5M 1.02× –
Mel Rojas↔ 1997 +0.3 +3.2 1.4 +1.8 $4.6M 1.34× –
Matt Franco 1997 +0.2 +1.1 0.2 +0.9 $0.7M 0.58× –
Carl Everett 1997 +0.1 +0.7 0.2 +0.5 $2.1M 0.83× –
Jason Isringhausen 1997 +0.0 +0.3 0.2 +0.1 $6.3M 1.02× –
Ricardo Jordan 1997 +0.1 +0.3 0.2 +0.1 $2.9M 0.67× –
Carlos Baerga 1997 +1.0 +4.3 4.8 -0.5 $5.0M 0.56× –
Alberto Castillo 1997 -0.1 -0.6 0.2 -0.7 – 0.52× –
Steve Bieser 1997 -0.1 -0.5 0.1 -0.7 – 0.83× –
Andy Tomberlin 1997 -0.1 -0.6 0.2 -0.8 – 0.83× –
Ricky Trlicek↔ 1997 -0.2 -1.0 0.1 -1.0 – 0.67× –
Yorkis Perez 1997 -0.2 -0.9 0.4 -1.3 – 0.67× –
Alex Ochoa 1997 -0.2 -1.4 0.2 -1.6 – 0.83× –
Brian McRae↔ 1997 -0.1 -0.4 1.1 -1.6 – 0.83× –
Toby Borland↔ 1997 -0.4 -1.9 0.2 -2.1 – 0.67× –
Barry Manuel 1997 -0.5 -2.7 0.2 -2.9 – 0.67× –
Pete Harnisch↔ 1997 -0.3 -2.7 1.9 -4.6 – 1.02× –
Turk Wendell↔ 1997 -0.5 -4.9 0.1 -4.9 – 1.34× –
Carlos Mendoza 1997 +0.1 +1.0 – – – 0.83× –
Gary Thurman 1997 -0.1 -0.8 – – – 0.83× –
Jason Hardtke 1997 +0.0 +0.1 – – – 0.56× –
Joe Crawford 1997 -0.2 -1.2 – – – 0.67× –
Juan Acevedo 1997 -0.3 -1.6 – – – 0.67× –
Kevin Morgan 1997 -0.0 -0.1 – – – 0.58× –
Luis Lopez 1997 +0.2 +1.1 – – – 0.61× –
Roberto Petagine 1997 -0.1 -0.4 – – – 0.56× –
Shawn Gilbert 1997 -0.3 -1.6 – – – 0.56× –
Takashi Kashiwada 1997 -0.4 -2.2 – – – 0.67× –
Total—+34.6+378.738.9+345.5—

Trades

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

1997 · NYM / MIN
NYM · Joe McIlvaine +$8.8M
Rich Becker
MIN · Terry Ryan −$8.8M
Alex Ochoa
NYM came out ahead by $8.8M
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 · NYM / PHI
NYM · Joe McIlvaine +$3.2M
Héctor Mercado
PHI · Lee Thomas −$3.2M
Mike Welch
NYM came out ahead by $3.2M
1997 · NYM / PIT
NYM · Joe McIlvaine +$0.0M
Wes Chamberlain, Ramon Espinosa
PIT · Cam Bonifay +$0.0M
John Carter, Erick Ojeda
Even trade
1997 · HOU / NYM
HOU · Gerry Hunsicker +$7.2M
Tim Bogar
NYM · Joe McIlvaine −$7.2M
Luis López
HOU came out ahead by $7.2M
1997 · NYM / BAL
NYM · Joe McIlvaine +$3.2M
Manny Alexander, Scott McClain
BAL · Pat Gillick −$3.2M
Héctor Ramírez
NYM came out ahead by $3.2M
1997 · NYM / BOS
NYM · Joe McIlvaine +$0.8M
Ricky Trlicek
BOS · Dan Duquette −$0.8M
Toby Borland
NYM came out ahead by $0.8M
1997 · MIA / NYM
MIA · Dave Dombrowski +$16.0M
Fletcher Bates, Scott Comer
NYM · Joe McIlvaine −$16.0M
Dennis Cook
MIA came out ahead by $16.0M
1997 · HOU / NYM
HOU · Gerry Hunsicker +$123.2M
Carl Everett
NYM · Joe McIlvaine −$123.2M
John Hudek
HOU came out ahead by $123.2M
1997 · CHC / NYM
CHC · Ed Lynch +$61.6M
Lance Johnson, Mark Clark, Manny Alexander
NYM · Joe McIlvaine −$61.6M
Brian McRae, Mel Rojas, Turk Wendell
CHC came out ahead by $61.6M

Current & Historical Payroll

1997 payroll
$38.7M

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 (16)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
John Olerud288.000$6.5M$3.8M$4.2MFREE AGENT
Carlos Baerga287.000$4.8M$4.7MFREE AGENT
Todd Hundley287.000$4.2M$4.9MFREE AGENT
Bernard Gilkey307.000$3.9M$3.7MFREE AGENT
John Franco3613.000$3.0M$2.9M$3.0M$3.4M$3.6MFREE AGENT$3.8M
Lance Johnson3310.000$2.0MFREE AGENT
Pete Harnisch309.000$1.9MFREE AGENT
Mark Clark296.000$1.6MFREE AGENT
Mel Rojas307.000$1.4M$4.6MFREE AGENT
Brian McRae297.000$1.1M$3.9M$2.7MFREE AGENT
Armando Reynoso316.000$1.0M$1.2MFREE AGENT
Yorkis Perez296.000$375kFREE AGENT
Rick Reed329.000$212k$1.4M$1.7M$4.4M$4.2MFREE AGENT
Brian Bohanon287.000$205k$224kFREE AGENT
Barry Manuel316.000$185kFREE AGENT
Gary Thurman3210.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (13)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Bobby Jones274.000$1.9MARB 3FREE AGENT
Greg McMichael304.000$1.1MARB 3FREE AGENT
Dave Mlicki295.000$610kFREE AGENT
Toby Borland283.000$213kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Butch Huskey254.000$212kARB 3FREE AGENT
Carl Everett264.000$205kARB 3FREE AGENT
Todd Pratt305.000$200kFREE AGENT
Andy Tomberlin304.000$200kARB 3FREE AGENT
Manny Alexander265.000$127kFREE AGENT
Turk Wendell304.000$70kARB 3FREE AGENT
Ricky Trlicek285.000$61kFREE AGENT
Luis Lopez264.000—ARB 3FREE AGENT
Roberto Petagine263.000—ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (16)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Edgardo Alfonzo232.000$215kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jason Isringhausen242.000$212kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Rey Ordonez261.000$192kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Matt Franco272.000$160kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ricardo Jordan272.000$155kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alberto Castillo272.000$152kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alex Ochoa252.000$152kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steve Bieser290.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Cory Lidle250.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Juan Acevedo272.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Joe Crawford27–—
Shawn Gilbert32–—
Jason Hardtke25–—
Takashi Kashiwada26–—
Carlos Mendoza22–—
Kevin Morgan27–—

Graphs

How each 1997 acquisition stacked onto Mets'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).
Privacy Policy · Terms of Service · © 2026 Rosternomics