Rosternomics
Log in Sign up 𝕏

Athletics OAK

199765–97 (0.401)
‹ Previous Next ›

GM: Sandy Alderson

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
$20M
Surplus $M
-2
Win %
0.401
TAB
-9.2
WAB
-8.3
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
16.8
Dead money %
54%
Depth Players
2.0
Dead WAR
-6.2

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

1997 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

LBrent Mayne83
BGeorge Williams67
RIzzy Molina48

1B

RMark McGwire⇄105
LJason Giambi51
LDave Magadan30
LMatt Stairs7
RBrian Lesher3

2B

BScott Spiezio146
BMark Bellhorn17
RRafael Bournigal7
RTilson Brito⇄7
RScott Sheldon1
RTony Batista1

3B

RScott Brosius107
LDave Magadan49
BMark Bellhorn40
RTilson Brito⇄7
RTony Batista4
BScott Spiezio1
RScott Sheldon1

SS

RRafael Bournigal74
RTony Batista61
RScott Brosius30
RMiguel Tejada26
RScott Sheldon12
RTilson Brito⇄4
BMark Bellhorn1

LF

LJason Giambi68
RBrian Lesher31
RDamon Mashore28
LMatt Stairs28
RPat Lennon23
RJosé Canseco19
BJason McDonald18
RScott Brosius6
RErnie Young1

CF

RDamon Mashore71
BJason McDonald66
RErnie Young60
RScott Brosius6
RPat Lennon1

RF

LMatt Stairs63
RJosé Canseco27
LBen Grieve24
RErnie Young12
RPat Lennon12
RScott Brosius11
RDamon Mashore6
RBrian Lesher3

DH

RGeronimo Berroa⇄73
RJosé Canseco60
LDave Magadan24
LJason Giambi22
LMatt Stairs13
RPat Lennon5
BMark Bellhorn2
RBrian Lesher1

Starters

RJimmy Haynes1.0 WAR
RSteve Karsay1.0 WAR
RMike Oquist0.9 WAR
RAriel Prieto0.7 WAR
RDave Telgheder0.6 WAR
LAndrew Lorraine0.3 WAR
LMike Mohler0.2 WAR
RBrad Rigby0.1 WAR
LSteve Wojciechowski0.1 WAR
RWillie Adams-0.0 WAR
RDon Wengert-0.1 WAR
RCarlos Reyes-0.2 WAR
REric Ludwick⇄-0.5 WAR

Bullpen

★ RBilly Taylor23 sv
LBuddy Groom0 h
RAaron Small0 h
RDane Johnson0 h
RT.J. Mathews⇄0 h
RMark Acre0 h
RRichie Lewis⇄0 h
LTim Kubinski0 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
Dave Magadan1.9
Brent Mayne1.8
Jimmy Haynes1.0
Steve Karsay1.0
Mike Oquist0.9
Andrew Lorraine0.3

Key subtractions (gone from 1996)

Player1996 fWAR
Terry Steinbach3.9
Doug Johns0.9
John Wasdin0.6
Jim Corsi0.5
Paul Fletcher-0.0
Kerwin Moore-0.0

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Athletics. 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
Mark McGwire↔ 1997 +3.2 +27.3 4.8 +22.4 $1.5M 1.07× –
Matt Stairs 1997 +2.0 +19.7 0.2 +19.5 $0.1M 1.22× –
Jason Giambi 1997 +1.7 +16.4 0.2 +16.2 $0.1M 1.22× –
Billy Taylor 1997 +1.3 +13.9 0.6 +13.3 $0.4M 1.34× –
Dave Magadan 1997 +1.9 +13.1 0.3 +12.9 $0.1M 0.85× –
Brent Mayne 1997 +1.8 +10.8 0.2 +10.5 $0.1M 0.76× –
George Williams 1997 +1.5 +9.1 0.2 +9.0 $0.1M 0.76× –
Jimmy Haynes 1997 +1.0 +8.5 0.2 +8.3 $0.2M 1.02× –
Steve Karsay 1997 +1.0 +8.3 0.2 +8.1 $0.2M 1.02× –
Mike Oquist 1997 +0.9 +7.0 0.2 +6.8 $0.2M 1.02× –
Scott Spiezio 1997 +1.4 +6.3 0.2 +6.2 $0.1M 0.56× –
Ariel Prieto 1997 +0.7 +5.9 0.2 +5.7 $0.3M 1.02× –
Geronimo Berroa↔ 1997 +1.2 +6.6 1.5 +5.1 $1.3M 0.69× –
Dave Telgheder 1997 +0.6 +4.9 0.2 +4.8 $0.3M 1.02× –
Aaron Small 1997 +0.7 +3.9 0.2 +3.7 $0.2M 0.67× –
Andrew Lorraine 1997 +0.3 +2.8 0.2 +2.7 $0.4M 1.02× –
Damon Mashore 1997 +0.3 +2.2 0.2 +2.1 $0.5M 0.83× –
Mike Mohler 1997 +0.2 +1.2 0.2 +1.0 $1.1M 0.67× –
Brad Rigby 1997 +0.1 +1.0 0.1 +0.8 $1.2M 1.02× –
Mark Acre 1997 +0.1 +0.7 0.2 +0.6 $1.2M 0.67× –
Dane Johnson 1997 +0.1 +0.6 0.2 +0.5 $1.5M 0.67× –
Steve Wojciechowski 1997 +0.1 +0.6 0.2 +0.5 $1.9M 1.02× –
Mark Bellhorn 1997 +0.1 +0.4 0.1 +0.3 $1.7M 0.58× –
Tilson Brito↔ 1997 +0.0 +0.1 0.0 +0.1 $1.7M 0.56× –
Rafael Bournigal 1997 +0.0 +0.0 0.2 -0.1 $54.3M 0.61× –
Tim Kubinski 1997 -0.1 -0.4 0.1 -0.5 – 0.67× –
Willie Adams 1997 -0.0 -0.3 0.2 -0.5 – 1.02× –
Don Wengert 1997 -0.1 -0.6 0.2 -0.7 – 0.67× –
T.J. Mathews↔ 1997 -0.1 -0.6 0.1 -0.7 – 0.67× –
Billy Brewer↔ 1997 -0.1 -0.8 0.0 -0.8 – 0.67× –
Carlos Reyes 1997 -0.2 -0.9 0.2 -1.1 – 0.67× –
Tony Batista 1997 -0.3 -1.5 0.2 -1.6 – 0.61× –
Izzy Molina 1997 -0.5 -2.1 0.2 -2.3 – 0.52× –
Miguel Tejada 1997 -0.5 -2.2 0.1 -2.4 – 0.61× –
Pat Lennon 1997 -0.4 -2.4 0.1 -2.5 – 0.83× –
Jose Canseco 1997 +0.2 +1.2 4.2 -3.1 $20.0M 0.69× –
Scott Brosius 1997 -0.3 -1.3 2.5 -3.8 – 0.58× –
Eric Ludwick↔ 1997 -0.5 -3.9 0.1 -4.0 – 1.02× –
Richie Lewis↔ 1997 -0.8 -4.5 0.2 -4.7 – 0.67× –
Brian Lesher 1997 -0.8 -5.1 0.2 -5.2 – 0.83× –
Ernie Young 1997 -0.9 -5.7 0.2 -5.9 – 0.83× –
Buddy Groom 1997 +0.1 +0.4 0.4 -0.0 $5.4M 0.67× –
Ben Grieve 1997 +0.0 +0.1 – – – 0.83× –
Gary Haught 1997 -0.2 -1.0 – – – 0.67× –
Jason McDonald 1997 +0.2 +1.6 – – – 0.83× –
Jay Witasick 1997 -0.1 -0.6 – – – 0.67× –
John Johnstone↔ 1997 -0.0 -0.1 – – – 0.67× –
Scott Sheldon 1997 -0.0 -0.1 – – – 0.61× –
Steve Montgomery 1997 -0.4 -2.0 – – – 0.67× –
Total—+16.4+138.520.2+121.2—

Trades

Every graded 1997 deal involving the Athletics — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 8 total.

1997 · OAK / BAL
OAK · Sandy Alderson +$33.6M
Jimmy Haynes, Mark Seaver
BAL · Pat Gillick −$33.6M
Gerónimo Berroa
OAK came out ahead by $33.6M
1997 · STL / OAK
STL · Walt Jocketty +$67.2M
Mark McGwire
OAK · Sandy Alderson −$67.2M
Eric Ludwick, T. J. Mathews, Blake Stein
STL came out ahead by $67.2M
1997 · BOS / OAK
BOS · Dan Duquette +$20.8M
John Wasdin
OAK · Sandy Alderson −$20.8M
José Canseco
BOS came out ahead by $20.8M
1997 · MIA / OAK
MIA · Dave Dombrowski +$4.8M
Eric Ludwick
OAK · Sandy Alderson −$4.8M
Kurt Abbott
MIA came out ahead by $4.8M
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 · OAK / SDP
OAK · Sandy Alderson +$0.0M
Doug Bochtler, Jorge Velandia
SDP · Kevin Towers +$0.0M
David Newhan, Don Wengert
Even trade
1997 · OAK / NYY
OAK · Sandy Alderson +$40.8M
Kenny Rogers
NYY · Bob Watson −$40.8M
Scott Brosius
OAK came out ahead by $40.8M
1997 · CLE / OAK
CLE · John Hart +$33.6M
Steve Karsay
OAK · Sandy Alderson −$33.6M
Mike Fetters
CLE came out ahead by $33.6M

Current & Historical Payroll

1997 payroll
$19.9M

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 (7)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Mark McGwire3311.000$4.8MFREE AGENT
Jose Canseco3212.000$4.2MFREE AGENT
Scott Brosius306.000$2.5MFREE AGENT
Geronimo Berroa328.000$1.5MFREE AGENT
Dave Magadan3411.000$255k$475kFREE AGENT
Brent Mayne297.000$225kFREE AGENT
Pat Lennon296.000$150kFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (17)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Billy Taylor353.000$575kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Buddy Groom315.000$390kFREE AGENT
Mike Mohler284.000$250kARB 3FREE AGENT
Carlos Reyes283.000$200kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Oquist294.000$195kARB 3FREE AGENT
Ernie Young273.000$195kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Richie Lewis315.000$194kFREE AGENT
Dane Johnson343.000$172kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mark Acre283.000$165kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dave Telgheder304.000$165kARB 3FREE AGENT
Matt Stairs295.000$165kFREE AGENT
Rafael Bournigal315.000$162kFREE AGENT
Steve Karsay254.000$160kARB 3FREE AGENT
Aaron Small253.000$155kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Andrew Lorraine243.000$154kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Billy Brewer294.000$21kARB 3FREE AGENT
John Johnstone284.000—ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (25)

PlayerAgeSvc1997199819992000200120022003
Jason Giambi262.000$205kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ariel Prieto272.000$194kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Don Wengert272.000$172kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
George Williams282.000$165kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jimmy Haynes242.000$165kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tony Batista231.000$162kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Willie Adams241.000$158kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Damon Mashore271.000$154kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steve Wojciechowski262.000$154kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Izzy Molina261.000$152kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brian Lesher261.000$152kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Scott Spiezio241.000$151kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mark Bellhorn220.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brad Rigby240.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Miguel Tejada230.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tim Kubinski250.000$150kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
T.J. Mathews272.000$90kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Eric Ludwick251.000$85kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tilson Brito251.000$41kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ben Grieve210.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Gary Haught26–—
Jason McDonald250.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steve Montgomery261.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Scott Sheldon280.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jay Witasick241.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 1997 acquisition stacked onto Athletics'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