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Pirates PIT

198780–82 (0.494)
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GM: Syd Thrift

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 1987, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$6M
Surplus $M
+5
Win %
0.494
TAB
+12.2
WAB
+5.4
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
39.5
Dead money %
22%
Depth Players
8.0
Dead WAR
-2.9

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

1987 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

LMichael LaValliere112
RJunior Ortiz72
RMike Diaz8
LMackey Sasser⇄6
RTom Prince4

1B

LSid Bream144
RMike Diaz32
BBobby Bonilla6
RDarnell Coles⇄4
LAndy Van Slyke1

2B

BJohnny Ray⇄123
RJim Morrison⇄96
RJosé Lind35
RRafael Belliard7
RAl Pedrique⇄3
RHouston Jimenez2

3B

BBobby Bonilla89
RDarnell Coles⇄21
RAl Pedrique⇄3
RBill Almon⇄1
BU L Washington1

SS

RAl Pedrique⇄80
RRafael Belliard71
RFelix Fermin23
RSam Khalifa5
RHouston Jimenez2
RDenny Gonzalez1
BU L Washington1
ROnix Concepcion1

LF

LBarry Bonds101
BR.J. Reynolds28
RMike Diaz27
BJohn Cangelosi27
BBobby Bonilla17
RTerry Harper⇄11
RBill Almon⇄2
RButch Davis1
RDarnell Coles⇄1
LTommy Gregg1

CF

LAndy Van Slyke114
LBarry Bonds46
BJohn Cangelosi16
LTommy Gregg2

RF

BR.J. Reynolds72
LAndy Van Slyke36
BBobby Bonilla34
RTerry Harper⇄24
RDarnell Coles⇄14
RMike Diaz10
BJohn Cangelosi8
LTommy Gregg2
LBarry Bonds1

DH

—

Starters

RRick Reuschel⇄3.7 WAR
RDoug Drabek2.5 WAR
RMike Dunne2.2 WAR
RBrian Fisher1.5 WAR
RBob Walk1.2 WAR
RVicente Palacios0.5 WAR
RMike Bielecki0.3 WAR
LBob Patterson0.1 WAR
RDorn Taylor-0.2 WAR
LHipolito Pena-0.2 WAR
LBob Kipper-0.3 WAR

Bullpen

★ RJeff Robinson⇄14 sv
LJohn Smiley0 h
RDon Robinson⇄0 h
RBarry Jones0 h
RBrett Gideon0 h
RJim Gott⇄0 h
RLogan Easley0 h
LHipolito 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 1986)

PlayerfWAR
Andy Van Slyke5.1
Michael LaValliere3.3
Doug Drabek2.5
Mike Dunne2.2
Jose Lind2.0
John Cangelosi1.9

Key subtractions (gone from 1986)

Player1986 fWAR
Rick Rhoden5.8
Tony Peña Sr.4.0
Lee Mazzilli0.2
Pat Clements0.2
Jim Winn0.2
Steve Kemp0.2

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Pirates. Guaranteed contracts from the 2015-present contract-data period use the known contract period through 1987; everyone else is shown as a 1987 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Barry Bonds 1987 +5.3 +87.3 0.1 +87.2 $0.0M 2.05× –
Andy Van Slyke 1987 +5.1 +84.3 0.6 +83.8 $0.1M 2.05× –
Rick Reuschel↔ 1987 +3.7 +64.9 0.6 +64.3 $0.1M 2.19× –
Michael LaValliere 1987 +3.3 +26.6 0.1 +26.5 $0.0M 1.00× –
Mike Dunne 1987 +2.2 +25.9 0.1 +25.9 $0.0M 1.49× –
Bobby Bonilla 1987 +2.8 +24.7 0.1 +24.6 $0.0M 1.12× –
Brian Fisher 1987 +1.5 +18.2 0.2 +18.1 $0.1M 1.49× –
John Cangelosi 1987 +1.9 +18.7 0.8 +17.9 $0.4M 1.22× –
Jim Gott↔ 1987 +1.4 +14.8 0.1 +14.6 $0.1M 1.34× –
Jose Lind 1987 +2.0 +13.2 0.1 +13.1 $0.0M 0.82× –
Jeff Robinson↔ 1987 +0.8 +9.0 0.0 +9.0 $0.0M 1.34× –
Sid Bream 1987 +1.5 +6.5 0.2 +6.3 $0.1M 0.56× –
Bob Walk 1987 +1.2 +6.2 0.3 +5.9 $0.2M 0.67× –
Jim Morrison↔ 1987 +1.2 +5.5 0.2 +5.3 $0.2M 0.56× –
Don Robinson↔ 1987 +0.9 +4.9 0.5 +4.4 $0.6M 0.67× –
Mike Diaz 1987 +1.0 +4.2 0.1 +4.2 $0.1M 0.56× –
Johnny Ray↔ 1987 +1.1 +4.7 0.6 +4.1 $0.6M 0.56× –
Mike Bielecki 1987 +0.3 +2.7 0.1 +2.5 $0.3M 1.02× –
Brett Gideon 1987 +0.2 +1.0 0.1 +1.0 $0.3M 0.67× –
R.J. Reynolds 1987 +0.2 +1.2 0.2 +1.0 $1.1M 0.83× –
Onix Concepcion 1987 +0.0 +0.2 0.1 +0.2 $1.5M 0.61× –
Darnell Coles↔ 1987 +0.0 +0.1 0.1 +0.1 $2.3M 0.58× –
Terry Harper↔ 1987 +0.0 +0.1 0.2 -0.1 $15.2M 0.83× –
Junior Ortiz 1987 -0.0 -0.2 0.2 -0.4 – 0.52× –
John Smiley 1987 -0.1 -0.7 0.1 -0.7 – 0.67× –
Rafael Belliard 1987 -0.2 -1.1 0.1 -1.2 – 0.61× –
Bill Almon↔ 1987 -0.2 -1.3 0.1 -1.4 – 0.83× –
Barry Jones 1987 -0.3 -1.6 0.1 -1.7 – 0.67× –
U L Washington 1987 +0.0 +0.1 0.1 +0.0 $2.9M 0.58× –
Al Pedrique↔ 1987 +1.1 +5.5 – – – 0.61× –
Bob Kipper 1987 -0.3 -2.4 – – – 1.02× –
Bob Patterson 1987 +0.1 +0.4 – – – 0.67× –
Butch Davis 1987 -0.0 -0.2 – – – 0.83× –
Dave Johnson 1987 -0.0 -0.1 – – – 0.67× –
Denny Gonzalez 1987 -0.2 -1.1 – – – 0.61× –
Dorn Taylor 1987 -0.2 -2.0 – – – 1.02× –
Doug Drabek 1987 +2.5 +39.8 – – – 1.96× –
Felix Fermin 1987 +0.1 +0.4 – – – 0.61× –
Hipolito Pena 1987 -0.2 -1.3 – – – 0.67× –
Houston Jimenez 1987 +0.1 +0.5 – – – 0.56× –
Logan Easley 1987 -0.5 -2.5 – – – 0.67× –
Mackey Sasser↔ 1987 -0.2 -0.7 – – – 0.52× –
Mark Ross 1987 -0.1 -0.4 – – – 0.67× –
Miguel Garcia↔ 1987 +0.0 +0.0 – – – 0.67× –
Sam Khalifa 1987 -0.3 -1.3 – – – 0.61× –
Tim Drummond 1987 +0.1 +0.8 – – – 0.67× –
Tom Prince 1987 +0.1 +0.3 – – – 0.52× –
Tommy Gregg 1987 -0.0 -0.1 – – – 0.83× –
Vicente Palacios 1987 +0.5 +4.0 – – – 1.02× –
Total—+39.4+459.76.2+414.5—

Trades

Every graded 1987 deal involving the Pirates — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 9 total.

1987 · PIT / STL
PIT · Syd Thrift +$392.8M
Andy Van Slyke, Mike LaValliere, Mike Dunne
STL · Dal Maxvill −$392.8M
Tony Peña
PIT came out ahead by $392.8M
1987 · PIT / DET
PIT · Syd Thrift +$4.0M
Darnell Coles, Morris Madden
DET · Bill Lajoie −$4.0M
Jim Morrison
PIT came out ahead by $4.0M
1987 · SFG / PIT
SFG · Al Rosen +$58.4M
Rick Reuschel
PIT · Syd Thrift −$58.4M
Jeff Robinson, Scott Medvin
SFG came out ahead by $58.4M
1987 · PIT / CHW
PIT · Syd Thrift +$13.6M
John Cangelosi
CHW · Larry Himes −$13.6M
Jim Winn
PIT came out ahead by $13.6M
1987 · BAL / PIT
BAL · Hank Peters +$34.4M
Joe Orsulak
PIT · Syd Thrift −$34.4M
Terry Crowley, Rico Rossy
BAL came out ahead by $34.4M
1987 · PIT / NYM
PIT · Syd Thrift +$5.6M
Al Pedrique, Scott Little
NYM · Frank Cashen −$5.6M
Bill Almon
PIT came out ahead by $5.6M
1987 · SFG / PIT
SFG · Al Rosen +$16.0M
Don Robinson
PIT · Syd Thrift −$16.0M
Mackey Sasser
SFG came out ahead by $16.0M
1987 · DET / PIT
DET · Bill Lajoie +$5.6M
Shawn Holman, Pete Rice
PIT · Syd Thrift −$5.6M
Terry Harper
DET came out ahead by $5.6M
1987 · PIT / ANA
PIT · Syd Thrift +$16.8M
Bill Merrifield, Miguel García
ANA · Mike Port −$16.8M
Johnny Ray
PIT came out ahead by $16.8M

Current & Historical Payroll

1987 payroll
$6.0M

What the front office was committed to as of 1987, 1987–1993. 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 (9)

PlayerAgeSvc1987198819891990199119921993
Johnny Ray306.000$649kFREE AGENT
Rick Reuschel3815.000$551kFREE AGENT
Don Robinson309.000$507kFREE AGENT
Bob Walk307.000$285k$450k$800k$850k$850k$2.0M$2.2M
Jim Morrison3410.000$234kFREE AGENT
Terry Harper317.000$228kFREE AGENT
U L Washington3310.000$80kFREE AGENT
Onix Concepcion297.000$75kFREE AGENT
Bill Almon3413.000$70kFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (12)

PlayerAgeSvc1987198819891990199119921993
Andy Van Slyke264.000$550kARB 3FREE AGENT
Sid Bream264.000$200kARB 3FREE AGENT
Junior Ortiz275.000$190kFREE AGENT
R.J. Reynolds284.000$190kARB 3FREE AGENT
Jim Gott275.000$144kFREE AGENT
Rafael Belliard255.000$130kFREE AGENT
Michael LaValliere263.000$120kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Bielecki273.000$110kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Diaz274.000$90kARB 3FREE AGENT
Darnell Coles254.000$73kARB 3FREE AGENT
Jeff Robinson263.000$40kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Butch Davis294.000—ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (28)

PlayerAgeSvc1987198819891990199119921993
John Cangelosi242.000$800kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brian Fisher252.000$180kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bobby Bonilla241.000$115kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Barry Bonds221.000$100kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Barry Jones241.000$75kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Dunne240.000$62kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brett Gideon230.000$62kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jose Lind230.000$62kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
John Smiley221.000$62kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Doug Drabek241.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tim Drummond220.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Logan Easley25–—
Felix Fermin230.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Miguel Garcia20–—
Denny Gonzalez23–—
Tommy Gregg230.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Houston Jimenez29–—
Dave Johnson270.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Sam Khalifa23–—
Bob Kipper222.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Vicente Palacios230.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bob Patterson282.000—ARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Al Pedrique260.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Hipolito Pena23–—
Tom Prince220.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mark Ross32–—
Mackey Sasser240.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dorn Taylor28–—

Graphs

How each 1987 acquisition stacked onto Pirates'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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