Rosternomics
Log in Sign up 𝕏

Pirates PIT

198885–75 (0.531)
‹ Previous Next ›

GM: Larry Doughty

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 1988, 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 %
0.531
TAB
+10.9
WAB
+11.8
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
37.3
Dead money %
39%
Depth Players
9.0
Dead WAR
-2.7

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

1988 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

LMichael LaValliere114
RJunior Ortiz40
RTom Prince28
RRuben Rodriguez2
RDave Hostetler1
RMike Diaz⇄1

1B

LSid Bream138
RRandy Milligan25
BOrestes Destrade8
LBenny Distefano5
RDave Hostetler4
LKen Oberkfell⇄1

2B

RJosé Lind153
RDenny Gonzalez4
RRafael Belliard3
LKen Oberkfell⇄2

3B

BBobby Bonilla159
LKen Oberkfell⇄18
RAl Pedrique5
RDenny Gonzalez2
RDarnell Coles⇄1

SS

RRafael Belliard117
RAl Pedrique46
RFelix Fermin43
RDenny Gonzalez14
LKen Oberkfell⇄1

LF

LBarry Bonds135
RGary Redus⇄21
BR.J. Reynolds19
BJohn Cangelosi11
RMike Diaz⇄9
RRandy Milligan1

CF

LAndy Van Slyke152
BJohn Cangelosi12
RGary Redus⇄6
LBarry Bonds3
RGlenn Wilson⇄1
BR.J. Reynolds1

RF

BR.J. Reynolds80
RGlenn Wilson⇄36
RMike Diaz⇄9
BJohn Cangelosi3
RGary Redus⇄3
LBenny Distefano2
LTommy Gregg⇄1

DH

—

Starters

LJohn Smiley3.2 WAR
RBob Walk3.0 WAR
RDoug Drabek2.9 WAR
LDave LaPoint⇄0.5 WAR
RBrian Fisher0.1 WAR
RRick Reed0.1 WAR
RRandy Kramer0.1 WAR
RVicente Palacios-0.3 WAR
RMike Dunne-0.3 WAR

Bullpen

★ RJim Gott34 sv
RJeff Robinson0 h
LBob Kipper0 h
RBarry Jones⇄0 h
LDave Rucker0 h
RScott Medvin0 h
RVicente Palacios0 h
LMorris Madden0 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 1987)

PlayerfWAR
Dave LaPoint0.5
Gary Redus0.4
Randy Milligan0.3
Benny Distefano0.2
Scott Medvin0.2
Rick Reed0.1

Key subtractions (gone from 1987)

Player1987 fWAR
Rick Reuschel3.7
Jim Morrison1.2
Johnny Ray1.1
Don Robinson0.9
Mike Bielecki0.3
Brett Gideon0.2

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 1988; everyone else is shown as a 1988 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Andy Van Slyke 1988 +6.4 +104.7 0.8 +103.9 $0.1M 2.05× –
Barry Bonds 1988 +5.4 +88.5 0.2 +88.3 $0.0M 2.05× –
Bobby Bonilla 1988 +5.1 +58.3 0.2 +58.1 $0.0M 1.43× –
John Smiley 1988 +3.2 +50.2 0.1 +50.1 $0.0M 1.96× –
Bob Walk 1988 +3.0 +46.6 0.5 +46.2 $0.2M 1.96× –
Doug Drabek 1988 +2.9 +44.9 0.2 +44.7 $0.1M 1.96× –
Michael LaValliere 1988 +2.5 +20.2 0.2 +20.0 $0.1M 1.00× –
Jeff Robinson 1988 +1.5 +15.8 0.5 +15.3 $0.3M 1.34× –
Jose Lind 1988 +2.4 +15.4 0.1 +15.3 $0.0M 0.82× –
Sid Bream 1988 +2.4 +15.7 0.4 +15.3 $0.1M 0.81× –
Jim Gott 1988 +0.7 +7.0 0.5 +6.5 $0.8M 1.34× –
John Cangelosi 1988 +0.8 +5.6 0.1 +5.4 $0.1M 0.83× –
Dave LaPoint↔ 1988 +0.5 +3.8 0.1 +3.7 $0.2M 1.02× –
Gary Redus↔ 1988 +0.4 +2.8 0.1 +2.7 $0.3M 0.83× –
Rafael Belliard 1988 +0.5 +2.7 0.1 +2.5 $0.2M 0.61× –
R.J. Reynolds 1988 +0.4 +2.5 0.3 +2.2 $0.8M 0.83× –
Darnell Coles↔ 1988 +0.4 +1.9 0.2 +1.7 $0.5M 0.58× –
Felix Fermin 1988 +0.3 +1.6 0.1 +1.5 $0.2M 0.61× –
Randy Milligan 1988 +0.3 +1.5 0.1 +1.4 $0.2M 0.56× –
Benny Distefano 1988 +0.2 +0.8 0.1 +0.8 $0.3M 0.56× –
Brian Fisher 1988 +0.1 +0.8 0.3 +0.6 $2.5M 1.02× –
Glenn Wilson↔ 1988 +0.1 +0.8 0.3 +0.6 $2.2M 0.83× –
Barry Jones↔ 1988 +0.1 +0.5 0.1 +0.4 $0.7M 0.67× –
Ruben Rodriguez 1988 +0.0 +0.1 0.1 +0.1 $1.9M 0.52× –
Junior Ortiz 1988 -0.0 -0.2 0.2 -0.4 – 0.52× –
Ken Oberkfell↔ 1988 -0.1 -0.3 0.1 -0.4 – 0.58× –
Mike Diaz↔ 1988 -0.1 -0.9 0.1 -1.0 – 0.83× –
Vicente Palacios 1988 -0.3 -1.4 0.1 -1.5 – 0.67× –
Al Pedrique 1988 -0.4 -2.0 0.1 -2.1 – 0.61× –
Tom Prince 1988 -0.5 -2.2 0.1 -2.3 – 0.52× –
Bob Kipper 1988 -0.4 -2.3 0.1 -2.5 – 0.67× –
Mike Dunne 1988 -0.3 -2.7 0.1 -2.8 – 1.02× –
Dave Hostetler 1988 -0.0 -0.2 – – – 0.56× –
Dave Rucker 1988 +0.0 +0.2 – – – 0.67× –
Denny Gonzalez 1988 -0.1 -0.4 – – – 0.61× –
Miguel Garcia 1988 -0.1 -0.5 – – – 0.67× –
Morris Madden 1988 -0.1 -0.6 – – – 0.67× –
Orestes Destrade 1988 -0.2 -0.7 – – – 0.56× –
Randy Kramer 1988 +0.1 +0.4 – – – 0.67× –
Rick Reed 1988 +0.1 +1.0 – – – 1.02× –
Scott Medvin 1988 +0.2 +0.8 – – – 0.67× –
Tommy Gregg↔ 1988 -0.0 -0.1 – – – 0.83× –
Total—+37.4+480.66.6+474.3—

Trades

Every graded 1988 deal involving the Pirates — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 11 total.

1988 · PIT / CHW
PIT · Larry Doughty +$16.8M
Gary Redus
CHW · Larry Himes −$16.8M
Mike Diaz
PIT came out ahead by $16.8M
1988 · PIT / SEA
PIT · Larry Doughty +$27.2M
Glenn Wilson
SEA · Dick Balderson −$27.2M
Darnell Coles
PIT came out ahead by $27.2M
1988 · CHW / PIT
CHW · Larry Himes +$4.0M
Barry Jones
PIT · Larry Doughty −$4.0M
Dave LaPoint
CHW came out ahead by $4.0M
1988 · ATL / PIT
ATL · Bobby Cox +$12.0M
Tommy Gregg
PIT · Larry Doughty −$12.0M
Ken Oberkfell
ATL came out ahead by $12.0M
1988 · NYY / PIT
NYY · Lou Piniella +$0.8M
Hipólito Peña
PIT · Larry Doughty −$0.8M
Orestes Destrade
NYY came out ahead by $0.8M
1988 · PIT / NYM
PIT · Larry Doughty +$1.6M
Randy Milligan, Scott Henion
NYM · Frank Cashen −$1.6M
Mackey Sasser, Tim Drummond
PIT came out ahead by $1.6M
1988 · PIT / TEX
PIT · Larry Doughty +$0.0M
Dave Sax
TEX · Tom Grieve +$0.0M
Bill Merrifield
Even trade
1988 · LAD / PIT
LAD · Fred Claire +$11.2M
Jim Neidlinger
PIT · Larry Doughty −$11.2M
Bill Krueger
LAD came out ahead by $11.2M
1988 · CHC / PIT
CHC · Jim Frey +$12.8M
Mike Bielecki
PIT · Larry Doughty −$12.8M
Mike Curtis
CHC came out ahead by $12.8M
1988 · BAL / PIT
BAL · Roland Hemond +$90.4M
Randy Milligan
PIT · Larry Doughty −$90.4M
Pete Blohm
BAL came out ahead by $90.4M
1988 · PIT / CLE
PIT · Larry Doughty +$194.4M
Jay Bell
CLE · Hank Peters −$194.4M
Denny González, Félix Fermín
PIT came out ahead by $194.4M

Current & Historical Payroll

1988 payroll
$6.4M

What the front office was committed to as of 1988, 1988–1994. 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)

PlayerAgeSvc1988198919901991199219931994
Jim Gott286.000$500k$600kFREE AGENT
Bob Walk318.000$450k$800k$850k$850k$2.0M$2.2MFREE AGENT
Glenn Wilson296.000$273k$586kFREE AGENT
Junior Ortiz286.000$250k$300kFREE AGENT
Rafael Belliard266.000$130k$225k$380kFREE AGENT
Gary Redus316.000$129k$500k$500k$600k$825kFREE AGENT
Ken Oberkfell3211.000$104k$620kFREE AGENT
Dave LaPoint288.000$103kFREE AGENT
Dave Rucker307.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (11)

PlayerAgeSvc1988198919901991199219931994
Andy Van Slyke275.000$825kFREE AGENT
Jeff Robinson274.000$475kARB 3FREE AGENT
Sid Bream275.000$360kFREE AGENT
R.J. Reynolds295.000$290kFREE AGENT
Brian Fisher263.000$255kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Michael LaValliere274.000$215kARB 3FREE AGENT
Darnell Coles265.000$207kFREE AGENT
Bob Kipper233.000$125kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
John Cangelosi253.000$125kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Diaz285.000$93kFREE AGENT
Benny Distefano264.000$62kARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (22)

PlayerAgeSvc1988198919901991199219931994
Bobby Bonilla252.000$230kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Barry Bonds232.000$220kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Doug Drabek252.000$160kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Dunne251.000$142kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
John Smiley232.000$108kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Al Pedrique271.000$91kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jose Lind241.000$75kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Felix Fermin241.000$68kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Barry Jones252.000$64kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tom Prince231.000$62kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Vicente Palacios241.000$62kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Randy Milligan261.000$62kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ruben Rodriguez232.000$62kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Orestes Destrade261.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Miguel Garcia21–—
Denny Gonzalez24–—
Tommy Gregg241.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dave Hostetler32–—
Randy Kramer270.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Morris Madden27–—
Scott Medvin26–—
Rick Reed230.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 1988 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).
Privacy Policy · Terms of Service · © 2026 Rosternomics