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Pirates PIT

199673–89 (0.451)
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GM: Ted Simmons

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 1996, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$22M
Surplus $M
-3
Win %
0.451
TAB
-7.7
WAB
-3.8
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
21.6
Dead money %
25%
Depth Players
5.0
Dead WAR
-8.7

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

1996 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RJason Kendall129
RKeith Osik41
RAngelo Encarnacion7
RJohn Wehner1

1B

LMark Johnson100
RJeff King92
RRich Aude4
LOrlando Merced1

2B

RCarlos García77
RJeff King71
BNelson Liriano36
RJohn Wehner12
LTony Womack4

3B

RCharlie Hayes⇄128
RJohn Wehner24
RJeff King17
RCarlos García14
BDale Sveum10
BNelson Liriano9
RKeith Osik2

SS

RJay Bell151
RCarlos García19
BNelson Liriano5

LF

LAl Martin142
RJohn Wehner9
LTrey Beamon5
LMike Kingery5
RKeith Osik2
LMark Johnson1

CF

LMike Kingery64
RJermaine Allensworth61
LAl Martin26
RJohn Wehner13
LMidre Cummings11
LTony Womack5

RF

LOrlando Merced115
LDave Clark⇄28
LMike Kingery16
LTrey Beamon11
LMidre Cummings10
RJohn Wehner8
LTony Womack1

DH

—

Starters

LDenny Neagle⇄3.2 WAR
RDanny Darwin⇄2.8 WAR
RFrancisco Cordova1.6 WAR
RJon Lieber1.6 WAR
LZane Smith1.2 WAR
RPaul Wagner0.7 WAR
RJason Schmidt⇄0.4 WAR
RSteve Parris0.4 WAR
RMarc Wilkins0.4 WAR
RElmer Dessens0.4 WAR
LChris Peters0.1 WAR
RRich Loiselle0.1 WAR
LMatt Ruebel-0.2 WAR
REsteban Loaiza-0.3 WAR
RJohn Hope-0.3 WAR
RJohn Ericks-0.4 WAR
LDarrell May⇄-0.5 WAR
RDan Miceli-0.8 WAR

Bullpen

★ LDan Plesac11 sv
RMarc Wilkins0 h
LJason Christiansen0 h
RRamon Morel0 h
RJohn Ericks0 h
RDave Wainhouse0 h
RElmer Dessens0 h
RJoe Boever0 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 1995)

PlayerfWAR
Danny Darwin2.8
Francisco Cordova1.6
Zane Smith1.2
Jason Kendall1.1
Keith Osik0.6
Dale Sveum0.5

Key subtractions (gone from 1995)

Player1995 fWAR
Mark Parent1.2
Rick White0.7
Jim Gott0.2
Mike Maddux0.1
Mike Dyer0.1
Don Slaught0.0

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 1996; everyone else is shown as a 1996 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Denny Neagle↔ 1996 +3.2 +50.5 1.9 +48.6 $0.6M 1.96× –
Danny Darwin↔ 1996 +2.8 +44.5 0.3 +44.2 $0.1M 1.96× –
Jeff King 1996 +3.8 +36.4 2.5 +33.9 $0.7M 1.20× –
Orlando Merced 1996 +2.8 +35.7 2.7 +33.0 $1.0M 1.60× –
Francisco Cordova 1996 +1.6 +25.7 0.1 +25.6 $0.1M 1.95× –
Dan Plesac 1996 +1.6 +25.4 1.1 +24.3 $0.7M 1.95× –
Jon Lieber 1996 +1.6 +12.4 0.1 +12.3 $0.1M 0.98× –
Mark Johnson 1996 +1.8 +11.6 0.1 +11.4 $0.1M 0.81× –
Jay Bell 1996 +2.0 +14.6 4.7 +9.9 $2.3M 0.89× –
Al Martin 1996 +1.5 +9.9 0.5 +9.4 $0.3M 0.83× –
Zane Smith 1996 +1.2 +9.7 0.4 +9.3 $0.3M 1.02× –
Paul Wagner 1996 +0.7 +5.6 0.3 +5.3 $0.4M 1.02× –
Jason Kendall 1996 +1.1 +4.4 0.1 +4.3 $0.1M 0.52× –
Steve Parris 1996 +0.4 +3.5 0.1 +3.4 $0.3M 1.02× –
Jason Schmidt↔ 1996 +0.4 +2.9 0.0 +2.9 $0.1M 1.02× –
Keith Osik 1996 +0.6 +2.7 0.1 +2.6 $0.2M 0.52× –
Dave Clark↔ 1996 +0.5 +3.2 0.7 +2.5 $1.4M 0.83× –
Elmer Dessens 1996 +0.4 +2.1 0.1 +2.0 $0.3M 0.67× –
Marc Wilkins 1996 +0.4 +2.1 0.1 +2.0 $0.3M 0.67× –
Carlos Garcia 1996 +0.7 +3.0 1.4 +1.6 $2.0M 0.56× –
Chris Peters 1996 +0.1 +0.4 0.1 +0.3 $2.0M 1.02× –
Charlie Hayes↔ 1996 +0.3 +1.2 1.5 -0.3 $5.7M 0.58× –
Steve Cooke 1996 -0.0 -0.2 0.2 -0.4 – 0.67× –
David Wainhouse 1996 -0.1 -0.3 0.1 -0.5 – 0.67× –
Matt Ruebel 1996 -0.2 -1.0 0.1 -1.1 – 0.67× –
Ramon Morel 1996 -0.2 -1.0 0.1 -1.1 – 0.67× –
Jason Christiansen 1996 -0.2 -1.2 0.1 -1.3 – 0.67× –
Jacob Brumfield↔ 1996 -0.2 -1.4 0.1 -1.4 – 0.83× –
John Wehner 1996 -0.5 -2.4 0.2 -2.6 – 0.58× –
Esteban Loaiza 1996 -0.3 -2.6 0.1 -2.7 – 1.02× –
Lee Hancock 1996 -0.5 -2.6 0.1 -2.7 – 0.67× –
Jermaine Allensworth 1996 -0.6 -4.1 0.1 -4.2 – 0.83× –
Dan Miceli 1996 -0.8 -4.3 0.2 -4.5 – 0.67× –
Nelson Liriano 1996 -0.9 -4.2 0.3 -4.6 – 0.56× –
John Ericks 1996 -0.4 -4.7 0.1 -4.9 – 1.34× –
Mike Kingery 1996 -2.1 -14.3 0.8 -15.0 – 0.83× –
Angelo Encarnacion 1996 -0.1 -0.5 – – – 0.52× –
Dale Sveum 1996 +0.5 +2.3 – – – 0.58× –
Darrell May↔ 1996 -0.5 -2.6 – – – 0.67× –
Joe Boever 1996 -0.2 -1.0 – – – 0.67× –
John Hope 1996 -0.3 -2.4 – – – 1.02× –
Midre Cummings 1996 +0.1 +0.5 – – – 0.83× –
Rich Aude 1996 -0.2 -1.0 – – – 0.56× –
Rich Loiselle 1996 +0.1 +0.4 – – – 1.02× –
Tony Womack 1996 +0.3 +1.7 – – – 0.83× –
Trey Beamon 1996 -0.2 -1.5 – – – 0.83× –
Total—+22.0+259.121.5+241.5—

Trades

Every graded 1996 deal involving the Pirates — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 8 total.

1996 · KCR / PIT
KCR · Herk Robinson +$5.6M
Jay Bell, Jeff King
PIT · Ted Simmons −$5.6M
Jeff Granger, Jeff Martin, Joe Randa, Jeff Wallace
KCR came out ahead by $5.6M
1996 · HOU / PIT
HOU · Gerry Hunsicker +$0.8M
Danny Darwin
PIT · Ted Simmons −$0.8M
Rich Loiselle
HOU came out ahead by $0.8M
1996 · PIT / LAD
PIT · Ted Simmons +$3.2M
Carl South
LAD · Fred Claire −$3.2M
Dave Clark
PIT came out ahead by $3.2M
1996 · PIT / TOR
PIT · Ted Simmons +$6.4M
D.J. Boston#66
TOR · Gord Ash −$6.4M
Jacob Brumfield
PIT came out ahead by $6.4M
1996 · PIT / NYY
PIT · Ted Simmons +$8.0M
Chris Corn
NYY · Bob Watson −$8.0M
Charlie Hayes
PIT came out ahead by $8.0M
1996 · DET / PIT
DET · Randy Smith +$0.8M
Dan Miceli
PIT · Ted Simmons −$0.8M
Clint Sodowsky
DET came out ahead by $0.8M
1996 · PIT / TOR
PIT · Ted Simmons +$41.6M
Brandon Cromer, Jose Pett, José Silva, Mike Halperin, Abraham Núñez, Craig Wilson
TOR · Gord Ash −$41.6M
Carlos García, Dan Plesac, Orlando Merced
PIT came out ahead by $41.6M
1996 · ATL / PIT
ATL · John Schuerholz +$46.4M
Denny Neagle
PIT · Ted Simmons −$46.4M
Ron Wright, Corey Pointer, Jason Schmidt
ATL came out ahead by $46.4M

Current & Historical Payroll

1996 payroll
$21.8M

What the front office was committed to as of 1996, 1996–2002. 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 (13)

PlayerAgeSvc1996199719981999200020012002
Jay Bell3010.000$4.7MFREE AGENT
Orlando Merced296.000$2.7MFREE AGENT
Jeff King317.000$2.5MFREE AGENT
Charlie Hayes318.000$1.5MFREE AGENT
Carlos Garcia286.000$1.4MFREE AGENT
Dan Plesac3410.000$1.1MFREE AGENT
Mike Kingery3510.000$750kFREE AGENT
Dave Clark3310.000$688kFREE AGENT
Zane Smith3512.000$400kFREE AGENT
Nelson Liriano329.000$350kFREE AGENT
Danny Darwin4018.000$307kFREE AGENT
Joe Boever3511.000—FREE AGENT
Dale Sveum3210.000—$400kFREE AGENT$200k

Arbitration-eligible (11)

PlayerAgeSvc1996199719981999200020012002
Denny Neagle275.000$1.9MFREE AGENT
Al Martin284.000$500kARB 3FREE AGENT
Paul Wagner284.000$275kARB 3FREE AGENT
Dan Miceli253.000$220kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
John Wehner295.000$200kFREE AGENT
Steve Cooke264.000$180kARB 3FREE AGENT
David Wainhouse285.000$109kFREE AGENT
Jacob Brumfield314.000$85kARB 3FREE AGENT
Midre Cummings243.000—ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
John Hope253.000—ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tony Womack263.000—ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (22)

PlayerAgeSvc1996199719981999200020012002
Esteban Loaiza241.000$150kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jon Lieber262.000$150kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jason Christiansen261.000$144kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steve Parris281.000$135kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
John Ericks281.000$135kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mark Johnson281.000$128kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Lee Hancock291.000$110kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ramon Morel211.000$110kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jermaine Allensworth240.000$109kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jason Kendall220.000$109kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Francisco Cordova240.000$109kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Elmer Dessens250.000$109kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chris Peters240.000$109kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Keith Osik270.000$109kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Marc Wilkins250.000$109kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Matt Ruebel260.000$109kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jason Schmidt231.000$35kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Rich Aude24–—
Trey Beamon220.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Angelo Encarnacion271.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Rich Loiselle240.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Darrell May241.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 1996 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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