RRosternomics
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Pirates PIT

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GM: Neal Huntington

Overview

WINDOW ↗ rising
cheap & winning · year 3 in this regime · payroll 0.84× league · TAB +11.4
+11.4TAB — talent above budget5th/30
+18.3WAB — realized wins (TAB + luck)1st/30
9.0depth — 2+ WAR regulars4th/30
-3.7dead WAR — sub-replacement drag8th/30
40%dead money %16th/30
0.605win %2nd/30
43.5roster fWAR7th/30
+35surplus $M (value vs cost)5th/30
$102Mpayroll $M20th/30

2015: made playoffs · 98–64. Ranks are vs the 30 teams that season.

Roster

CFAndrew McCutchen 152GStarling Marte 18GJaff Decker 2G
LFStarling Marte 141GTravis Snider 42GSean Rodríguez 16G
RFGregory Polanco 144GTravis Snider 22GSean Rodríguez 14G
SSJordy Mercer 115GJung Ho Kang 60GPedro Florimón 17G
2BNeil Walker 146GJosh Harrison 37GSean Rodríguez 7G
3BAramis Ramirez 122GJung Ho Kang 77GJosh Harrison 72G
1BPedro Álvarez 124GSean Rodríguez 102GMichael Morse 58G
STARTERSGerrit Cole 5.1WARFrancisco Liriano 3.5WARA.J. Burnett 2.5WARJ.A. Happ 1.9WARJeff Locke 1.1WAR
CFrancisco Cervelli 128GChris Stewart 52GTony Sanchez 2G
DHPedro Álvarez 5GAndrew McCutchen 3GFrancisco Cervelli 1G
BULLPEN★ Mark Melancon 51svTony Watson 41hJared Hughes 22hArquimedes Caminero 15hJoakim Soria 11hAntonio Bastardo 9hRob Scahill 1hJoe Blanton 0h
CFrancisco Cervelli 128 · Chris Stewart 52 · Tony Sanchez 2
1BPedro Álvarez 124 · Sean Rodríguez 102 · Michael Morse 58
2BNeil Walker 146 · Josh Harrison 37 · Sean Rodríguez 7
3BAramis Ramirez 122 · Jung Ho Kang 77 · Josh Harrison 72
SSJordy Mercer 115 · Jung Ho Kang 60 · Pedro Florimón 17
LFStarling Marte 141 · Travis Snider 42 · Sean Rodríguez 16
CFAndrew McCutchen 152 · Starling Marte 18 · Jaff Decker 2
RFGregory Polanco 144 · Travis Snider 22 · Sean Rodríguez 14
DHPedro Álvarez 5 · Andrew McCutchen 3 · Francisco Cervelli 1
SPGerrit Cole 5.1 · Francisco Liriano 3.5 · A.J. Burnett 2.5 · J.A. Happ 1.9 · Jeff Locke 1.1
BP★ Mark Melancon 51 · Tony Watson 41 · Jared Hughes 22 · Arquimedes Caminero 15 · Joakim Soria 11 · Antonio Bastardo 9 · Rob Scahill 1 · Joe Blanton 0

Each position lists its starter then backups by games (so platoons & bench show). Starters (mound) & bullpen (left, foul territory) are ranked by WAR; ★ marks the closer (most save chances). MLB Stats API.

2015 roster — value & surplus

PlayerAgeServiceGfWARSalary $MSurplus $M
Andrew McCutchen 28 FA-elig 1576.0 10.0 +8.8
Francisco Cervelli 29 FA-elig 1305.9 1.0 +17.7
Gerrit Cole 24 pre-arb 335.1 0.5 +15.6
Jung Ho Kang 28 pre-arb 1263.7 2.5 +9.1
Francisco Liriano 31 FA-elig 313.5 11.7 -0.7
Starling Marte 26 arb 1533.3 1.3 +9.0
Neil Walker 29 FA-elig 1512.6 8.0 +0.1
A.J. Burnett 38 FA-elig 262.5 8.5 -0.7
Gregory Polanco 23 pre-arb 1532.2 0.5 +6.5
J.A. Happ↔ SEA 32 FA-elig 111.9 2.3 +3.6
Mark Melancon 30 FA-elig 781.4 5.4 -1.0
Josh Harrison 27 arb 1141.3 3.0 +1.1
Tony Watson 30 arb 771.3 1.8 +2.3
Chris Stewart 33 FA-elig 581.1 1.2 +2.3
Jeff Locke 27 arb 301.1 0.5 +2.9
Joakim Soria↔ DET 31 FA-elig 290.8 2.8 -0.4
Joe Blanton↔ KCR 34 FA-elig 210.6 0.4 +1.5
Antonio Bastardo 29 FA-elig 660.5 3.1 -1.5
Pedro Álvarez 28 arb 1500.5 5.8 -4.3
Vance Worley 27 arb 240.5 2.5 -1.0
Jordy Mercer 28 arb 1160.4 0.5 +0.8
Charlie Morton 31 FA-elig 230.4 8.0 -6.9
Michael Morse↔ MIA 33 – 450.3 – –
Tony Sanchez 27 pre-arb 30.1 0.5 -0.1
Arquimedes Caminero 28 pre-arb 730.1 0.5 -0.1
Bobby LaFromboise 29 pre-arb 110.1 0.1 +0.2
Jared Hughes 29 arb 760.1 1.1 -0.8
Travis Snider↔ BAL 27 FA-elig 180.1 0.4 -0.2
Brent Morel 28 – 30.1 0.0 +0.2
Chris Volstad 28 arb 10.0 0.0 +0.0
Aramis Ramirez↔ MIL 37 FA-elig 560.0 5.7 -5.7
Casey Sadler 24 arb 1-0.0 0.0 -0.0
Elias Díaz 24 – 2-0.0 0.1 -0.2
Travis Ishikawa↔ SFG 31 FA-elig 38-0.1 1.0 -1.1
Keon Broxton 25 – 7-0.1 0.0 -0.3
Jaff Decker 25 pre-arb 23-0.1 0.5 -0.9
Gorkys Hernández 27 pre-arb 8-0.1 0.3 -0.7
Steve Lombardozzi Jr. 26 – 12-0.3 – –
Rob Scahill 28 pre-arb 28-0.3 0.1 -1.0
Radhames Liz 31 FA-elig 14-0.3 1.0 -1.9
Pedro Florimón 28 arb 24-0.3 0.5 -1.6
Deolis Guerra 26 – 10-0.3 0.2 -1.2
Jose Tabata 26 arb 27-0.4 4.0 -5.1
Andrew Lambo 26 pre-arb 20-0.4 0.5 -1.8
Sean Rodríguez 30 FA-elig 139-0.5 1.9 -3.4
Corey Hart 33 FA-elig 35-0.5 2.5 -4.2

Key additions (new vs 2014)

PlayerfWAR
Francisco Cervelli5.9
Jung Ho Kang3.7
A.J. Burnett2.5
J.A. Happ1.9
Joakim Soria0.8
Joe Blanton0.6

Key subtractions (gone from 2014)

Player2014 fWAR
Russell Martin6.1
Edinson Volquez0.3
Clint Barmes0.3
Ike Davis0.2
John Holdzkom0.2
Justin Wilson0.1

Current & Historical Payroll

2015 payroll
$102.3M
2016 guaranteed
$0M

What the front office was committed to as of 2015, 2015–2021. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2015; arbitration & free-agent years are projected from service time. Hover a figure for its luxury-tax (CBT) & actual-cash values.

current $ guaranteed $ arbitration (proj) pre-arb (proj) free agent club option player option mutual option vesting option

Guaranteed / signed (9)

PlayerAgeSvc2015201620172018201920202021
Francisco Liriano318.104$11.7MFREE AGENT
A.J. Burnett3815.038$8.5MFREE AGENT
Charlie Morton316.009$8.0MFREE AGENT
Aramis Ramirez3715.111$5.7MFREE AGENT
Joakim Soria318.000$2.8MFREE AGENT
Corey Hart339.038$2.5MFREE AGENT
J.A. Happ326.047$2.3MFREE AGENT
Joe Blanton349.016$367kFREE AGENT
Michael Morse3310.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (16)

PlayerAgeSvc2015201620172018201920202021
Andrew McCutchen285.123$10.0MFREE AGENT
Neil Walker294.166$8.0MARB 3FREE AGENT
Pedro Álvarez284.085$5.8MARB 3FREE AGENT
Mark Melancon304.098$5.4MARB 3FREE AGENT
Jose Tabata263.081$4.0MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Antonio Bastardo295.054$3.1MFREE AGENT
Josh Harrison273.033$3.0MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Sean Rodríguez305.133$1.9MFREE AGENT
Tony Watson303.101$1.8MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chris Stewart334.091$1.2MARB 3FREE AGENT
Francisco Cervelli294.146$988kARB 3FREE AGENT
Travis Ishikawa314.006$950kARB 3FREE AGENT
Travis Snider274.091$434kARB 3FREE AGENT
Chris Volstad284.044$11kARB 3FREE AGENT
Casey Sadler244.035$6kARB 3FREE AGENT
Steve Lombardozzi Jr.264.000—ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (21)

PlayerAgeSvc2015201620172018201920202021
Jung Ho Kang280.000$2.5MPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Vance Worley272.139$2.5MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Starling Marte262.070$1.3MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jared Hughes292.162$1.1MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Radhames Liz310.135$1.0MPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jordy Mercer282.095$538kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jeff Locke272.020$531kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Gerrit Cole241.111$531kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Gregory Polanco230.103$525kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Pedro Florimón281.139$521kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tony Sanchez270.155$518kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Andrew Lambo261.079$516kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Arquimedes Caminero281.060$516kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jaff Decker250.098$510kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Gorkys Hernández270.111$277kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Deolis Guerra260.000$164kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bobby LaFromboise290.111$105kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Rob Scahill281.147$92kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Elias Díaz240.000$92kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Keon Broxton250.000$36kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brent Morel282.151$14kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR. Bars = Pirates 2015; the black line = the league-average player at each slot that season. Staying above the line deep into the roster is the depth edge; dropping below it = holes & dead weight.

What each regime is worth — every settled team-season since 1985

RegimeSeasonsWin %Playoff %Pennant %WS %
WINDOW 28152.131.05.01.1
CONTEND 30056.964.719.710.3
FORCED-SPEND 25648.09.81.61.6
REBUILD 32143.31.20.30.3
Rosternomics — quantifying front-office skill, attribution-clean. Follow @rosternomics on X. Decision-makers on record back to 1933; resource-controlled metrics (WAR & payroll) cover 1985–2026.
Data: FanGraphs (WAR), Baseball-Reference & the Chadwick Bureau register (rosters, IDs), the Lahman Database, Baseball America prospect rankings (via The Baseball Cube), 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); bios are original. Emoji graphics by OpenMoji (CC BY-SA 4.0).
All figures are franchise-level outcomes credited to the decision-maker in the acquisition year — not solely attributable to one executive.