RRosternomics
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Pirates PIT

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GM: Ben Cherington

Overview

REBUILD ↘ cooling
cheap & losing · year 2 in this regime · payroll 0.37× league · TAB -9.5
-9.5TAB — talent above budget27th/30
-7.9WAB — realized wins (TAB + luck)22nd/30
3.0depth — 2+ WAR regulars26th/30
-11.2dead WAR — sub-replacement drag30th/30
75%dead money %30th/30
0.377win %27th/30
12.4roster fWAR30th/30
-6surplus $M (value vs cost)13th/30
$46Mpayroll $M28th/30

Roster

CFBryan Reynolds 137GBen Gamel 20GDustin Fowler 12G
LFBen Gamel 73GAnthony Alford 32GKa'ai Tom 32G
RFGregory Polanco 92GYoshi Tsutsugo 20GBen Gamel 18G
SSKevin Newman 132GErik González 17GCole Tucker 17G
2BMichael Chavis 29GWilmer Difo 28GRodolfo Castro 20G
3BKe'Bryan Hayes 95GErik González 38GWilmer Difo 18G
1BColin Moran 84GJohn Nogowski 32GYoshi Tsutsugo 31G
STARTERSMitch Keller 1.1WARDillon Peters 0.5WARTrevor Cahill 0.5WARMax Kranick 0.3WARJT Brubaker 0.3WAR
CJacob Stallings 104GMichael Pérez 58GTaylor Davis 2G
DHYoshi Tsutsugo 9GTodd Frazier 3GColin Moran 3G
BULLPEN★ Chris Stratton 8svDavid Bednar 13hChasen Shreve 12hSam Howard 11hDuane Underwood Jr. 4hNick Mears 3hEnyel De Los Santos 2hKyle Keller 2h
CJacob Stallings 104 · Michael Pérez 58 · Taylor Davis 2
1BColin Moran 84 · John Nogowski 32 · Yoshi Tsutsugo 31
2BMichael Chavis 29 · Wilmer Difo 28 · Rodolfo Castro 20
3BKe'Bryan Hayes 95 · Erik González 38 · Wilmer Difo 18
SSKevin Newman 132 · Erik González 17 · Cole Tucker 17
LFBen Gamel 73 · Anthony Alford 32 · Ka'ai Tom 32
CFBryan Reynolds 137 · Ben Gamel 20 · Dustin Fowler 12
RFGregory Polanco 92 · Yoshi Tsutsugo 20 · Ben Gamel 18
DHYoshi Tsutsugo 9 · Todd Frazier 3 · Colin Moran 3
SPMitch Keller 1.1 · Dillon Peters 0.5 · Trevor Cahill 0.5 · Max Kranick 0.3 · JT Brubaker 0.3
BP★ Chris Stratton 8 · David Bednar 13 · Chasen Shreve 12 · Sam Howard 11 · Duane Underwood Jr. 4 · Nick Mears 3 · Enyel De Los Santos 2 · Kyle Keller 2

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.

2021 roster — value & surplus

PlayerAgeServiceGfWARSalary $MSurplus $M
Bryan Reynolds 26 pre-arb 1596.3 0.6 +20.0
Jacob Stallings 31 arb 1123.1 1.3 +8.7
Adam Frazier↔ SDP 29 arb 982.6 2.7 +5.9
Ke'Bryan Hayes 24 pre-arb 961.9 0.6 +5.5
Tyler Anderson↔ SEA 31 arb 181.3 1.5 +2.8
Richard Rodríguez↔ ATL 31 arb 371.3 1.0 +3.2
David Bednar 26 pre-arb 611.2 0.6 +3.2
Mitch Keller 25 pre-arb 241.1 0.4 +3.2
Chris Stratton 30 arb 680.7 1.1 +1.3
Dillon Peters 28 pre-arb 60.5 0.2 +1.5
Trevor Cahill 33 FA-elig 90.5 1.5 +0.1
Yoshi Tsutsugo↔ LAD 29 pre-arb 430.4 3.7 -2.3
Michael Chavis↔ BOS 25 pre-arb 120.3 0.1 +1.0
Anthony Alford 26 pre-arb 490.3 0.2 +0.8
Max Kranick 23 – 90.3 0.1 +0.9
JT Brubaker 27 pre-arb 250.3 0.6 +0.4
Steven Brault 29 arb 70.3 2.0 -1.2
Michael Feliz↔ BOS 28 FA-elig 70.2 0.3 +0.3
Clay Holmes↔ NYY 28 – 440.2 0.3 +0.2
Roansy Contreras 21 – 10.1 0.0 +0.4
Wilmer Difo 29 arb 1160.1 0.8 -0.4
Connor Overton↔ TOR 27 – 50.1 0.0 +0.3
Hoy Park↔ NYY 25 – 440.1 0.2 +0.1
Duane Underwood Jr. 26 – 430.1 – –
Oneil Cruz 22 – 20.1 0.0 +0.2
Taylor Davis 31 pre-arb 20.1 0.0 +0.2
Ben Gamel↔ CLE 29 arb 1110.0 0.1 +0.0
Kyle Crick 28 arb 270.0 0.8 -0.7
Tanner Anderson 28 pre-arb 10.0 0.0 +0.1
Enyel De Los Santos↔ PHI 25 – 70.0 0.0 -0.0
Austin Davis↔ BOS 28 – 10-0.0 0.1 -0.2
Bryse Wilson↔ ATL 23 pre-arb 8-0.0 0.1 -0.2
Rodolfo Castro 22 – 31-0.0 0.1 -0.3
Geoff Hartlieb↔ NYM 27 – 4-0.0 0.0 -0.2
Hunter Owen 27 – 3-0.1 0.0 -0.2
Anthony Banda↔ NYM 27 pre-arb 25-0.1 0.2 -0.4
Sean Poppen↔ ARI 27 – 3-0.1 0.0 -0.3
Chasen Shreve 30 FA-elig 57-0.1 1.5 -1.8
Shea Spitzbarth 26 pre-arb 5-0.1 0.0 -0.4
Troy Stokes Jr. 25 – 8-0.1 – –
Sam Howard 28 pre-arb 54-0.1 0.6 -1.0
Cody Ponce 27 pre-arb 15-0.2 0.2 -0.9
Colin Moran 28 arb 99-0.2 2.8 -3.6
Chad Kuhl 28 arb 28-0.3 2.1 -3.0
Luis Oviedo 22 – 22-0.3 0.6 -1.6
Chase De Jong 27 – 10-0.3 0.4 -1.4
Nick Mears 24 pre-arb 30-0.3 0.3 -1.3
Cole Tucker 24 pre-arb 43-0.3 0.2 -1.3
Shelby Miller↔ CHC 30 FA-elig 10-0.3 0.2 -1.3
John Nogowski↔ STL 28 – 33-0.4 0.1 -1.3
Dustin Fowler 26 – 18-0.4 0.1 -1.3
Todd Frazier 35 FA-elig 13-0.4 0.1 -1.3
Jared Oliva 25 pre-arb 20-0.4 0.1 -1.3
Ildemaro Vargas↔ ARI 29 – 7-0.4 0.0 -1.3
Kevin Newman 27 pre-arb 148-0.4 0.6 -1.9
Wil Crowe 26 pre-arb 29-0.4 0.5 -1.9
Will Craig 26 pre-arb 18-0.5 0.1 -1.6
Miguel Yajure 23 pre-arb 4-0.5 0.0 -1.6
Erik González 29 arb 71-0.6 1.2 -3.2
Kyle Keller 28 pre-arb 32-0.6 0.3 -2.3
Phillip Evans 28 pre-arb 76-0.7 0.5 -2.7
Michael Pérez 28 pre-arb 70-0.7 0.6 -2.8
Ka'ai Tom↔ OAK 27 – 39-0.7 0.3 -2.6
Gregory Polanco 29 FA-elig 107-1.0 11.6 -15.0

Key additions (new vs 2020)

PlayerfWAR
Tyler Anderson1.3
David Bednar1.2
Dillon Peters0.5
Trevor Cahill0.5
Yoshi Tsutsugo0.4
Michael Chavis0.3

Key subtractions (gone from 2020)

Player2020 fWAR
Joe Musgrove1.0
Nick Tropeano0.3
Nik Turley0.2
Nick Burdi0.1
Guillermo Heredia0.1
Robbie Erlin0.0

Current & Historical Payroll

2021 payroll
$46.3M
2022 guaranteed
$0M

What the front office was committed to as of 2021, 2021–2027. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2021; 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 (5)

PlayerAgeSvc2021202220232024202520262027
Gregory Polanco297.000$11.6MFREE AGENT
Trevor Cahill3311.056$1.5MFREE AGENT
Michael Feliz286.000$333kFREE AGENT
Shelby Miller306.093$203kFREE AGENT
Todd Frazier359.071$100kFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (16)

PlayerAgeSvc2021202220232024202520262027
Colin Moran283.107$2.8MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Adam Frazier294.075$2.7MARB 3FREE AGENT
Chad Kuhl284.079$2.1MARB 3FREE AGENT
Steven Brault293.085$2.0MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chasen Shreve305.012$1.5MFREE AGENT
Tyler Anderson315.065$1.5MFREE AGENT
Erik González294.007$1.2MARB 3FREE AGENT
Chris Stratton303.100$1.1MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Richard Rodríguez313.016$983kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Wilmer Difo293.146$849kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Crick284.000$800kARB 3FREE AGENT
Chase De Jong274.000$386kARB 3FREE AGENT
Ben Gamel294.029$125kARB 3FREE AGENT
Enyel De Los Santos253.000$13kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Oneil Cruz224.110$6kARB 3FREE AGENT
Duane Underwood Jr.263.000—ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (43)

PlayerAgeSvc2021202220232024202520262027
Yoshi Tsutsugo291.000$3.7MPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jacob Stallings312.149$1.3MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bryan Reynolds261.163$601kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kevin Newman272.046$598kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Michael Pérez282.000$592kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
JT Brubaker271.000$590kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ke'Bryan Hayes240.075$590kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
David Bednar260.076$579kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Sam Howard281.105$575kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Luis Oviedo220.000$570kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Wil Crowe260.025$481kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Phillip Evans281.110$465kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mitch Keller251.059$430kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Keller280.060$313kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ka'ai Tom27–$294k
Clay Holmes282.031$261kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nick Mears240.028$261kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Anthony Alford261.142$244kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Cody Ponce270.050$240kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Cole Tucker241.080$193kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Hoy Park250.000$189kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Anthony Banda271.103$153kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dillon Peters281.089$150kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Rodolfo Castro220.000$135kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
John Nogowski28–$121k
Austin Davis281.105$107kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Michael Chavis251.164$101kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bryse Wilson230.165$100kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jared Oliva250.019$95kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dustin Fowler262.039$68kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Will Craig260.014$67kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Max Kranick230.000$64kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Geoff Hartlieb271.093$40kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Connor Overton270.000$37kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Miguel Yajure230.044$31kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Taylor Davis310.058$25kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Hunter Owen27–$21k
Ildemaro Vargas292.028$20kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Sean Poppen270.119$18kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Shea Spitzbarth260.010$15kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tanner Anderson280.040$9kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Roansy Contreras210.000$3kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Troy Stokes Jr.25–—

Graphs

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR. Bars = Pirates 2021; 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.