Rosternomics
← Trade Database
August 18, 1995

NYMLAD

NYM won this trade +$27.2M surplus NYM won this trade +0.3 WAR
NYMNYM Joe McIlvaine net +$27.2M net +0.3
received +$4.8M+$4.8M ± $43M expected surplus · +$0.0M realized received 2.6 ± 5 expected · 0.0 realized WAR
Playoff odds: this deal moved NYM's 1995 odds 12% → 12% (-0.6 pts) — how trade timing is graded ↗
receives — most valuable first
Dwight ManessCF·21y·R/R
+$2.3M+$2.3M± $30M exp surplusrealized +$0.0M 1.3± 4 exp WARrealized 0.0
Prior
#77 overall draft pick — at the league baseline → 0.21/yr
Evidence
no MLB track record — leans on pedigree
Talent
0.21/yr blended
Horizon
6.0 control yrs
Scott HunterOF·19y·R/R
+$2.3M+$2.3M± $30M exp surplusrealized +$0.0M 1.3± 4 exp WARrealized 0.0
Prior
#130 overall draft pick — at the league baseline → 0.21/yr
Evidence
no MLB track record — leans on pedigree
Talent
0.21/yr blended
Horizon
6.0 control yrs
LADLAD Fred Claire net −$27.2M net -0.3
received −$9.6M−$9.6M ± $0M expected surplus · −$27.2M realized received 0.0 ± 0 expected · -0.3 realized WAR
Playoff odds: this deal moved LAD's 1995 odds 35% → 36% (+1.3 pts) — how trade timing is graded ↗
receives — most valuable first
Brett ButlerOF·38y·L/L
−$9.4M−$9.4M± $0M exp surplusrealized −$27.2M 0.0± 0 exp WARrealized -0.3
Prior
no pedigree — league baseline → 0.21/yr
Evidence
recent form 3.7/yr over 2.6 seasons
Talent
2.60/yr blended
Horizon
0.0 control yr

Each player is valued on what he was expected to produce at the time of the trade, versus what he actually produced for his new team.

Expected WAR blends a player's pedigree (composite top-100 rank / draft slot, or a baseline) with his recent track record, projected over the years of team control acquired. The ± figure is a historically calibrated predictive standard deviation, measuring how widely comparable forecasts have missed around their expected value. Surplus values that production at the FA market price of a win (~$8M/WAR) minus salary — so cost-controlled players carry large surplus and expensive ones little, even at the same WAR. Who won is descriptive, not a skill claim: ~99% of a trade's outcome is unforeseeable at the time.