April 20, 2025

Hardball Retrospective – General Manager Trading Scorecard

December 4, 2015 by · 4 Comments 

Inspired by the Philadelphia Phillies chapter in the “Bill James Baseball Abstract 1985” entitled “The Philadelphia Trading Record” (pages 202-206), the following study reveals the best and worst of the “wheelers and dealers” in Major League front offices for the past 65 years. I cross-referenced every trade in the Retrosheet Transaction Database with the Seamheads – Baseball Gauge and the Sean Lahman Baseball Archive in order to determine each player’s post-trade statistics. With the resulting player-season list, I computed the Win Shares (WS) and Wins Above Replacement (WAR) for each player traded from the time of the trade until their next transaction (another trade, free agent signing with another organization, outright release, etc.)

In the following example, the statistics accrued by Jim Edmonds following his trade to the St. Louis Cardinals will be counted as negative statistics against Bill Stoneman from March 2000 through December 2007. Conversely the same statistics are tallied in a positive manner for Walt Jocketty over the same timeframe. Likewise, Edmonds’ stats accrued from December 2007 through his May 9, 2008 release by the Padres are totaled in the negative for John Mozeliak and in the positive for Kevin Towers.

Jim Edmonds

  • March 23, 2000: Traded by the Anaheim Angels to the St. Louis Cardinals for Kent Bottenfield and Adam Kennedy.
  • December 14, 2007: Traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the San Diego Padres for David Freese.

Along with the motivation of the James’ article, the General Manager Trading Scorecard stems from further research exploring the databases that I utilized while writing “Hardball Retrospective”. My findings include the career Win Shares and Wins Above Replacement totals for all players traded among Major League organizations by every General Manager from 1950 through the 2015 season (transactions are through the 2013 campaign). I will provide outcomes calculated by the plate appearance (PA) and batters facing pitcher (BFP) totals. I have restricted the conclusions to the 1950-2015 timeframe in an effort to correspond with the entries in the Baseball America Executive Database. I have omitted all transactions which do not include Major League teams on both ends of the trade, including but not limited to trades with teams in minor leagues.

In “Hardball Retrospective: Evaluating Scouting and Development Outcomes for the Modern-Era Franchises”, I placed every ballplayer in the modern era (from 1901-present) on their original team. Therefore, Ty Cobb is listed on the Tigers roster for the duration of his career while the Mets declare Tom Seaver and the Pirates claim Barry Bonds. I calculated revised standings for every season based entirely on the performance of each team’s “original” players. I discuss every team’s “original” players and seasons at length along with organizational performance with respect to the Amateur Draft (or First-Year Player Draft), amateur free agent signings and other methods of player acquisition.  Season standings, WAR and Win Shares totals for the “original” teams are compared against the “actual” team results to assess each franchise’s scouting, development and general management skills.

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay, iTunes and KoboBooks. The paperback edition is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here.

Terminology

OWAR – Wins Above Replacement for players on “original” teams

OWS – Win Shares for players on “original” teams

OPW% – Pythagorean Won-Loss record for the “original” teams

WS/10K_PA_BFP – Win Shares per 10000 Plate Appearances + Batters Facing Pitcher

WAR/10K_PA_BFP – Wins Above Replacement per 10000 Plate Appearances + Batters Facing Pitcher

The General Manager Trading Scorecard

1) Lee Thomas             WS/10K_PA_BFP: 82.04     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 14.05 

Lee Thomas posted the highest positive ratio of talent acquisition via trades in the past 65 seasons based on Win Shares and WAR per 10,000 plate appearances. Philadelphia secured the National League championship in 1993 as Thomas obtained the entire starting rotation (Curt Schilling, Danny Jackson, Tommy Greene, Terry Mulholland, Ben Rivera), top relievers (Mitch Williams, David West) along with Lenny Dykstra and John Kruk via the trade route. Thomas fleeced the Tampa Bay franchise when he received Bobby Abreu, the Devil Rays sixth selection in the 1997 Expansion Draft, in exchange for shortstop Kevin Stocker. He maintained GM responsibilities for the Fightin’ Phillies from June 1988 through December 1997.

Players Acquired Via Trade – Lee Thomas
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Bobby Abreu 225.6655 38.15771
2 Lenny Dykstra 128.7378 26.16217
3 Curt Schilling 123.1777 34.69669
4 John Kruk 114.7724 15.97631
5 Terry Mulholland 50.13572 8.56482
Players Traded By Lee Thomas
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Darrin Fletcher 51.65221 3.38512
2 Lance Parrish 51.07115 7.00145
3 Paul Quantrill 47.6162 9.08509
4 Milt Thompson 46.87955 4.21842
5 Phil Bradley 30.11226 2.84773

Lee Thomas – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
210 11/18/1997 Kevin Stocker TBD Bobby Abreu Chuck LaMar
144 6/18/1989 Juan Samuel NYM Lenny Dykstra Frank Cashen
Roger McDowell
Tom Edens
125 6/2/1989 Chris James SDP John Kruk Jack McKeon
Randy Ready
123 4/2/1992 Jason Grimsley HOU Curt Schilling Bill Wood
73 6/18/1989 Steve Bedrosian SFG Terry Mulholland Al Rosen
Rick Parker Charlie Hayes
Dennis Cook
50 8/3/1990 Jeff Parrett ATL Tommy Greene Bobby Cox
Jim Vatcher Dale Murphy
Victor Rosario

 

Lee Thomas – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-51 10/3/1988 Lance Parrish CAL David Holdridge Mike Port
-50 12/9/1991 Darrin Fletcher MON Barry Jones Dan Duquette

 

2) Terry Ryan                       WS/10K_PA_BFP: 71.60     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 9.96 

Terry Ryan served as the General Manager of the Twins for thirteenth seasons (September 1994 – September 2007). He returned to the post in November 2011. Ryan acquired Johan Santana from Florida in exchange for Jared Camp in December 1999 after the Marlins selected him from Houston in the Rule 5 Draft. Santana earned two Cy Young Awards and delivered a record of 93-44 with a 3.22 ERA for Minnesota from 2000-2007. Three years later Ryan dealt backstop A.J. Pierzynski to San Francisco for three pitchers: Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser. Nathan averaged 37 saves with a 2.16 ERA and 0.956 WHIP over seven seasons for the Twins. Minnesota has achieved four American League Central division titles during Ryan’s tenure.

Players Acquired Via Trade – Terry Ryan
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Johan Santana 119.1232 36.14913
2 Joe Nathan 107.491 17.99741
3 Cristian Guzman 77.31805 0.6067
4 Nick Punto 56.2756 3.51983
5 Eric Milton 54.30622 12.00089
Players Traded By Terry Ryan
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Chuck Knoblauch 68.0133 8.04121
2 Scott Erickson 62.04351 13.33187
3 Denard Span 54.4369 6.68952
4 Ben Revere 35.07163 3.2549
5 Rick Aguilera 17.3838 1.75718

 

Terry Ryan – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
148 11/14/2003 A. J. Pierzynski SFG Joe Nathan Brian Sabean
Francisco Liriano
Boof Bonser
119 12/13/1999 Jared Camp FLA Johan Santana Dave Dombrowski
89 12/3/2003 Eric Milton PHI Nick Punto Ed Wade
Carlos Silva
Bobby Korecky
72 2/6/1998 Chuck Knoblauch NYY Cristian Guzman Brian Cashman
Eric Milton
Brian Buchanan
Danny Mota

 

Terry Ryan – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-62 7/7/1995 Scott Erickson BAL Scott Klingenbeck Roland Hemond
Kimera Bartee
-54 11/29/2012 Denard Span WSN Alex Meyer Mike Rizzo

 

3) Brian Sabean             WS/10K_PA_BFP: 59.07     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 9.22 

Brian Sabean got the short end of the 3-for-1 deal with Minnesota, especially given the fact that he released A.J. Pierzynski one year later. Yet Sabean shines when his other trade acquisitions are appraised. He dealt slugging third baseman and future Nationals manager Matt D. Williams to the Tribe in a multi-player deal in November 1996. He received four players in return including Jeff Kent. During six seasons in the Bay Area, Kent crushed 29 long balls and drove in 115 runs per year while claiming NL MVP honors in 2000. Sabean picked up Jason Schmidt in a four-player deal with Pittsburgh in July 2001. Possessing a career record of 49-53 with an ERA north of 4.00 at the time of the deal, Schmidt proceeded to post a .678 winning percentage (78-37) for the Giants. He led the circuit with a 2.34 ERA in 2003 and placed runner-up in the NL Cy Young race. Sabean held the GM post for 19 seasons as San Francisco claimed seven playoff berths and three World Series titles (2010, 2012 and 2014).  

Players Acquired Via Trade – Brian Sabean
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Jeff Kent 162.0394 31.6714
2 J. T. Snow 131.3502 13.49146
3 Jason Schmidt 83.26994 21.87362
4 Randy Winn 80.805 13.00665
5 Robb Nen 70.13133 9.87442
Players Traded By Brian Sabean
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Joe Nathan 107.491 17.99741
2 Keith Foulke 67.79262 12.1092
3 Livan Hernandez 55.80532 14.91387
4 Francisco Liriano 41.41174 9.5858
5 Bob Howry 34.56134 4.117

 

Brian Sabean – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
172 11/13/1996 Matt D. Williams SFG Jeff Kent John Hart
Trent Hubbard Jose Vizcaino
Julian Tavarez
Joe Roa
121 11/26/1996 Allen Watson ANA J. T. Snow Bill Bavasi
Fausto Macey
80 7/30/2001 Ryan Vogelsong PIT Jason Schmidt Dave Littlefield
Armando Rios John Vander Wal
78 7/30/2005 Yorvit Torrealba SEA Randy Winn Bill Bavasi
Jesse Foppert
70 11/18/1997 Joe Fontenot FLA Robb Nen Dave Dombrowski
Mick Pageler
Mike Villano
64 7/31/2012 Nate Schierholtz PHI Hunter Pence Ruben Amaro, Jr.
Seth Rosin
Tommy Joseph

 

Brian Sabean – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-148 11/14/2003 Joe Nathan MIN A. J. Pierzynski Terry Ryan
Francisco Liriano
Boof Bonser
-113 7/31/1997 Keith Foulke CHW Roberto Hernandez Ron Schueler
Bob Howry Danny Darwin
Mike Caruso Wilson Alvarez
Lorenzo Barcelo
Ken Vining
Brian Manning

 

4) Cedric Tallis             WS/10K_PA_BFP: 65.70     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 8.26 

Cedric Tallis led the Kansas City front office from its inception until May 1974. He landed a similar gig with the Yankees which spanned two seasons (1978-79). He displayed a knack for procuring prospects that were cast off by other organizations before they were able to fulfill their promise. The Royals were rewarded with solid contributions from Amos Otis, Hal McRae, John Mayberry and Freddie Patek. Otis drilled 26 doubles and nabbed 24 bags per season over a 14-year career in K.C. McRae delivered a .293 BA and led the Junior Circuit with 133 RBI in 1982. Tallis obtained Dave Righetti for the Yankees in a 10-player swap with the Rangers following the 1978 campaign. “Rags” earned American League Rookie of the Year honors in 1981, tossed a no-hitter on July 4, 1983 and averaged 32 saves with a 2.96 ERA from 1984-1989 for the Bronx Bombers.

Players Acquired Via Trade – Cedric Tallis
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Amos Otis 286.0334 33.13906
2 Hal McRae 212.3121 23.40598
3 John Mayberry 133.0421 17.25428
4 Dave Righetti 126.2097 19.74607
5 Freddie Patek 119.5874 14.02812
Players Traded By Cedric Tallis
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Lou Piniella 93.18146 6.88363
2 Damaso Garcia 85.02955 1.00317
3 Jim Rooker 81.37243 16.3888
4 Greg Minton 77.33999 7.38748
5 Pat Kelly 69.36599 2.05647

 

Cedric Tallis – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
290 12/3/1969 Joe Foy NYM Amos Otis Johnny Murphy
Bob D. Johnson
204 11/30/1972 Roger Nelson CIN Hal McRae Bob Howsam
Richie Scheinblum Wayne Simpson
131 12/2/1970 Bob D. Johnson PIT Freddie Patek Joe Brown
Jackie Hernandez Bruce Dal Canton
Jim Campanis Jerry May
126 12/2/1971 Jim York HOU John Mayberry Spec Richardson
Lance Clemons David Grangaard
112 11/10/1978 Sparky Lyle TEX Dave Righetti Dan O’Brien –
Dave Rajsich Juan Beniquez Eddie
Larry McCall Mike Griffin Robinson
Mike Heath Paul Mirabella
Domingo Ramos Greg Jemison
75 6/13/1970 Fred Rico STL Cookie Rojas Bing Devine
54 4/1/1969 John Gelnar SEP Lou Piniella Marvin Milkes
Steve Whitaker
54 12/12/1968 Hoyt Wilhelm CAL Ed Kirkpatrick Dick Walsh
Dennis Paepke

 

Cedric Tallis – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-83 12/7/1973 Lou Piniella NYY Lindy McDaniel Lee MacPhail
Ken Wright
-65 10/25/1972 Gene Garber PIT Jim Rooker Joe Brown
-54 10/13/1970 Pat H. Kelly CHW Gail Hopkins Stuart Holcomb
Don O’Riley John Matias

 

5) Dallas Green             WS/10K_PA_BFP: 33.24     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 9.37 

Dallas Green manned the top executive post for the Chicago Cubs from October 1981 through October 1987. A series of dexterous exchanges primed the Cubbies for playoff berths in 1984 and 1989. Green’s masterpiece was the inclusion of future Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg in a shortstop swap with the Phillies (Chicago received Larry Bowa in return for Ivan DeJesus) prior to the 1982 campaign. Green acquired Rick Sutcliffe in a June, 1984 deal with the Tribe. He paid a substantial price, packaging slugging outfielders Joe Carter and Mel Hall in the deal. However, the “Red Baron” fashioned a 16-1 record with a 2.69 ERA to clinch the 1984 National League Cy Young Award. 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Dallas Green
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Ryne Sandberg 335.7697 56.68353
2 Rick Sutcliffe 82.80071 20.88747
3 Ron Cey 53.5114 2.82358
4 Scott Sanderson 46.49321 10.04476
5 Steve Trout 42.9695 9.14551
Players Traded By Dallas Green
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Dennis Eckersley 112.9426 12.57672
2 Joe Carter 102.4524 12.24054
3 Carmelo Martinez 74.12985 9.76319
4 Billy Hatcher 56.78026 3.14459
5 Mel Hall 49.32666 3.45537

 

Dallas Green – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
329 1/27/1982 Ivan de Jesus PHI Ryne Sandberg Paul Owens
Larry Bowa
75 3/26/1984 Bill Campbell PHI Gary Matthews Bill Giles
Mike Diaz Bob Dernier
Porfi Altamirano
53 1/19/1983 Dan Cataline LAD Ron Cey Al Campanis
Vance Lovelace

 

Dallas Green – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-112 Dennis Eckersley OAK Brian Guinn Sandy Alderson
Dan Rohn Mark Leonette
Dave Wilder
-66 Rick Sutcliffe CLE Joe Carter Phil Seghi
George Frazier Mel Hall
Ron Hassey Don Schulze
-56 Carmelo Martinez SDP Scott Sanderson Jack McKeon,
Craig Lefferts John McHale
Fritzie Connally (3-team trade)

 

6) John Quinn             WS/10K_PA_BFP: 52.06     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 5.51 

John Quinn served as the General Manager for the Braves organization from 1950 through the 1958 campaign. Milwaukee achieved back-to-back pennants (1957-58) along with a World Series title in ’57. Hired by the Phillies in January 1959, Quinn functioned in the same role for the next 13 seasons. Steve Carlton amassed 27 victories and topped the Senior Circuit with a 1.97 ERA upon arriving in the “City of Brotherly Love”. “Lefty” collected four Cy Young Awards and averaged 19 victories and 226 strikeouts per year from 1972-1982. Philadephia secured five playoff berths in an eight-year stretch (1976-1983) and won the 1980 World Series as Carlton fronted the pitching staff. Quinn’s biggest blunder involved the trade of Ferguson Jenkins to the Chicago Cubs in April, 1966. “Fly” claimed NL Cy Young honors in 1971 and notched at least 20 victories in six successive seasons spanning 1967-1972.

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – John Quinn
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Steve Carlton 272.3821 61.98196
2 Johnny Callison 207.2796 34.63798
3 Joe Ad**** 164.5841 15.21695
4 Lew Burdette 161.5881 22.83753
5 Tony Gonzalez 144.7626 17.28349
Players Traded By John Quinn
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Fergie Jenkins 180.1084 43.09413
2 Johnny Antonelli 127.6774 27.3856
3 John Briggs 79.03565 12.89907
4 Adolfo Phillips 57.26375 11.4668
5 Rudy May 50.39574 -0.03148

 

John Quinn – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
237 2/25/1972 Rick Wise STL Steve Carlton Bing Devine
193 12/9/1959 Gene Freese CHW Johnny Callison Hank Greenberg
146 2/16/1953 Earl Torgeson PHI Joe Ad**** Gabe Paul,
Jim Pendleton Buzzie Bavasi
(4-team trade)
123 8/29/1951 Johnny Sain NYY Lew Burdette George Weiss
118 6/15/1960 Wally Post CIN Tony Gonzalez Gabe Paul
Harry Anderson Lee Walls
Frederick Hopke
100 5/13/1960 Don Cardwell CHC Tony Taylor John Holland
Ed Bouchee Cal Neeman

 

John Quinn – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-186 4/21/1966 Fergie Jenkins CHC Larry Jackson John Holland
Adolfo Phillips Bob Buhl
John Herrnstein
-123 2/1/1954 Johnny Antonelli NYG Bobby Thomson Chub Feeney
Don Liddle Sam Calderone
Ebba St. Claire
-78 4/22/1971 John Briggs MIL Pete Koegel Frank Lane
Ray Peters

 

7) Kevin Towers             WS/10K_PA_BFP: 45.10     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 6.44 

San Diego registered four division titles for the duration of Kevin Towers’ fourteen-year term as General Manager (November 1995 – October 2009). Towers performed in the same capacity for Arizona from September 2010 through September 2014. He acquired Adrian Gonzalez for the Padres in a six-player deal on January 6, 2006. Gonzalez supplied a .304 BA with 24 jacks in his first full season and averaged 32 four-baggers and 100 ribbies throughout his five-year run in San Diego. Towers acquired former Houston first-rounder Phil Nevin from the Angels in exchange for infielder Andy Sheets in March 1999. Nevin proceeded to blast 32 round-trippers and drive in 106 runs per season over a three-year stretch (1999-2001).

Players Acquired Via Trade – Kevin Towers
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Adrian Gonzalez 134.0354 20.54404
2 Ryan Klesko 122.5325 16.48824
3 Phil Nevin 119.644 20.0529
4 Brian Giles 116.5553 13.90237
5 Aaron Hill 62.501 7.52852
Players Traded By Kevin Towers
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Jason Bay 102.0864 21.50461
2 Derrek Lee 93.34726 9.06287
3 Mark Kotsay 51.43892 4.41603
4 David Freese 50.24015 7.0459
5 Justin Upton 45.899 6.94158

 

Kevin Towers – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
149 1/6/2006 Akinori Otsuka TEX Adrian Gonzalez Jon Daniels
Adam T. Eaton Chris R. Young
Billy Killian Terrmel Sledge
118 3/29/1999 Andy Sheets ANA Phil Nevin Bill Bavasi
Gus Kennedy Keith Volkman 
103 12/22/1999 Quilvio Veras ATL Ryan Klesko John Schuerholz
Reggie Sanders Bret Boone
Wally Joyner Jason Shiell
56 6/18/1996 Brad Ausmus DET Chris Gomez Randy Smith
Andujar Cedeno John Flaherty
Russ Spear
56 11/15/2006 Ben Johnson NYM Heath Bell Omar Minaya
Jon Adkins Royce Ring
56 11/21/1996 Dustin Hermanson FLA Quilvio Veras Dave Dombrowski

 

Kevin Towers – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-69 12/15/1997 Derrek Lee FLA Kevin Brown Dave Dombrowski
Rafael Medina
Steve Hoff
-49 12/14/2007 David Freese STL Jim Edmonds John Mozeliak

 

8) Andy MacPhail         WS/10K_PA_BFP: 50.49     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 5.32 

Andy MacPhail served as the lead executive in the Twins’ front office for a ten-year period covering August 1985 through September 1994. Minnesota secured World Series titles in 1987 and 1991. MacPhail held comparable positions with the Cubs (July 2000 –July 2002) and Orioles (June 2007 – October 2011). In February 2008 he dealt O’s lefthander Erik Bedard to the Mariners in exchange for five players including Adam Jones. The four-time Gold Glove winner recorded 28 doubles and 24 circuit clouts per season (2008-2015). MacPhail carried out a similar swap almost twenty years earlier when he sent Frank “Sweet Music” Viola to the Mets for a quintet of hurlers. Viola was coming off a Cy Young Award-winning campaign in 1988. He won 20 contests for New York in 1990. Conversely, Kevin Tapani accrued 16 victories in back-to-back campaigns (1991-92) while Rick Aguilera supplied a 2.89 ERA and converted 34 saves per year from 1990-94. 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Andy MacPhail
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Adam Jones 143.8336 23.08147
2 Rick Aguilera 102.0528 12.7562
3 Chris Davis 92.42302 14.01602
4 J. J. Hardy 78.60665 11.30527
5 Kevin Tapani 74.62487 19.70774
Players Traded By Andy MacPhail
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Dontrelle Willis 64.60661 19.72181
2 Mark Portugal 47.93908 10.24633
3 Miguel Tejada 46.71999 4.30188
4 Paul Sorrento 45.0833 3.16155
5 Tim Teufel 44.65038 4.57758

 

Andy MacPhail – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
191 2/8/2008 Erik Bedard SEA Adam Jones Bill Bavasi
Chris Tillman
George Sherrill
Kam Mickolio
Tony Butler
154 7/31/1989 Frank Viola NYM Rick Aguilera Frank Cashen
Kevin Tapani
David West
Tim Drummond
Jack Savage
111 7/30/2011 Koji Uehara TEX Chris Davis Jon Daniels
Tommy Hunter
78 12/9/2010 Jim Hoey MIN J. J. Hardy Bill Smith
Brett Jacobson Brendan Harris

 

Andy MacPhail – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-47 12/4/1988 Mark Portugal HOU Todd McClure Bill Wood

 

9) Ed Short                     WS/10K_PA_BFP: 28.26     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 8.64 

As White Sox General Manager from August 1961 through September 1970, Ed Short masterminded several deals which vaulted Chicago in the upper echelon of the American League. The Pale Hose registered 90+ victories and placed runner-up in three successive seasons (1963-65). Pete Ward clubbed 34 doubles and 22 long balls en route to a second place finish in the 1963 American League ROY balloting. Wilbur Wood delivered 11 wins and 17 saves per year with a 2.50 ERA and a 1.167 WHIP from 1968-1970. Promoted to the starting rotation in ’71, “Wilbah” averaged 22 victories with a 2.86 ERA over a four-year stretch while earning top-five finishes in the A.L. Cy Young race for three straight seasons. Short received Tommy John, Tommie Agee and Johnny Romano in a three-team trade in January 1965. Agee swatted 22 big-flies and swiped 44 bags to merit ROY honors in ’66. However, Short flipped Agee to the Mets in December 1967 in a six-player deal. John yielded a 2.95 ERA over seven seasons on the South Side.

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Ed Short
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Wilbur Wood 182.3256 35.23927
2 Pete Ward 114.6643 16.568
3 Tommy John 98.09005 18.51668
4 Ron Hansen 96.17452 14.86873
5 Hoyt Wilhelm 89.37282 12.25669
Players Traded By Ed Short
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Don Buford 108.055 15.54849
2 Luis Aparicio 87.19448 9.99512
3 Tommie Agee 86.16741 14.51676
4 Sandy Alomar 75.44224 6.42394
5 Danny Cater 52.86332 0.34227

 

Ed Short – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
220 1/14/1963 Luis Aparicio BAL Pete Ward Lee MacPhail
Al Smith Ron Hansen
Hoyt Wilhelm
Dave Nicholson
177 10/12/1966 Juan Pizarro SDP Wilbur Wood Joe Brown
119 1/20/1965 Mike Hershberger KCA Tommy John Gabe Paul,
Jim Landis Tommie Agee Pat Friday
Fred Talbot John Romano (3-team trade)
Cam Carreon CLE

Ed Short – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-71 12/15/1967 Tommie Agee NYM Tommy Davis Bing Devine
Al Weis Billy Wynne
Jack Fisher
Buddy Booker
-61 5/14/1969 Sandy Alomar CAL Bobby Knoop Dick Walsh
Bob Priddy
-57 11/29/1967 Don Buford BAL Luis Aparicio Harry Dalton
Roger Nelson John Matias
Bruce Howard Russ Snyder

 

10) Dan Duquette                       WS/10K_PA_BFP: 26.83     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 7.12

Following a two-year stint as the general manager of the Expos (1992-93), Dan Duquette moved on to Boston where he led the front office for eight seasons (1994-2001). He has held the title of Executive Vice President, Baseball Operations in Baltimore since 2011. Duquette’s teams have achieved five playoff appearances during his administration. Two deals yielded impressive results for the Red Sox in ’97. Woody Woodward sent Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe from the Mariners in exchange for closer Heathcliff Slocumb at the trading deadline. “Tek” provided a 20-homer bat and steady leadership behind the dish. Lowe saved 42 contests in 2000 and moved to the rotation two years later, where he proceeded to post a record of 21-8 with a 2.58 ERA. Duquette struck again in November 1997, delivering an early holiday gift to the Red Sox faithful in the form of the 1997 NL Cy Young Award winner, Pedro J. Martinez. In seven campaigns for Boston, Martinez topped the leader boards in ERA four times and thrice in strikeouts.

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Dan Duquette
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Pedro Martinez 213.0603 74.88853
2 Jason Varitek 146.9422 26.70615
3 Derek Lowe 96.69548 19.61172
4 Darrin Fletcher 51.65221 3.38512
5 John Wetteland 43.3878 6.88557
Players Traded By Dan Duquette
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Jamie Moyer 132.5839 35.10885
2 Adam Everett 52.01462 6.61119
3 Willie Greene 44.17858 5.34959
4 Jake Arrieta 43.58443 15.02977
5 Tony J. Armas 39.90331 6.77249

 

Dan Duquette – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
237 7/31/1997 Heathcliff Slocumb SEA Jason Varitek Woody Woodward
Derek Lowe
88 11/18/1997 Tony J. Armas MON Pedro J. Martinez Jim Beattie
Carl Pavano
50 12/9/1991 Barry Jones PHI Darrin Fletcher Lee Thomas

 

Dan Duquette – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-106 7/30/1996 Jamie Moyer SEA Darren Bragg Woody Woodward
-53 7/2/2013 Jake Arrieta CHC Scott Feldman Theo Epstein
Pedro Strop Steve Clevenger

 

11) Walt Jocketty             WS/10K_PA_BFP: 18.67     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 8.74 

St. Louis achieved seven playoff berths and a World Series championship in 2006 under Walt Jocketty’s administration (October 1994 – October 2007). He later served as the top executive in the Reds’ front office (2008-2015). Jocketty supplemented the Redbirds lineup with three sluggers via the trade route: Mark McGwire (1997), Jim Edmonds (2000) and Scott Rolen (2002). “Big Mac” averaged a home run every 12.6 at bats with the Cardinals and launched 70 long balls in 1998. Edmonds earned 6 consecutive Gold Glove Awards with his highlight-reel defense in center field. “Jimmy Baseball” slammed 35 moon-shots, tallied 98 RBI and scored 100 runs per year from 2000-05. Rolen established career-bests in 2004 with 34 jacks, 124 ribbies and a .314 BA.  Perennial Cy Young contender Adam Wainwright, acquired from Atlanta in December 2003, fashioned a record of 17-9 with a 2.99 ERA per season since he joined the rotation in ’07.

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Walt Jocketty
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Jim Edmonds 197.7216 44.50869
2 Scott Rolen 147.3469 30.29667
3 Adam Wainwright 125.7197 34.6286
4 Edgar Renteria 107.4453 13.21791
5 Mark McGwire 105.2949 20.92004
Players Traded By Walt Jocketty
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Edwin Encarnacion 118.0777 16.76105
2 Jack Wilson 106.5426 11.4222
3 Adam Kennedy 97.3874 12.1526
4 Dmitri Young 55.6612 5.29389
5 Placido Polanco 48.93411 8.17933

 

Walt Jocketty – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
120 12/13/2003 J. D. Drew ATL Adam Wainwright John Schuerholz
Eli Marrero Jason Marquis
Ray King
94 3/23/2000 Adam Kennedy ANA Jim Edmonds Bill Stoneman
Kent Bottenfield
88 7/31/1997 T. J. Mathews OAK Mark McGwire Sandy Alderson
Blake Stein
Eric Ludwick
59 12/14/1998 Braden Looper FLA Edgar Renteria Dave Dombrowski
Armando Almanza
Pablo Ozuna
58 7/29/2002 Placido Polanco PHI Scott Rolen Ed Wade
Mike Timlin Doug Nickle
Bud Smith
54 12/20/1999 Juan Acevedo MIL Fernando Vina Dean Taylor
Eliezer Alfonzo
Matt Parker

 

Walt Jocketty – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-104 7/29/2000 Jack Wilson PIT Jason Christiansen Cam Bonifay
-90 12/18/2004 Daric Barton MON Mark Mulder Billy Beane
Dan Haren
Kiko Calero
-81 7/31/2009 Edwin Encarnacion TOR Scott Rolen J.P. Ricciardi
Zach Stewart
Josh Roenicke
-51 11/10/1997 Dmitri Young CIN Jeff Brantley Jim Bowden

 

12)  Mark Shapiro                        WS/10K_PA_BFP: 36.91     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 3.97

Mark Shapiro held the title of General Manager in Cleveland from November 2001 through October 2010. He executed a major deal with Omar Minaya in June 2002, sending staff ace Bartolo Colon (in the midst of a 20-win campaign) and right-hander Tim Drew to Montreal in exchange for four players. Grady Sizemore delivered 41 doubles, 27 clouts, 29 steals and 116 runs scored per season from 2005-08. He posted a 30-30 campaign in ’08 after leading the American League with 134 runs scored and 53 two-base hits in ’06. Cliff P. Lee secured Cy Young honors in 2008 as he topped the circuit with a 22-3 record and an ERA of 2.54. Travis “Pronk” Hafner supplied 35 two-baggers, 32 jacks and 108 ribbies while batting .296 over a four-year stretch covering 2004-07.

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Mark Shapiro
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Travis Hafner 137.3175 20.88206
2 Grady Sizemore 129.0649 19.78508
3 Carlos Santana 115.1767 18.14547
4 Asdrubal Cabrera 111.5034 13.9173
5 Shin-Soo Choo 105.1451 18.11138
Players Traded By Mark Shapiro
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Brandon Phillips 173.4985 23.43376
2 Jhonny Peralta 58.00548 6.64462
3 Casey Blake 45.74845 6.0303
4 Kevin Kouzmanoff 44.7436 3.19297
5 Franklin Gutierrez 44.40136 5.27988

 

Mark Shapiro – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
195 6/27/2002 Bartolo Colon MON Grady Sizemore Omar Minaya
Tim Drew Cliff Lee
Brandon Phillips
Lee Stevens
116 12/6/2002 Ryan Drese TEX Travis Hafner John Hart
Einar Diaz Aaron Myette
111 6/30/2006 Eduardo Perez SEA Asdrubal Cabrera Bill Bavasi
106 7/7/2008 CC Sabathia MIL Michael Brantley Doug Melvin
Matt LaPorta
Zach Jackson
Rob Bryson
97 7/26/2006 Ben Broussard SEA Shin-Soo Choo Bill Bavasi
Shawn Nottingham
69 7/26/2008 Casey Blake LAD Carlos Santana Ned Colletti
Jon Meloan

 

Mark Shapiro – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-173 4/7/2006 Brandon Phillips CIN Jeff Stevens Wayne Krivsky
-58 7/28/2010 Jhonny Peralta DET Giovanni Soto Dave Dombrowski

 

T13)  Lee MacPhail                       WS/10K_PA_BFP: 31.31     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 4.63 

Lee MacPhail played a key role in the Bronx Bombers’ return to glory in the Seventies. Subsequent to a seven-year stint as Orioles GM (1959-1965), MacPhail joined the Yankees’ front office in October 1966. He attained Graig Nettles in a six-player deal with Cleveland. A defensive wizard at the hot corner, Nettles paced the Junior Circuit with 32 four-baggers in ’76 and notched career-highs with 37 dingers and 107 ribbies in the ensuing campaign. Sparky Lyle, another crucial acquisition by MacPhail in ‘72, supplied 20 saves per year with a 2.41 ERA during his career in pinstripes (1972-78). Lyle claimed the 1977 AL Cy Young Award with 13 victories and 26 saves in 72 relief appearances. First-sacker “Diamond” Jim Gentile clubbed 46 round-trippers and topped the American League with 141 RBI in 1961.

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Lee MacPhail
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Graig Nettles 202.8107 35.79386
2 Sparky Lyle 98.3085 12.2064
3 Jackie Brandt 92.22964 13.01976
4 Jim Gentile 92.1245 14.39398
5 Luis Aparicio 87.19448 9.99512
Players Traded By Lee MacPhail
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Pete Ward 114.6643 16.568
2 Ron Hansen 91.01706 14.89636
3 Hoyt Wilhelm 89.37282 12.25669
4 Wayne Causey 74.65087 6.64583
5 Lenny Green 64.9186 6.43858

 

Lee MacPhail – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
120 11/27/1972 Charlie Spikes CLE Graig Nettles Gabe Paul
John Ellis Jerry Moses
Rusty Torres
Jerry Kenney
101 12/15/1962 Billy Hoeft SFG Stu Miller Chub Feeney
Jack Fisher John Orsino
Jimmie Coker Mike McCormick
92 10/19/1959 Willy Miranda LAD Jim Gentile Buzzie Bavasi
Bill Lajoie
78 3/22/1972 Danny Cater BOS Sparky Lyle Dick O’Connell
Mario Guerrero
59 4/12/1961 Jerry Walker KCA Dick Hall Parke Carroll
Chuck Essegian Dick Williams
53 7/12/1968 Bill Monbouquette SFG Lindy McDaniel Chub Feeney

 

Lee MacPhail – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-220 1/14/1963 Pete Ward CHW Luis Aparicio Ed Short
Ron Hansen Al Smith
Hoyt Wilhelm
Dave Nicholson
-60 5/26/1959 Lenny Green WS1 Albie Pearson Calvin Griffith

 

T13)  Calvin Griffith                      WS/10K_PA_BFP: 47.47     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 3.05 

Calvin Griffith served over three decades as part-owner and de facto General Manager for the Senators / Twins organization. Roy Sievers, acquired prior to the start of the 1954 campaign, supplied 30 round-trippers and 96 ribbies per season over a six-year span. “Squirrel” led the American League with 42 wallops and 114 RBI, placing third in the 1957 AL MVP balloting. Griffith dealt Sievers to the White Sox in exchange for Earl Battey and Don Mincher prior to Opening Day, 1960. Battey achieved Gold Glove honors in three successive seasons (1960-62) and swatted 26 big-flies for the ’63 squad. Cesar Tovar pilfered 45 bags in ’69, topped the leader boards with 36 doubles and 13 triples in ’70 and posted a League-best 204 base knocks in ’71. Jim Perry (24-12, 3.04) claimed the 1970 AL Cy Young Award and averaged 18 victories with a 3.36 ERA from 1969-1972. Mickey Vernon (.337/15/115) collected the American League batting title and placed third in the MVP race after he was re-acquired by Griffith in June 1950.

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Calvin Griffith
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Cesar Tovar 143.7204 18.93327
2 Earl Battey 132.115 19.06507
3 Roy Sievers 125.8996 14.32411
4 Jim Perry 124.0954 26.45749
5 Mickey Vernon 121.345 14.46119
Players Traded By Calvin Griffith
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Jackie Jensen 138.8544 18.73758
2 Pete Runnels 106.1794 14.35057
3 Rod Carew 101.8474 14.13443
4 Ken Landreaux 78.34364 2.5234
5 Jesse Orosco 73.86901 9.34914

 

Calvin Griffith – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
142 4/4/1960 Roy Sievers CHW Earl Battey Hank Greenberg
Don Mincher
125 12/4/1964 Gerry Arrigo CIN Cesar Tovar Bill DeWitt
120 6/14/1950 Dick Weik CLE Mickey Vernon Hank Greenberg
118 2/18/1954 Gil Coan BAL Roy Sievers Art Ehlers
111 6/1/1976 Bert Blyleven TEX Roy Smalley III Dan O’Brien
Danny Thompson Mike Cubbage
Bill Singer
Jim Gideon

 

Calvin Griffith – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-115 12/9/1953 Jackie Jensen BOS Mickey McDermott Joe Cronin
Tom Umphlett
-81 1/23/1958 Pete Runnels BOS Albie Pearson Joe Cronin
Norm Zauchin
-67 12/10/1969 Graig Nettles CLE Stan Williams Alvin Dark
Ted Uhlaender Luis Tiant
Dean Chance
Bob Miller
-59 12/3/1966 Bernie Allen WS2 Ron Kline George Selkirk
Camilo Pascual

 

15)  Bob Howsam                        WS/10K_PA_BFP: 18.62     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 6.43

The chief engineer of the “Big Red Machine”, Bob Howsam built a perennial contender during his 11 seasons in the Queen City. Cincinnati collected five National League Western Division titles along with back-to-back World Series championships in 1975-76 with Howsam at the helm. His greatest coup in the trade department transpired in November 1971 when he received Joe L. Morgan in an eight-player swap with the Astros. “Little Joe” excelled for the Redlegs, notching eight consecutive All-Star invites and five straight Gold Glove Awards. Morgan merited NL MVP honors in successive campaigns (1975-76) and produced a .288 BA with 102 runs scored, 19 homers, 51 steals and 110 bases on balls annually from 1972-79. Upon achieving full-time status in the outfield in ’75, George Foster supplied 32 wallops and 107 RBI along with a .297 BA per season over a seven-year span. Foster batted .320 with League-highs in home runs (52), RBI (149) and runs scored (124) to claim the 1977 NL MVP Award. He belted 40 round-trippers and plated 120 baserunners in the subsequent season.

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Bob Howsam
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Joe Morgan 259.3898 49.25387
2 George Foster 197.8286 36.66879
3 Cesar Geronimo 98.37998 13.41897
4 Clay Carroll 87.53105 11.83282
5 Bobby Tolan 80.82247 12.5263
Players Traded By Bob Howsam
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Hal McRae 212.3121 23.40598
2 Mike Caldwell 89.34975 15.94374
3 Leo Cardenas 64.8072 8.19975
4 Lee May 58.4045 4.4347
5 Steve Henderson 56.0715 9.49731

 

Bob Howsam – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
335 11/29/1971 Lee May HOU Joe L. Morgan Spec Richardson
Tommy Helms Cesar Geronimo
Jimmy Stewart Jack Billingham
Denis Menke
Ed Armbrister
197 5/29/1971 Frank Duffy SFG George Foster Horace Stoneham
Vern Geishert
106 10/11/1968 Vada Pinson STL Bobby Tolan Bing Devine
Wayne Granger
99 6/11/1968 Milt Pappas ATL Clay Carroll Paul Richards
Bob Johnson Tony Cloninger
Ted Davidson Woody Woodward
66 11/25/1969 Alex Johnson CAL Pedro Borbon Dick Walsh
Chico Ruiz Jim McGlothlin
Vern Geishert
59 6/12/1973 Gene Locklear SDP Fred Norman Peter Bavasi
Mike Johnson

 

Bob Howsam – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-204 11/30/1972 Hal McRae KCR Roger Nelson Cedric Tallis
Wayne Simpson Richie Scheinblum
-89 6/15/1977 Mike Caldwell MIL Rick O’Keeffe Jim Baumer
Garry Pyka
-61 10/27/1965 Bill White PHI Alex Johnson John Quinn
Dick Groat Pat Corrales
Bob Uecker Art Mahaffey

 

16)  Al Rosen                   WS/10K_PA_BFP: 18.73     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 5.12

Houston hired Al Rosen to head their front office in October 1980. Rosen remained on the job until September 1985, when he was appointed to the same position in the Giants’ hierarchy within a week of his departure from the Astros. Rosen’s craftiest transaction imported Kevin Mitchell, Craig Lefferts and Dave Dravecky to San Francisco in July 1987. Mitchell responded with an MVP year in ‘89, blasting 47 four-baggers and driving in 125 baserunners for the National League champions. Mike Scott fashioned an ERA of 2.93 with 17 wins and 208 strikeouts per season over a five-year period (1985-89). Scott whiffed a League-high 306 batsmen and led the circuit with a 2.22 ERA and 0.923 WHIP to earn 1986 NL Cy Young honors.

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Al Rosen
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Kevin Mitchell 111.7872 20.29522
2 Kevin Bass 105.8163 10.3532
3 Mike Scott 102.3517 20.08723
4 Phil Garner 81.75497 9.97604
5 Bob Knepper 76.36081 6.60831

 

Players Traded By Al Rosen
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Johnny Ray 99.88495 12.36021
2 Jeffrey Leonard 91.89982 2.85156
3 Rob Deer 79.5146 10.39336
4 Joaquin Andujar 64.85098 11.98454
5 Dan Gladden 55.76377 5.04396

 

Al Rosen – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
110 8/30/1982 Don Sutton MIL Kevin Bass Harry Dalton
Frank DiPino
Mike Madden
82 7/5/1987 Mark Davis SDP Kevin Mitchell Jack McKeon
Mark Grant Craig Lefferts
Chris Brown Dave Dravecky
Keith Comstock
75 12/10/1982 Danny Heep NYM Mike Scott Frank Cashen
71 12/8/1980 Enos Cabell SFG Bob Knepper Spec Richardson
Chris Bourjos 
66 3/23/1988 Charlie Corbell OAK Rod Beck Sandy Alderson
61 12/11/1991 Kevin Mitchell SEA Bill Swift Woody Woodward
Mike Remlinger Michael Jackson
Dave Burba

 

Al Rosen – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-102 4/20/1981 Jeffrey Leonard SFG Mike Ivie Spec Richardson
Dave Bergman
-79 12/18/1985 Rob Deer MIL Dean Freeland Harry Dalton
Eric Pilkington
-73 6/18/1989 Terry Mulholland PHI Steve Bedrosian Lee Thomas
Charlie Hayes Rick Parker
Dennis Cook

 

17)  Frank Cashen                      WS/10K_PA_BFP: 11.39     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 5.17

The New York Mets appointed Frank Cashen as their Executive Vice President and General Manager in February 1980. He rebuilt the organization into perennial contenders through a series of trades combined with talent from the Mets’ farm system. Keith Hernandez, acquired in a June 1983 deal with St. Louis, earned five Gold Glove Awards with New York and batted .305 for the club through the ’87 campaign. Howard Johnson was promoted to full-time status in 1987 and rewarded the squad with 31 moon-shots, 95 RBI and 32 stolen bases annually over a five-year stretch. Cashen netted Ken Singleton during his preceding turn as the Orioles’ GM from 1972-75. Singleton swatted 20 big-flies and knocked in 81 runs per year while posting a .290 BA from 1975-1983. He clubbed 35 four-baggers and plated 111 baserunners, finishing runner-up in the 1979 AL MVP balloting.

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Frank Cashen
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Ken Singleton 221.1368 28.27609
2 Howard Johnson 167.998 20.88672
3 Keith Hernandez 140.9251 25.7498
4 Kevin McReynolds 103.6853 11.28794
5 Sid Fernandez 101.2484 28.92365

 

Players Traded By Frank Cashen
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Lenny Dykstra 128.7378 26.16217
2 Mike Scott 102.3517 20.08723
3 Rick Aguilera 102.0528 12.7562
4 Jose Oquendo 88.59442 7.98534
5 Enos Cabell 84.31819 2.42763

 

Frank Cashen – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
238 12/4/1974 Dave McNally MON Ken Singleton Jim Fanning
Rich Coggins Mike Torrez
Bill Kirkpatrick
124 6/15/1983 Neil Allen STL Keith Hernandez Joe McDonald
Rick Ownbey
121 12/7/1984 Walt Terrell DET Howard Johnson Bill Lajoie
99 4/1/1982 Lee Mazzilli TEX Ron Darling Eddie Robinson
Walt Terrell
89 12/8/1983 Carlos Diaz LAD Sid Fernandez Al Campanis
Bob Bailor Ross Jones
88 12/11/1986 Stan Jefferson SDP Kevin McReynolds Jack McKeon
Shawn Abner Gene Walter
Kevin Mitchell Adam Ging
Kevin Armstrong
Kevin A. Brown
75 3/27/1987 Rick Anderson KCR David Cone John Schuerholz
Ed Hearn Chris Jelic
Mauro Gozzo

 

Frank Cashen – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-154 7/31/1989 Rick Aguilera MIN Frank Viola Andy MacPhail
Kevin Tapani
David West
Tim Drummond
Jack Savage
-144 6/18/1989 Lenny Dykstra PHI Juan Samuel Lee Thomas
Roger McDowell
Tom Edens
-88 4/2/1985 Jose Oquendo STL Angel Salazar Dal Maxvill
Mark J. Davis John Young
-79 12/10/1984 Hubie Brooks MON Gary Carter Murray Cook
Mike Fitzgerald
Floyd Youmans
Herm Winningham
-75 12/10/1982 Mike Scott HOU Danny Heep Al Rosen

 

18)    Harry Dalton             WS/10K_PA_BFP: 15.63     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 5.07

Harry Dalton served as the General Manager for three teams spanning 25 seasons, including 13 years in Milwaukee. Dalton made an immediate impact upon his hiring in Baltimore, completing a deal to bring future Hall of Fame outfielder Frank Robinson to the Orioles. “The Judge” declared an instant verdict with a Triple Crown effort along with the 1966 AL MVP award. Robinson punished opposing hurlers during his six-year stint in Baltimore, averaging .300 with 30 circuit clouts and 91 RBI. Dalton resigned his post in October 1971 in order to assume the same position in California. Soon thereafter he traded Jim Fregosi to the Mets for four players including Nolan Ryan, a flame-throwing right-hander with a 29-38 career record. Ryan blossomed with the Halos, tallying 17 victories and striking out 302 batsmen per season (1972-79) while posting an ERA of 3.07. The “Ryan Express” finished in the top three in the American League Cy Young Award balloting on three occasions and fashioned four no-hitters for the Angels. His 383 strikeouts in 1973 remains the single-season record in the modern era.

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Harry Dalton
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Frank Robinson 215.655 35.74004
2 Nolan Ryan 148.9225 29.2507
3 Mike Cuellar 126.669 14.63941
4 Don Buford 108.055 15.54849
5 Rob Deer 79.5146 10.39336

 

Players Traded By Harry Dalton
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Kevin Bass 105.8163 10.3532
2 Mickey Rivers 74.64127 13.03224
3 Andy Messersmith 70.073 17.66935
4 Dave May 67.52769 4.34301
5 Mike Epstein 66.50066 6.85092

 

Harry Dalton – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
185 12/10/1971 Jim Fregosi NYM Nolan Ryan Bob Scheffing
Leroy Stanton
Don Rose
Frank Estrada
143 12/9/1965 Milt Pappas CIN Frank Robinson Bill DeWitt
Dick Simpson
Jack Baldschun
108 12/4/1968 Curt Blefary HOU Mike Cuellar Spec Richardson
John Mason Tom E. Johnson
Enzo Hernandez
79 12/18/1985 Dean Freeland SFG Rob Deer Al Rosen
Eric Pilkington
57 11/29/1967 Luis Aparicio CHW Don Buford Ed Short
John Matias Roger Nelson
Russ Snyder Bruce Howard
50 12/12/1980 Dave LaPoint STL Ted Simmons Whitey Herzog
David Green Rollie Fingers
Sixto Lezcano Pete Vuckovich
Lary Sorensen

 

Harry Dalton – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-110 8/30/1982 Kevin Bass HOU Don Sutton Al Rosen
Frank DiPino
Mike Madden
-90 12/11/1975 Mickey Rivers NYY Bobby Bonds Gabe Paul
Ed Figueroa
-67 6/15/1970 Dave May MIL Dick Baney Marvin Milkes
Buzz Stephen

 

19)  Jim Campbell                        WS/10K_PA_BFP: 32.96     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 0.81

The Tigers claimed one World Series title (1968) during Jim Campbell’s 21-year tenure (1963-1983). Campbell is also credited with the majority of the talent acquisition for Detroit’s dominant season in ’84. The additions of Chet Lemon, Larry Herndon and Aurelio Lopez augmented a solid core of ballplayers drafted and developed under Campbell. An analogous deal in October 1970 yielded positive results two years later as Aurelio Rodriguez provided consistent defense at the hot corner while Joe H. Coleman (19-14, 2.80) achieved his lone All-Star appearance. Coleman furnished a record of 21-13 with 220 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.16 in a three-year span (1971-73).

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Jim Campbell
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Chet Lemon 146.2936 23.07302
2 Aurelio Rodriguez 85.61919 1.2896
3 Joe H. Coleman 78.63053 10.17724
4 Larry Herndon 77.13946 8.17215
5 Aurelio Lopez 69.49722 6.63123
Players Traded By Jim Campbell
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Ben Oglivie 145.9581 21.96503
2 Jim Bunning 101.965 27.56485
3 Pat Jarvis 76.70024 11.5244
4 Lou Johnson 42.3633 6.35703
5 Don McMahon 31.55847 3.93515

 

Jim Campbell – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
181 10/9/1970 Elliott Maddox WS2 Aurelio Rodriguez Bob Short
Denny McLain Joe H. Coleman
Don Wert Ed Brinkman
Norm McRae Jim Hannan
124 11/27/1981 Steve Kemp CHW Chet Lemon Roland Hemond
77 12/9/1981 Mike Chris SFG Larry Herndon Tom Haller
Dan Schatzeder Bill Wood
68 12/4/1978 Bob Sykes STL Aurelio Lopez John Claiborne
John Murphy Jerry Morales

 

Jim Campbell – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-133 12/9/1977 Ben Oglivie MIL Jim Slaton Jim Baumer
Rich Folkers
-83 12/5/1963 Jim Bunning PHI Don Demeter John Quinn
Gus Triandos Jack Hamilton
-76 10/14/1963 Pat Jarvis ML1 Bruce Brubaker John McHale

 

T20) John McHale             WS/10K_PA_BFP: 7.15       WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 4.41

John McHale’s experience as a General Manager traverses four decades and three organizations. Subsequent to a two-year turn in Detroit, McHale secured a comparable gig with the Milwaukee Braves which lasted from 1959-1967. A decade later, he was hired to guide Montreal’s front office. His teams earned a lone playoff berth (Expos, 1981). Felipe Alou, acquired in December 1963 from the Giants, produced a .295 BA in six seasons for the Braves. Alou established career-bests with a .327 BA and 31 big-flies while topping the leader boards with 218 base hits and 122 runs scored during the 1966 campaign.  Hank Aguirre yielded late dividends for the Tigers. Following four ordinary seasons as a reliever, Aguirre blossomed into an All-Star in 1962 as he led the loop in ERA (2.21) and WHIP (1.051).

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – John McHale
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Felipe Alou 122.6413 15.51397
2 Hank Aguirre 83.7506 16.09484
3 Pat Jarvis 76.70024 11.5244
4 Tim Burke 75.92115 9.34091
5 Jeff Reardon 67.59728 6.57622

 

Players Traded By John McHale
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Ed Charles 84.02187 7.91337
2 Larry Parrish 79.93878 0.71977
3 Joey Jay 64.86384 11.8484
4 Bob Shaw 62.90131 8.59145
5 Bill Bruton 60.11813 4.61648

 

John McHale – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
97 12/3/1963 Bob Shaw SFG Felipe Alou Chub Feeney
Bob Hendley Ed Bailey
Del Crandall Billy Hoeft
Ernie Bowman
80 2/18/1958 Hal Woodeshick SDP Hank Aguirre Frank Lane
Jay Porter Jim Hegan
76 10/14/1963 Bruce Brubaker DET Pat Jarvis Bill Wood
75 12/20/1983 Pat Rooney NYY Tim Burke Murray Cook
60 5/29/1981 Ellis Valentine NYM Jeff Reardon Frank Cashen
Dan Norman

 

John McHale – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-72 12/15/1961 Ed Charles KC1 Bob Shaw Pat Friday
Manny Jimenez Lou Klimchock
Joe Azcue
-71 12/7/1960 Bill Bruton DET Frank Bolling Rick Ferrell
Terry Fox Neil Chrisley
Dick Brown
Chuck Cottier
-54 3/31/1982 Larry Parrish TEX Al Oliver Eddie Robinson
Dave Hostetler

 

T20) Ken Williams             WS/10K_PA_BFP: 9.00       WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 3.08

Ken Williams guided the White Sox organization for 12 seasons. His accomplishments include a World Series championship in 2005 and a division title three years later. Jim Thome slammed 33 quadruples per season over his four-year stint in Chicago. Carlos Quentin managed two All-Star appearances during his time with the Pale Hose as he averaged 27 four-ply swats.

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Ken Williams
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 John Danks 77.40154 17.45431
2 Jim Thome 69.4324 11.21753
3 Juan Uribe 67.4637 6.76275
4 Gavin Floyd 61.99193 14.08457
5 Carlos Quentin 60.08762 5.91387

 

Players Traded By Ken Williams
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Chris B. Young 95.4048 8.74784
2 Nick Swisher 79.7135 15.1518
3 Ryan Sweeney 38.24164 4.95676
4 Kip Wells 37.46838 7.43441
5 Carlos Lee 33.8054 2.20254

 

Ken Williams – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
69 12/23/2006 Brandon McCarthy TEX John Danks Jon Daniels
David Paisano Nick Masset
Jake Rasner
61 12/6/2006 Freddy Garcia PHI Gavin Floyd Pat Gillick
Gio Gonzalez
60 12/3/2007 Chris V. Carter ARI Carlos Quentin Josh Byrnes
57 3/20/2006 Joe Borchard SEA Matt Thornton Bill Bavasi
52 12/2/2003 Aaron Miles COL Juan Uribe Dan O’Dowd

 

Ken Williams – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-79 11/13/2008 Nick Swisher NYY Wilson Betemit Brian Cashman
Kanekoa Texeira Jeff Marquez
Jhonny Nunez
-63 12/13/2001 Kip Wells PIT Todd Ritchie Dave Littlefield
Josh Fogg Lee Evans
Sean Lowe
-62 12/20/2005 Chris B. Young ARI Javier Vazquez Josh Byrnes
Luis Vizcaino
Orlando Hernandez
-59 12/3/2008 Ryan Sweeney OAK Nick Swisher Billy Beane
Gio Gonzalez
Fautino De Los Santos

 

 Honorable Mention (less than 75,000 PA + BFP)

1) Larry Himes                 WS/10K_PA_BFP: 99.59     WAR/10K_PA_BFP: 17.31 

Larry Himes spent seven years in the role of General Manager for the Chicago franchises. He guided the White Sox for four seasons before taking on the same responsibilities for the Cubs in November 1991. A supporter of Sammy Sosa’s raw power potential, Himes acquired the young slugger twice. “Slammin’ Sammy” rewarded Himes’ faith with a combined 311 Win Shares for the White Sox and Cubs. Lance “One Dog” Johnson paced the American League with 186 base knocks in 1995 and topped the triples leader board in four successive seasons (1991-94).

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Larry Himes
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Sammy Sosa 311.445 55.99456
2 Lance Johnson 100.0427 14.24498
3 Wilson Alvarez 67.48966 17.25721
4 Roberto Hernandez 66.50108 10.20604
5 Dan Pasqua 59.11439 7.5252

 

Players Traded By Larry Himes
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Randy Velarde 53.05554 6.03494
2 Jose DeLeon 46.93087 8.53351
3 Gary Redus 36.56137 4.73506
4 Jose Vizcaino 32.68117 2.51377
5 Alex Arias 18.10645 -0.16454

Larry Himes – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
281 3/30/1992 George Bell CHW Sammy Sosa Ron Schueler
Ken Patterson
89 7/29/1989 Harold Baines TEX Wilson Alvarez Tom Grieve
Fred Manrique Scott Fletcher
Sammy Sosa
66 8/4/1989 Mark A. Davis CAL Roberto Hernandez Mike Port
Mark Doran
61 11/12/1987 Richard Dotson NYY Dan Pasqua Lou Piniella
Scott Nielsen Mark Salas
Steve Rosenberg

 

Larry Himes – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-54 1/5/1987 Randy Velarde NYY Scott Nielsen Woody Woodward
Pete Filson Mike Soper

 

The Battle for the Basement

1) Hank Greenberg                     WS/10K_PA_BFP: -76.62    WAR/10K_PA_BFP: -11.52

A Hall of Fame first baseman with two American League MVP Awards and four home run titles to his credit, Hank Greenberg ascended to the role of General Manager for Cleveland in 1950 after retiring as a ballplayer three years earlier. In eleven seasons as a GM (8 with the Indians and 3 with the White Sox), “Hammerin’ Hank” notched the lowest return on investment with regards to his trade acquisitions. Minnie Minoso batted at a .307 clip in his first stint with the Pale Hose (1951-57) and warranted four All-Star invitations. Greenberg atoned for this blunder when he re-acquired Minoso before departing from Cleveland in December, 1957. He engineered another deal to import the “Cuban Comet” when he was hired in Chicago. Johnny Callison developed into an All-Star outfielder with the Phillies, launching 28 moon-shots and driving in 92 runs per season over a four-year stretch (1962-65). Earl Battey merited three successive Gold Glove Awards following his trade to the Senators in April, 1960. Mickey Vernon (.337/15/115) claimed the batting crown in ’53 subsequent to his return to Washington.

 

Players Traded By Hank Greenberg
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Johnny Callison 207.2796 34.63798
2 Minnie Minoso 176.4373 33.648
3 Earl Battey 132.115 19.06507
4 Mickey Vernon 121.345 14.46119
5 Ray Boone 105.0341 15.53462

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Hank Greenberg
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Minnie Minoso 95.7704 14.20518
2 Juan Pizarro 73.67451 13.03341
3 Vic Wertz 65.698 8.68587
4 George Strickland 63.92713 7.01048
5 Ray Herbert 47.10956 9.52145

 

Hank Greenberg – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-193 12/9/1959 Johnny Callison PHI Gene Freese John Quinn
-188 4/30/1951 Minnie Minoso CHW Lou Brissie Frank Lane,
Ray Murray PHA Art Ehlers
Sam Zoldak (3-team trade)
-142 4/4/1960 Earl Battey WS1 Roy Sievers Calvin Griffith
Don Mincher
-129 6/15/1953 Ray Boone DET Art Houtteman Charlie Gehringer
Steve Gromek Bill Wight
Al Aber Joe Ginsberg
Dick Weik Owen Friend
-120 6/14/1950 Mickey Vernon WS1 Dick Weik Calvin Griffith
-92 12/4/1957 Al E. Smith CHW Minnie Minoso Charley Comiskey-
Early Wynn Fred Hatfield Johnny Rigney
-72 12/6/1959 John Romano CLE Minnie Minoso Frank Lane
Bubba Phillips Dick Brown
Norm Cash Don Ferrarese
Jake Striker

 

Hank Greenberg – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
64 8/18/1952 Johnny Berardino PIT George Strickland Branch Rickey
Charles Sipple Ted Wilks
60 6/1/1954 Bob Chakales BAL Vic Wertz Art Ehlers
57 12/15/1960 Gene Freese CIN Juan Pizarro Bill DeWitt
Cal McLish

 

2) Lou Gorman                WS/10K_PA_BFP: -54.53    WAR/10K_PA_BFP: -10.01

Lou Gorman served as the inaugural GM for the Seattle Mariners through the 1980 campaign. He later guided the Red Sox front office for a ten-year period (February 1984 to January 1994). Gorman completed two short-sighted, disastrous deals during playoff runs for Boston in 1988 and 1990. He imported veteran right-hander Mike Boddicker at the July ‘88 trade deadline in exchange for prospects Brady Anderson and Curt Schilling. Boddicker’s 39-22 record (.639 W-L%) with a 3.49 ERA in two-plus seasons for the Sox failed to compensate for the loss of two future stars. As a full-time player for a decade in Baltimore, Anderson swatted 20 big-flies, scored 92 runs and swiped 26 bags per season. He established career-highs in ‘96 with 50 four-baggers, 110 ribbies and 117 tallies. Schilling coincidentally hit his stride in ’92, although he took a detour to Philadelphia by way of Houston before harnessing his electric “stuff”.  Gorman’s greatest gaffe transpired on August 30, 1990, when he sent Jeff Bagwell to the Astros for journeyman reliever Larry Andersen.  “LA” fashioned a 1.23 ERA in 15 games for the Red Sox. Omitting the 2005 season in which he played only 39 games, “Bagpipes” clouted 32 round-trippers, registered 108 RBI and runs scored, drilled 35 doubles and batted .297 during his career.

 

Players Traded By Lou Gorman
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Jeff Bagwell 379.431 73.37994
2 Brady Anderson 212.1696 27.49608
3 Craig Reynolds 94.49143 9.53933
4 Spike Owen 54.7848 3.75945
5 Dave Collins 48.97868 6.15183

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Lou Gorman
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Jim Beattie 52.16533 10.09337
2 Floyd Bannister 47.90277 10.6841
3 Leon Roberts 42.42822 8.10933
4 Bill Buckner 38.71811 1.1075
5 Mike Boddicker 38.57283 11.79167

 

Lou Gorman – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-376 8/30/1990 Jeff Bagwell HOU Larry Andersen Bill Wood
-178 7/29/1988 Brady Anderson BAL Mike Boddicker Roland Hemond
Curt Schilling

 

Lou Gorman – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
51 11/1/1979 Ruppert Jones NYY Jim Beattie Cedric Tallis
Jim Lewis Jerry Narron
Juan Beniquez
Rick Anderson

 

3) John Hart                     WS/10K_PA_BFP: -54.53    WAR/10K_PA_BFP: -10.01

Cleveland warranted six playoff berths in seven seasons (1995-2001) while John Hart presided over the front office. Hart’s turn as the Rangers’ GM failed to yield the desired results (no playoff appearances in five years). Hart was tasked with unloading Alex Rodriguez’s massive contract, and he dealt the superstar shortstop to the Yankees in February 2004. “A-Rod” clubbed 31 round-trippers and plated 97 baserunners for the Yankees from 2004-2015, earning MVP honors in ’05 and ’07 after producing a .305 BA with 52 jacks and 132 ribbies per year in Texas. The Tribe’s abundant farm system led to logjams at several positions. Hart responded by dealing potential star players such as Brian S. Giles and Jeff Kent. Seizing a full-time position at second base for the Giants, Kent blossomed at the plate, belting 41 two-baggers and 29 circuit clouts while averaging 115 RBI over a six-year period. Unable to crack the crowded outfield in Cleveland, Giles flourished with the Pirates, batting .309 with 37 dingers, 109 RBI and 108 runs scored per season from 1999-2002. Hart offset some of his trade gaffes with the procurement of Omar Vizquel and Kenny Lofton.

 

Players Traded By John Hart
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Alex Rodriguez 250.5122 45.5895
2 Jeff Kent 162.0394 31.6714
3 Travis Hafner 137.3175 20.88206
4 Brian S. Giles 135.1837 30.24831
5 Sean Casey 122.9903 7.86085

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – John Hart
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Omar Vizquel 165.8384 16.4766
2 Kenny Lofton 114.2817 21.71024
3 David Justice 63.25738 9.11242
4 Jake Westbrook 60.48113 13.05937
5 Jose Mesa 59.94608 10.38773

 

John Hart – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-208 2/16/2004 Alex Rodriguez NYY Alfonso Soriano Brian Cashman
Joaquin Arias
-172 11/13/1996 Jeff Kent SFG Matt D. Williams Brian Sabean
Jose Vizcaino Trent Hubbard
Julian Tavarez
Joe Roa
-121 11/18/1998 Brian S. Giles PIT Ricardo Rincon Cam Bonifay
-116 12/6/2002 Travis Hafner CLE Ryan Drese Mark Shapiro
Aaron Myette Einar Diaz
-94 8/31/1996 Jeromy Burnitz MIL Kevin Seitzer Sal Bando
-77 7/31/1997 Danny Graves CIN Jeff Branson Jim Bowden
Damian Jackson John Smiley
Jim Crowell
Scott Winchester
-76 3/30/1998 Sean Casey CIN Dave Burba Jim Bowden

 

John Hart – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
152 12/20/1993 Felix Fermin SEA Omar Vizquel Woody Woodward
Reggie Jefferson
96 12/10/1991 Ed Taubensee HOU Kenny Lofton Bill Wood
Willie Blair Dave Rohde
59 7/14/1992 Kyle Washington BAL Jose Mesa Roland Hemond

 

4) Chub Feeney              WS/10K_PA_BFP: -50.43    WAR/10K_PA_BFP: -4.18

The Giants achieved three World Series appearances during Chub Feeney’s tenure as GM, highlighted by a four-game sweep of the Indians in 1954. Feeney’s proficiency in procuring talent for the farm system was mitigated by an inferior record when making deals with his peers. The minor league system overflowed and Feeney had to make several difficult decisions. Bill D. White established himself as a perennial All-Star and Gold Glove defender at first base following his trade to St. Louis in March 1959. White batted .299 with 30 doubles and 20 wallops annually over a seven-year period. Felipe Alou topped the charts with 218 base knocks and 122 runs scored for the Atlanta Braves in 1966 and tallied a League-leading 210 safeties two years later. Matty Alou blistered the opposition with a .327 BA in five seasons with the Pirates, claiming the batting title with a .342 average in ’66. Bill Hands joined the Cubs rotation after receiving a “cup of coffee” with San Francisco in 1965. “Froggy” fashioned a 3.18 ERA and a 1.198 WHIP in seven campaigns with Chicago. Feeney received his best return on investment with his acquisition of Johnny Antonelli, who led the League with a 2.30 ERA in ’54 and averaged 17 victories with a 3.08 ERA in his first six seasons with the Giants.

 

Players Traded By Chub Feeney
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Bill D. White 144.9269 18.26242
2 Felipe Alou 122.6413 15.51397
3 Bill Hands 113.935 22.36897
4 Matty Alou 109.1786 11.99883
5 Jackie Brandt 92.22964 13.01976

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Chub Feeney
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Johnny Antonelli 127.6774 27.3856
2 Jack Sanford 77.20655 12.75998
3 Stu Miller 66.28542 11.26471
4 Ron Hunt 51.8652 5.80305
5 Billy O’Dell 51.29964 8.18535

 

Chub Feeney – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-189 12/2/1965 Bill Hands CHC Lindy McDaniel John Holland
Randy Hundley Don Landrum
-105 3/25/1959 Bill D. White STL Sam Jones Bing Devine
Ray Jablonski Don Choate
-101 12/15/1962 Stu Miller BAL Billy Hoeft Lee MacPhail
John Orsino Jack Fisher
Mike McCormick Jimmie Coker
-97 12/3/1963 Felipe Alou ML1 Bob Shaw John McHale
Ed Bailey Bob Hendley
Billy Hoeft Del Crandall
Ernie Bowman
-94 12/1/1965 Matty Alou PIT Joe Gibbon Joe Brown
Ozzie Virgil
-64 10/8/1958 Ernie Broglio STL Hobie Landrith Bing Devine
Marv Grissom Billy Muffett
Benny Valenzuela
-53 7/12/1968 Lindy McDaniel NYY Bill Monbouquette Lee MacPhail

 

Chub Feeney – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
123 2/1/1954 Bobby Thomson ML1 Johnny Antonelli John Quinn
Sam Calderone Don Liddle
Ebba St. Claire
Billy Klaus
75 12/3/1958 Valmy Thomas PHI Jack Sanford Roy Hamey
Ruben Gomez
57 10/11/1956 Jim Hearn PHI Stu Miller Roy Hamey

 

T5) Eddie Robinson       WS/10K_PA_BFP: -33.36    WAR/10K_PA_BFP: -5.42

Eddie Robinson sent two pitching prospects (Ron Darling and Walt Terrell) to the Mets in exchange for former All-Star Lee Mazzilli. “Maz” slumped to a .241 average with four home runs over a half-season in Texas, so Robinson flipped him to the Yankees for Bucky Dent. Meanwhile, Terrell furnished a 3.53 in 2+ seasons in the Mets rotation. Darling delivered 14 wins with a 3.40 ERA as a full-time starter from 1984-89. Robinson sent Dusty Baker to the Dodgers in November 1975. Baker responded with a .281 BA over eight campaigns including 30 jacks in ’77 and a fourth place finish in the 1980 N.L. MVP balloting.

 

Players Traded By Eddie Robinson
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Dusty Baker 139.5747 13.55507
2 Ron Darling 83.86197 16.60712
3 Felix Millan 69.64447 -2.33453
4 Mike Heath 61.95664 6.84819
5 Oscar Gamble 52.58447 8.96457

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Eddie Robinson
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Larry Parrish 79.93878 0.71977
2 Jerry Royster 71.32581 -1.49479
3 Carl Morton 60.10726 11.19474
4 Mickey Rivers 54.94651 5.93789
5 Davey Johnson 35.87991 6.343

 

Eddie Robinson – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-99 4/1/1982 Ron Darling NYM Lee Mazzilli Frank Cashen
Walt Terrell
-70 11/2/1972 Felix Millan NYM Gary Gentry Bob Scheffing
George Stone Danny Frisella
-55 6/15/1979 Mike Heath OAK John Henry Johnson Charles Finley
Dave Chalk

 

Eddie Robinson – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
57 2/28/1973 Pat Jarvis MON Carl Morton Jim Fanning
54 3/31/1982 Al Oliver MON Larry Parrish John McHale
Dave Hostetler

 

T5) Jack McKeon                        WS/10K_PA_BFP: -38.48    WAR/10K_PA_BFP: -5.36

“Trader Jack” guided the Padres’ front office for more than a decade (1980-1990) despite an uneven bartering record. He swapped shortstops with the Cardinals in December 1981, acquiring Garry Templeton in exchange for Ozzie Smith in a five-player deal. Templeton’s offensive production tanked in San Diego while Smith flourished in St. Louis. Nicknamed “The Wizard of Oz” for his defensive prowess, Smith earned 13 consecutive Gold Glove Awards in his career and became a competent switch-hitter, batting .273 with 35 stolen bases per year from 1982-1993. McKeon packaged another slick-fielding shortstop, Ozzie Guillen, in a December 1984 trade for starting pitcher LaMarr Hoyt. Guillen merited 1985 A.L. Rookie of the Year honors and anchored the White Sox defense for 13 seasons. McKeon imported slugging outfielder Joe Carter from Cleveland in return for three players including minor leaguers Carlos Baerga and Sandy Alomar, Jr. Baerga supplied a .315 BA with 30 doubles, 19 taters and 97 ribbies annually over a four-year stretch (1992-95). Alomar, Jr., blocked by Benito Santiago in the San Diego depth chart, earned the 1990 A.L. Rookie of the Year Award and made six All-Star appearances with the Indians. McKeon shipped Carter and second-sacker Roberto Alomar to Toronto in December 1990, bringing Fred “Crime Dog” McGriff and Tony Fernandez to the Friars. Alomar produced a .307 BA with 30 two-baggers and 41 steals per season covering a five-year span. San Diego made one World Series appearance under McKeon, losing in five contests to Detroit in ’84.

 

Players Traded By Jack McKeon
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Ozzie Smith 275.5759 41.65944
2 Ozzie Guillen 127.884 8.98934
3 Carlos Baerga 125.1919 17.81166
4 Roberto Alomar 119.4817 19.82741
5 John Kruk 114.7724 15.97631

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Jack McKeon
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Terry Kennedy 103.8325 11.95554
2 Garry Templeton 103.1176 7.9763
3 Carmelo Martinez 74.12985 9.76319
4 Ed Whitson 70.5083 12.02891
5 Fred McGriff 63.38817 8.64208

 

Jack McKeon – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-220 12/6/1989 Carlos Baerga CLE Joe Carter Hank Peters
Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Chris James
-145 12/6/1984 Ozzie Guillen CHW LaMarr Hoyt Roland Hemond
Bill Long Kevin Kristan
Luis Salazar Todd Simmons
Tim Lollar
-125 6/2/1989 John Kruk PHI Chris James Lee Thomas
Randy Ready
-119 12/5/1990 Roberto Alomar TOR Fred McGriff Pat Gillick
Joe Carter Tony Fernandez
-116 12/10/1981 Ozzie Smith STL Garry Templeton Whitey Herzog
Steve Mura Sixto Lezcano
Luis DeLeon

 

Jack McKeon – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
94 12/7/1983 Gary Lucas CHC Carmelo Martinez Dallas Green,
Craig Lefferts John McHale
Fritzie Connally (3-team trade)
Al D. Newman
92 12/8/1980 Gene Tenace STL Terry Kennedy Whitey Herzog
Bob Shirley John Urrea
Rollie Fingers John Littlefield
Bob Geren Steve Swisher
Mike Phillips
Al Olmsted
Kim Seaman

 

Dis-Honorable Mention (less than 75,000 PA + BFP)

 

Bill Bavasi                     WS/10K_PA_BFP: -139.60  WAR/10K_PA_BFP: -23.85

Bill Bavasi warrants special mention with regards to his trading record. Despite falling just short of the 75000 PA+BFP qualifications, Bavasi’s deficient dealings called for further investigation. He took the reins for the Angels’ front office following Whitey Herzog’s abrupt departure in January 1994 and retained his title through October 1999. Bavasi received a second chance with Seattle, guiding the M’s from November 2003 through June 2008. Hands down, Bavasi’s worst deal was the Erik Bedard trade, where he sent five prospects packing for Baltimore in exchange for the left-hander. Bedard managed to post a 3.31 ERA in Seattle over three campaigns, but he only started 15 games per year. Meanwhile Adam Jones thrived in Baltimore, receiving five All-Star invitations while blasting 29 long balls and driving in 90 runs per year during the past five seasons. J.T. Snow established career-highs in doubles (36), home runs (28) and RBI (104) immediately following his trade to San Francisco. Phil Nevin produced a .295 BA with 32 moon-shots and 106 RBI per year over a three-year period (1999-2001) after he was shipped to San Diego. Bavasi’s trade acquisitions failed to compile more than 35 total Win Shares for their new organizations.

 

Players Traded By Bill Bavasi
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Adam Jones 143.8336 23.08147
2 J. T. Snow 131.3502 13.49146
3 Phil Nevin 119.644 20.0529
4 Asdrubal Cabrera 111.5034 13.9173
5 Shin-Soo Choo 105.1451 18.11138

 

Players Acquired Via Trade – Bill Bavasi
  Player Total WS Total WAR
1 Tony Phillips 31.0159 5.55642
2 Jeff DaVanon 27.85742 3.29645
3 Jeremy Reed 19.66078 0.6518
4 Ken Hill 19.21377 3.14351
5 Jose Vidro 16.90513 -0.33472

 

Bill Bavasi – Worst Trades Based on Negative Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
-191 2/8/2008 Adam Jones BAL Erik Bedard Andy MacPhail
Chris Tillman
George Sherrill
Kam Mickolio
Tony Butler
-121 11/26/1996 J. T. Snow SFG Allen Watson Brian Sabean
Fausto Macey
-118 3/29/1999 Phil Nevin SDP Andy Sheets Kevin Towers
Keith Volkman Gus Kennedy
-111 6/30/2006 Asdrubal Cabrera CLE Eduardo Perez Mark Shapiro
-104 1/8/2004 Carlos Guillen DET Ramon Santiago Dave Dombrowski
Juan E. Gonzalez
-97 7/26/2006 Shin-Soo Choo CLE Ben Broussard Mark Shapiro
Shawn Nottingham
-92 7/31/1996 Damion Easley DET Greg Gohr Randy Smith

 

Bill Bavasi – Best Trades Based on Positive Win Shares

TotalWS TransactDate Traded To Acquired ExecID_To
17 11/20/1997 Nick Skuse DET Matt Walbeck Randy Smith
Phil Nevin

Executives Ranked By Win Shares per 10,000 PA+BFP

  • At least 75,000 PA+BFP to qualify
  • Player-Seasons, Executives since 1950
Executive PA+BFP Total WAR Total WS WAR/10K WS/10K WAR Rank WS Rank Total  Rank
Lee Thomas 88951 124.98 729.75 14.05 82.04 1 1 1
Terry Ryan 77659 77.36 556.06 9.96 71.60 2 2 2
Brian Sabean 91807 84.67 542.33 9.22 59.07 4 4 3
Cedric Tallis 113218 93.54 743.85 8.26 65.70 7 3 4
Dallas Green 75155 70.44 249.78 9.37 33.24 3 10 5
John Quinn 188162 103.70 979.65 5.51 52.06 11 5 6
Kevin Towers 166838 107.48 752.38 6.44 45.10 9 8 7
Andy MacPhail 115681 61.59 584.07 5.32 50.49 12 6 8
Ed Short 83016 71.75 234.62 8.64 28.26 6 13 9
Dan Duquette 113652 80.97 304.89 7.12 26.83 8 14 10
Walt Jocketty 136349 119.19 254.55 8.74 18.67 5 18 11
Mark Shapiro 105412 41.87 389.12 3.97 36.91 18 9 12
Lee MacPhail 113424 52.54 355.12 4.63 31.31 16 12 13
Calvin Griffith 243222 74.21 1154.56 3.05 47.47 21 7 13
Bob Howsam 161575 103.86 300.89 6.43 18.62 10 19 15
Al Rosen 116387 59.63 218.05 5.12 18.73 14 17 16
Frank Cashen 188128 97.35 214.28 5.17 11.39 13 22 17
Harry Dalton 179556 91.03 280.73 5.07 15.63 15 21 18
Jim Campbell 116727 9.48 384.75 0.81 32.96 29 12 19
John McHale 123228 54.31 88.12 4.41 7.15 17 27 20
Ken Williams 107368 33.02 96.63 3.08 9.00 20 24 20
Hank Peters 113770 -1.44 295.61 -0.13 25.98 34 15 22
Doug Melvin 140098 20.57 116.21 1.47 8.29 24 26 23
Randy Smith 105872 28.98 34.74 2.74 3.28 22 30 24
Roland Hemond 198199 3.04 200.52 0.15 10.12 32 23 25
Pat Gillick 169776 17.56 103.48 1.03 6.10 27 28 25
Phil Seghi 203835 -11.94 401.17 -0.59 19.68 40 16 27
Joe McDonald 87389 -0.65 78.54 -0.07 8.99 33 25 28
Josh Byrnes 75752 6.58 -2.11 0.87 -0.28 28 34 29
John Schuerholz 195722 6.84 18.88 0.35 0.96 31 32 30
Murray Cook 90267 30.48 -115.86 3.38 -12.83 19 46 31
George Weiss 141670 19.97 -143.44 1.41 -10.12 25 41 32
Fred Claire 88739 -3.98 1.40 -0.45 0.16 38 33 33
Al Campanis 157302 30.14 -258.06 1.92 -16.41 23 50 34
George Selkirk 101880 -30.12 174.20 -2.96 17.10 53 20 34
Jim Bowden 165245 -22.01 21.68 -1.33 1.31 43 31 36
Dan O’Dowd 112232 8.19 -130.53 0.73 -11.63 30 44 36
Joe Brown 182416 -5.56 -168.51 -0.30 -9.24 36 40 38
Frank Lane 224778 23.63 -408.13 1.05 -18.16 26 51 39
Billy Beane 185459 -8.39 -104.00 -0.45 -5.61 39 38 39
John Holland 206191 -17.11 -98.53 -0.83 -4.78 42 37 41
Charles Finley 115685 -16.92 -29.44 -1.46 -2.55 45 35 42
Bob Quinn, Sr. 82950 -21.96 28.28 -2.65 3.41 51 29 42
Dave Dombrowski 255982 -62.07 -73.93 -2.42 -2.89 50 36 44
Omar Minaya 77593 -13.70 -87.98 -1.77 -11.34 48 43 45
Buzzie Bavasi 237012 -18.37 -496.47 -0.78 -20.95 41 53 46
Ed Wade 88750 -28.21 -69.50 -3.18 -7.83 55 39 46
Bing Devine 281933 -39.38 -570.75 -1.40 -20.24 44 52 48
Larry Beinfest 105117 -19.05 -154.42 -1.81 -14.69 49 47 48
Theo Epstein 79568 -1.32 -264.83 -0.17 -33.28 35 61 48
Paul Owens 140035 -4.60 -411.27 -0.33 -29.37 37 60 51
Jon Daniels 76833 -28.51 -83.80 -3.71 -10.91 56 42 52
Dick O’Connell 112292 -32.03 -172.92 -2.85 -15.40 52 49 53
Gabe Paul 293358 -88.98 -447.47 -3.03 -15.25 54 48 54
Harding Peterson 83260 -32.06 -101.61 -3.85 -12.20 57 45 54
Woody Woodward 144284 -21.72 -410.59 -1.51 -28.46 46 59 56
Brian Cashman 122019 -19.04 -347.15 -1.56 -28.45 47 58 56
Spec Richardson 153380 -60.26 -414.31 -3.93 -27.01 58 57 58
Paul Richards 129783 -75.95 -304.39 -5.85 -23.45 64 54 59
Dan O’Brien 96432 -54.72 -248.27 -5.67 -25.75 63 55 59
Sandy Alderson 110686 -93.73 -295.08 -8.47 -26.66 66 56 61
Steve Phillips 88159 -35.23 -357.15 -4.00 -40.51 59 64 62
Jack McKeon 142411 -76.36 -547.95 -5.36 -38.48 61 63 63
Eddie Robinson 94044 -50.99 -313.70 -5.42 -33.36 62 62 63
Chub Feeney 125332 -52.44 -632.01 -4.18 -50.43 60 65 65
John Hart 134292 -89.93 -773.25 -6.70 -57.58 65 67 66
Lou Gorman 99089 -99.15 -540.31 -10.01 -54.53 67 66 67
Hank Greenberg 89097 -102.66 -682.68 -11.52 -76.62 68 68 68

Executives Ranked By Win Shares per 10,000 PA+BFP

  • Less than 75,000 PA+BFP
  • Player-Seasons, Executives since 1950
Executive PA+BFP Total WAR Total WS WAR/10K WS/10K WAR Rank WS Rank TotalRank
Larry Himes 67358 116.59 670.79 17.31 99.59 2 4 1
Billy Martin 19022 28.44 222.65 14.95 117.05 4 2 1
Tom Lasorda 9594 19.10 77.81 19.91 81.10 1 8 3
Jim Baumer 32780 43.87 366.99 13.38 111.95 6 3 3
Rick Ferrell 38003 58.01 320.13 15.27 84.24 3 7 5
G. Paul-T. Smith 19290 23.67 187.76 12.27 97.34 8 5 6
Wayne Krivsky 29213 36.21 209.04 12.39 71.56 7 10 7
Bill Wood 44158 40.43 395.07 9.15 89.47 17 6 8
Andrew Friedman 54611 53.95 333.97 9.88 61.15 14 18 9
Arnold Johnson 15489 13.23 103.18 8.54 66.61 21 13 10
Jerry Walker 410 0.50 1.85 12.18 45.24 8 27 11
Syd Thrift 66257 60.26 398.48 9.09 60.14 18 19 12
Joe Burke 42981 34.73 270.20 8.08 62.86 22 15 12
Fred Haney 57169 43.65 380.64 7.64 66.58 24 14 14
Al Harazin 8562 5.95 65.24 6.94 76.20 32 8 15
Howard Fox 2161 0.83 29.90 3.85 138.34 41 1 16
Mike Rizzo 24498 25.75 99.52 10.51 40.63 13 32 17
Robert Carpenter Jr. 10325 7.04 70.73 6.81 68.50 33 12 17
Ned Colletti 46453 44.33 204.06 9.54 43.93 16 30 19
Rick Hahn 6005 4.19 37.42 6.98 62.31 30 16 19
Fresco Thompson 4552 4.80 16.89 10.54 37.10 12 34 19
Kevin Malone 31658 27.70 141.76 8.75 44.78 20 28 22
Bill Lucas 17771 8.15 123.87 4.59 69.70 39 11 23
Charlie Gehringer 33116 23.08 168.48 6.97 50.88 31 23 24
Sal Bando 41868 23.33 244.46 5.57 58.39 35 20 25
Cam Bonifay 47781 30.68 254.41 6.42 53.25 34 22 26
Alvin Dark 17520 13.14 72.16 7.50 41.19 25 31 26
John Mozeliak 23315 18.80 85.96 8.06 36.87 23 36 28
Chris Antonetti 12643 6.47 64.19 5.12 50.77 36 24 29
Gene Michael 69113 75.69 159.30 10.95 23.05 11 50 30
Bobby Cox 56488 54.03 156.33 9.57 27.67 15 47 31
Joe Cronin 58736 41.37 206.33 7.04 35.13 28 38 32
J.P. Ricciardi 57466 42.28 197.22 7.36 34.32 26 40 32
Ed Lopat 19458 5.86 94.29 3.01 48.46 43 25 34
Ron Schueler 72293 29.47 321.87 4.08 44.52 40 29 35
Whitey Herzog 56762 41.34 180.14 7.28 31.74 27 42 35
Tal Smith 49832 10.60 267.23 2.13 53.63 48 21 35
Stuart Holcomb 39800 14.69 161.28 3.69 40.52 42 33 38
C.Comiskey-J.Rigney 28313 14.42 103.99 5.09 36.73 38 37 38
Larry Doughty 26748 23.67 22.11 8.85 8.27 19 62 40
Paul DePodesta 15651 18.59 -12.78 11.88 -8.17 9 76 41
Frank Wren 55010 28.11 86.73 5.11 15.77 37 55 42
Jim Wilson 23734 2.17 81.68 0.91 34.41 54 39 43
Mike Port 32242 4.16 97.25 1.29 30.16 51 43 44
Ted Simmons 8059 5.63 0.37 6.99 0.46 29 65 44
Dick Balderson 31037 1.54 98.78 0.50 31.83 56 41 46
Peter Bavasi 39917 9.21 86.02 2.31 21.55 47 51 47
Salty Saltwell 5135 -2.26 31.53 -4.41 61.40 86 17 48
Gerry Hunsicker 68177 16.79 82.93 2.46 12.16 46 58 49
Jim Fanning 74195 12.63 96.01 1.70 12.94 49 57 50
Dan Evans 17040 2.17 19.38 1.27 11.37 52 60 51
Tony Reagins 11230 3.09 -3.95 2.75 -3.52 45 68 52
Stan Musial 1393 1.93 -8.11 13.82 -58.19 5 108 52
Ed Doherty 32217 -2.20 85.29 -0.68 26.47 66 48 54
Mike Higgins 16519 0.07 26.51 0.04 16.05 60 54 54
Tom Grieve 66079 7.39 16.01 1.12 2.42 53 64 56
Marvin Milkes 27122 -1.69 49.82 -0.62 18.37 65 53 57
Wid Mathews 36004 -8.93 91.19 -2.48 25.33 70 49 58
Art Ehlers 34319 -16.48 127.20 -4.80 37.06 87 35 59
Bill Stoneman 29609 -9.13 82.77 -3.08 27.95 77 45 59
Dayton Moore 49939 -8.25 78.55 -1.65 15.73 68 56 61
Tom Haller 42502 -1.65 42.97 -0.39 10.11 63 61 61
Jim Hendry 62243 -2.05 40.54 -0.33 6.51 62 63 63
Joe McIlvaine 61345 1.55 -23.82 0.25 -3.88 57 70 64
Ruben Amaro, Jr. 20569 5.67 -36.28 2.76 -17.64 44 84 65
Bob Kennedy 61073 1.01 -33.00 0.17 -5.40 58 72 66
Jack Zduriencik 40885 -13.48 81.55 -3.30 19.95 79 52 67
Dick Walsh 40016 6.37 -63.93 1.59 -15.98 50 81 67
Alex Anthopoulos 35745 -0.63 -28.36 -0.18 -7.93 61 75 69
Ed Lynch 47110 -11.94 -12.03 -2.53 -2.55 71 67 70
Eddie Chiles 758 -0.80 3.63 -10.57 47.95 112 26 70
Joe Garagiola 73204 -3.37 -65.51 -0.46 -8.95 64 77 72
Charlie Fox 32137 -9.58 -7.67 -2.98 -2.39 75 66 72
Jeff Luhnow 16369 -4.78 -5.97 -2.92 -3.65 73 69 74
Allard Baird 32325 -19.65 90.15 -6.08 27.89 97 46 75
Jerry Dipoto 16850 0.94 -39.02 0.56 -23.16 55 89 76
Clyde King 39652 0.30 -76.82 0.08 -19.37 59 86 77
Neal Huntington 47180 -25.70 53.91 -5.45 11.43 92 59 78
Dave Littlefield 53938 -15.77 -90.52 -2.92 -16.78 74 82 79
Dick Wagner 55579 -15.91 -134.01 -2.86 -24.11 72 91 80
Herman Franks 2026 -2.86 5.75 -14.10 28.37 119 44 80
Bob Gebhard 34551 -20.31 -17.35 -5.88 -5.02 95 71 82
Dean Taylor 33849 -18.82 -22.55 -5.56 -6.66 93 74 83
Pat Friday 32826 -16.89 -32.58 -5.14 -9.92 89 79 84
Bill Bergesch 51278 -15.31 -156.66 -2.99 -30.55 76 93 85
Herk Robinson 64614 -31.18 -110.26 -4.82 -17.06 88 83 86
Dal Maxvill 58626 -35.41 -57.95 -6.04 -9.88 96 78 87
Jim Frey 34513 -14.22 -80.32 -4.12 -23.27 84 90 87
Ralph Houk 6267 -3.51 -8.25 -5.60 -13.17 94 80 87
J. O’Toole-

H. Peterson

30036 -4.58 -177.73 -1.53 -59.17 67 109 90
Mike Flanagan 5797 -4.08 -3.51 -7.04 -6.06 103 73 90
William Walsingham, Jr. 14483 -5.54 -50.09 -3.82 -34.59 82 96 92
Lou Piniella 11059 -4.05 -40.32 -3.66 -36.46 80 98 92
Bill Giles 41101 -13.34 -188.19 -3.25 -45.79 78 102 94
Muddy Ruel 12224 -5.17 -41.98 -4.23 -34.34 85 95 94
Dick Meyer 4860 -1.82 -20.02 -3.75 -41.18 81 101 96
D. O’Brien-

E. Robinson

31423 -6.51 -211.61 -2.07 -67.34 69 114 97
Roy Hamey 41708 -27.06 -77.04 -6.49 -18.47 102 85 98
Bob Short 36207 -14.52 -174.32 -4.01 -48.15 83 104 98
Bucky Harris 12534 -8.12 -24.33 -6.48 -19.41 100 87 98
Dan Topping, Jr. 3575 -2.87 -7.40 -8.03 -20.69 108 88 101
Parke Carroll 45501 -34.70 -133.20 -7.63 -29.27 105 92 102
Haywood Sullivan 49515 -35.26 -176.10 -7.12 -35.57 104 97 103
Bob Watson 40286 -32.08 -125.33 -7.96 -31.11 107 94 103
Ken Harrelson 20084 -15.78 -96.31 -7.86 -47.95 106 103 105
Jim Duquette 12757 -6.94 -92.87 -5.44 -72.80 91 118 105
John Mullen 38487 -23.51 -249.34 -6.11 -64.79 98 112 107
Joe Klein 29251 -29.94 -106.93 -10.24 -36.56 111 99 107
Dan O’Brien, Jr. 5856 -3.58 -36.69 -6.12 -62.65 99 111 107
Branch Rickey 36037 -19.09 -286.86 -5.30 -79.60 90 122 110
Bill Lajoie 68059 -74.05 -274.61 -10.88 -40.35 113 100 111
Chuck LaMar 51753 -61.80 -283.11 -11.94 -54.70 114 107 112
Bill Veeck 43053 -61.84 -207.79 -14.36 -48.26 120 105 113
Jim Beattie 65871 -95.32 -353.22 -14.47 -53.62 121 106 114
Walter Briggs 6963 -4.52 -58.52 -6.49 -84.04 101 126 114
Bob Scheffing 36382 -49.77 -218.55 -13.68 -60.07 118 110 116
John Claiborne 14207 -11.81 -106.10 -8.31 -74.68 109 119 116
Gord Ash 69598 -86.54 -457.94 -12.43 -65.80 116 113 118
Bill DeWitt 59120 -58.60 -467.16 -9.91 -79.02 110 120 119
Hal Keller 4934 -5.98 -33.65 -12.12 -68.20 115 115 119
Bob Fontaine, Sr. 25992 -32.46 -206.47 -12.49 -79.44 117 121 121
Billy Evans 3369 -6.11 -23.30 -18.15 -69.15 124 116 122
Jed Hoyer 12942 -24.43 -92.79 -18.88 -71.69 125 117 123
Horace Stoneham 65042 -107.26 -533.95 -16.49 -82.09 123 123 124
Bill Smith 26754 -50.81 -221.06 -18.99 -82.63 126 124 125
Johnny Murphy 20889 -33.48 -295.68 -16.03 -141.55 122 131 126
Mike Hill 16675 -32.04 -175.42 -19.21 -105.20 127 127 127
Warren Giles 2573 -5.28 -21.35 -20.51 -82.98 129 125 127
J.Beattie-

M.Flanagan

6094 -11.89 -66.80 -19.50 -109.61 128 128 129
Bill Bavasi 73348 -174.96 -1023.94 -23.85 -139.60 130 130 130
Ben Cherington 16651 -39.93 -216.33 -23.98 -129.92 131 129 130
Tim Purpura 10108 -31.49 -169.79 -31.16 -167.98 132 132 132
John Alevizos 7233 -27.03 -162.12 -37.37 -224.14 133 133 133

 

References and Resources

Baseball America – Executive Database

Baseball-Reference

Google Newspaper Archives

James, Bill. The Bill James Baseball Abstract 1985. New York, NY.: Ballantine Books, 1985. Print.

James, Bill. The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. New York, NY.: The Free Press, 2001. Print.

James, Bill, with Jim Henzler. Win Shares. Morton Grove, Ill.: STATS, 2002. Print.

Retrosheet – Transactions Database

Seamheads – Baseball Gauge

Sean Lahman Baseball Archive

 

 

Comments

4 Responses to “Hardball Retrospective – General Manager Trading Scorecard”
  1. Tal Smith says:

    Derek, I really enjoyed your very thorough and interesting analysis.

    I did note one transaction which you might want to correct. The NYY exec at the time of the trade of Lou Piniella and Ken Wright from KC to NYY for Lindy McDaniel on 12/7/1973 was Gabe Paul – not Lee MacPhail. Lee had left the Yankees and become president of the American League in October of 1973.

    Admittedly, this is a very minor point, but I thought you might want to correct your data base for future reference.

    Thanks again for an excellent analysis. You obviously put a lot of time and effort into compiling this log.

    Tal Smith

  2. Derek Bain says:

    @Tal Smith – Tal, thank you for bringing this to my attention. I appreciate the feedback and I will update the article to correct the start and end dates for the Yankees’ front office executives in 1973. I utilized the Baseball America Executive Database to reference the start and end dates for each General Manager, which indicated that Lee MacPhail resigned his post as Yankees’ GM on 1/1/1974. This is obviously incorrect as you stated. I located a Sporting News article in the November 3, 1973 edition that confirms Lee MacPhail was elected as the President of the American League at a meeting held on October 23, 1973. The Baseball America Executive Database lists Tal Smith and Gabe Paul as co-GM of the Yankees through August 6, 1975. Your hiring is mentioned in the November 17, 1973 Sporting News along with Gabe Paul’s. (Specific hire dates are not indicated).

  3. Tal Smith says:

    Derek, for the record, I joined the Yankees as Executive VP on November 1, 1973 and departed when I was named GM of the Astros on August 7, 1975.

  4. Derek Bain says:

    @Tal Smith – I have updated my database accordingly. As a point of interest, the only transaction affected by this change was the trade of Lou Piniella and Ken Wright to the Yankees in exchange for Lindy McDaniel. I updated the results in the article. Due to Piniella’s success and length of stay with the Yankees, the modification moved Mark Shapiro up one slot to 12th place and Lee MacPhail slides into a tie for 13th with Calvin Griffith. In the PA+BFP<75000 chart, the Tal Smith – Gabe Paul co-GM team moves one position ahead of Wayne Krivsky.

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