An analytics-trained executive (Oakland and Los Angeles) who became president of baseball operations of the San Francisco Giants, engineering a surprise 107-win season in 2021.
10 seasons with salary-era data across 2 stints. All figures are franchise-level outcomes during the tenure, not solely attributable to one executive.
| Team | Role | Years | Szns | WAB | WAB/yr | TAB | WAR surp | HG | Trade | FA | R5 | AcqLev | W-L% | PO | Pen | WS | Surp $M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▸ |
POBO | 2019–2024 | 5 | +2.6 | +0.52 | -15.4 | -70.6 | +32.2 | +7.6 | -10.2 | -2.6 | 2.44 | 0.521 | 1 | – | – | -268 |
| ▸ |
GM | 2015–2018 | 4 | +27.9 | +6.97 | +37.9 | -49.1 | +65.4 | -16.9 | -123.1 | +0.1 | 4.66 | 0.584 | 4 | 2 | – | -157 |
| Career total (1985+ data) | 10 | +30.5 | +22.5 | -119.7 | +97.6 | -9.3 | -133.3 | -2.5 | 3.13 | 0.548 | 5 | 2 | – | -426 | |||
Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.
Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Farhan Zaidi's seasons. Bars = his rosters; the black line = the league-average player at each slot. Staying above the line deep into the roster is the depth edge.
| Player | Pos | Team | How | Year | Szns | fWAR | WAR/yr | Lev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Muncy | 1B/3B | Free agency | 2017 | 9 | +26.5 | +2.9 | 14.5 | |
| Will Smith | C | Draft | 2016 | 8 | +23.4 | +2.9 | – | |
| Yasmani Grandal | C | Trade | 2015 | 4 | +20.6 | +5.2 | 30.9 | |
| Walker Buehler | P | Draft | 2015 | 5 | +15.2 | +3.0 | – | |
| Chris Taylor | OF | Trade | 2016 | 8 | +11.9 | +1.5 | 1.6 | |
| Mike Yastrzemski | OF | Trade | 2019 | 7 | +11.3 | +1.6 | – | |
| Matt Chapman | 3B | Free agency | 2024 | 3 | +10.5 | +3.5 | 2.9 | |
| Patrick Bailey | C | Draft | 2023 | 3 | +10.2 | +3.4 | – | |
| Kenta Maeda | P | Draft | 2016 | 4 | +9.9 | +2.5 | – | |
| Thairo Estrada | 2B | Trade | 2021 | 4 | +7.8 | +2.0 | 5.2 | |
| Enrique Hernández | OF | Trade | 2015 | 8 | +6.8 | +0.9 | 8.0 | |
| Alex Wood | P | Trade | 2015 | 4 | +6.7 | +1.7 | 3.2 | |
| Kevin Gausman | P | Free agency | 2019 | 2 | +6.6 | +3.3 | 20.6 | |
| Tony Gonsolin | P | Draft | 2016 | 5 | +6.3 | +1.3 | – | |
| Carlos Rodón | P | Free agency | 2022 | 1 | +6.2 | +6.2 | 5.7 | |
| Wilmer Flores | 1B | Free agency | 2020 | 4 | +5.7 | +1.4 | 13.5 | |
| Alex Cobb | P | Free agency | 2021 | 2 | +5.5 | +2.8 | 4.1 | |
| Gavin Lux | 2B | Draft | 2016 | 5 | +5.4 | +1.1 | – | |
| Rich Hill | P | Trade | 2016 | 4 | +4.7 | +1.2 | 7.4 | |
| Willy Adames | SS | Free agency | 2024 | 2 | +4.2 | +2.1 | 2.9 | |
| Alex Wood | P | Free agency | 2021 | 3 | +4.2 | +1.4 | 10.2 | |
| LaMonte Wade | 1B/OF | Trade | 2021 | 4 | +4.1 | +1.0 | 8.5 | |
| Landen Roupp | P | Draft | 2024 | 3 | +4.0 | +1.3 | – | |
| Anthony DeSclafani | P | Free agency | 2020 | 3 | +3.8 | +1.3 | 12.6 | |
| Donovan Solano | 2B | Free agency | 2019 | 3 | +3.8 | +1.3 | 0.1 | |
| Dustin May | P | Draft | 2016 | 6 | +3.4 | +0.6 | – | |
| Jung Hoo Lee | OF | Draft | 2024 | 3 | +3.4 | +1.1 | – | |
| Heliot Ramos | OF | Draft | 2022 | 3 | +3.4 | +1.1 | – | |
| Darin Ruf | 1B/OF | Free agency | 2020 | 4 | +3.4 | +0.9 | 6.0 | |
| Tyler Fitzgerald | 2B/SS | Draft | 2023 | 3 | +3.3 | +1.1 | – | |
| J. D. Davis | 3B | Trade | 2022 | 2 | +3.2 | +1.6 | 1.3 | |
| Joc Pederson | DH/OF | Free agency | 2022 | 2 | +3.1 | +1.5 | 2.8 | |
| Blake Snell | P | Free agency | 2024 | 1 | +3.1 | +3.1 | 1.9 | |
| Robbie Ray | P | Trade | 2024 | 3 | +2.9 | +1.0 | 0.0 | |
| Ryan Walker | P | Draft | 2023 | 3 | +2.7 | +0.9 | – | |
| Manny Machado | 3B | Trade | 2018 | 1 | +2.7 | +2.7 | 9.3 | |
| Casey Schmitt | 2B/3B | Draft | 2023 | 3 | +2.5 | +0.8 | – | |
| Brandon McCarthy | P | Trade | 2016 | 2 | +2.3 | +1.2 | 3.8 | |
| Alex Dickerson | OF | Trade | 2019 | 3 | +2.2 | +0.7 | 0.1 | |
| Michael Conforto | OF | Free agency | 2023 | 2 | +2.1 | +1.0 | 0.5 | |
| Jakob Junis | P | Free agency | 2022 | 2 | +2.1 | +1.0 | 1.6 | |
| Matt Kemp | OF | Trade | 2017 | 9 | +2.0 | +0.2 | – | |
| Randy Rodríguez | P | Draft | 2024 | 2 | +2.0 | +1.0 | – | |
| Chase Utley | 2B | Free agency | 2015 | 4 | +1.9 | +0.5 | 1.4 | |
| Dylan Floro | P | Trade | 2018 | 3 | +1.8 | +0.6 | 2.0 | |
| David Freese | 3B | Trade | 2018 | 2 | +1.7 | +0.8 | 2.2 | |
| Andrew Toles | OF | Trade | 2016 | 2 | +1.7 | +0.8 | – | |
| Brandon Morrow | P | Free agency | 2017 | 1 | +1.6 | +1.6 | 3.9 | |
| Mauricio Dubón | 2B/OF | Trade | 2019 | 4 | +1.6 | +0.4 | 0.0 | |
| Joe Kelly | P | Free agency | 2018 | 4 | +1.2 | +0.3 | 0.1 | |
| John Brebbia | P | Free agency | 2020 | 2 | +1.2 | +0.6 | 1.2 | |
| Sean Manaea | P | Free agency | 2022 | 1 | +1.2 | +1.2 | 0.7 | |
| Howie Kendrick | 2B | Free agency | 2016 | 2 | +1.1 | +0.5 | 12.7 | |
| Trevor McDonald | P | Draft | 2024 | 3 | +1.1 | +0.4 | – | |
| Jake McGee | P | Free agency | 2021 | 1 | +1.1 | +1.1 | 4.9 | |
| Brett Anderson | P | Trade | 2015 | 1 | +1.1 | +1.1 | 7.4 | |
| Luis Avilán | P | Trade | 2015 | 3 | +1.1 | +0.4 | 0.3 | |
| Daniel Hudson | P | Free agency | 2018 | 3 | +1.0 | +0.3 | 1.6 | |
| Scott Alexander | P | Free agency | 2022 | 2 | +1.0 | +0.5 | 0.4 | |
| Tony Cingrani | P | Trade | 2017 | 2 | +1.0 | +0.5 | 1.3 | |
| Dominic Leone | P | Free agency | 2020 | 2 | +0.9 | +0.5 | 3.9 | |
| Drew Smyly | P | Free agency | 2020 | 1 | +0.9 | +0.9 | 11.9 | |
| Yu Darvish | P | Trade | 2017 | 1 | +0.9 | +0.9 | 2.3 | |
| Kevin Pillar | OF | Trade | 2019 | 1 | +0.9 | +0.9 | 0.0 | |
| Scott Kazmir | P | Free agency | 2015 | 1 | +0.8 | +0.8 | 5.5 | |
| Tyler Anderson | P | Free agency | 2019 | 1 | +0.8 | +0.8 | 9.6 | |
| Erik Miller | P | Trade | 2023 | 3 | +0.8 | +0.3 | – | |
| Stephen Vogt | C | Free agency | 2019 | 1 | +0.8 | +0.8 | 0.0 | |
| Matt Beaty | 1B/OF | Draft | 2015 | 2 | +0.7 | +0.4 | – | |
| Joe Blanton | P | Free agency | 2016 | 2 | +0.7 | +0.4 | 1.0 | |
| Edwin Ríos | 1B/3B/DH | Draft | 2015 | 3 | +0.7 | +0.2 | – | |
| José Álvarez | P | Free agency | 2021 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | 4.9 | |
| Kyle Harrison | P | Draft | 2023 | 2 | +0.7 | +0.4 | – | |
| Keaton Winn | P | Draft | 2023 | 4 | +0.7 | +0.2 | – | |
| Juan Nicasio | P | Trade | 2015 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | 3.8 | |
| Jorge Soler | DH/OF | Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | 0.5 | |
| Josh Fields | P | Trade | 2016 | 3 | +0.6 | +0.2 | 1.5 | |
| Tristan Beck | P | Draft | 2023 | 3 | +0.6 | +0.2 | – | |
| Blake Sabol | C/OF | Trade | 2022 | 2 | +0.6 | +0.3 | – | |
| Jarlín García | P | Trade | 2020 | 2 | +0.6 | +0.3 | 3.7 | |
| Mitch White | P | Draft | 2016 | 3 | +0.5 | +0.2 | – | |
| Jordan Hicks | P | Free agency | 2024 | 2 | +0.5 | +0.2 | 0.3 | |
| Taylor Rogers | P | Free agency | 2022 | 2 | +0.5 | +0.2 | 0.2 | |
| David Villar | 1B/3B | Draft | 2022 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | – | |
| Austin Wynns | C | Trade | 2022 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | 0.7 | |
| Kris Bryant | 3B/OF | Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | 2.1 | |
| Luis González | OF | Trade | 2022 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | 0.7 | |
| Trevor Cahill | P | Free agency | 2020 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | 5.0 | |
| Sean Hjelle | P | Draft | 2022 | 3 | +0.4 | +0.1 | – | |
| Luke Jackson | P | Free agency | 2023 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | 0.2 | |
| Christian Koss | 2B | Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | – | |
| Shelby Miller | P | Free agency | 2022 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | 0.5 | |
| Jimmy Rollins | SS | Trade | 2015 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | 2.2 | |
| Alex Young | P | Trade | 2022 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | 0.5 | |
| Andre Jackson | P | Draft | 2017 | 2 | +0.3 | +0.1 | – | |
| Aaron Sanchez | P | Free agency | 2021 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 1.3 | |
| Mat Latos | P | Trade | 2015 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 1.3 | |
| Ian Thomas | P | Trade | 2015 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 1.6 | |
| Nick Ahmed | SS | Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.2 | |
| Daniel Robertson | 2B/3B/SS | Trade | 2020 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 3.1 | |
| Kyle Garlick | OF | Draft | 2015 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – | |
| Spencer Bivens | P | Draft | 2024 | 2 | +0.2 | +0.1 | – | |
| Jandel Gustave | P | Free agency | 2019 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.0 | |
| Kai-Wei Teng | P | Draft | 2024 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – | |
| Ryan Madson | P | Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.7 | |
| Logan Forsythe | 2B | Trade | 2017 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 1.5 | |
| Mark Canha | OF | Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.1 | |
| Jharel Cotton | P | Trade | 2022 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.2 | |
| Charlie Culberson | 3B/OF | Free agency | 2015 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 1.0 | |
| Grant Dayton | P | Trade | 2015 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | |
| Tim Locastro | OF | Trade | 2015 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | |
| Edward Paredes | P | Rule 5 | 2016 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | |
| Trayce Thompson | OF | Trade | 2015 | 3 | +0.1 | +0.0 | 4.2 | |
| Ronald Torreyes | 2B/3B/SS | Trade | 2015 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | |
| Edwin Uceta | P | Intl FA | 2016 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | |
| Pat Venditte | P | Free agency | 2017 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.2 | |
| Cristhian Adames | SS | Free agency | 2019 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.0 | |
| Hayden Birdsong | P | Draft | 2024 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | |
| Tyler Heineman | C | Free agency | 2020 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.7 | |
| Mauricio Llovera | P | Free agency | 2021 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 | |
| Luis Ortiz | P | Free agency | 2022 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 | |
| Chadwick Tromp | C | Trade | 2020 | 2 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | |
| Jason Vosler | 1B/3B | Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | |
| Brett Wisely | 2B | Trade | 2022 | 2 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | |
| Tony Watson | P | Trade | 2017 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.3 | |
| Mike Bolsinger | P | Trade | 2015 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 2.1 | |
| J. T. Chargois | P | Trade | 2018 | 2 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.2 | |
| Burch Smith | P | Trade | 2019 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.0 | |
| Wandy Peralta | P | Trade | 2019 | 3 | +0.1 | +0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Andrew Vasquez | P | Trade | 2022 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 | |
| Austin Dean | OF | Trade | 2022 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 | |
| Thomas Szapucki | P | Trade | 2022 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 | |
| Spencer Howard | P | Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 | |
| Fabio Castillo | P | Trade | 2017 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | |
| Daniel Corcino | P | Free agency | 2015 | – | -0.0 | – | – | |
| Kevin Quackenbush | P | Free agency | 2018 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Nick Tepesch | P | Free agency | 2016 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.2 | |
| Matt West | P | Free agency | 2015 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.1 | |
| Nick Avila | P | Draft | 2024 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | |
| Luis Alexander Basabe | OF | Trade | 2020 | – | -0.0 | – | – | |
| Matt Beaty | 1B/OF | Trade | 2023 | – | +0.0 | – | – | |
| Rob Brantly | C | Free agency | 2020 | – | -0.0 | – | – | |
| Lewis Brinson | OF | Trade | 2022 | – | -0.0 | – | – | |
| Raymond Burgos | P | Draft | 2024 | – | -0.0 | – | – | |
| Enderson Franco | P | Trade | 2019 | – | -0.0 | – | – | |
| Rico Garcia | P | Free agency | 2020 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jay Jackson | P | Free agency | 2021 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.2 | |
| Dany Jiménez | P | Rule 5 | 2019 | – | -0.0 | – | – | |
| Jason Krizan | OF | Draft | 2022 | – | -0.0 | – | – | |
| Zack Littell | P | Free agency | 2021 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 1.4 | |
| Dixon Machado | 2B/SS | Trade | 2022 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.1 | |
| Logan Porter | C | Trade | 2024 | – | -0.0 | – | – | |
| Jakson Reetz | C | Free agency | 2023 | – | -0.0 | – | – | |
| Sam Selman | P | Trade | 2019 | 1 | -0.0 | -0.0 | – | |
| Ka'ai Tom | OF | Free agency | 2021 | – | -0.0 | – | – | |
| Austin Warren | P | Free agency | 2024 | – | -0.0 | – | – | |
| Carlos Ruiz | C | Trade | 2016 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.2 | |
| John Axford | P | Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Chris Hatcher | P | Trade | 2015 | 2 | -0.0 | -0.0 | 1.6 | |
| Erik Goeddel | P | Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.1 | |
| Matt Wisler | P | Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Nick Tropeano | P | Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.1 | |
| Mike Baumann | P | Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Luke Williams | 3B/OF | Trade | 2022 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Brandon Beachy | P | Free agency | 2015 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| Justin Bruihl | P | Intl FA | 2017 | 2 | -0.1 | -0.0 | – | |
| Louis Coleman | P | Free agency | 2016 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| Franklin Gutiérrez | OF | Free agency | 2017 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| Micah Johnson | 2B | Trade | 2015 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| Zach McKinstry | 3B/OF | Draft | 2016 | 2 | -0.1 | -0.0 | – | |
| Zach Neal | P | Trade | 2018 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| José Peraza | 2B/SS | Trade | 2015 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| Josh Sborz | P | Draft | 2015 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| Fernando Abad | P | Free agency | 2019 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| Sergio Alcántara | 2B/3B/SS | Free agency | 2024 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| Curt Casali | C | Free agency | 2021 | 2 | -0.1 | -0.0 | 1.5 | |
| Zach Green | 3B | Trade | 2019 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| Andrew Knapp | C | Free agency | 2022 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.1 | |
| Tommy La Stella | 2B/3B | Free agency | 2021 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 2.7 | |
| Yunior Marte | P | Draft | 2022 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| Roberto Pérez | C | Free agency | 2023 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| Ford Proctor | 2B | Trade | 2022 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| Michael Reed | OF | Free agency | 2019 | – | -0.1 | – | – | |
| Joey Rickard | OF | Free agency | 2020 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.0 | |
| Cole Waites | P | Draft | 2022 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | – | |
| Scott Alexander | P | Trade | 2018 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 1.1 | |
| Wilmer Font | P | Free agency | 2016 | – | -0.2 | – | – | |
| David Huff | P | Free agency | 2015 | – | -0.2 | – | – | |
| Zach Reks | OF | Draft | 2017 | – | -0.2 | – | – | |
| Trenton Brooks | 1B/DH | Trade | 2023 | – | -0.2 | – | – | |
| Connor Joe | 1B/OF | Trade | 2019 | – | -0.2 | – | – | |
| Bryce Johnson | OF | Draft | 2022 | – | -0.2 | – | – | |
| Scott Kazmir | P | Free agency | 2021 | – | -0.2 | – | – | |
| Wade Meckler | OF | Draft | 2023 | – | -0.2 | – | – | |
| Ross Stripling | P | Free agency | 2022 | – | -0.2 | – | – | |
| Trevor Gott | P | Trade | 2019 | 1 | -0.2 | -0.2 | 0.1 | |
| Scott Baker | P | Free agency | 2015 | – | -0.3 | – | – | |
| Rocky Gale | C | Free agency | 2018 | – | -0.3 | – | – | |
| Darién Núñez | P | Intl FA | 2018 | – | -0.3 | – | – | |
| Rob Segedin | 1B/3B/OF | Trade | 2016 | – | -0.3 | – | – | |
| Eric Surkamp | P | Trade | 2015 | – | -0.3 | – | – | |
| Will Venable | OF | Free agency | 2016 | – | -0.3 | – | – | |
| Mason Black | P | Draft | 2024 | – | -0.3 | – | – | |
| Joe McCarthy | OF | Trade | 2019 | – | -0.3 | – | – | |
| Yangervis Solarte | 2B/3B | Free agency | 2019 | – | -0.3 | – | – | |
| Donovan Walton | 2B/SS | Free agency | 2022 | – | -0.3 | – | – | |
| Josh Ravin | P | Trade | 2015 | 1 | -0.4 | -0.4 | – | |
| Jerar Encarnacion | OF | Free agency | 2024 | 1 | -0.5 | -0.5 | 0.1 | |
| Tom Murphy | C | Free agency | 2023 | – | -0.5 | – | – | |
| Marco Luciano | SS | Draft | 2023 | 1 | -0.6 | -0.6 | – | |
| Jaylin Davis | OF | Trade | 2019 | – | -0.7 | – | – | |
| Mitch Haniger | OF | Free agency | 2022 | – | -0.7 | – | – | |
| Grant McCray | OF | Draft | 2024 | – | -0.7 | – | – | |
| Hunter Pence | OF | Free agency | 2020 | 6 | -0.7 | -0.1 | 0.7 | |
| Carson Seymour | P | Trade | 2022 | – | -0.7 | – | – | |
| Luis Matos | OF | Draft | 2023 | – | -1.4 | – | – |
WAB = wins above what the team's payroll predicted (resource-controlled). WAR surplus = era-neutral value (WAR minus payroll in win-equivalents). Roster surplus $M = dollar value of WAR over cost. Build channels (realized fWAR): HG = home-grown via amateur draft / international signing; Trade = acquired minus surrendered (incl. purchases/waivers); FA = signed minus walked; R5 = Rule-5 / minor-league-draft pickups. Credit follows the acquisition year — home-grown to the regime at the player's draft/signing (not whoever was in the chair when he peaked), trade/FA/R5 to the GM who made the move. Players acquired as prospects before debuting (e.g. Smoltz, Bagwell; Rule-5 picks like Uggla) are counted as trade/R5, not home-grown. All are franchise-level outcomes during the stint, not solely attributable to one executive.