Overview
Tenure breakdown
| Team | Role | Years | Szns | WAB | WAB/yr | TAB | WAR surp | HG | Trade | FA | R5 | AcqLev | W-L% | PO | Pen | WS | Surp $M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
▸  Cubs |
GM | 1988–1991 | 4 | +0.6 | +0.14 | -11.2 | -30.1 | +14.9 | -45.5 | -37.1 | -0.1 | 1.45 | 0.502 | 1 | – | – | -15 |
| Career total (1985+ data) | 4 | +0.6 | -11.2 | -30.1 | +14.9 | -45.5 | -37.1 | -0.1 | 1.45 | 0.502 | 1 | – | – | -15 | |||
Roster Construction
Build channels — net fWAR
Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.
Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars
Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Jim Frey'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.
Players acquired — 47 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)
| Player | Pos | Team | How | Year | Szns | fWAR | WAR/yr | Lev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Trachsel | P | CHC |
Draft | 1991 | 8 | +10.8 | +1.4 | – |
| Mike Morgan | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1991 | 4 | +5.4 | +1.4 | 2.5 |
| Mike Bielecki | P | CHC |
Trade | 1988 | 4 | +4.4 | +1.1 | 0.2 |
| Paul Assenmacher | P | CHC |
Trade | 1989 | 5 | +4.2 | +0.8 | 0.1 |
| Rey Sánchez | 2B/SS | CHC |
Trade | 1990 | 6 | +3.9 | +0.6 | – |
| Terry Adams | P | CHC |
Draft | 1991 | 5 | +2.8 | +0.6 | – |
| Vance Law | 2B/3B | CHC |
Trade | 1988 | 2 | +2.3 | +1.1 | 1.2 |
| Steve Wilson | P | CHC |
Trade | 1988 | 3 | +2.2 | +0.7 | 2.7 |
| Geremi González | P | CHC |
Intl FA | 1991 | 2 | +2.1 | +1.1 | – |
| George Bell | OF | CHC |
Free agency | 1990 | 1 | +1.7 | +1.7 | 2.5 |
| Calvin Schiraldi | P | CHC |
Trade | 1988 | 1 | +1.7 | +1.7 | 1.4 |
| Doug Glanville | OF | CHC |
Draft | 1991 | 2 | +1.6 | +0.8 | – |
| Bob Scanlan | P | CHC |
Trade | 1991 | 3 | +1.6 | +0.5 | – |
| Chuck McElroy | P | CHC |
Trade | 1991 | 2 | +1.5 | +0.8 | 1.2 |
| José Vizcaíno | 2B/SS | CHC |
Trade | 1990 | 1 | +1.5 | +1.5 | 5.4 |
| Luis Salazar | 3B | CHC |
Trade | 1989 | 3 | +1.2 | +0.4 | 0.2 |
| Mitch Webster | OF | CHC |
Trade | 1988 | 2 | +1.2 | +0.6 | 0.5 |
| Paul Kilgus | P | CHC |
Trade | 1988 | 1 | +1.0 | +1.0 | 2.8 |
| Lloyd McClendon | OF | CHC |
Trade | 1988 | 1 | +1.0 | +1.0 | 2.8 |
| Ozzie Timmons | OF | CHC |
Draft | 1991 | 2 | +0.8 | +0.4 | – |
| Amaury Telemaco | P | CHC |
Intl FA | 1991 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | – |
| José Núñez | P | CHC |
Trade | 1989 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.1 |
| Turk Wendell | P | CHC |
Trade | 1991 | 3 | +0.3 | +0.1 | – |
| Rich Gossage | P | CHC |
Trade | 1988 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.1 |
| Yorkis Pérez | P | CHC |
Trade | 1991 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – |
| Pat Perry | P | CHC |
Trade | 1988 | 2 | +0.1 | +0.0 | 0.1 |
| Domingo Ramos | 3B/SS | CHC |
Free agency | 1988 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 2.6 |
| Lance Dickson | P | CHC |
Draft | 1990 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Bill Landrum | P | CHC |
Trade | 1988 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Bill Long | P | CHC |
Trade | 1990 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Scott May | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1991 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Swartzbaugh | P | CHC |
Draft | 1989 | 2 | -0.0 | -0.0 | – |
| Kevin Coffman | P | CHC |
Trade | 1988 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Dave Meier | OF | CHC |
Trade | 1988 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Erik Pappas | C | CHC |
Rule 5 | 1988 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Pedro Valdés | OF | CHC |
Draft | 1990 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Jeff Hartsock | P | CHC |
Trade | 1991 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Jessie Hollins | P | CHC |
Draft | 1988 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Kevin Blankenship | P | CHC |
Trade | 1989 | 1 | -0.2 | -0.2 | 0.1 |
| Angel Salazar | SS | CHC |
Free agency | 1988 | – | -0.5 | – | – |
| Danny Jackson | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1990 | 1 | -0.6 | -0.6 | 0.8 |
| Robin Jennings | OF | CHC |
Draft | 1991 | – | -1.0 | – | – |
| Kevin Roberson | OF | CHC |
Draft | 1988 | 2 | -1.0 | -0.5 | – |
| Dave Smith | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1990 | 1 | -1.1 | -1.1 | 0.1 |
| Doug Strange | 2B/3B | CHC |
Free agency | 1990 | – | -1.3 | – | – |
| Curt Wilkerson | 2B/SS | CHC |
Trade | 1988 | – | -1.3 | – | – |
| Gary Scott | 3B | CHC |
Draft | 1989 | – | -1.5 | – | – |
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.