Overview
Titles0
Pennants0
Playoffs0
Record522–561
Win %0.482
5.6Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)128th/195 execs
-5.1Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)96th/195 execs
36%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)109th/195 execs
$5MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track138th/195 execs
$2MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)145th/195 execs
$2MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade95th/195 execs
$-0MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees160th/195 execs
-25.2TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total151st/195 execs
1.09Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)124th/195 execs
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 | 1992–1994 | 3 | -13.7 | -4.58 | -13.4 | -29.2 | +5.0 | +74.0 | -96.3 | -0.3 | 1.68 | 0.483 | – | – | – | -28 |
▸  White Sox |
GM | 1987–1990 | 4 | +4.9 | +1.21 | -11.8 | +3.3 | +180.8 | +25.7 | -9.0 | -0.4 | 0.44 | 0.481 | – | – | – | +3 |
| Career total (1985+ data) | 7 | -8.9 | -25.2 | -25.9 | +185.8 | +99.7 | -105.3 | -0.7 | 1.09 | 0.482 | – | – | – | -25 | |||
Roster Construction
Build channels — net fWAR
Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.
Home-grown (draft/intl)+185.8
Trade+99.7
Free agency-105.3
Rule 5 / minor draft-0.7
Sourcing mix: 58% draft · 3% FA · 40% trade · 0% R5
Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars
Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Larry Himes'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 — 106 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)
| Player | Pos | Team | How | Year | Szns | fWAR | WAR/yr | Lev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Thomas | 1B/DH | CHW |
Draft | 1989 | 15 | +68.1 | +4.5 | – |
| Sammy Sosa | OF | CHC |
Trade | 1992 | 13 | +60.7 | +4.7 | 0.8 |
| Robin Ventura | 3B | CHW |
Draft | 1988 | 10 | +39.2 | +3.9 | – |
| Jack McDowell | P | CHW |
Draft | 1987 | 7 | +25.1 | +3.6 | – |
| Alex Fernandez | P | CHW |
Draft | 1990 | 7 | +21.6 | +3.1 | – |
| Lance Johnson | OF | CHW |
Trade | 1988 | 7 | +17.3 | +2.5 | 0.1 |
| Ray Durham | 2B | CHW |
Draft | 1990 | 7 | +11.9 | +1.7 | – |
| James Baldwin | P | CHW |
Draft | 1990 | 6 | +9.3 | +1.5 | – |
| Roberto Hernández | P | CHW |
Trade | 1989 | 7 | +8.6 | +1.2 | – |
| Tim Raines | OF | CHW |
Trade | 1990 | 5 | +8.2 | +1.6 | 15.5 |
| Greg Hibbard | P | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | 4 | +8.0 | +2.0 | – |
| Melido Perez | P | CHW |
Trade | 1988 | 4 | +7.7 | +1.9 | 0.0 |
| Dan Pasqua | OF | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | 6 | +5.7 | +0.9 | 0.1 |
| Mike Morgan | P | CHC |
Trade | 1992 | 4 | +5.3 | +1.3 | 2.5 |
| José Hernández | 3B/SS | CHC |
Trade | 1993 | 5 | +4.2 | +0.8 | 1.3 |
| Jason Bere | P | CHW |
Draft | 1990 | 3 | +3.8 | +1.3 | – |
| Dave LaPoint | P | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | 2 | +3.8 | +1.9 | 1.2 |
| Steve Buechele | 3B | CHC |
Trade | 1992 | 2 | +3.6 | +1.8 | 0.4 |
| Gary Redus | OF | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | 2 | +3.5 | +1.7 | 2.2 |
| Kevin Foster | P | CHC |
Trade | 1994 | 4 | +3.4 | +0.8 | 0.3 |
| Eric King | P | CHW |
Trade | 1989 | 2 | +3.2 | +1.6 | 0.1 |
| Randy Myers | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1992 | 3 | +2.7 | +0.9 | 5.3 |
| Glenallen Hill | OF | CHC |
Trade | 1993 | 4 | +2.5 | +0.6 | 4.8 |
| Kevin Orie | 3B | CHC |
Draft | 1993 | 2 | +2.5 | +1.3 | – |
| Jerry Reuss | P | CHW |
Free agency | 1988 | 2 | +2.3 | +1.1 | 0.1 |
| Brant Brown | OF | CHC |
Draft | 1992 | 2 | +2.0 | +1.0 | – |
| Kyle Farnsworth | P | CHC |
Draft | 1994 | 3 | +2.0 | +0.7 | – |
| José Guzmán | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1992 | 2 | +2.0 | +1.0 | 5.8 |
| Greg Hibbard | P | CHC |
Trade | 1992 | 1 | +1.9 | +1.9 | 5.7 |
| Charlie Hough | P | CHW |
Free agency | 1990 | 2 | +1.7 | +0.8 | 4.7 |
| José Vizcaíno | 2B/SS | CHC |
Trade | 1993 | 1 | +1.5 | +1.5 | 5.4 |
| Fred Manrique | 2B | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | 3 | +1.5 | +0.5 | 1.2 |
| Dave Gallagher | OF | CHW |
Free agency | 1987 | 1 | +1.3 | +1.3 | 0.1 |
| Barry Jones | P | CHW |
Trade | 1988 | 2 | +1.2 | +0.6 | 0.0 |
| Brian Keyser | P | CHW |
Draft | 1989 | 2 | +1.2 | +0.6 | – |
| Anthony Young | P | CHC |
Trade | 1994 | 1 | +1.0 | +1.0 | 0.3 |
| José Bautista | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1992 | 1 | +0.9 | +0.9 | 2.8 |
| Sammy Sosa | OF | CHW |
Trade | 1989 | 2 | +0.9 | +0.5 | 1.6 |
| Steve Lyons | 3B/OF | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | 3 | +0.9 | +0.3 | 1.1 |
| Shawn Hillegas | P | CHW |
Trade | 1988 | 3 | +0.8 | +0.3 | 0.0 |
| Mark Parent | C | CHC |
Free agency | 1993 | 2 | +0.7 | +0.4 | 0.2 |
| Eddie Zambrano | OF | CHC |
Trade | 1993 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | – |
| Eddie Williams | 1B/3B | CHW |
Trade | 1989 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | 0.0 |
| Willie Banks | P | CHC |
Trade | 1994 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 0.3 |
| Donnie Hill | 2B | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 0.9 |
| Jerry Kutzler | P | CHW |
Draft | 1987 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | – |
| Ricky Horton | P | CHW |
Trade | 1988 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | 0.0 |
| Joe Kmak | C | CHC |
Free agency | 1994 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | 0.5 |
| Karl Rhodes | OF | CHC |
Trade | 1993 | 2 | +0.4 | +0.2 | 1.6 |
| Kelly Paris | 3B | CHW |
Free agency | 1987 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.0 |
| Steve Rosenberg | P | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | – |
| Mark Salas | C | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.0 |
| Jerry Royster | 2B/3B | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.3 |
| Rod Bolton | P | CHW |
Draft | 1990 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – |
| Danny Jackson | P | CHC |
Trade | 1992 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.8 |
| Mike Maksudian | 1B | CHC |
Free agency | 1993 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.0 |
| Jason Maxwell | 2B/3B | CHC |
Draft | 1993 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – |
| Dan Plesac | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1992 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 |
| Robert Machado | C | CHW |
Intl FA | 1989 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – |
| Richie Barker | P | CHC |
Draft | 1994 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| William Brennan | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1992 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.1 |
| Doug Jennings | OF | CHC |
Free agency | 1993 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| José Molina | C | CHC |
Draft | 1993 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Steve Rain | P | CHC |
Draft | 1993 | 1 | -0.0 | -0.0 | – |
| Dennis Rasmussen | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1992 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Mike Walker | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1993 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Luis Andújar | P | CHW |
Intl FA | 1990 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| Jeff Carter | P | CHW |
Trade | 1990 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Olmedo Sáenz | 1B/3B | CHW |
Intl FA | 1990 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Larry Casian | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1994 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.0 |
| Chuck Crim | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1994 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Blaise Ilsley | P | CHC |
Trade | 1994 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Brooks Kieschnick | P/OF | CHC |
Draft | 1993 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | – |
| Kennie Steenstra | P | CHC |
Draft | 1992 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Eric Yelding | SS/OF | CHC |
Free agency | 1993 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Julio Zuleta | 1B | CHC |
Intl FA | 1992 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | – |
| Brian Drahman | P | CHW |
Trade | 1989 | 2 | -0.1 | -0.0 | – |
| Ramón García | P | CHW |
Intl FA | 1987 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Ravelo Manzanillo | P | CHW |
Trade | 1988 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Rodney McCray | DH/OF | CHW |
Rule 5 | 1987 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Matt Stark | C/DH | CHW |
Free agency | 1990 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Jerry Willard | C | CHW |
Free agency | 1989 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Jeff Kunkel | SS | CHC |
Trade | 1992 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Dave Otto | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1994 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Jeff Robinson | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1992 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Tommy Shields | 2B/3B | CHC |
Free agency | 1992 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Willie Wilson | OF | CHC |
Free agency | 1992 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Jeff Schaefer | 3B/SS | CHW |
Trade | 1989 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Bo Porter | OF | CHC |
Draft | 1993 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Tanyon Sturtze | P | CHC |
Rule 5 | 1994 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Ralph Citarella | P | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Tom McCarthy | P | CHW |
Trade | 1988 | 1 | -0.3 | -0.3 | 0.0 |
| Randy Veres | P | CHC |
Free agency | 1993 | – | -0.4 | – | – |
| José Segura | P | CHW |
Trade | 1988 | – | -0.4 | – | – |
| Sap Randall | 1B/DH/OF | CHW |
Trade | 1988 | – | -0.5 | – | – |
| Billy Jo Robidoux | 1B | CHW |
Free agency | 1988 | – | -0.5 | – | – |
| Carl Willis | P | CHW |
Trade | 1988 | – | -0.5 | – | – |
| Mike Woodard | 2B | CHW |
Free agency | 1987 | – | -0.5 | – | – |
| Todd Haney | 2B | CHC |
Free agency | 1993 | 1 | -0.7 | -0.7 | 0.9 |
| Jeff Bittiger | P | CHW |
Free agency | 1988 | – | -0.8 | – | – |
| John Davis | P | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | – | -0.9 | – | – |
| Mike Hubbard | C | CHC |
Draft | 1992 | – | -1.1 | – | – |
| Ken Patterson | P | CHC |
Trade | 1992 | – | -1.1 | – | – |
| Jim Winn | P | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | – | -1.1 | – | – |
| Dave Smith | P | CHC |
Trade | 1992 | 1 | -1.1 | -1.1 | 0.1 |
| Ken Patterson | P | CHW |
Trade | 1987 | 1 | -1.3 | -1.3 | – |
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.
Graphs
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