Mike Chernoff
★ activeBorn 1980 · age 46
General manager for the Guardians (2016–present).
11 seasons with salary-era data across 1 stint. All figures are franchise-level outcomes during the tenure, not solely attributable to one executive.
Born 1980 · age 46
General manager for the Guardians (2016–present).
11 seasons with salary-era data across 1 stint. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
▸  Guardians |
GM | 2016–present | 10 | +129.4 | +12.94 | +108.9 | +137.8 | +102.6 | -5.6 | -34.1 | -7.2 | 3.13 | 0.553 | 7 | 1 | – | +548 |
| Career total (1985+ data) | 11 | +129.4 | +108.9 | +137.8 | +102.6 | -5.6 | -34.1 | -7.2 | 3.13 | 0.553 | 7 | 1 | – | +548 | |||
Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.
Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Mike Chernoff'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Bieber | P | CLE |
Draft | 2016 | 7 | +21.5 | +3.1 | – |
| Steven Kwan | OF | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | 5 | +16.6 | +3.3 | – |
| Andrés Giménez | 2B | CLE |
Trade | 2021 | 4 | +13.3 | +3.3 | 0.2 |
| Emmanuel Clase | P | CLE |
Trade | 2021 | 5 | +9.6 | +1.9 | 0.5 |
| Tanner Bibee | P | CLE |
Draft | 2023 | 4 | +9.0 | +2.2 | – |
| Cade Smith | P | CLE |
Draft | 2024 | 3 | +7.2 | +2.4 | – |
| Josh Naylor | 1B | CLE |
Trade | 2021 | 4 | +7.0 | +1.8 | 0.1 |
| Gavin Williams | P | CLE |
Draft | 2023 | 4 | +6.1 | +1.5 | – |
| Amed Rosario | SS | CLE |
Trade | 2021 | 3 | +5.9 | +2.0 | 0.6 |
| Cal Quantrill | P | CLE |
Trade | 2020 | 4 | +4.9 | +1.2 | 2.1 |
| Aaron Civale | P | CLE |
Draft | 2016 | 5 | +4.6 | +0.9 | – |
| Zach Plesac | P | CLE |
Draft | 2016 | 5 | +4.4 | +0.9 | – |
| Brayan Rocchio | SS | CLE |
Draft | 2023 | 3 | +4.4 | +1.5 | – |
| Bo Naylor | C | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | 3 | +4.3 | +1.4 | – |
| Edwin Encarnación | 1B/3B/DH | CLE |
Free agency | 2017 | 2 | +3.9 | +1.9 | 2.5 |
| Parker Messick | P | CLE |
Draft | 2025 | 2 | +3.9 | +2.0 | – |
| Andrew Miller | P | CLE |
Trade | 2016 | 3 | +3.7 | +1.2 | 6.0 |
| Joey Cantillo | P | CLE |
Draft | 2024 | 3 | +3.5 | +1.2 | – |
| Logan Allen | P | CLE |
Draft | 2023 | 3 | +2.8 | +0.9 | – |
| Brad Hand | P | CLE |
Trade | 2018 | 3 | +2.7 | +0.9 | 1.5 |
| Jordan Luplow | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2018 | 3 | +2.6 | +0.9 | 16.0 |
| Austin Hedges | C | CLE |
Free agency | 2023 | 4 | +2.5 | +0.6 | 0.1 |
| Hunter Gaddis | P | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | 4 | +2.3 | +0.6 | – |
| James Karinchak | P | CLE |
Draft | 2017 | 4 | +2.2 | +0.5 | – |
| Óscar Mercado | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2018 | 2 | +2.1 | +1.1 | – |
| Óliver Pérez | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2018 | 4 | +2.1 | +0.5 | 3.4 |
| Daniel Schneemann | 2B/OF | CLE |
Draft | 2024 | 3 | +2.1 | +0.7 | – |
| Trevor Stephan | P | CLE |
Rule 5 | 2020 | 2 | +2.1 | +1.1 | – |
| Chase DeLauter | DH/OF | CLE |
Draft | 2026 | 1 | +1.9 | +1.9 | – |
| César Hernández | 2B | CLE |
Free agency | 2019 | 2 | +1.9 | +0.9 | 17.2 |
| Austin Jackson | OF | CLE |
Free agency | 2017 | 1 | +1.9 | +1.9 | 1.8 |
| Gabriel Arias | SS | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | 3 | +1.8 | +0.6 | – |
| Enyel De Los Santos | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2021 | 2 | +1.7 | +0.9 | 6.7 |
| Eli Morgan | P | CLE |
Draft | 2017 | 4 | +1.7 | +0.4 | – |
| Myles Straw | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2021 | 4 | +1.7 | +0.4 | 0.5 |
| Slade Cecconi | P | CLE |
Trade | 2024 | 2 | +1.6 | +0.8 | 0.5 |
| Franmil Reyes | DH/OF | CLE |
Trade | 2020 | 2 | +1.6 | +0.8 | 7.5 |
| Travis Bazzana | 2B | CLE |
Draft | 2026 | 1 | +1.5 | +1.5 | – |
| Dan Otero | P | CLE |
Trade | 2016 | 2 | +1.5 | +0.8 | 8.9 |
| Erik Sabrowski | P | CLE |
Draft | 2024 | 3 | +1.3 | +0.4 | – |
| Ben Lively | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2023 | 2 | +1.2 | +0.6 | 2.4 |
| Mike Napoli | C/1B | CLE |
Free agency | 2016 | 1 | +1.2 | +1.2 | 6.8 |
| Yasiel Puig | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2019 | 1 | +1.2 | +1.2 | 7.7 |
| Matt Festa | P | CLE |
Trade | 2025 | 2 | +1.1 | +0.5 | 0.5 |
| Mike Freeman | 2B | CLE |
Free agency | 2018 | 2 | +1.0 | +0.5 | 6.2 |
| Matt Boyd | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2024 | 1 | +0.9 | +0.9 | 2.7 |
| Colin Holderman | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +0.9 | +0.9 | 5.5 |
| Kyle Manzardo | 1B/DH | CLE |
Trade | 2023 | 2 | +0.9 | +0.4 | – |
| Tyler Olson | P | CLE |
Trade | 2017 | 3 | +0.9 | +0.3 | 0.5 |
| Luis Ortiz | P | CLE |
Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.9 | +0.9 | 0.6 |
| Kolby Allard | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | 0.5 |
| Will Brennan | OF | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | 2 | +0.7 | +0.4 | – |
| Tyler Clippard | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2019 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | 4.5 |
| David Fry | DH | CLE |
Trade | 2022 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | – |
| Luke Maile | C | CLE |
Free agency | 2022 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | 4.8 |
| Angel Martínez | OF | CLE |
Draft | 2024 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | – |
| Phil Maton | P | CLE |
Trade | 2019 | 3 | +0.7 | +0.2 | 0.4 |
| Tyler Freeman | OF | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | 3 | +0.6 | +0.2 | – |
| Jakob Junis | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 0.4 |
| Kevin Plawecki | C | CLE |
Trade | 2019 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 3.7 |
| Rajai Davis | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2016 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 6.4 |
| Jay Bruce | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2017 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 0.6 |
| Ramón Laureano | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2023 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 0.9 |
| Nick Goody | P | CLE |
Trade | 2016 | 2 | +0.5 | +0.2 | 0.6 |
| Jefry Rodríguez | P | CLE |
Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | 3.0 |
| Josh Donaldson | 3B | CLE |
Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | 1.7 |
| Patrick Bailey | C | CLE |
Trade | 2026 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | 3.2 |
| Tim Herrin | P | CLE |
Draft | 2023 | 2 | +0.4 | +0.2 | – |
| Reynaldo López | P | CLE |
Trade | 2023 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | 0.4 |
| Adam Cimber | P | CLE |
Trade | 2018 | 2 | +0.3 | +0.2 | 1.4 |
| Alex Cobb | P | CLE |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.8 |
| Xzavion Curry | P | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | – |
| Boone Logan | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2017 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.3 |
| Konnor Pilkington | P | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | 2 | +0.3 | +0.1 | – |
| Tommy Hunter | P | CLE |
Trade | 2016 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 1.7 |
| Pedro Avila | P | CLE |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.8 |
| Ernie Clement | 2B/3B | CLE |
Draft | 2017 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – |
| Nic Enright | P | CLE |
Draft | 2025 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – |
| Brandon Guyer | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2016 | 2 | +0.2 | +0.1 | 5.6 |
| Nolan Jones | OF | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – |
| Michael Kelly | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2023 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.3 |
| Blake Parker | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2021 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.1 |
| Brad Miller | SS | CLE |
Trade | 2019 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 1.2 |
| Eddie Rosario | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.1 |
| A. J. Cole | P | CLE |
Trade | 2019 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 1.5 |
| Yonder Alonso | 1B | CLE |
Free agency | 2017 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.3 |
| Brandon Barnes | OF | CLE |
Free agency | 2017 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.4 |
| Peyton Battenfield | P | CLE |
Draft | 2023 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – |
| Marlon Byrd | OF | CLE |
Free agency | 2016 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.4 |
| Zack Collins | C | CLE |
Free agency | 2023 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 |
| Delino DeShields | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2019 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.6 |
| Estevan Florial | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2023 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.2 |
| Perci Garner | P | CLE |
Trade | 2016 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – |
| Connor Gillispie | P | CLE |
Draft | 2024 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – |
| Petey Halpin | OF | CLE |
Draft | 2025 | 2 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – |
| Codi Heuer | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.4 |
| Zak Kent | P | CLE |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – |
| Ryan Lavarnway | C | CLE |
Free agency | 2019 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.0 |
| Evan Marshall | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2017 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.4 |
| Adam Rosales | 2B/3B/SS | CLE |
Free agency | 2018 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.3 |
| Peter Strzelecki | P | CLE |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.2 |
| René Rivera | C | CLE |
Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.0 |
| Craig Breslow | P | CLE |
Trade | 2017 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 |
| Joba Chamberlain | P | CLE |
Trade | 2016 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.6 |
| Nick Wittgren | P | CLE |
Trade | 2019 | 2 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 2.6 |
| Paul Sewald | P | CLE |
Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 |
| Wes Parsons | P | CLE |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.3 |
| Scott Barlow | P | CLE |
Trade | 2023 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.1 |
| Melky Cabrera | OF | CLE |
Free agency | 2018 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.1 |
| Stuart Fairchild | OF | CLE |
Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.2 |
| Oscar González | OF | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | 1 | -0.0 | -0.0 | – |
| James Hoyt | P | CLE |
Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| CJ Kayfus | 1B/OF | CLE |
Draft | 2025 | 1 | -0.0 | -0.0 | – |
| Sandy León | C | CLE |
Free agency | 2021 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.2 |
| Owen Miller | 1B/2B | CLE |
Trade | 2020 | 1 | -0.0 | -0.0 | – |
| Doug Nikhazy | P | CLE |
Draft | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| Dom Nuñez | C | CLE |
Free agency | 2024 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Andrew Walters | P | CLE |
Draft | 2024 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| Matt Moore | P | CLE |
Trade | 2023 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Oliver Drake | P | CLE |
Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.1 |
| Hunter Wood | P | CLE |
Trade | 2019 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.1 |
| Christian Arroyo | 2B | CLE |
Trade | 2020 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ian Gibaut | P | CLE |
Trade | 2022 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Carlos Hernández | P | CLE |
Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cody Bolton | P | CLE |
Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Anthony Gose | OF | CLE |
Free agency | 2019 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.0 |
| Bryan Lavastida | C | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Dominic Leone | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2020 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Sandy León | C | CLE |
Trade | 2019 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.2 |
| Cody Morris | P | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | – |
| Kyle Nelson | P | CLE |
Draft | 2017 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Alexi Ogando | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2017 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Peyton Pallette | P | CLE |
Draft | 2026 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Nick Sandlin | P | CLE |
Draft | 2018 | 2 | -0.1 | -0.0 | – |
| Tanner Tully | P | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Meibrys Viloria | C | CLE |
Free agency | 2022 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Alex Young | P | CLE |
Trade | 2022 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.1 |
| Lane Thomas | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 1.2 |
| Tyler Beede | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2024 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Ryan Flaherty | 2B/3B | CLE |
Free agency | 2019 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Daniel Johnson | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2018 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Max Moroff | 2B/SS | CLE |
Trade | 2018 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Hanley Ramírez | SS | CLE |
Free agency | 2019 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Neil Ramírez | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2017 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Domingo Santana | OF | CLE |
Free agency | 2020 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Beau Taylor | C | CLE |
Free agency | 2019 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| José Tena | 3B | CLE |
Draft | 2023 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Michael Martínez | 2B/OF | CLE |
Trade | 2017 | 1 | -0.2 | -0.2 | 0.1 |
| Leonys Martín | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2018 | 1 | -0.2 | -0.2 | 0.7 |
| Jeff Beliveau | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2017 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Juan Brito | 2B | CLE |
Trade | 2022 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Connor Brogdon | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2025 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Jon Edwards | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2018 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Daniel Norris | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2023 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Dan Robertson | OF | CLE |
Free agency | 2016 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| George Valera | DH/OF | CLE |
Draft | 2025 | 1 | -0.3 | -0.3 | – |
| Mike Zunino | C | CLE |
Free agency | 2022 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Logan Allen | P | CLE |
Trade | 2019 | 2 | -0.3 | -0.2 | 0.4 |
| Will Benson | OF | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | – | -0.4 | – | – |
| Rhys Hoskins | 1B | CLE |
Free agency | 2026 | – | -0.4 | – | – |
| Nolan Jones | OF | CLE |
Trade | 2025 | 1 | -0.4 | -0.4 | – |
| Jhonkensy Noel | OF | CLE |
Draft | 2024 | 1 | -0.4 | -0.4 | – |
| Richie Palacios | 2B/OF | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | – | -0.4 | – | – |
| Anthony Castro | P | CLE |
Trade | 2022 | – | -0.5 | – | – |
| Juan Uribe | 3B/SS | CLE |
Free agency | 2016 | – | -0.5 | – | – |
| Will Wilson | 2B/3B | CLE |
Draft | 2025 | – | -0.5 | – | – |
| Bryan Shaw | P | CLE |
Free agency | 2021 | 5 | -0.6 | -0.1 | 2.5 |
| Cam Gallagher | C | CLE |
Free agency | 2023 | – | -0.7 | – | – |
| Johnathan Rodríguez | OF | CLE |
Draft | 2024 | – | -0.7 | – | – |
| Jake Bauers | 1B/OF | CLE |
Trade | 2018 | – | -0.8 | – | – |
| Kirk McCarty | P | CLE |
Draft | 2022 | – | -0.8 | – | – |
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.