Mike Girsch
★ activeGeneral manager for the Cardinals (2018–present).
9 seasons with salary-era data across 1 stint. All figures are franchise-level outcomes during the tenure, not solely attributable to one executive.
General manager for the Cardinals (2018–present).
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
▸  Cardinals |
GM | 2018–present | 8 | +19.8 | +2.47 | +6.9 | -55.4 | +63.9 | -0.2 | -21.9 | +0.0 | 2.26 | 0.522 | 4 | – | – | -201 |
| Career total (1985+ data) | 9 | +19.8 | +6.9 | -55.4 | +63.9 | -0.2 | -21.9 | +0.0 | 2.26 | 0.522 | 4 | – | – | -201 | |||
Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.
Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Mike Girsch'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Goldschmidt | 1B | STL |
Trade | 2018 | 6 | +21.3 | +3.6 | 6.9 |
| Nolan Arenado | 3B | STL |
Trade | 2021 | 5 | +18.3 | +3.7 | 16.8 |
| Miles Mikolas | P | STL |
Trade | 2018 | 7 | +15.4 | +2.2 | 5.6 |
| Brendan Donovan | 2B/OF | STL |
Draft | 2022 | 4 | +10.1 | +2.5 | – |
| Lars Nootbaar | OF | STL |
Draft | 2018 | 6 | +9.6 | +1.6 | – |
| Willson Contreras | C | STL |
Free agency | 2022 | 3 | +8.2 | +2.7 | 5.9 |
| Masyn Winn | SS | STL |
Draft | 2023 | 3 | +7.7 | +2.6 | – |
| Sonny Gray | P | STL |
Free agency | 2023 | 2 | +7.4 | +3.7 | 3.3 |
| Iván Herrera | C/DH | STL |
Draft | 2022 | 4 | +5.8 | +1.4 | – |
| Giovanny Gallegos | P | STL |
Trade | 2018 | 6 | +5.6 | +0.9 | 0.0 |
| Andre Pallante | P | STL |
Draft | 2022 | 4 | +4.6 | +1.1 | – |
| Marcell Ozuna | DH/OF | STL |
Trade | 2018 | 2 | +4.0 | +2.0 | 2.6 |
| Jordan Montgomery | P | STL |
Trade | 2022 | 2 | +4.0 | +2.0 | 9.2 |
| JJ Wetherholt | 2B | STL |
Draft | 2026 | 1 | +3.8 | +3.8 | – |
| Alec Burleson | 1B/OF | STL |
Draft | 2022 | 3 | +3.7 | +1.2 | – |
| Matthew Liberatore | P | STL |
Draft | 2022 | 5 | +3.4 | +0.7 | – |
| Kyle Leahy | P | STL |
Draft | 2023 | 3 | +2.8 | +0.9 | – |
| Michael McGreevy | P | STL |
Draft | 2024 | 3 | +2.8 | +0.9 | – |
| Steven Matz | P | STL |
Free agency | 2021 | 4 | +2.7 | +0.7 | 4.4 |
| Dustin May | P | STL |
Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +2.5 | +2.5 | 1.6 |
| Pedro Pagés | C | STL |
Draft | 2024 | 3 | +2.5 | +0.8 | – |
| Nolan Gorman | 2B | STL |
Draft | 2022 | 3 | +2.3 | +0.8 | – |
| JoJo Romero | P | STL |
Trade | 2022 | 3 | +2.1 | +0.7 | 2.6 |
| John Gant | P | STL |
Trade | 2018 | 3 | +2.1 | +0.7 | 1.6 |
| Kwang Hyun Kim | P | STL |
Draft | 2020 | 2 | +1.9 | +0.9 | – |
| Jose Quintana | P | STL |
Trade | 2022 | 1 | +1.8 | +1.8 | 12.3 |
| Jordan Walker | OF | STL |
Draft | 2023 | 2 | +1.6 | +0.8 | – |
| Kyle Gibson | P | STL |
Free agency | 2023 | 1 | +1.4 | +1.4 | 1.3 |
| Chris Stratton | P | STL |
Trade | 2022 | 2 | +1.3 | +0.7 | 1.9 |
| Victor Scott | OF | STL |
Draft | 2024 | 1 | +1.0 | +1.0 | – |
| Matt Svanson | P | STL |
Trade | 2023 | 2 | +1.0 | +0.5 | – |
| Phil Maton | P | STL |
Trade | 2025 | 1 | +1.0 | +1.0 | 1.0 |
| Zack Thompson | P | STL |
Draft | 2022 | 2 | +0.9 | +0.4 | – |
| Erick Fedde | P | STL |
Trade | 2024 | 2 | +0.9 | +0.4 | 0.8 |
| Michael Siani | OF | STL |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.9 | +0.9 | 1.0 |
| Ryan Fernandez | P | STL |
Draft | 2024 | 2 | +0.7 | +0.3 | – |
| Luis García | P | STL |
Free agency | 2021 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | 2.8 |
| Brad Miller | SS | STL |
Free agency | 2020 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | 2.5 |
| Riley O'Brien | P | STL |
Trade | 2023 | 2 | +0.7 | +0.3 | 0.3 |
| Corey Dickerson | OF | STL |
Free agency | 2022 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 4.2 |
| Tyson Ross | P | STL |
Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | 0.8 |
| Packy Naughton | P | STL |
Trade | 2022 | 2 | +0.5 | +0.3 | 2.9 |
| Génesis Cabrera | P | STL |
Trade | 2018 | 2 | +0.4 | +0.2 | – |
| Richie Palacios | 2B/OF | STL |
Trade | 2023 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | 0.9 |
| J. A. Happ | P | STL |
Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | 1.5 |
| Hunter Dobbins | P | STL |
Trade | 2026 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | 0.3 |
| Andrew Kittredge | P | STL |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.3 |
| José Rondón | SS | STL |
Free agency | 2020 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 1.1 |
| George Soriano | P | STL |
Trade | 2026 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | 0.2 |
| Tyler Webb | P | STL |
Trade | 2018 | 3 | +0.3 | +0.1 | 0.1 |
| Randy Arozarena | OF | STL |
Draft | 2019 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – |
| José Fermín | 2B/3B/OF | STL |
Trade | 2022 | 3 | +0.2 | +0.1 | – |
| Gordon Graceffo | P | STL |
Draft | 2024 | 2 | +0.2 | +0.1 | – |
| Jon Lester | P | STL |
Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.6 |
| Shawn Armstrong | P | STL |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.2 |
| Justin Bruihl | P | STL |
Trade | 2026 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | 0.1 |
| Nathan Church | OF | STL |
Draft | 2025 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – |
| Brandon Crawford | SS | STL |
Free agency | 2024 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 |
| Austin Dean | OF | STL |
Trade | 2020 | 2 | +0.1 | +0.0 | 0.2 |
| Ben DeLuzio | OF | STL |
Draft | 2022 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – |
| Bud Norris | P | STL |
Free agency | 2018 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.2 |
| Thomas Saggese | 2B/SS | STL |
Trade | 2023 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – |
| Chasen Shreve | P | STL |
Trade | 2018 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 |
| Nick Wittgren | P | STL |
Free agency | 2022 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.6 |
| Bruce Zimmermann | P | STL |
Free agency | 2026 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 |
| Guillo Zuñiga | P | STL |
Draft | 2023 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – |
| Jacob Barnes | P | STL |
Trade | 2023 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.2 |
| Anthony Veneziano | P | STL |
Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 |
| Scott Blewett | P | STL |
Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Nabil Crismatt | P | STL |
Trade | 2020 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Jesus Cruz | P | STL |
Draft | 2020 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| Andre Granillo | P | STL |
Draft | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| Joe Hudson | C | STL |
Free agency | 2018 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Adam Kloffenstein | P | STL |
Trade | 2023 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| Ryan Loutos | P | STL |
Draft | 2024 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Óscar Mercado | OF | STL |
Free agency | 2022 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| John Nogowski | 1B | STL |
Trade | 2020 | – | -0.0 | – | – |
| Yohel Pozo | C/DH | STL |
Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.2 |
| Matt Pushard | P | STL |
Draft | 2026 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| Nick Raquet | P | STL |
Draft | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| Chris Roycroft | P | STL |
Draft | 2024 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| Cory Spangenberg | 2B/3B | STL |
Free agency | 2022 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jake Walsh | P | STL |
Draft | 2022 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – |
| Adalberto Mejía | P | STL |
Trade | 2019 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.1 |
| Ali Sánchez | C | STL |
Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.1 |
| Brandon Waddell | P | STL |
Trade | 2021 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tres Barrera | C | STL |
Free agency | 2023 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Seth Elledge | P | STL |
Trade | 2018 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Dominic Leone | P | STL |
Trade | 2018 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.2 |
| T. J. McFarland | P | STL |
Free agency | 2021 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 1.1 |
| Andrew Miller | P | STL |
Free agency | 2018 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 1.2 |
| Juniel Querecuto | 2B/3B | STL |
Free agency | 2022 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Kramer Robertson | SS | STL |
Draft | 2022 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Drew Rom | P | STL |
Trade | 2023 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Ricardo Sánchez | P | STL |
Trade | 2020 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Jared Shuster | P | STL |
Free agency | 2025 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Ryne Stanek | P | STL |
Free agency | 2026 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Nelson Velázquez | DH/OF | STL |
Free agency | 2026 | – | -0.1 | – | – |
| Aaron Brooks | P | STL |
Free agency | 2022 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Adolis García | OF | STL |
Draft | 2018 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| José Barrero | SS | STL |
Free agency | 2024 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| John King | P | STL |
Trade | 2023 | 2 | -0.2 | -0.1 | 0.3 |
| James Naile | P | STL |
Draft | 2022 | – | -0.2 | – | – |
| Irving Lopez | 2B/3B | STL |
Draft | 2023 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Max Moroff | 2B/SS | STL |
Free agency | 2020 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Taylor Motter | SS | STL |
Free agency | 2022 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Rangel Ravelo | 1B/DH | STL |
Trade | 2019 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Ramón Urías | 3B | STL |
Free agency | 2018 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Matt Wieters | C | STL |
Free agency | 2019 | – | -0.3 | – | – |
| Jimmy Crooks | C | STL |
Draft | 2025 | 1 | -0.4 | -0.4 | – |
| Casey Lawrence | P | STL |
Free agency | 2023 | – | -0.4 | – | – |
| Roel Ramírez | P | STL |
Trade | 2018 | – | -0.4 | – | – |
| Andrew Suárez | P | STL |
Free agency | 2023 | – | -0.4 | – | – |
| Luken Baker | 1B/DH | STL |
Draft | 2023 | 1 | -0.5 | -0.5 | – |
| Juan Yepez | 1B/DH/OF | STL |
Draft | 2022 | 1 | -0.5 | -0.5 | – |
| César Prieto | 2B/3B/SS | STL |
Trade | 2023 | – | -0.6 | – | – |
| Justin Williams | OF | STL |
Trade | 2018 | 1 | -0.7 | -0.7 | 0.0 |
| Drew VerHagen | P | STL |
Free agency | 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.