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AL Central: A mid-season front office assessment of the division

By Bill Felber

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 21: Minnesota Twins senior vice president and general manager Thad Levine looks on before the start of the game between the Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins at Target Field on June 21, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Reds 7-5 in twelve innings. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 21: Minnesota Twins senior vice president and general manager Thad Levine looks on before the start of the game between the Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins at Target Field on June 21, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Reds 7-5 in twelve innings. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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At the season’s halfway point, only two AL Central teams are above .500, and they are the same two that have been helped by their front office.

Front office work since the end of the 2021 season has helped both the first-place Minnesota Twins and runner-up Cleveland Indians. By contrast, the front office of the pre-season favorite Chicago White Sox has suffered through a poor 2022, a fact reflected by the team’s standing.

The analysis that follows is an assessment of the impact each AL Central front office’s personnel decisions since November of 2021 have had on their team’s standing right now. It is based on the aggregate Wins Above Average of moves made in five areas:

  • Players acquired by trade, purchase or waiver claim.
  • Players signed as free agents or extended for more than one year.
  • Minor league call-ups.
  • Players lost via trade, waiver claim or sale.
  • Players lost to free agency or released.

Wins Above Average is the preferred metric for this calculation because it is zero-based, meaning that it approximately reflects  the number of games by which a front office either helped or hurt its team in the standings.

There was one change of significance to front office leadership in the division this season. That occurred in Kansas City, where long-time general manager Dayton Moore was elevated to president of baseball operation. J.J. Picollo took over as general manager..

Otherwise the roster of front office bosses remains unchanged from 2021:

  • Chicago. Ken Williams, president; Rick Hahn, senior vice president and general manager
  • Cleveland. Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations; Mike Chernoff, vice president.
  • Detroit. Al Avila, executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager.
  • Minnesota. Derek Falvey, president of baseball operations; Thad Levine, senior vice president and general manager.

In order of effectiveness, here’s how all five AL Central front offices have performed thus far in 2022.

Also listed are the most significant moves by each front office.

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