A Look Back at MLB's Most Unbalanced Trades

In the world of Major League Baseball, trades are often a gamble that can swing heavily in favor of one team or the other. While there are winners and losers in every deal, some trades tip the scales so drastically that they become memorable examples of lopsided transactions. In this article, we examine the 15 most lopsided offseason trades from the last ten years, focusing exclusively on offseason trades since the 2015-16 season.

Honorable Mentions

Before diving into the main list, let’s highlight a few notable trades that didn’t quite make the top fifteen:

• Jan. 28, 2016: Rays trade RHP Germán Márquez, LHP Jake McGee to Rockies for OF Corey Dickerson, 3B Kevin Padlo.
• Dec. 7, 2016: Nationals trade RHP Lucas Giolito, RHP Reynaldo López, RHP Dane Dunning to White Sox for OF Adam Eaton.
• Dec. 5, 2018: Diamondbacks trade 1B Paul Goldschmidt to Cardinals for RHP Luke Weaver, C Carson Kelly, IF Andrew Young, competitive balance pick.

The Top 15 Trades

Now, let’s take a closer look at the most unbalanced trades during this timeframe:

1. Dec. 9, 2015: To ARI: RHP Shelby Miller; To ATL: SS Dansby Swanson, OF Ender Inciarte, RHP Aaron Blair. Miller struggled post-trade while Swanson became a franchise cornerstone for Atlanta.
2. Dec. 9, 2015: To SEA: 1B Adam Lind; To MIL: RHP Freddy Peralta, RHP Carlos Herrera, RHP Daniel Missaki. Peralta developed into an All-Star, while Lind had a brief presence in Seattle.
3. Jan. 19, 2017: To MIA: RHP Dan Straily; To CIN: RHP Luis Castillo, RHP Austin Brice, OF Zeek White. Castillo became a top ace while Straily faltered in Miami.
4. Dec. 14, 2017: To STL: OF Marcell Ozuna; To MIA: RHP Sandy Alcantara, RHP Zac Gallen, OF Magneuris Sierra, LHP Daniel Castano. Alcantara and Gallen emerged as stars while Ozuna left in free agency.
5. Jan. 15, 2018: To SF: OF Andrew McCutchen; To PIT: OF Bryan Reynolds, RHP Kyle Crick, international bonus money. Reynolds blossomed into a star in Pittsburgh.
6. Jan. 25, 2018: To MIA: OF Lewis Brinson, OF Monte Harrison, 2B Isan Díaz, RHP Jordan Yamamoto; To MIL: OF Christian Yelich. Yelich became an MVP while the Marlins’ prospects didn’t reach expectations.
7. Nov. 20, 2019: To TB: IF Curtis Mead; To PHI: LHP Cristopher Sánchez. Sanchez developed into a key pitcher for the Rays, while Mead struggled to find a role.
8. Feb. 9, 2020: To BOS: OF Alex Verdugo, SS Jeter Downs, C Connor Wong; To LAD: OF Mookie Betts, LHP David Price. The Red Sox regretted this deal as Betts flourished in LA.
9. Jan. 7, 2021: To CLE: IF Andrés Giménez, IF Amed Rosario; To NYM: SS Francisco Lindor, RHP Carlos Carrasco. Giménez and Rosario produced well while Lindor thrived in New York.
10. Feb. 1, 2021: To COL: RHP Austin Gomber, others; To STL: 3B Nolan Arenado, cash. Arenado continues to shine while the Rockies’ return stalled.
11. March 14, 2022: To ATH: C Shea Langeliers, OF Cristian Pache; To ATL: 1B Matt Olson. Olson has been an impact player while the prospects struggled.
12. Dec. 30, 2023: To BOS: IF Vaughn Grissom; To ATL: LHP Chris Sale, cash. Sale enjoyed a resurgence while Grissom failed to make an impact.

Conclusion

These trades serve as crucial reminders of how unpredictable talent evaluation and player development can be in professional baseball. As teams navigate through trades, the balance of risk and potential rewards will forever remain a central theme in the sport.