How did we calculate the worst trades in MLB history?
We used all future WAR for the players involved, even if someone played for multiple teams. We have screened many professions.
We definitely checked out Brock, Frank RobinsonFoster, Sosa, Ferguson Jenkins, Randy JohnsonEckersley, Ozzie, Jimmie FoxxCochrane, Tris speaker, Miguel Cabrera . . . and much more.
1. Baby Ruth for money and a curse.
142 WAR futures in exchange for 0. There is no other player-for-cash trade that I know of that comes close to this one, nor any on this list, even though in this comparison one team gets nothing in exchange of the player.
The Mets got: Jim Fregos: 2.8 in future WAR.
The Angels got: Nolan Ryan 78.8 (includes minus 1.8 as a hitter).
Frank Estrada 0.0
Don Rose minus 0.7
Leroy Stanton 6.9
Net worth for WAR of Angels 83.
The Reds also obtained Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham, Caesar Geronimo And Denis Menke in addition to Morgan. The Astros also got the Cincinnati Reds for Tommy Helms And Jimmy Stewart in addition to Lee May.
Morgan: 73.5 future war
Armbrister: minus 0.1
Billingham: 5.4
Geronimo: 14.0
Menké: 4.1
Lee May: 11.2
Helmets: 4.2
Stewart: minus 0.7
Net worth for Reds: 82.2 WAR
Truth be told, it apparently didn’t look bad for the Astros at the time. Over the previous three seasons, May hit 111 home runs with 302 RBIs for the Reds. The Astrodome wasn’t as potent, but May still hit 82 home runs with 288 RBIs in three seasons before being traded to Baltimore.
However, Joe Morgan was a two-time MVP and five-time Gold Glove winner, while Cesar Geronimo won four Gold Gloves. Their excellent defense was a major reason the Reds won three pennants and two World Series between 1972 and 1976.
79.9 future WAR for 3.8
Net worth for Astros: 76.1 WAR.
82.8 future WAR for 14.4
Net worth for Expos: 68.4 WAR.
Cubs got: Sandberg 68.0 and Bowa 1.2
The Phillies got: De Jesus 2.2
Net worth for Cubs 67.0 WAR. Easily one of our favorite worst MLB trades in history.
Got the Braves net WAR 60.1.
Cleveland got: Lofton 68.4 and Dave Rohde minus 0.2. Total 68.2
Astros got: Willie Blair 3.6 and Ed Taubensee 6.0. Total 9.6
Net worth for Cleveland: 58.6 WAR.
By the way, I am convinced that Lofton and Andrew Jones should be in the Hall of Fame. And Bobby Grichand anyone else in the top 12 at their position in JAWS.
That’s 47.2 + 15.2 = 62.4 WAR after the Braves traded for a pitcher who gave Atlanta 0.7 pitching WAR (and who only had 1.0 WAR in his career after exchange). It’s a pretty stupid job. Barker had an outsized reputation due to his perfect game.
And the Braves were trying to bolster their starting pitching for the 1983 pennant race after winning the division in 1982, but that completely backfired as rumors swirled that the wildly popular Butler was going to be one “players to become”. named later.
Rick Wise was a solid pitcher, but in two seasons for the CardinalsWise went 32-28 with a 3.20 ERA.
Steve Carlton played 15 years for the Phillies and went 241-161, won four Cy Young Awards and compiled a 3.09 ERA.
Wise 20.7 pitching WAR, plus 0.7 hitting WAR: 21.4 total
Carlton 63.2 pitches, plus 4.9 strikes: 68.1 total
Net worth for the Phillies: 46.7 WAR.
Legend has it that Willie Mays became apoplectic when the giants traded George Foster, a promising 22-year-old outfielder, to the Reds for 2B Frank Duffy and P Vern Geishert.
Foster was slow to develop and didn’t hit his stride until 1975, but from 1975 to 1981, Foster hit over .300 four times, led the NL in RBIs three times, and led the NL in the circuits twice. In 1977, Foster hit .320 with 52 HR and 149 RBI and was voted MVP.
Meanwhile, Duffy had only 28 ABs in San Francisco and hit .179 before being traded to Cleveland where he hit .233 over six seasons. Vern Geishert never reached the majors.
For a change, the Cubs weren’t short of a deal.
Hall of Famer Jenkins compiled a 167–132 record in Chicago and won 20 games six times. Jackson pitched three years for the Phillies and went 41-45.
13. Dennis Eckersley for David Wilder, Brian Guinn and Mark Leonette.
The Cubs thought Eckersley was over the hill. They traded him for three minor league players. None of them ever reached the majors.
Eckersley was converted to closer, launched nine seasons in Oakland and compiled a record of 41-31 with 320 saves. In 1992, Eckersley was voted MVP and Cy Young winner.
If there are the worst trades in MLB history that we’ve forgotten about, does that really earn you your GOAT? Leave us a comment below.
