Each team’s biggest Winter Meetings move
The Winter Meetings are the peak of the MLB offseason, changing into synonymous with blockbuster trades and massive signings as star free brokers, participant representatives and staff executives come collectively in a single location.
With this 12 months’s Meetings underway in San Diego — marking the primary in-person iteration since 2019 — this is a glance again on the greatest Winter Meetings transaction in every staff’s historical past.
Blue Jays: Toronto lands Alomar, Carter in 1990 blockbuster
Blue Jays acquired: Roberto Alomar, Joe Carter
Padres acquired: Tony Fernandez, Fred McGriff
Looking again, that is arguably the perfect transaction in Blue Jays historical past, bringing in a future Hall of Famer and the person who authored the membership’s most iconic second, en path to back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and ’93. At the time, although, this commerce was a stunner that divided Blue Jays followers, with Toronto sending fan favorites and franchise cornerstones McGriff and Fernandez again the opposite approach. This started a string of well timed strikes that the Blue Jays made by way of the early ’90s to first construct, then complement, these World Series groups. None was greater than the addition of Alomar and Carter, although, as then-GM Pat Gillick shed his “Stand Pat” nickname and he was rewarded for it.
Orioles: Robinson involves Baltimore
O’s acquired: Frank Robinson
Reds acquired: Milt Pappas, Jack Baldschun, Dick Simpson
More than 5 many years later, the deal that despatched Robinson from Cincinnati to Baltimore in the course of the 1965 Winter Meetings stays probably the most lopsided in baseball historical past. The Orioles didn’t thoughts the way it labored out, although. Scorned by Reds proprietor Bill DeWitt’s feedback that Robinson was “an old 30” previous to the commerce, Robinson responded with the perfect stretch of his Hall of Fame profession upon arriving in Baltimore. He earned the 1966 AL Triple Crown and MVP Award, led the O’s to a World Series title that 12 months after which one other in ’70. The commerce is taken into account former O’s GM Lee MacPhail’s parting present to Baltimore, and a turning level within the historical past of the Orioles franchise.
Rays: José Canseco turns into a Ray
During the 1998 Winter Meetings, the then-Devil Rays made their first massive free-agent splash since becoming a member of the league, signing Canseco to a one-year take care of a pair of membership choices. Canseco was coming off a 46-homer season with the Blue Jays in ‘98 and he carried that energy throughout his time with the Rays. The slugger hit 34 residence runs with Tampa Bay in the course of the ‘99 season and made his first All-Star staff since ‘92 within the course of.
Red Sox: Ramirez indicators monster deal
After competing towards Manny Ramirez 3 times within the AL Division Series within the mid-to-late Nineteen Nineties, the Red Sox went out and signed the star run producer, who would pay main dividends throughout his time in Boston. Ramirez, who signed an eight-year, $160 million deal on Dec. 19, 2000, joined forces with David Ortiz as among the best middle-of-the-order duos in historical past because the Red Sox received the World Series in ’04 and ‘07. Ramirez played 1,083 games for Boston, slashing .312/.411/.588 to go with 274 homers and 868 RBIs. While Ramirez’s varied quirks all the time had individuals speaking about “Manny being Manny,” that shouldn’t overshadow his constant excellence within the batter’s field.
Yankees: Sabathia indicators huge deal
The new Yankee Stadium was nearing completion, and the Yankees wanted an ace to stabilize their rotation. Cashman and CC Sabathia met twice in Las Vegas on the 2008 Winter Meetings, making some progress, although they had been finally unable to tune out distractions. With the remainder of the baseball world distracted by slot machines and desk video games, Cashman slipped out of the Bellagio resort and boarded a industrial jet to the San Francisco Bay Area in scorching pursuit of the sport’s most prized free-agent pitcher. Passing by way of Sabathia’s Vallejo, Calif., doorway, getting into a sunken lounge that he had beforehand seen on MTV Cribs, Cashman resolved to carry out what he known as his “best John Calipari impression,” meaning to land the recruit. There, the GM and Sabathia hashed out the phrases of a wedding that might assist produce the franchise’s twenty seventh World Series title, agreeing to a seven-year, $161 million deal. Sabathia went 97-56 with a 3.73 ERA (114 ERA+) over the lifetime of that contract, then remained in New York for an additional 4 years.
Guardians: Alomar, Baerga in; Carter out
Guardians acquired: Sandy Alomar, Carlos Baerga, Chris James
Padres acquired: Joe Carter
It was the commerce that laid the groundwork for the Cleveland’s magical Nineteen Nineties groups. The franchise-defining commerce that despatched Carter to the Padres introduced in each Alomar and Baerga — two essential pillars within the basis of these ’90s golf equipment. General supervisor Hank Peters had Alomar locked into the commerce, and was finally in a position to persuade San Diego to incorporate Baerga within the deal in the course of the 1989 Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn. The deal labored out fairly effectively for Cleveland. Alomar received the ’90 AL Rookie of the Year Award within the first season of an 11-year profession with the membership, throughout which he hit .277 with a .734 OPS, 92 homers and 453 RBIs in 985 video games. Baerga was a 21-year-old utility participant who finally hit .299 with a .783 OPS whereas making 4 All-Star appearances and successful two Silver Slugger Awards in his eight seasons with Cleveland.
Royals: The Wil Myers blockbuster
Royals acquired: James Shields, Wade Davis, Elliot Johnson
Rays acquired: Wil Myers, Patrick Leonard, Mike Montgomery, Jake Odorizzi
This 2012 deal by normal supervisor Dayton Moore and his workers will go down in Royals folklore because the commerce that finally pushed Kansas City again into relevance, finally resulting in back-to-back World Series appearances in ’14 and ’15, the latter of which resulted in a championship. Myers, an outfielder, was arguably Kansas City’s prime prospect, and columnists and bloggers shrieked in horror on the notion of buying and selling him. But Moore was adamant that it was time the Royals turned the nook from rebuilding to successful, and Shields was an enormous affect within the clubhouse and on the sector throughout that transition. Shields helped the Royals attain the ’14 World Series. Davis finally transformed from the rotation to the bullpen and dominated as a better in ’15. Davis obtained the final three outs in Game 5 of that World Series towards the Mets to clinch the title.
Tigers: Detroit lands Miggy in blockbuster
Tigers acquired: Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis
Marlins acquired: Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Burke Badenhop, Mike Rabelo, Dallas Trahern, Eulogio De La Cruz
Even the bellhops on the Opryland Resort knew Cabrera was going to be traded in the course of the 2007 Winter Meetings; the Marlins made it no secret that their All-Star slugger was available on the market. The Tigers’ curiosity, nevertheless, was a secret. Owner Mike Ilitch requested normal supervisor Dave Dombrowski about Cabrera over Thanksgiving weekend, and gave his GM the go-ahead to see if he may make a deal. It took a bundle of younger expertise that included prime prospects Maybin and Miller, however the Tigers outmaneuvered the Angels to swing the deal. The talks had been so secretive that Dombrowski sequestered the Tigers workers of their resort suite whereas they labored out the small print. Manager Jim Leyland was the one one let loose so he may go outdoors and smoke. Cabrera, in fact, turned a Triple Crown winner, two-time MVP and four-time batting champion in Detroit, and he’ll go down as the largest transfer of the Ilitch period for the Tigers. Maybin and Miller each turned productive Major Leaguers, however neither did so in Florida.
Twins: Santana arrives in Rule 5 Draft deal
Twins acquired: Johan Santana, money
Marlins acquired: Jared Camp
Every at times, the Rule 5 Draft yields a productive Major League participant for a staff. It’s extremely uncommon to see the method produce a franchise-changing expertise, however that is precisely what the Twins obtained once they made a fast swap with the Marlins following the 1999 Rule 5 Draft on the ultimate day of that 12 months’s Winter Meetings. The Twins, with the primary decide, took right-hander Jared Camp from Cleveland. The Marlins picked second and chosen Santana from the Astros. The golf equipment then made a pre-arranged swap, with the Marlins sending Minnesota some money with Santana. Camp by no means made it to the Majors. Santana, alternatively, broke out with a 2.99 ERA in 2002 and commenced his string of perennial Cy Young Award competition as probably the most dominant aces within the league. He received his first AL Cy Young Award in ’04, was robbed of one other in ’05 regardless of nearly actually being essentially the most deserving candidate, and received one other in ’06, practically becoming a member of Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson as the one pitchers to win three straight. Santana ranked fourth in Twins historical past in ERA (3.22) and fourth in strikeouts (1,381) over eight seasons — serving to the membership to 4 division titles in that span — earlier than being traded to the Mets.
White Sox: Podsednik, Vizcaino come aboard
White Sox acquired: Scott Podsednik, Luis Vizcaino, Travis Hinton
Brewers acquired: Carlos Lee
There had been rumblings of the White Sox curiosity in Podsednik on the second day of the 2004 Winter Meetings in Anaheim, however it wasn’t till the Winter Meetings had been actually coming to an in depth that this deal was executed. In reality, White Sox govt vp Ken Williams, who was normal supervisor on the time, spoke of this acquisition at a press convention in entrance of solely a handful of reporters nonetheless remaining. Podsednik was one of many many items added to reshape a 2004 White Sox staff that got here near the postseason however was finally knocked down by key accidents to Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordonez. Podsednik picked up 59 stolen bases in ‘05 and scored 80 runs on the prime of the order, with a .351 on-base proportion. It was not unusual for Podsednik to succeed in base to begin a recreation, steal second, transfer to 3rd behind a Tadahito Iguchi grounder to the precise facet after which be pushed residence for an early lead. Vizcaino additionally turned a beneficial center reliever for the White Sox, an unsung hero who threw 70 innings in 65 video games. Lee hit 60 residence runs over two seasons with the Brewers, however the transfer proved to be key to the White Sox successful the ’05 World Series.
Angels: Halos land Downing
Angels acquired: Brian Downing, Dave Frost, Chris Knapp
White Sox acquired: Bobby Bonds, Thad Bosley, Richard Dotson
The Angels made an enormous commerce on the primary day of the 1977 Winter Meetings, sending a bundle highlighted by Bonds to the White Sox for Downing and two others. Bonds was coming off a 12 months during which he hit 37 homers and stole 41 bases, however Downing proved to be among the best gamers in Angels historical past. Downing’s 38.0 profession bWAR ranks fourth amongst all Angels place gamers behind solely Mike Trout, Jim Fregosi and Tim Salmon. Downing was an All-Star in 1979 and he was inducted into the membership’s Hall of Fame in 2009.
Astros: Scott deal proves to be steal
Astros acquired: Mike Scott
Mets acquired: Danny Heep
Heep was a struggling reserve participant for Houston, whereas Scott was a fledgling starter who had posted a 5.14 ERA with the Mets in 1982. Scott was added as rotation depth, however he finally turned the ace of the workers. It wasn’t till Astros normal supervisor Al Rosen recommended Scott meet with Tigers pitching coach Roger Craig that the pitcher’s profession took off. After going 5–11 with a 4.68 ERA for Houston in ’84, Scott sought out Craig that winter to study to throw the split-fingered fastball. The outcomes had been rapid. Scott went 18–8 with a 3.29 ERA in ’85 and shortly turned a star. He went 18–10 and led the league in ERA (2.22), shutouts (5), innings pitched (275 1/3), and strikeouts (306) in 1986 en path to successful the NL Cy Young Award. He sewed up his Cy Young case when he pitched a no-hitter to clinch the NL West division title towards the Giants on Sept. 25, 1986, on the Astrodome. Scott additionally beat the Mets twice within the NL Championship Series to be named the NLCS MVP, regardless of the Astros shedding the collection. Scott received 110 video games in 9 seasons with the Astros, successful 20 video games in ’89 and making the All-Star Game for the third time. The Astros retired his No. 33 in ’92.
Athletics: Welch joins Oakland in three-team blockbuster
A’s acquired: Bob Welch, Matt Young
Dodgers acquired: Alfredo Griffin, Jay Howell, Jesse Orosco
Mets acquired: Kevin Tapani, Wally Whitehurst, Jack Savage
In an offseason when then-general supervisor Sandy Alderson bolstered the A’s offense with the additions of Dave Henderson and Dave Parker, the acquisition of Welch from the Dodgers in a significant three-team commerce involving eight gamers could have been the important thing in establishing the membership for one in every of its most spectacular three-year runs in franchise historical past. The A’s reached the World Series in every of Welch’s first three seasons with Oakland, with the right-hander anchoring the rotation every year as he shortly acclimated to the AL by establishing himself as one of many league’s finest pitchers. The A’s received the World Series in 1989, and Welch received the AL Cy Young Award in ‘90 after going 27-6 with a 2.95 ERA. Welch finished his career with the A’s, going 96-60 with a 3.94 ERA over seven seasons. After retirement, Welch returned to the group as a Minor League pitching coach earlier than passing away in a tragic accident in 2014.
Mariners: Canó’s historic signing
This one comes with a little bit of an asterisk because the official press convention asserting Robinson Canó’s signing of a 10-year, $240 million free-agent contract was held in Seattle on the ultimate day of the 2013 Winter Meetings. But the entire membership officers and media overlaying the staff flew again from Orlando, Fla., to participate within the greatest announcement in franchise historical past as normal supervisor Jack Zduriencik finalized a blockbuster contract after outbidding the Yankees for the five-time All-Star second baseman. Canó, alongside together with his brokers — hip hop star Jay-Z and future Mets normal supervisor Brodie Van Wagenen — had been all smiles that day. So was Zduriencik, who known as himself “the other J.Z.” Canó wound up enjoying 5 years and incomes three extra All-Star honors for Seattle earlier than being traded to Van Wagenen’s Mets in ’19.
Rangers: 1988 offers change the franchise
Rangers acquired: Rafael Palmeiro, Drew Hall and Jamie Moyer (from Cubs); Julio Franco (from Indians); Nolan Ryan (free agent)
Rangers commerce away: Luis Benitez, Pablo Delgado, Paul Kilgus, Curt Wilkerson, Mitch Williams and Steve Wilson (to Cubs); Jerry Browne, Oddibe McDowell and Pete O’Brien (to Indians)
The Rangers had grown stale after going 87-75 in 1986 with a formidable group of younger gamers. Texas adopted that up with two straight shedding seasons and normal supervisor Tom Grieve felt the group wanted a significant shakeup. By including Franco and Palmeiro, the Rangers turned an offensive powerhouse and maintained that repute for the higher a part of 30 years. Adding Ryan was an enormous enhance to the membership’s credibility and created the momentum that led to the opening of the Ballpark in Arlington in ’94.
Braves: Maddux chooses Atlanta
Hall of Fame govt John Schuerholz went to the 1992 Winter Meetings pondering that reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux would seemingly find yourself with the Yankees. As the Meetings progressed in Louisville, Yanks GM Gene Michael traveled again to New York to point out Maddux round city. But New York’s $34 million provide wasn’t sufficient to stop Maddux from accepting Atlanta’s five-year, $28 million deal. The Braves had received the previous two NL pennants and Maddux felt signing with the Braves gave him his finest probability to win a World Series. He would notice this thrill in ’95, a 12 months during which he additionally received his fourth consecutive NL Cy Young Award.
Marlins: 2017 blockbuster within the Cards
Marlins acquired: Sandy Alcantara, Magneuris Sierra, Zac Gallen, Daniel Castano
Cardinals acquired: Marcell Ozuna
The return for Ozuna, on the time coming off back-to-back All-Star alternatives, makes this commerce the largest Winter Meetings transaction in franchise historical past. And the nice news for the Marlins is that they’re nonetheless reaping the rewards. Alcantara received the 2022 NL Cy Young Award, and although Gallen has blossomed into an ace following a commerce to the D-backs in 2019, the Marlins obtained again 2022 NL All-Star Jazz Chisholm. As for Ozuna, he spent two seasons with the Cardinals and hit .262 with 52 homers and a .777 OPS earlier than signing with the Braves as a free agent.
Mets: Carter involves Queens
Mets acquired: Gary Carter
Expos acquired: Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winningham, Floyd Youmans
Early within the 1984 Winter Meetings in Houston, the Mets traded beginning pitcher Walt Terrell to the Tigers for a younger slugging infielder named Howard Johnson. That commerce would show to be fruitful for the Mets, however on the time, it was a comparatively minor deal. It was not, as supervisor Davey Johnson informed the New York Times, the “big deal’” that would rework the Mets “from a contending team to a dominant team.” That massive deal got here three days later, when the Mets gave up 4 gamers for Carter, an elite catcher who was coming off his sixth consecutive All-Star season. Mets GM Frank Cashen, who had negotiated the commerce on the Winter Meetings earlier than flying to Florida to realize Carter’s approval, known as it “a banner day for the New York Mets.” He wasn’t unsuitable. Combined with the staff’s acquisition of 1979 NL MVP Keith Hernandez one 12 months earlier, the commerce certainly turned New York into one of many NL’s prime groups. Less than two years later, it was Carter who leapt into Jesse Orosco’s arms because the Mets celebrated their second World Series title.
Nationals: Wheels put in movement to accumulate Turner
Technically, Trea Turner was not acquired by the Nationals till June 14, 2015, however the deal that finally landed the star shortstop got here in the course of the 2014 Winter Meetings. On Dec. 19, 2014, the Nats made a three-team commerce with the Padres and Rays that introduced a participant to be named later and right-hander Joe Ross to Washington from San Diego. The Nationals despatched outfielder Steven Souza Jr. and Minor League left-hander Travis Ott to Tampa Bay in return. That participant to be named later ended up being Turner, the Padres’ thirteenth total decide within the ’14 Draft. Turner made his Major League debut two months later, and he helped the Nats win a World Series title in 2019 earlier than being traded to the Dodgers in 2021.
Phillies: Rose joins the Phils
The Phillies wanted a jolt after shedding within the NLCS three consecutive seasons from 1976-78. They figured Pete Rose may assist. Their pursuit of Rose started earlier than the Winter Meetings, with the Phils reminding Rose in Philadelphia that if he signed as a free agent within the AL he may by no means move Stan Musial because the NL’s all-time hits chief. Rose wished to make historical past, however he additionally wished to be paid. The Phillies supplied a three-year, $2.1 million contract. It was the worst provide Rose obtained, however he remained . Rose’s agent Reuven Katz informed the Phillies in the event that they discovered an additional $100,000 per season, he may persuade Rose to signal. Executive vp Bill Giles obtained WPHL-TV, which broadcast Phillies video games, to kick in an additional $600,000 over the subsequent 4 years to assist pay Rose’s wage. Rose signed a four-year, $3.24 million contract, which was introduced on the Meetings in Orlando.
Brewers: Crew lands huge haul from Cards
Brewers acquired: Rollie Fingers, Ted Simmons, Pete Vuckovich
Cardinals acquired: Sixto Lezcano, Lary Sorensen, Dave LaLevel, David Green
Milwaukee netted a seven-time All-Star catcher (Simmons) and the subsequent two AL Cy Young Award winners (nearer Fingers and beginning pitcher Vuckovich) — to not point out a pair of future Hall of Famers (Simmons and Fingers) — in a 1980 swap that despatched the Brewers on a path to their solely AL pennant. A Sports Illustrated headline the next March known as it “The Trade That Made Milwaukee Famous.” In hindsight, it was a one-sided deal. Fingers received the AL MVP Award and AL Cy Young Award the next season and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in ’92. Vuckovich tied for the Major League lead with 14 wins in ’81 and was the ’82 AL Cy Young winner, whereas Simmons made two All-Star groups with the Brewers, and following a protracted wait, lastly was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2019. Meanwhile, Lezcano and Sorensen by no means got here near matching the manufacturing they’d posted in Milwaukee, pitching prospect LaLevel was a journeyman for 12 Major League seasons and accidents and off-field troubles contributed to Green, a premium prospect on the time, by no means making a major impression.
Cardinals: Herzog shuffles the Cards
General supervisor Whitey Herzog had been employed midway into the 1980 season to make the Cardinals a championship-caliber staff, and he knew the form of staff he wished to place collectively to attain that aim. His first transfer on the ’80 Winter Meetings was to signal catcher Darrell Porter, the eventual MVP of the ’82 World Series. On Dec. 8, Herzog sketched out an 11-player commerce with San Diego, sending Terry Kennedy, John Littlefield, Al Olmsted, Mike Phillips, Kim Seaman, Steve Swisher, John Urrea and Bob Geren to the Padres for Fingers, Bob Shirley and Gene Tenace. Four days later, Fingers was traded to the Brewers, together with Simmons and Vuckovich, for the four-player return talked about above. While that deal did not pan out fairly in addition to among the others, Herzog punctuated the week with a deal to get nearer Bruce Sutter, who threw the fastball to Porter that ended the ’82 World Series. In all, Herzog made 4 offers that concerned 22 gamers, turning the Cardinals right into a contender — one that might come to dominate the Nineteen Eighties.
Cubs: Lester lands on North Side
The Cubs had been a younger, up-and-coming, prospect-laden membership that appeared poised to maneuver out of a rebuild after the 2014 season. That course of was accelerated on the ’14 Winter Meetings in San Diego, the place the North Siders “won the baseball lottery,” as former Cubs supervisor Joe Maddon informed reporters on the time. The successful numbers had been six years and $155 million, and veteran lefty Jon Lester was the recipient of the largest free-agent contract for a pitcher in Cubs historical past. Just like that, there was a real and rapid expectation of not solely changing into a winner, however contending for a World Series. In Lester’s six years in Chicago, the membership went to the playoffs 5 occasions, received three division crowns, reached the NLCS 3 times and received the ’16 World Series. The lefty was the NL Cy Young runner-up in ’16 and the co-MVP of the ’16 NLCS.
Pirates: Clemente claimed in Rule 5 Draft
This franchise-changing transfer didn’t technically happen on the Winter Meetings. According to a United Press story that ran in The Pittsburgh Press on Nov. 22, 1954, the Rule 5 Draft was “generally held in conjunction with the annual Minor League Meetings but … [was] staged separately this year.” Still, the Rule 5 Draft and the Winter Meetings are all the time related to each other, so we’re together with this transaction right here. The Pirates despatched Branch Rickey Jr. to these separate “Major League draft meetings” on Nov. 22, weeks earlier than the actual Winter Meetings, and paid solely $4,000 to pick 20-year-old Roberto Clemente from the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Montreal roster. The Dodgers did what they might to cover Clemente and maintain him from being drafted, however the younger proper fielder from Puerto Rico was just too gifted for scouts to not see his expertise. Clemente recorded 3,000 hits whereas successful two World Series throughout his Hall of Fame profession with the Pirates, and he’s remembered as the sport’s biggest humanitarian.
Reds: Big Red Machine will get key cog
Reds acquired: Joe Morgan, Cesar Geronimo, Ed Armbrister, Denis Menke
Astros acquired: Lee May, Tommy Helms, Jimmy Stewart
May hit 39 residence runs with 98 RBIs in the course of the 1971 season, however the Reds completed fourth within the NL West after successful the ’70 NL pennant. The consequence was a blockbuster deal on the ’71 Winter Meetings that introduced Morgan to Cincinnati. He turned the catalyst the Big Red Machine wanted to succeed in the subsequent stage. Morgan was a back-to-back NL MVP winner in ’75 and ’76, the identical years Cincinnati received consecutive World Series titles. The Reds’ all-time chief with 406 steals, he hit 152 residence runs for the membership and received 5 Gold Glove Awards. Morgan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in ’90 and his No. 8 was retired by the Reds in ’98.
D-backs: The three-team Scherzer blockbuster
D-backs acquired: Edwin Jackson (from Tigers); Ian Kennedy (from Yankees)
D-backs traded away: Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth (to Tigers)
It’s essential when assessing this 2009 deal to remember the fact that Scherzer had not but was Scherzer but. He had simply accomplished his first full 12 months within the massive leagues and the D-backs had some issues about his potential to remain wholesome over a protracted profession given the top jerk that was a part of his pitching mechanics at that time. Meanwhile, Arizona was trying so as to add depth to the rotation and jumped on the probability so as to add two starters for the worth of 1. While Scherzer would go on to grow to be a three-time (and counting) Cy Young Award winner, the commerce was not an entire bust for the D-backs. Kennedy received 22 video games in ’11 to assist Arizona win the NL West. The No. 2 starter within the rotation that 12 months was right-hander Daniel Hudson, who the D-backs acquired from the White Sox on the ’10 Trade Deadline in trade for Jackson.
Dodgers: The one which obtained away
Although the Rule 5 Draft has grow to be synonymous with the Winter Meetings, the 1954 model was really held individually. Regardless, that’s when the Dodgers left Roberto Clemente unprotected and former Dodgers membership president Branch Rickey snagged him for the Pirates within the Rule 5 Draft. Although the Dodgers received 4 World Series throughout Clemente’s Pittsburgh profession, one can solely surprise how far more dominant they might have been with the long run Hall of Famer nonetheless within the fold.
Giants: Bonds lands by the Bay
The Giants arrived on the 1992 Winter Meetings in Louisville, Ky., seeking to make a splash after a brand new possession group, led by Peter Magowan, managed to avoid wasting the staff from relocating to Florida. Magowan instantly ushered in a brand new period for the franchise by signing celebrity slugger Barry Bonds to a six-year, $43.75 million deal, then the richest contract in baseball.
“It’s a lot of money, but there’s only one Barry Bonds,” Magowan mentioned in the course of the introductory press convention.
The transfer represented a homecoming for Bonds, whose father, Bobby, and godfather, Willie Mays, each performed for the Giants. Bonds went on to carve out his personal legacy in San Francisco, the place he hit 586 homers over 15 seasons en path to changing into baseball’s all-time residence run chief.
Padres: Brown deal pays dividends
Padres acquired: Kevin Brown
Marlins acquired: Derrek Lee, Steve Hoff, Rafael Medina
At the 1997 Winter Meetings, the Marlins had been seeking to promote coming off their World Series title. The Padres had been on the cusp of creating their very own run to the World Series and seeking to purchase. The two sides got here to an settlement on the ultimate day of the ’97 Meetings in New Orleans. Brown had just one 12 months remaining on his contract, however he made essentially the most of it. There’s an argument to be made that Brown’s ’98 season is essentially the most impactful single season in franchise historical past. He posted a 2.38 ERA with seven full video games and three shutouts, then dominated within the postseason. Brown was the largest catalyst for the Padres successful their second NL pennant in ‘98.
Rockies: Hampton’s landmark contract
Star righty Darryl Kile went 21-30 with a 5.84 ERA for the Rockies from 1998-99 earlier than being traded to the Cardinals — the place he went 20-9 with a 3.91 ERA in 2000. So the Rockies desperately wished to place a lid on the notion that nobody may pitch on the Coors Field altitude. Also, after years of stuffed stands in the course of the franchise’s early years, possession noticed an inevitable attendance decline coming. So if making a buzz because the 2000 Winter Meetings in Dallas was the aim, signing Hampton to the then-largest contract ever bestowed upon a pitcher actually did the trick. Earlier within the winter, Colorado had signed lefty Denny Neagle for 5 years and $51.5 million. Neither contract produced the specified outcomes, with Hampton going 21-28 with a 5.75 ERA in two seasons with the Rockies earlier than being traded to the Marlins following the ’02 season (after which to the Braves simply two days later). To this present day, the staff has averted high-profile free-agent pitchers — and seen extra success with pitchers they both developed by way of the farm system or acquired early of their careers.
