Other entries in the Trade Series:

Mike: I’ll Take Manhattan: Baseball’s Most Lopsided Trades

A Quick One (Happy Mike)

I'll Take Manhattan: Baseball's Most Lopsided Trades, Revised Edition

I'll Take Manhattan: Baseball's Most Lopsided Trades, Revised Edition (Cont.)

Lee Even Stevens

Studes: The Best and Worst Teams of the Trade

Smoltz for Alexander

OK, I wasn't satisfied with the first go-round. Let's go with something more straightforward. How about we just rank the trades by how well the players performed after the trade (i.e., Total Post WSAB):

#1:

Date: May 2, 1975
Trade: The Cubs sent Burt Hooton to Los Angeles for Geoff Zahn and Eddie Solomon.
Pre Career WS Diff: 31 (favoring LA)
Post Career WS Diff: 13 (Chi)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 15 (LA)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 21 (LA)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 1 (LA)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 1 (LA)
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 10 (LA)
Overall Avg Diff: 11.5
Post Avg Diff: 9.8
Total Post WSAB: 125
WSDiff: 14

Now that's what I'm talking about. Hooton and Zahn were pretty productive pitchers swapped for each other before they turned 30. However, Hooton was the more productive of the two. Solomon had a few decent years later on. Hooton went from 0-2, 8.18 in Chicago to 18-7, 2.82. Zahn and Solomon were a bust in Chicago, but they both turned their careers around, Zahn in Minnesota and Solomon in Pittsburgh.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
LAN	Hooton	39	125	0	17	21	63	1	10
CHN	Solomon	1	34	0	0	0	8	0	0
CHN	Zahn	7	104	0	2	0	54	0	0

#2:

Date: April 7, 1979
Trade: The Dodgers sent Rick Rhoden to Pittsburgh for Jerry Reuss.
Pre Career WS Diff: 45 (favoring LA)
Post Career WS Diff: 6 (Pit)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 7 (LA)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 21 (LA)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 0
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 1 (LA)
Overall Avg Diff: 10.0
Post Avg Diff: 3.5
Total Post WSAB: 112
WSDiff: 6

This one's even better. Both of these pitchers were productive for their new teams for years, who were traded before turning 30. Rhoden was four years younger but was about as productive over the rest of his career.

TranID	Player	ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
2071	reusj001	LAN	Reuss	88	106	0	7	40	56	0	1
2071	rhodr001	PIT	Rhoden	43	112	0	0	19	56	0	0

#3:

Date: May 26, 1959
Trade: The Yankees sent Jerry Lumpe, Johnny Kucks, and Tom Sturdivant to the Kansas City A's for Ralph Terry and Hector Lopez.
Pre Career WS Diff: 9 (favoring NYY)
Post Career WS Diff: 2 (NYY)
Pre Year WS Diff: 6 (NYY)
Post Year WS Diff: 2 (NYY)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 4 (NYY)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 9 (NYY)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 2 (NYY)
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 7 (NYY)
Overall Avg Diff: 5.1
Post Avg Diff: 5.0
Total Post WSAB: 105
WSDiff: 11

This is odd: one of the Yankee-KC A's deals from the era in which the latter was basically the former's Quad-A team. Lumpe was the reason the trade "worked". He had been a poor defensive player from the left side of the infield. The A's moved him to second and he had relatively productive career. Terry was the most productive player on the Yankee side of the equation after being exiled for seasoning to KC.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
KCA	Kucks	29	8	0	8	8	2	0	2
KCA	Sturdivant	36	30	0	2	18	8	0	0
NYA	Lopez	66	70	6	14	22	15	2	8
NYA	Terry	21	84	1	6	8	42	0	1
KCA	Lumpe	13	114	1	8	0	38	0	0

#4:

Date: December 11, 1935
Trade: The Yankees sent Johnny Allen to Cleveland for Monte Pearson and Steve Sundra.
Pre Career WS Diff: 3 (favoring Clev)
Post Career WS Diff: 9 (NYY)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 5 (Clev)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 3 (NYY)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 4 (Clev)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 5 (Clev)
Overall Avg Diff: 3.6
Post Avg Diff: 5.8
Total Post WSAB: 102
WSDiff: 13

Allen won 20 games and Pearson won 19 the year after the trade.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
NYA	Sundra	0	47	0	0	0	15	0	0
NYA	Pearson	40	64	0	20	22	34	0	14
CLE	Allen	43	102	0	25	19	53	0	19

#5:

Date: December 6, 1989
Trade: The Mets sent Randy Myers and Kip Gross to Cincinnati for John Franco and Don Brown.
Pre Career WS Diff: 52 (favoring NYM)
Post Career WS Diff: 1 (Cin)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 6 (Cin)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 37 (NYM)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 7 (Cin)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 6 (Cin)
Overall Avg Diff: 13.6
Post Avg Diff: 5.0
Total Post WSAB: 83
WSDiff: 8

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
NYN	Brown	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
NYN	Franco	85	97	0	11	55	38	0	6
CIN	Gross	0	8	0	0	0	0	0	0
CIN	Myers	33	90	0	17	18	45	0	12

#6:

Date: June 5, 1932
Trade: The Red Sox sent Danny MacFayden to the New York Yankees for Ivy Andrews, Hank Johnson, and $50K.
Pre Career WS Diff: 35 (favoring NYY)
Post Career WS Diff: 8 (Bos)
Pre Year WS Diff: 2 (Bos)
Post Year WS Diff: 4 (Bos)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 28 (NYY)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 3 (Bos)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 5 (Bos)
Overall Avg Diff: 10.6
Post Avg Diff: 5.0
Total Post WSAB: 81
WSDiff: 11

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
BOS	Johnson	29	18	1	0	10	4	0	0
BOS	Andrews	5	71	3	10	1	38	1	6
NYA	MacFayden	69	81	2	6	39	39	1	1

#7:

Date: November 18, 1963
Trade: Kansas City sent Jerry Lumpe, Ed Rakow and Dave Wickersham to Detroit for Rocky Colavito, Bob Anderson, and $50K.
Pre Career WS Diff: 87 (favoring KC)
Post Career WS Diff: 1 (Det)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 15 (Det)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 70 (KC)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 11 (KC)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 4 (Det)
Overall Avg Diff: 23.5
Post Avg Diff: 7.8
Total Post WSAB: 65
WSDiff: 12

What's the deal with Jerry Lumpe? Colavito was the big player here, but he stayed in KC for only one year.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
KCA	Anderson	38	0	0	0	10	0	0	0
KCA	Colavito	189	84	0	22	108	38	0	12
DET	Lumpe	91	36	0	13	30	8	0	3
DET	Rakow	25	8	0	8	9	3	0	3
DET	Wickersham	24	41	0	16	9	16	0	10

#8:

Date: December 20, 1933
Trade: Washington sent Goose Goslin to Detroit for John Stone.
Pre Career WS Diff: 216 (favoring Det)
Post Career WS Diff: 10 (Was)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 8 (Det)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 142 (Det)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 0
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 8 (Det)
Overall Avg Diff: 48.0
Post Avg Diff: 6.5
Total Post WSAB: 64
WSDiff: 10

Gooslin was 32 but had just three full seasons left in his tank. Stone was five years younger but had just four seasons, productive ones, in Washington.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
DET	Goslin	289	66	0	22	168	32	0	12
WAS	Stone	73	76	0	14	26	32	0	4

#9:

Date: December 8, 1948
Trade: Pittsburgh sent Frankie Gustine and Cal McLish to the Cubs for Clyde McCullough and Cliff Chambers.
Pre Career WS Diff: 50 (favoring Chi)
Post Career WS Diff: 2 (Chi)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 19 (Pit)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 13 (Chi)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 13 (Chi)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 8 (Pit)
Overall Avg Diff: 13.1
Post Avg Diff: 10.5
Total Post WSAB: 55
WSDiff: 15

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CHN	Gustine	99	3	0	3	20	0	0	0
PIT	McCullough	46	36	0	8	7	0	0	0
PIT	Chambers	3	46	0	14	0	21	0	8
CHN	McLish	0	81	0	0	0	34	0	0

#10:

Date: August 28, 1916
Trade: The Cubs sent Mickey Doolan and Heinie Zimmerman to the Giants for Larry Doyle, Herb Hunter, and Merwin Jacobson.
Pre Career WS Diff: 89 (favoring NYG)
Post Career WS Diff: 8 (Chi)
Pre Year WS Diff: 4 (Chi)
Post Year WS Diff: 4 (NYG)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 5 (Chi)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 0
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 4 (Chi)
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 1 (NYG)
Overall Avg Diff: 14.4
Post Avg Diff: 3.3
Total Post WSAB: 54
WSDiff: 8

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CHN	Hunter	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
CHN	Jacobson	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
NYG	Doolan	155	6	1	2	46	0	0	0
NYG	Zimmerman	155	59	13	4	77	27	5	2
CHN	Doyle	221	68	18	2	128	27	9	1

#11:

Date: December 10, 1952
Trade: The White Sox sent Chuck Stobbs to Washington for Mike Fornieles.
Pre Career WS Diff: 34 (favoring WAS)
Post Career WS Diff: 9 (Chi)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 1 (WAS)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 14 (WAS)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 4 (Chi)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 0
Overall Avg Diff: 7.8
Post Avg Diff: 3.5
Total Post WSAB: 54
WSDiff: 13

Stobbs for Fornieles? Now, that's sexy.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
WAS	Stobbs	37	62	0	10	14	25	0	4
CHA	Fornieles	3	71	0	9	0	29	0	4

#12:

Date: July 19, 2000
Trade: Texas sent Esteban Loaiza to Toronto for Darwin Cubillan and Michael Young.
Pre Career WS Diff: 37 (favoring Tor)
Post Career WS Diff: 2 (Tor)
Pre Year WS Diff: 5 (Tor)
Post Year WS Diff: 7 (Tor)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 8 (Tor)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 2 (Tex)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 1 (Tor)
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 5 (Tor)
Overall Avg Diff: 8.4
Post Avg Diff: 4.0
Total Post WSAB: 50
WSDiff: 4

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
TEX	Cubillan	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
TOR	Loaiza	37	42	5	7	8	24	1	5
TEX	Young	0	38	0	0	0	26	0	0

#13:

Date: December 19, 1985
Trade: Cincinnati sent Dann Bilardello, Andy McGaffigan, John Stuper, and Jay Tibbs to Montreal for Bill Gullickson and Sal Butera.
Pre Career WS Diff: 5 (Favoring Cin)
Post Career WS Diff: 1 (Cin)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 2 (Mon)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 15 (Cin)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 1 (Cin)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 1 (Cin)
Overall Avg Diff: 3.1
Post Avg Diff: 1.3
Total Post WSAB: 49
WSDiff: 2

Catchers Butera and Bilardello was a wash. As for the pitchers, Stuper was done. McGaffigan and Tibbs together were about the same as Gullickson.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
MON	Bilardello	14	8	0	2	0	0	0	0
CIN	Butera	9	6	0	4	0	0	0	0
CIN	Gullickson	63	63	0	16	27	25	0	10
MON	McGaffigan	14	44	0	13	0	23	0	8
MON	Stuper	21	0	0	0	6	0	0	0
MON	Tibbs	18	16	0	7	6	1	0	1

#14:

Date: October 24, 1973 Trade: Kansas City sent Dick Drago to the Red Sox for Marty Pattin. Pre Career WS Diff: 0 Post Career WS Diff: 7 (Bos) Pre Year WS Diff: 0 Post Year WS Diff: 8 (Bos) WSAB Pre Career Diff: 1 (KC) WSAB Post Career Diff: 6 (Bos) WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0 WSAB Post Yr Diff: 7 (Bos) Overall Avg Diff: 3.6 Post Avg Diff: 7.0 Total Post WSAB: 44 WSDiff: 13

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
BOS	Drago	61	60	0	13	31	25	0	7
KCA	Pattin	61	53	0	5	32	19	0	0

#15:

Date: August 29, 1990
Trade: Oakland sent Felix Jose, Daryl Green, and Stan Royer to St. Louis for Willie McGee.
Pre Career WS Diff: 136 (favoring Oak)
Post Career WS Diff: 8 (Oak)
Pre Year WS Diff: 6 (Oak)
Post Year WS Diff: 0
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 62 (Oak)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 4 (StL)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 5 (Oak)
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 1 (Oak)
Overall Avg Diff: 27.8
Post Avg Diff: 3.3
Total Post WSAB: 40
WSDiff: 12

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
SLN	Green	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
SLN	Jose	13	63	12	3	4	22	4	1
OAK	McGee	149	75	18	3	66	18	9	2
SLN	Royer	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0

Other entries in the Trade Series:

Mike: I’ll Take Manhattan: Baseball’s Most Lopsided Trades

A Quick One (Happy Mike)

I'll Take Manhattan: Baseball's Most Lopsided Trades, Revised Edition

I'll Take Manhattan: Baseball's Most Lopsided Trades, Revised Edition (Cont.)

Studes: The Best and Worst Teams of the Trade

Smoltz for Alexander

Russell Ziskey: "Can I have your last beer?"

John Winger (flatly): "No."

Russell (upbeat): "We'll split it!"

—From the incomparable Stripes

[I was going to call it "Tit For Tat" but "The Man" wouldn't let me. Ever since that Janet Jackson thing…]

After looking at the most lopsided trades of all time, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the most even. At the moment of consummation trades are often evaluated as a "win" for both sides, but how many actually have been?

In looking at the data, there are thousands (2452 actually) of trades in which the balance sheet evens out for both teams (i.e., that the Win Shares Above Baseline differential is zero). However, in the vast majority of these trades both teams received players who had very little value over the rest of their careers. They are even trades, but they are not exactly "wins" for any of the teams involved.

We need to filter the data based on the total WSAB after the trade for all of players involved. Also, given that the WSAB varies according to role, what we really need is a way to combine the WSAB differential with straight Win Shares amassed after the trade. Summing the two won't work since sometimes the two will cancel each other out if one is negative and the other positive. We need to measure the total differential (i.e., via absolute values). In that way, every post-trade Win Share is worth one point, but those in the WSAB stat count for two. Let's call this WSDiff.

I set the thresholds for the two derived stats at a minimum of 10 WSAB in total after the trade and a maximum WSDiff at 15. I got 188 records back, which would translate into 94 two-way trades.

But how to rank them after that? I next created a new derived stat, Post WS Avg, that takes the average of all the post-trade Win Share differentials (actually, of their absolute values). That is, the ones for career Win Shares, single-season Win Shares, career WSAB, and single-season WSAB.

Anyway, the trades in which the teams experienced as close to the same performance level during the remainder of the given season and over the rest of the players' careers would be considered even trades.

Without further ado, here they are (ranked by Post Avg Diff):

#1:

Date: May 19, 1970
Trade: San Francisco sent Frank Linzy to St. Louis for Jerry Johnson.
Pre Career WS Diff: 51 (favoring STL)
Post Career WS Diff: 0
Pre Year WS Diff: 2 (SF)
Post Year WS Diff: 1 (STL)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 37 (STL)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 3 (SF)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 0
Overall Avg Diff: 11.8
Post Avg Diff: 1
Total Post WSAB: 11
WSDiff: 3

One middle of the road reliever for another. Johnson had a very good year in 1971 as the Giants won the division. Linzy best years were later on.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
SFN	Johnson	11	24	2	3	0	7	0	0
SLN	Linzy	62	24	0	4	37	4	0	0

#2:

Date: December 19, 1985
Trade: Cincinnati sent Dann Bilardello, Andy McGaffigan, John Stuper, and Jay Tibbs to Montreal for Bill Gullickson and Sal Butera.
Pre Career WS Diff: 5 (Favoring Cin)
Post Career WS Diff: 1 (Cin)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 2 (Mon)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 15 (Cin)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 1 (Cin)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 1 (Cin)
Overall Avg Diff: 3.1
Post Avg Diff: 1.3
Total Post WSAB: 49
WSDiff: 2

Catchers Butera and Bilardello was a wash. As for the pitchers, Stuper was done. McGaffigan and Tibbs together were about the same as Gullickson.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
MON	Bilardello	14	8	0	2	0	0	0	0
CIN	Butera	9	6	0	4	0	0	0	0
CIN	Gullickson	63	63	0	16	27	25	0	10
MON	McGaffigan	14	44	0	13	0	23	0	8
MON	Stuper	21	0	0	0	6	0	0	0
MON	Tibbs	18	16	0	7	6	1	0	1

#3:

Date: April 4, 2001
Trade: Milwaukee sent Juan Acevedo, Kane Davis, and Jose Flores to Colorado for Mark Leiter, Mike DeJean, and Elvis Pena.
Pre Career WS Diff: 48 (favoring Milw)
Post Career WS Diff: 3 (Milw)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 2 (Milw)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 13 (Milw)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 0
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 3 (Milw)
Overall Avg Diff: 8.6
Post Avg Diff: 2.0
Total Post WSAB: 14
WSDiff: 3

This one's still to early to call. However, DeJean is about the only one that was very active in the majors last season.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
COL	Acevedo	26	17	0	4	9	7	0	0
COL	Davis	0	5	0	5	0	0	0	0
MIL	DeJean	20	22	0	8	6	7	0	3
COL	Flores	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
MIL	Leiter	54	2	0	2	16	0	0	0
MIL	Pena	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0

#4:

Date: July 23, 1990
Trade: Atlanta sent Joe "Leave it to" Boever to the Philadelphia for "Starvin'" Marvin Freeman.
Pre Career WS Diff: 12 (favoring Phil)
Post Career WS Diff: 2 (Phil)
Pre Year WS Diff: 2 (Phil)
Post Year WS Diff: 5 (Phil)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 5 (Phil)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 0
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 2 (Phil)
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 2 (Phil)
Overall Avg Diff: 3.8
Post Avg Diff: 2.3
Total Post WSAB: 16
WSDiff: 2

Here's another reliever swap. Boever was veteran middle reliever and Freeman was a failed young starter, who become one of the Braves first middle relief reclamation projects.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
PHI	Boever	14	35	2	7	5	8	2	2
ATL	Freeman	2	33	0	2	0	8	0	0

#5 (tie):

Date: July 11, 2002
Trade: Montreal sent Carl Pavano, Graeme Lloyd, Mike Mordecai, Justin Wayne, and a player to be named later (Donald Levinski) to Florida for Cliff Floyd, Wilton Guerrero, Claudio Vargas, and cash.
Pre Career WS Diff: 64 (favoring Mon)
Post Career WS Diff: 2 (Mon)
Pre Year WS Diff: 17 (Mon)
Post Year WS Diff: 1 (Fla)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 34 (Mon)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 3 (Fla)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 7 (Mon)
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 5 (Mon)
Overall Avg Diff: 16.6
Post Avg Diff: 2.8
Total Post WSAB: 31
WSDiff: 5

Again, still too early. However, given that Montreal cashed in Floyd in 19 days for two pitchers that haven't yet done much for them, this one will not be remembered as a win for the Expos/Nationals.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
MON	Vargas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
FLO	Levinski	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
MON	Floyd	111	20	17	5	40	14	7	5
MON	Guerrero	29	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
FLO	Lloyd	39	3	1	1	4	0	0	0
FLO	Mordecai	20	3	0	2	0	0	0	0
FLO	Pavano	17	12	0	3	2	17	0	0
FLO	Wayne	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

#5 (tie):

Date: August 26, 1987
Trade: Cincinnati sent Bill Gullickson to the Yankees for Dennis Rasmussen.
Pre Career WS Diff: 53 (favoring NYY)
Post Career WS Diff: 4 (NYY)
Pre Year WS Diff: 2 (Cin)
Post Year WS Diff: 1 (Cin)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 27 (NYY)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 5 (NYY)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 2 (Cin)
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 1 (Cin)
Overall Avg Diff: 11.9
Post Avg Diff: 2.8
Total Post WSAB: 21
WSDiff: 9

What's the deal with Bill Gullickson and these deals anyway? I guess mediocrity breeds mediocrity.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
NYA	Gullickson	85	41	6	2	39	13	2	0
CIN	Rasmussen	32	37	8	3	12	8	4	1

#5 (tie):

Date: December 6, 1959
Trade: The Cubs sent Lee Walls, Bill Henry, and Lou Jackson to Cincinnati for Frank Thomas.
Pre Career WS Diff: 22 (favoring Chi)
Post Career WS Diff: 1 (Cin)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 3 (Cin)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 17 (Chi)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 4 (Cin)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 3 (Cin)
Overall Avg Diff: 6.3
Post Avg Diff: 2.8
Total Post WSAB: 20
WSDiff: 5

Here's a three-for-one swap that "worked".

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CIN	Jackson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
CIN	Walls	49	12	0	3	14	0	0	0
CIN	Henry	43	44	0	8	16	12	0	3
CHN	Thomas	114	55	0	8	47	8	0	0

#5 (tie):

Date: December 17, 1995
Trade: Baltimore sent Joe Borowski and Rachaad Stewart to Atlanta for Kent Mercker.
Pre Career WS Diff: 41 (favoring Balt)
Post Career WS Diff: 4 (Balt)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 0
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 10 (Balt)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 7 (Atl)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 0
Overall Avg Diff: 7.8
Post Avg Diff: 2.8
Total Post WSAB: 17
WSDiff: 11

Borowski did OK for the Braves, but his career year came much later.

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
ATL	Borowski	1	25	0	1	0	12	0	0
BAL	Mercker	42	29	0	1	10	5	0	0
ATL	Stewart	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

#5 (tie):

Date: February 13, 1986
Trade: The White Sox sent Ron Hassey, Chris Alvarez, Eric Schmidt, and Matt Winters to the Yankees for Neil Allen, Scott Bradley, Glen Braxton, and cash.
Pre Career WS Diff: 24 (favoring NYY)
Post Career WS Diff: 7 (Sox)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 0
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 1 (Sox)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 2 (NYY)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 2 (NYY)
Overall Avg Diff: 4.5
Post Avg Diff: 2.8
Total Post WSAB: 10
WSDiff: 9

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CHA	Allen	50	16	0	8	18	4	0	2
CHA	Bradley	0	33	0	6	0	0	0	0
NYA	Alvarez	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
NYA	Schmidt	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
CHA	Braxton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
NYA	Hassey	74	41	0	14	17	6	0	4
NYA	Winters	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0

#10 (tie):

Date: June 10, 1907
Trade: Phillies sent Johnny Lush to the Cardinals for Buster Brown (and his shoes).
Pre Career WS Diff: 15 (favoring StL)
Post Career WS Diff: 8 (Phil)
Pre Year WS Diff: 2 (StL)
Post Year WS Diff: 1 (StL)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 5 (StL)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 2 (Phil)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 2 (StL)
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 1 (StL)
Overall Avg Diff: 4.5
Post Avg Diff: 3.0
Total Post WSAB: 34
WSDiff: 10

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
SLN	Lush	36	40	3	10	14	16	3	4
PHI	Brown	21	48	1	9	9	18	1	3

#10 (tie):

Date: July 31, 2001
Trade: Boston sent Tomo Ohka and Rich Rundles to Montreal for Ugueth Urbina.
Pre Career WS Diff: 51 (favoring Bos)
Post Career WS Diff: 3 (Bos)
Pre Year WS Diff: 6 (Bos)
Post Year WS Diff: 3 (Bos)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 32 (Bos)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 4 (Bos)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 4 (Bos)
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 2 (Bos)
Overall Avg Diff: 13.1
Post Avg Diff: 3.0
Total Post WSAB: 32
WSDiff: 7

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
MON	Ohka	6	28	0	2	0	14	0	0
MON	Rundles	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BOS	Urbina	57	31	6	5	32	18	4	2

#10 (tie):

Date: July 11, 1992
Trade: Pittsburgh sent Steve Buechele to the Cubs for Danny Jackson.
Pre Career WS Diff: 11 (favoring Chi)
Post Career WS Diff: 2 (Pit)
Pre Year WS Diff: 8 (Chi)
Post Year WS Diff: 1 (Chi)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 18 (Pit)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 7 (Pit)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 3 (Chi)
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 2 (Chi)
Overall Avg Diff: 6.5
Post Avg Diff: 3.0
Total Post WSAB: 19
WSDiff: 9

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CHN	Buechele	87	29	10	5	23	6	3	2
PIT	Jackson	76	31	2	4	41	13	0	0

#10 (tie):

Date: July 22, 1960
Trade: Washington sent Bill Fischer to Detroit for Tom Morgan.
Pre Career WS Diff: 36 (favoring Was)
Post Career WS Diff: 2 (Det)
Pre Year WS Diff: 1 (Det)
Post Year WS Diff: 4 (Det)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 6 (Was)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 5 (Was)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 1 (Det)
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 1 (Det)
Overall Avg Diff: 7.0
Post Avg Diff: 3.0
Total Post WSAB: 17
WSDiff: 7

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
WAS	Morgan	54	22	1	1	11	11	0	0
DET	Fischer	18	24	2	5	5	6	1	1

#10 (tie):

Date: June 1, 1910
Trade: Pittsburgh sent Sam Frock to the Boston Doves for Kirby White.
Pre Career WS Diff: 6 (favoring Pit)
Post Career WS Diff: 4 (Bos)
Pre Year WS Diff: 3 (Pit)
Post Year WS Diff: 4 (Bos)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 1 (Pit)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 2 (Bos)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 1 (Pit)
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 2 (Bos)
Overall Avg Diff: 2.9
Post Avg Diff: 3.0
Total Post WSAB: 14
WSDiff: 6

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
PIT	White	9	10	3	10	1	6	1	6
BSN	Frock	3	14	0	14	0	8	0	8

#10 (tie):

Date: April 1, 1982
Trade: Cincinnati sent Jeff Lahti and Jose Brito to St. Louis for Bob Shirley.
Pre Career WS Diff: 35 (favoring Cin)
Post Career WS Diff: 5 (Cin)
Pre Year WS Diff: 0
Post Year WS Diff: 4 (Cin)
WSAB Pre Career Diff: 10 (Cin)
WSAB Post Career Diff: 1 (Cin)
WSAB Pre Yr Diff: 0
WSAB Post Yr Diff: 2 (Cin)
Overall Avg Diff: 7.1
Post Avg Diff: 3.0
Total Post WSAB: 13
WSDiff: 6

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
SLN	Brito	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
SLN	Lahti	0	24	0	3	0	6	0	0
CIN	Shirley	35	29	0	7	10	7	0	2

Other entries in the Trade Series:

Mike: I’ll Take Manhattan: Baseball’s Most Lopsided Trades

A Quick One (Happy Mike)

I'll Take Manhattan: Baseball's Most Lopsided Trades, Revised Edition

Studes: The Best and Worst Teams of the Trade

Smoltz for Alexander

Here are the rest of the top fifty most lopsided trades.

Meanwhile, Studes has an in-depth look at the Smoltz-for-Alexander trade, which clocks in at number thirty-seven.

Finally, prior to continuing with the list I just want to clarify what the hex it is I'm trying to research here—from an email I sent to Studes:

As far as the meaning of the slew d'stats, my thinking was that a trade is a snapshot in time. You have the players' past statistics to go on for the year (if midseason) and for their careers. Then the other side of the balance sheet is what the GMs don't know at the time, how well the players perform after the trade in the given season and over their careers. So there are four time periods to consider: the players' entire career before and after the trade and the players' stats for the season in which the trade was made (before and after). Then I looked at these time periods based on straight win shares and on win shares above baseline. I ranked them by career win share above baseline differential after the trade.

All the stats listed per trade are based on the differentials in each category between what the team got and what they gave up.

#11:

Date: December 6, 1959
Trade: Cleveland gets Johnny Romano, Bubba Phillips, and Norm Cash from the White Sox for Don Ferrarese, Dick Brown, Minnie Minoso, and Jake Striker.
Pre Career WS: -215
Post Career WS: 371
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 8
WSAB Pre Career: -140
WSAB Post Career: 198
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: -3

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CHA	Striker	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
CHA	Ferrarese	14	13	0	0	0	3	0	0
CLE	Phillips	35	32	0	2	4	2	0	0
CHA	Brown	13	38	0	1	0	1	0	0
CHA	Minoso	234	49	0	24	144	23	0	14
CLE	Romano	8	128	0	15	0	57	0	5
CLE	Cash	4	311	0	16	0	166	0	6

#12:

Date: December 14, 1948
Trade: Cleveland gets Mickey Vernon and Early Wynn from Washington for Ed Klieman, Joe Haynes, and Eddie Robinson.
Pre Career WS: 46
Post Career WS: 307
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 7
WSAB Pre Career: 38
WSAB Post Career: 197
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 5

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
WS1	Klieman	33	4	0	4	12	0	0	0
WS1	Haynes	82	6	0	0	37	0	0	0
WS1	Robinson	20	107	0	18	0	42	0	8
CLE	Vernon	115	181	0	21	55	84	0	11
CLE	Wynn	66	243	0	8	32	155	0	2

#13:

Date: January 27, 1982
Trade: The Cubs get Larry Bowa and Ryne Sandberg from the Phils for Ivan DeJesus.
Pre Career WS: 80
Post Career WS: 339
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 8
WSAB Pre Career: 14
WSAB Post Career: 196
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 3

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CHN	Bowa	151	28	0	5	38	3	0	0
PHI	DeJesus	71	35	0	14	24	6	0	4
CHN	Sandberg	0	346	0	17	0	199	0	7

#14:

Date: May 22, 1913
Trade: Cincinnati gets Heinie Groh, Red Ames, Josh Devore, and $20,000 from the Giants for Art Fromme and Eddie Grant.
Pre Career WS: 46
Post Career WS: 332
Pre Year WS: 2
PostYearWS: 24
WSAB Pre Career: 35
WSAB Post Career: 190
WSAB Pre Yr: 2
WSAB Post Yr: 10

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CIN	Devore	47	9	0	5	17	0	0	0
NYG	Grant	65	10	1	0	16	0	0	0
NYG	Fromme	59	14	1	5	29	3	0	0
CIN	Ames	121	77	4	11	63	45	2	7
CIN	Groh	2	270	0	13	0	148	0	3

#15:

Date: July 29, 1989 Trade: The White Sox get Scott Fletcher, Sammy Sosa, and Wilson Alvarez from Texas for Fred Manrique and Harold Baines. Pre Career WS: 46 Post Career WS: 332 Pre Year WS: 2 PostYearWS: 24 WSAB Pre Career: 35 WSAB Post Career: 190 WSAB Pre Yr: 2 WSAB Post Yr: 10

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CHA	Alvarez	0	99	0	0	0	46	0	0
TEX	Baines	173	134	16	2	74	37	5	3
CHA	Fletcher	88	60	4	6	27	14	0	0
TEX	Manrique	23	8	7	6	2	1	2	1
CHA	Sosa	0	295	0	2	0	166	0	0

#16 (tied):

Date: December 4, 1974
Trade: Baltimore gets Ken Singleton and Mike Torrez from Montreal for Dave McNally, Rich Coggins, and Bill Kirkpatrick.
Pre Career WS: -63
Post Career WS: 327
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 49
WSAB Pre Career: -55
WSAB Post Career: 186
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 36

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
MON	Kirkpatrick	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
MON	Coggins	27	2	0	2	6	0	0	0
MON	McNally	167	1	0	1	102	0	0	0
BAL	Singleton	78	224	0	33	33	134	0	23
BAL	Torrez	53	106	0	19	20	52	0	13

#16 (tied):

Date: August 28, 1983 Trade: Cleveland gets three players to be named later (Rick Behenna, Brett Butler, and Brook Jacoby) and $150,000 from Atlanta for Len Barker. Pre Career WS: -33 Post Career WS: 385 Pre Year WS: -3 PostYearWS: 27 WSAB Pre Career: -15 WSAB Post Career: 186 WSAB Pre Yr: 0 WSAB Post Yr: 9

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
ATL	Barker	57	9	5	1	21	0	0	0
CLE	Behenna	2	1	2	1	0	0	0	0
CLE	Butler	22	273	0	19	6	144	0	9
CLE	Jacoby	0	120	0	8	0	42	0	0

#18 (tied):

Date: January 9, 1918
Trade: Brooklyn gets Al Mamaux, Burleigh Grimes, and Chuck Ward from Pittsburgh for Casey Stengel and George Cutshaw.
Pre Career WS: -112
Post Career WS: 194
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 4
WSAB Pre Career: -31
WSAB Post Career: 179
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 12

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
BRO	Ward	7	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
BRO	Mamaux	46	37	0	0	29	17	0	0
PIT	Cutshaw	82	58	0	17	24	11	0	7
PIT	Stengel	89	70	0	4	36	15	0	0
BRO	Grimes	6	280	0	25	0	188	0	19

#18 (tied):

Date: July 25, 1910
Trade: Cleveland gets Joe Jackson from the Athletics for Bris Lord.
Pre Career WS: -25
Post Career WS: 248
Pre Year WS: -4
PostYearWS: -6
WSAB Pre Career: -3
WSAB Post Career: 179
WSAB Pre Yr: -3
WSAB Post Yr: -3

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
PHA	Lord	25	46	4	12	3	15	3	3
CLE	Jackson	0	294	0	6	0	194	0	0

#20:

Date: May 6, 1930
Trade: The Yankees get Red Ruffing from the Red Sox for Cedric Durst and $50,000.
Pre Career WS: 47
Post Career WS: 262
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 13
WSAB Pre Career: 28
WSAB Post Career: 174
WSAB Pre Yr: 1
WSAB Post Yr: 9

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
BOS	Durst	10	3	0	3	0	0	0	0
NYA	Ruffing	57	265	0	16	28	174	1	9

#21 (tied):

Date: June 15, 1964
Trade: St. Louis gets Lou Brock, Jack Spring, and Paul Toth from the Cubs for Bobby Shantz, Ernie Broglio and Doug Clemens.
Pre Career WS: -187
Post Career WS: 298
Pre Year WS: -1
PostYearWS: 9
WSAB Pre Career: -114
WSAB Post Career: 166
WSAB Pre Yr: 4
WSAB Post Yr: 9

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
SLN	Brock	28	320	4	22	10	168	5	11
CHN	Broglio	78	6	4	5	46	2	1	2
CHN	Clemens	3	14	1	5	0	0	0	0
CHN	Shantz	156	3	1	3	80	0	0	0
SLN	Spring	11	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
SLN	Toth	11	0	0	0	2	0	0	0

#21 (tied):

Date: April 12, 1960
Trade: Detroit gets Norm Cash from Cleveland for Steve Demeter.
Pre Career WS: 4
Post Career WS: 311
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 16
WSAB Pre Career: 0
WSAB Post Career: 166
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 6

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CLE	Demeter	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
DET	Cash	4	311	0	16	0	166	0	6

#23:

Date: December 11, 1917
Trade: The Cubs get Grover Cleveland Alexander and Bill Killefer from the Phillies for Mike Prendergast, Pickles Dillhoefer, and $55,000.
Pre Career WS: 253
Post Career WS: 245
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: -3
WSAB Pre Career: 185
WSAB Post Career: 164
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: -9

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
PHI	Dillhoefer	2	10	0	0	0	0	0	0
PHI	Prendergast	38	15	0	15	16	9	0	9
CHN	Killefer	55	32	0	10	5	3	0	0
CHN	Alexander	238	238	0	2	196	170	0	0

#24:

Date: December 14, 1917
Trade: Red Sox get Amos Strunk, Joe Bush, and Wally Schang from the A's for Vean Gregg, Merlin Kopp, Pinch Thomas, and $60,000.
Pre Career WS: 118
Post Career WS: 345
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 26
WSAB Pre Career: 35
WSAB Post Career: 163
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 16

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
PHA	Thomas	32	4	0	2	1	0	0	0
PHA	Kopp	1	11	0	8	0	0	0	0
PHA	Gregg	88	15	0	11	56	5	0	5
BOS	Strunk	124	50	0	16	53	8	0	6
BOS	Bush	39	156	0	21	13	106	0	15
BOS	Schang	76	169	0	10	26	54	0	0

Man, that was one bad week in Philly.

#25:

Date: March 30, 1992
Trade: White Sox sent Sammy Sosa and Ken Patterson to the Cubs for George Bell.
Pre Career WS: -124
Post Career WS: 266
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: -5
WSAB Pre Career: -70
WSAB Post Career: 160
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: -3

#26:

Date: December 3, 1969
Trade: Mets sent Amos Otis and Bob Johnson to the Kansas City Royals for Joe Foy.
Pre Career WS: -68
Post Career WS: 305
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 29
WSAB Pre Career: -30
WSAB Post Career: 157
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 23

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CHA	Bell	157	14	0	13	73	3	0	3
CHN	Patterson	14	4	0	1	0	0	0	0
CHN	Sosa	19	276	0	7	3	163	0	0

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
NYM	Foy	70	14	0	10	30	0	0	0
KCA	Johnson	1	34	0	14	0	11	0	8
KCA	Otis	1	285	0	25	0	146	0	15

#27:

Date: December 11, 1975
Trade: Yankees sent Doc Medich to Pittsburgh for Willie Randolph, Ken Brett, and Dock Ellis.
Pre Career WS: 80
Post Career WS: 317
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 36
WSAB Pre Career: 26
WSAB Post Career: 155
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 20

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
NYA	Brett	50	30	0	14	25	10	0	8
NYA	Ellis	79	36	0	13	33	18	0	7
PIT	Medich	50	60	0	8	32	18	0	2
NYA	Randolph	1	311	0	17	0	145	0	7

#28:

Date: December 12, 1903
Trade: Cardinals sent Mordecai Brown and Jack O'Neill to the Cubs for Jack Taylor and Larry McLean.
Pre Career WS: -93
Post Career WS: 134
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: -4
WSAB Pre Career: -71
WSAB Post Career: 153
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: -7

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CHN	O'Neill	7	9	0	3	0	0	0	0
SLN	Taylor	112	71	0	27	77	49	0	21
SLN	McLean	0	73	0	0	0	10	0	0
CHN	Brown	12	269	0	20	6	212	0	14

#29 (tie):

Date: October 30, 1922
Trade: Detroit sent Babe Herman, Danny Clark, Howard Ehmke, Carl Holling, and $25000 cash to the Red Sox for Del Pratt and Rip Collins.
Pre Career WS: -177
Post Career WS: 254
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 14
WSAB Pre Career: -93
WSAB Post Career: 152
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 19

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
BOS	Holling	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BOS	Herman	0	232	0	0	0	120	0	0
BOS	Clark	5	11	0	0	0	0	0	0
DET	Pratt	222	20	0	9	112	1	0	0
DET	Collins	33	75	0	2	17	32	0	0
BOS	Ehmke	68	106	0	25	36	65	0	19

#29 (tie):

Date: October 19, 1949
Trade: The Philadelphia Athletics sent Nellie Fox to the White Sox for Joe Tipton.
Pre Career WS: 0
Post Career WS: 269
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 0
WSAB Pre Career: 0
WSAB Post Career: 152
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 0

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
PHA	Tipton	6	29	0	5	0	0	0	0
CHA	Fox	6	298	0	5	0	152	0	0

#31:

Date: May 25, 1989
Trade: Montreal sent Randy Johnson, Gene Harris, and Brian Holman to Seattle for Mark Langston and a player to be named later (Mike Campbell).
Pre Career WS: -73
Post Career WS: 194
Pre Year WS: -5
PostYearWS: 0
WSAB Pre Career: -49
WSAB Post Career: 149
WSAB Pre Yr: -3
WSAB Post Yr: -7

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
MON	Campbell	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
SEA	Harris	0	12	0	0	0	3	0	0
SEA	Holman	5	32	0	10	1	13	1	3
SEA	Johnson	2	259	0	5	0	190	0	0
MON	Langston	77	107	5	15	50	57	4	10

#32:

Date: December 4, 1964
Trade: The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Frank Howard, Ken McMullen, Phil Ortega, Pete Richert and a player to be named later (Dick Nen) to Washington for Claude Osteen, John Kennedy, and $100 K.
Pre Career WS: 53
Post Career WS: 308
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 54
WSAB Pre Career: 14
WSAB Post Career: 147
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 24

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
WAS	Howard	83	214	0	25	34	129	0	15
LAN	Kennedy	7	31	0	1	0	0	0	0
WAS	McMullen	6	169	0	21	0	76	0	11
WAS	Nen	0	15	0	7	0	0	0	0
WAS	Ortega	4	26	0	4	0	10	0	0
LAN	Osteen	40	161	0	18	20	95	0	12
WAS	Richert	7	76	0	16	0	27	0	10

#33 (tie):

Date: November 29, 1971
Trade: Cleveland sent Sam McDowell to San Francisco for Gaylord Perry and Frank Duffy.
Pre Career WS: 0
Post Career WS: 257
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 44
WSAB Pre Career: 1
WSAB Post Career: 146
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 33

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CLE	Duffy	0	54	0	9	0	3	0	0
SFN	McDowell	154	12	0	4	104	0	0	0
CLE	Perry	154	215	0	39	105	143	0	33

#33 (tie):

Date: November 10, 1948
Trade: The White Sox sent Aaron Robinson to Detroit for Billy Pierce and $10 K.
Pre Career WS: -45
Post Career WS: 214
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: -6
WSAB Pre Career: -11
WSAB Post Career: 146
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: -2

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
DET	Robinson	47	32	0	15	11	8	0	5
CHA	Pierce	2	246	0	9	0	154	0	3

#35:

Date: July 20, 1916
Trade: The Giants sent Christy Mathewson, Bill McKechnie and Edd Roush to the Cincinnati Reds for Buck Herzog and Red Killefer.
Pre Career WS: 342
Post Career WS: 259
Pre Year WS: -5
PostYearWS: 2
WSAB Pre Career: 303
WSAB Post Career: 142
WSAB Pre Yr: -5
WSAB Post Yr: -4

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
NYG	Killefer	40	0	5	0	8	0	0	0
CIN	Mathewson	425	1	3	1	333	0	0	0
CIN	McKechnie	52	20	5	2	17	3	0	0
NYG	Herzog	123	48	8	11	51	10	5	4
CIN	Roush	28	286	0	10	12	149	0	0

#36:

Date: February 25, 1972
Trade: St. Louis sent Steve Carlton to Philadelphia for Rick Wise.
Pre Career WS: 12
Post Career WS: 176
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 20
WSAB Pre Career: 10
WSAB Post Career: 141
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 20

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
PHI	Carlton	83	283	0	40	48	194	0	34
SLN	Wise	71	107	0	20	38	53	0	14

#37:

Date: August 12, 1987
Trade: Detroit sent John Smoltz to Atlanta for Doyle Alexander.
Pre Career WS: -163
Post Career WS: 193
Pre Year WS: -6
PostYearWS: -12
WSAB Pre Career: -83
WSAB Post Career: 138
WSAB Pre Yr: -7
WSAB Post Yr: -5

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
DET	Alexander	163	29	6	12	83	10	7	5
ATL	Smoltz	0	222	0	0	0	148	0	0

#38:

Date: March 26, 1992
Trade: Milwaukee sent Gary Sheffield and Geoff Kellogg to San Diego for Ricky Bones, Jose Valentin, and Matt Mieske..
Pre Career WS: 28
Post Career WS: 70
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 28
WSAB Pre Career: 10
WSAB Post Career: 136
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 22

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
MIL	Bones	1	55	0	4	0	16	0	0
SDN	Kellogg	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
MIL	Mieske	0	32	0	0	0	0	0	0
SDN	Sheffield	29	308	0	32	10	209	0	22
MIL	Valentin	0	151	0	0	0	57	0	0

#39:

Date: December 2, 1927
Trade: Detroit sent Heinie Manush and Lu Blue to the St. Louis Browns for Chick Galloway, Elam Vangilder, and Harry Rice.
Pre Career WS: -26
Post Career WS: 224
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 29
WSAB Pre Career: -14
WSAB Post Career: 135
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 27

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
DET	Galloway	68	3	0	3	12	0	0	0
DET	Vangilder	93	11	0	11	52	6	0	6
DET	Rice	53	57	0	15	21	14	0	5
SLA	Blue	111	87	0	23	42	42	0	13
SLA	Manush	77	208	0	35	29	113	0	25

#40 (tie):

Date: April 2, 1992
Trade: Houston sent Curt Schilling to Philadelphia for Jason Grimsley.
Pre Career WS: 6
Post Career WS: 155
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 17
WSAB Pre Career: 0
WSAB Post Career: 134
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 11

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
HOU	Grimsley	4	37	0	0	0	6	0	0
PHI	Schilling	10	192		0	17	0	140	0	11

#40 (tie):

Date: July 29, 1996
Trade: The Mets sent Jeff Kent and Jose Vizcaino to Cleveland for Carlos Baerga and Alvaro Espinoza..
Pre Career WS: -52
Post Career WS: 205
Pre Year WS: 11
PostYearWS: 4
WSAB Pre Career: -36
WSAB Post Career: 134
WSAB Pre Yr: 4
WSAB Post Yr: 1

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
NYN	Baerga	124	32	6	0	60	1	0	0
NYN	Espinoza	43	4	1	3	3	0	0	0
CLE	Kent	60	186	8	3	13	126	1	0
CLE	Vizcaino	55	55	10	4	14	9	3	1

#42:

Date: April 3, 1974
Trade: Cleveland sent Pedro Guerrero to Los Angeles for Bruce Ellingsen
Pre Career WS: 0
Post Career WS: 244
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: -2
WSAB Pre Career: 0
WSAB Post Career: 133
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 0

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CLE	Ellingsen	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0
LAN	Guerrero	0	246	0	0	0	133	0	0

#43:

Date: December 3, 1936
Trade: Brooklyn sent Frenchy Bordagaray, Jimmy Jordan, and Dutch Leonard to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tom Winsett.
Pre Career WS: 56
Post Career WS: 247
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 1
WSAB Pre Career: 10
WSAB Post Career: 128
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 0

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
SLN	Jordan	15	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BRO	Winsett	3	8	0	7	0	0	0	0
SLN	Bordagaray	21	45	0	8	1	5	0	0
SLN	Leonard	23	210	0	0	9	123	0	0

#44:

Date: April 5, 1972
Trade: The Mets sent Ken Singleton, Tim Foli, and Mike Jorgensen to Montreal for Rusty Staub.
Pre Career WS: -169
Post Career WS: 316
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 25
WSAB Pre Career: -107
WSAB Post Career: 127
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 6

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
MON	Foli	4	103	0	9	0	9	0	0
MON	Jorgensen	4	92	0	10	0	13	0	0
MON	Singleton	16	286	0	18	1	166	0	8
NYN	Staub	193	165	0	12	108	61	0	2

#45 (tie):

Date: November 18, 1997
Trade: Tampa Bay sent Bobby Abreu to Philadelphia for Kevin Stocker.
Pre Career WS: -46
Post Career WS: 141
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 21
WSAB Pre Career: -4
WSAB Post Career: 126
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 16

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
PHI	Abreu	6	159	0	26	0	126	0	16
TBA	Stocker	52	18	0	5	4	0	0	0

#45 (tie):

Date: May 29, 1971
Trade: San Francisco sent George Foster to Cincinnati for Frank Duffy and Vern Geishert.
Pre Career WS: 2
Post Career WS: 212
Pre Year WS: 2
PostYearWS: 10
WSAB Pre Career: 1
WSAB Post Career: 126
WSAB Pre Yr: 1
WSAB Post Yr: 1

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
SFN	Duffy	0	54	0	0	0	3	0	0
CIN	Foster	3	266	2	10	1	129	1	1
SFN	Geishert	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

#45 (tie):

Date: June 13, 1938
Trade: Philadelphia sent Bucky Walters to Cincinnati for Spud Davis, Al Hollingsworth,
and $50 K.
Pre Career WS: -92
Post Career WS: 129
Pre Year WS: 3
PostYearWS: -1
WSAB Pre Career: -25
WSAB Post Career: 126
WSAB Pre Yr: 1
WSAB Post Yr: 3

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
PHI	Davis	118	31	0	2	33	4	0	0
PHI	Hollingsworth	28	44	0	8	11	17	1	1
CIN	Walters	54	204	3	9	19	147	2	4

#48 (tie):

Date: December 15, 1920
Trade: The Red Sox sent Waite Hoyt, Harry Harper, Mike McNally, and Wally Schang to the Yankees for Muddy Ruel, Del Pratt, Sammy Vick, and Hank Thormahlen.
Pre Career WS: -29
Post Career WS: 180
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 18
WSAB Pre Career: -31
WSAB Post Career: 124
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 17

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
BOS	Vick	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
BOS	Thormahlen	30	4	0	4	12	0	0	0
NYA	Harper	65	4	0	4	29	0	0	0
NYA	McNally	9	10	0	5	0	0	0	0
BOS	Pratt	183	59	0	20	93	20	0	10
NYA	Schang	125	120	0	20	45	35	0	10
BOS	Ruel	12	144	0	11	0	47	0	1
NYA	Hoyt	9	253	0	24	0	156	0	18

#48 (tie):

Date: December 2, 1937
Trade: The White Sox sent Dixie Walker, Vern Kennedy, and Tony Piet to Detroit for Marv Owen, Mike Tresh, and Gee Walker.
Pre Career WS: -11
Post Career WS: 123
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 3
WSAB Pre Career: 5
WSAB Post Career: 124
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 7

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CHA	Tresh	0	80	0	1	0	7	0	0
DET	Piet	71	1	0	1	14	0	0	0
CHA	Owen	71	14	0	12	19	2	0	2
DET	Kennedy	48	57	0	13	28	18	0	7
CHA	G. Walker	93	85	0	12	29	15	0	2
DET	D. Walker	34	244	0	14	11	130	0	4

#50:

Date: February 26, 1957
Trade: The Giants sent Hoyt Wilhelm to St. Louis for Whitey Lockman.
Pre Career WS: -86
Post Career WS: 186
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: -2
WSAB Pre Career: -20
WSAB Post Career: 123
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 0

ToTeam	Last	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
NYG	Lockman	145	11	0	7	54	0	0	0
SLN	Wilhelm	59	197	0	5	34	123	0	0

Other entries in the Trade Series:

Mike: I’ll Take Manhattan: Baseball’s Most Lopsided Trades

A Quick One (Happy Mike)

Studes: The Best and Worst Teams of the Trade

This article has been revised and expanded after Studes and I revised our methodology and resolved all outstanding data issues. I've added a slew of stats: career win shares before and after the trade, the single-season win shares before and after the trade, and the career and single-season win shares above baseline (WSAB) before and after the trade. The trades are ranked by career WSAB after the trade. I also made sure to incorporate all of the trades mentioned in the first go-round. So here goes:

#1:

Date: December 15, 1900
Trade: New York Giants sent Amos Rusie to Cincinnati for Christy Mathewson
Pre Career WS: -293
Post Career WS: 426
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 21
WSAB Pre Career: -239
WSAB Post Career: 333
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 15

This wasn't so much a trade as a gimmick to sell the team, but I have to go by the official record.

Then-Cincinnati owner John T. Brush started with the old Indianapolis NL club, but this club folded and his investment was transferred to the Giants as the NL tried to consolidate its base during the Players League wars. He was rewarded with ownership of the Reds in the resulting twelve-team NL. It's unclear if he ever relinquished his Giant ownership. However, had he kept it while owning the Reds, he wouldn't have been the only owner at that time to do so.

Apparently, in the negotiating process Brush demanded Mathewson from Giant controlling owner Andrew Freedman. In exchange, the Reds got Rusie, a future Hall of Famer who had missed two straight seasons at the time. Rusie had torn his shoulder muscles in a throw to first and never was able to recuperate. He was actually retired at the time of the trade. Oddly, Rusie had followed Brush from Indianapolis to New York back in 1889-1890.

Rusie would go on to pitch just three games, very poorly (including a 14-3 debut), for the Reds and then called it a career. That was more than one could have expected when he was traded. Mathewson did pretty well for the Giants. Rusie would return more than two decades later as the superintendent of the Polo Grounds. Mathewson would be traded back to Cincinnati in 1916 and he would pitch his last game with the Reds, the only game he pitched for them.

ToTeam	Player	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CIN	Rusie	293	0	0	0	239	0	0	0
NYG	Mathewson	0	426	0	21	0	333	0	15

#2:

Date: January 10, 1991
Trade: Houston sent Glenn Davis to Baltimore for Steve Finley, Curt Schilling, and Pete Harnisch
Pre Career WS: -92
Post Career WS: 525
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 35
WSAB Pre Career: -58
WSAB Post Career: 310
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 18

This is the ultimate cautionary tale for GMs who want to nab a star by giving up the farm, or at least all the farmhands.

The Orioles had grown tired of Randy Milligan's inconsistency at the plate and salivated at the idea of injecting power into their lineup via Davis. Being a seven-year veteran in the cavernous Astrodome, Davis was still able to collect thirty home runs in three seasons. The Orioles expected that to translate into 40 or 50 in Memorial Stadium, and they wanted to generate fan interest as they prepared to move into Camden Yards in 1992.

They were coming off a disappointing 1990 season (76-85) after making great strides the previous season (from a catastrophic 54-107 record in 1988 to 87-75, in second place, just two games behind the Blue Jays in 1989). One more star could right their course.

Meanwhile, the Astros had fallen into fifth place in 1990 (75-87) and were looking to rebuild. They had a young Craig Biggio behind the plate and just about to bloom into an All-Star. In August they stripped the Red Sox of a minor-league Jeff Bagwell for 15 games from Larry Andersen. With then-third baseman Bagwell in tow, the Astros felt that Davis, a free agent at year's end, was expendable.

The Astros plucked Steve Finley, who was a regular for the O's in 1990 (though he played no more than 73 games in any of the three outfield positions), eleven-game winner Pete Harnisch, and a young reliever and would-be closer, Curt Schilling, from the Oriole roster. All would be between 24 and 26 years old in 1991, and all had at least one major-league season under his belt.

Harnisch would be an All-Star in 1991 and would be a reliable starter for the 'Stros over the next three years. Finley would be inserted in center field and even though he hit just three home runs in 464 at-bats in 1990, he would eventually become the power hitter he's known to be today. Unfortunately for the Astros he would never hit more than 11 for them in his four seasons in Houston. He would then be traded to the Padres on December 28, 1994 in their monster 11-man deal. Schilling would spent one year in the Astro pen and then after a trade to the Phils for Jason Grimsley at the end of spring training in 1992, he would finally become a starter. The Astros collected the most lopsided bounty in trade history and they failed to unearth the best of it.

Meanwhile, Davis would hit just 24 home runs and play 185 games over the next three seasons in Baltimore. After playing at least 150 games a season from 1986 to 1989, Davis at age 29 would never play more than 106 in a season.

Here’s a comparison between the two sides in the deal:

ToTeam	Player	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
BAL	Davis	120	12	0	4	59	0	0	0
HOU	Finley	13	250	0	18	0	129	0	8
HOU	Harnisch	10	90	0	16	1	41	0	10
HOU	Schilling	5	197	0	5	0	140	0	0

#3:

Date: December 5, 1988
Trade: Texas sent Curtis Wilkerson, Paul Kilgus, Mitch Williams, Steve Wilson and two minor leaguers (Luis Benitez and Pablo Delgado) to the Cubs for Rafael Palmeiro, Jamie Moyer, and Drew Hall.
Pre Career WS: -17
Post Career WS: 413
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 1
WSAB Pre Career: 0
WSAB Post Career: 251
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 0

What do you need Rafael Palmeiro when you have Mark Grace? Palmeiro was a singles-hitting left fielder. Pete O'Brien had been the Rangers first baseman in 1988, but signed after the season with Seattle as a free agent. The Rangers desperate for first baseman traded a boatload of young players including 12-game winner Kilgus and young would-be closer Williams. Wilkerson was a weak-hitting middle infielder that the Cubs mistakenly tried to convert to third. Moyer is now a two-time twenty-game winner but he was coming off a 9-15 year in Chicago and would go just 6-15 in two seasons with the Rangers.

ToTeam	Player	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
TEX	Hall	1	5	0	4	0	0	0	0
CHN	Kilgus	15	9	0	3	4	0	0	0
CHN	Benitez	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
TEX	Moyer	22	145	0	1	7	77	0	0
CHN	Delgado	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
TEX	Palmeiro	25	346	0	17	7	199	0	7
CHN	Wilkerson	25	9	0	1	0	0	0	0
CHN	Williams	25	50	0	12	10	25	0	7
CHN	Wilson	0	15	0	5	0	0	0	0

#4:

Date: August 30, 1990
Trade: Boston sent Jeff Bagwell to Houston for Larry Andersen.
Pre Career WS: -63
Post Career WS: 338
Pre Year WS: -10
PostYearWS: -3
WSAB Pre Career: -22
WSAB Post Career: 237
WSAB Pre Yr: -6
WSAB Post Yr: -2

What do you need Jeff Bagwell for if you have Wade Boggs and you need a middle reliever?

Bagwell was a single-hitting third baseman in Double-A at the time. The Sox won the AL East by two games and Andersen pitched very well before leaving as a free agent. Bagwell became the 'Stros starting first baseman the next season, developed a bit of power, and may join Boggs in the Hall of Fame when all is said and done. I was living in Boston at the time of the trade and knew, as many did, that this was a mistake. By the way, the starting Boston first baseman was Carlos "The Q" Quintana.

ToTeam	Player	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
BOS	Andersen	63	24	10	3	22	8	6	2
HOU	Bagwell	0	362	0	0	0	245	0	0

#5:

Date: December 9, 1982
Trade: New York Yankees traded Fred McGriff, Dave Collins, Mike Morgan, and cash to Toronto for Dale Murray and Tom Dodd.
Pre Career WS: -63
Post Career WS: 338
Pre Year WS: -10
PostYearWS: -3
WSAB Pre Career: -22
WSAB Post Career: 237
WSAB Pre Yr: -6
WSAB Post Yr: -2

"You want some kid who's a year out of high school as a throw-in? Sure"

Yeah, Murray wasn't very effective as a long reliever in New York, but this was just a bad trade for five years. In 1987, Fred McGriff became the Blue Jays starting first baseman, and though he may always be seven dingers away from a Cooperstown plaque, he makes this one memorial. Even without McGriff, Collins remained a steady starting outfielder and Morgan was then a young starter. Murray had just pitched 111 innings in relief the year before, but even so, you can't trade this much for a middle reliever.

McGriff had just parts of two seasons in the Gulf Coast League under his belt. In his first partial season after being drafting by the Yankees, he batted .148.

The same day the Yankees signed Steve Kemp to a five-year contract. Really.

ToTeam	Player	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
TOR	Collins	81	52	0	10	20	7	0	0
NYA	Dodd	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
TOR	McGriff	0	341	0	0	0	173	0	0
TOR	Morgan	6	131	0	1	0	54	0	0
NYA	Murray	60	3	0	3	27	0	0	0

#6:

Date: November 29, 1971
Trade: Cincinnati sent Lee May, Tommy Helms, and Jimmy Stewart to the Astros for Jack Billingham, Ed Armbrister, Cesar Geronimo, Denis Menke, and Joe Morgan.
Pre Career WS: 152
Post Career WS: 389
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 33
WSAB Pre Career: 111
WSAB Post Career: 233
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 19

The Reds traded Lee May for who? Are they crazy?

In a deal panned by the Cincinnati press, the Reds picked up three big pieces of the Big Red Machine in Morgan, Geronimo, and Billingham. After falling from 102 wins in 1970 to just 79 in 1971, the Reds were ready to run off ten straight winning seasons with two world championships, three league championships, and five division titles.

The Reds gave up two established starting position players. May had just hit 39 home runs for the Reds. He would remain productive, but would never be a superstar. Helms had been a starting second baseman in Cincy for six years, was a rookie of the year, and had just won two straight Gold Gloves.

This was a trade that would have made Billy Beane proud.

ToTeam	Player	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CIN	Armbrister	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
CIN	Billingham	29	77	0	10	9	34	0	4
CIN	Geronimo	1	103	0	9	0	23	0	0
HOU	Helms	67	47	0	14	11	12	0	4
HOU	May	98	127	0	24	46	43	0	14
CIN	Menke	154	22	0	14	67	4	0	4
CIN	Morgan	155	357	0	39	92	227	0	29
HOU	Stewart	22	1	0	1	0	0	0	0

#7:

Date: January 20, 1965
Trade: Three-team deal--The White Sox get Tommy John, Tommy Agee and Johnny Romano from Cleveland and send Cam Carreon to Cleveland and a player to be named later (Fred Talbot), Jim Landis, and Mike Hershberger to the Kansas City. Also,Kansas City sent Rocky Colavito to Cleveland.
Pre Career WS: -96 (White Sox transactions only)
Post Career WS: 371
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 8
WSAB Pre Career: -22
WSAB Post Career: 231
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 15

Again Beane would be proud: Horn your way into a deal and get the players you want in the process. The Sox pick up two young Tommies as Colavito returns to Cleveland. The Sox give up quantity, a number of players that they no longer need or want, and get youthful quality.

ToTeam	Player	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CHA	Agee	0	139	0	0	0	69	0	0
CLE	Carreon	29	3	0	2	0	0	0	0
CLE	Colavito	211	62	0	28	120	26	0	18
KCA	Hershberger	33	48	0	6	5	6	0	0
CHA	John	3	286	0	12	0	153	0	6
KCA	Landis	132	19	0	9	58	0	0	0
CHA	Romano	99	37	0	20	41	16	0	10
KCA	Talbot	4	21	0	7	0	1	0	1

#8:

Date: April 21, 1966
Trade: The Cubs sent Larry Jackson and Bob Buhl to the Phillies for Ferguson, John Herrnstein and Adolfo Phillips.
Pre Career WS: -312
Post Career WS: 338
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 5
WSAB Pre Career: -185
WSAB Post Career: 215
WSAB Pre Yr: -1
WSAB Post Yr: -1

Well, there it is. The Phils trade a future Hall of Famer for two starters that were 35 and 37 years old. Jackson would be decent for three years in Philly rotation but Buhl would last just 137.1 innings and win 6 games in slightly over one year with the Phils. After Leo Durocher converted Fergie to a starter, he would win twenty games in six straight seasons starting in 1967.

ToTeam	Player	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
PHI	Buhl	145	2	0	2	71	0	0	0
CHN	Herrnstein	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
PHI	Jackson	177	48	0	19	114	29	1	12
CHN	Jenkins	2	321	0	12	0	218	0	7
CHN	Phillips	2	67	0	14	0	26	0	4

#9:

Date: July 29, 1988
Trade: Baltimore gets Brady Anderson and Curt Schilling from Boston for Mike Boddicker.
Pre Career WS: -79
Post Career WS: 363
Pre Year WS: -5
PostYearWS: -7
WSAB Pre Career: -47
WSAB Post Career: 207
WSAB Pre Yr: -5
WSAB Post Yr: -4

I had just settled in at Boston when this trade went down. Mike BODdicker became Mike Bod-DECK-er in the deal, and my ears nascently introduced to a Bah-stan accent were highly offended.

Anderson had faltered earlier in the season and was back in Triple-A. Boddicker was an established starter. Boddicker would have two and one-half reliable to very good seasons in Boston. Anderson would have a pretty good career in Baltimore. Schilling again becomes a thrown-in awaiting to bloom.

The Red Sox did win a division that year and again two years later with Boddicker in the rotation.

ToTeam	Player	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
BAL	Anderson	2	212	2	1	0	93	0	0
BOS	Boddicker	81	51	7	8	47	26	5	4
BAL	Schilling	0	202	0	0	0	140	0	0

#10:

Date: December 10, 1971
Trade: California gets Nolan Ryan, Frank Estrada, Don Rose, and Leroy Stanton from the Mets for Jim Fregosi.
Pre Career WS: -199
Post Career WS: 340
Pre Year WS: 0
PostYearWS: 26
WSAB Pre Career: -124
WSAB Post Career: 202
WSAB Pre Yr: 0
WSAB Post Yr: 20

And here's the trade, any mention of which every Met fan dreads. It should put to rest the "Quantity for Quality" argument. Fregosi was a very good player with the Angels but a) faltered with the Mets and b) would still not have been fair compensation for Ryan. Never trade a young pitcher with Ryan's natural skills even if he can't find the plate.

ToTeam	Player	Pre Career WS	Post Career WS	Pre Year WS	Post Year WS	WSAB Pre Career	WSAB Post Career	WSAB Pre Yr	WSAB Post Yr
CAL	Estrada	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
NYN	Fregosi	223	38	0	10	127	0	0	0
CAL	Rose	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
CAL	Ryan	24	310	0	24	3	182	0	18
CAL	Stanton	0	68	0	12	0	20	0	2

To be continued…

Other entries in the Trade Series:

Mike: I’ll Take Manhattan: Baseball’s Most Lopsided Trades

Studes: The Best and Worst Teams of the Trade

The Best and Worst Teams of the Trade: Revisted

Here is a quickie aperitif while we finalize the transaction data for future multi-course meals. We have been adding in-season and interstitial Win Share metrics to add more depth, hopefully, to the analysis (and because I love trying to make update queries work in Access).

Anyway, here's a taste, and don't worry: it's wafer thin. First, here are the players who traded midseason after accumulating the greatest Win Shares totals for their original teams. And the Cliff Floyd double entry is not a typo. It is the aftereffect of his being laundered in MLB's washing machine, the then-Expos, and then presented as a gift to John Henry's Red Sox:

Name	WS Pre	FromTeam	ToTeam	Month	Day	Year
Rickey Henderson	22	OAK	TOR	07	31	1993
Mudcat Grant	20	OAK	PIT	09	14	1970
Steve Buechele	18	TEX	PIT	08	30	1991
Bill Doran	18	HOU	CIN	08	30	1990
Willie McGee	18	SLN	OAK	08	29	1990
Larry Doyle	18	NYG	CHN	08	28	1916
Cliff Floyd	17	MON	BOS	07	30	2002
Cliff Floyd	17	FLO	MON	07	11	2002
Frank Robinson	17	CAL	CLE	09	12	1974
Doc Gessler	16	BOS	WAS	09	00	1909
Andy Coakley	16	CIN	CHN	09	00	1908
Scott Rolen	16	PHI	SLN	07	29	2002
Denny Neagle	16	PIT	ATL	08	28	1996
Rick Honeycutt	16	TEX	LAN	08	19	1983
Johnny Grubb	16	CLE	TEX	08	31	1978
Harold Baines	16	CHA	TEX	07	29	1989
Ruben Sierra	15	TEX	OAK	08	31	1992
Todd Zeile	15	FLO	TEX	07	31	1998
Mark McGwire	15	OAK	SLN	07	31	1997
Rick Reuschel	15	PIT	SFN	08	21	1987
Casey Stengel	15	PIT	PHI	08	00	1919
Glenn Wilson	14	PIT	HOU	08	18	1989
Rickey Henderson	14	SDN	ANA	08	13	1997
Roy Cullenbine	14	WAS	NYA	08	31	1942
Kevin Seitzer	14	MIL	CLE	08	31	1996
Charlie Hickman	14	CLE	DET	08	07	1904
Randy Velarde	14	ANA	OAK	07	29	1999
Greg Vaughn	14