10 best MLB waiver trades since 2000

Jul 21, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) hit a solo home run off of Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Kendall Graveman (31), not in picture, during the sixth inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /

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Aug 12, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Los Angeles Dodgers hat and glove in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

In 2006, the Los Angeles Dodgers found themselves in the thick of a heated division race with their National League West rival, the San Diego Padres.

On August 31st, the Dodgers struck a deal to acquire veteran outfielder Marlon Anderson from the Washington Nationals in exchange for 20-year pitching prospect Jhonny Nunez. At the time, the move was considered to be a big risk. Nunez was one of the top pitchers in the Gulf Coast League, while Anderson was hitting a respectable, but not great, .274 with five home runs.

As it turned out the deal would end up being extremely lopsided, except in the Dodgers’ favor.

Nunez would appear in just seven games in his entire career, recording a 9.53 earned run average for the Chicago White Sox in 2009. Anderson, on the other hand, would play a major role in the Dodgers’ playoff run.

The 32-year old outfielder would hit .375 with an outstanding seven home runs during a 25-game stint with the Dodgers to end the 2006 regular season. While the Padres would win the division, Los Angeles still managed to make the playoffs as a wildcard team.

The Dodgers would be swept in the first round by the New York Mets, but Anderson who hit .308 in the series, was certainly not to blame.

Anderson struggled in limited action to start the 2007 season, and was traded to the Mets, where he would salvage the season by hitting .319 in 43 games.

Next: Pirates trade Brian Giles to the Padres for Jason Bay, Oliver Perez and Cory Stewart

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