MLB Power Rankings: Each team’s best trade ever

PHOENIX, UNITED STATES: Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Luis Gonzalez (R) celebrates his game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 9th inning off of New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera (42) during Game 7 of the World Series in Phoenix, AZ, 04 November, 2001. The Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees 3-2, winning the series four games to three and become the 2001 world champions. AFP PHOTO/Timothy A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images) /

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Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies, much like the Baltimore Orioles, took advantage of a team that believed that they were selling high on a player. It turns out that they most definitely were not. The Phillies jumpstarted their franchise by trading for Steve Carlton, giving up Rick Wise in the process. Now, Wise was a very solid pitcher for the Cardinals. But he is no Steve Carlton. Carlton gave the Phillies the ace that they needed to contend in the National League.

With the Phillies, Carlton won four National League Cy Young awards. He led the league in wins four times (each of the years that he won the Cy Young), led the league in innings pitched five times, strikeouts five times, and ERA once. In 15 seasons in Philadelphia, Carlton started 499 games, winning 241 of them. He pitched 3,697 1/3 innings while striking out 3,031 batters. Carlton led the team to a World Series title in 1980 and to another World Series appearance in 1983, where they would be beaten by the Orioles.

His 329 career wins ranks 11th all-time. Carlton also ranks ninth in innings pitched, sixth in games started, and 14th in shutouts. The Phillies got an ace and they didn’t even have to give one up to get him. A devastating trade by the Cardinals – imagine if they had kept Carlton!

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