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MLB Power Rankings: Each team’s best trade ever

By Dave Stevenson

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)
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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Mandatory Credit: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images /

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians have made two extremely good trades in the past 30 years. One netted them Kenny Lofton, who was a catalyst of the Indians almost-dynasty of the 1990’s and is a borderline Hall of Famer. The second one netted them a Cy Young winner, Brandon Phillips, and an extremely good player when healthy in Grady Sizemore. Even considering that the Indians traded Phillips for dirt cheap in 2006 and had to watch him become one of the best second basemen in the MLB, this was a brilliant trade for the Indians.

Bartolo Colon only stuck around in Montreal for one season, though the value of getting to watch Colon bat is quite high from an entertainment point of view. The Indians got Cliff Lee who won a Cy Young with them. He pitched eight seasons for them with a career ERA of 4.01. Lee won 63.4 percent of his decisions with Cleveland.

Sizemore wound up being the crown jewel of this trade. One has to wonder what he could have accomplished had it not been for injuries. Injuries completely derailed his career, but not before he was able to give the Indians some excellent seasons. He gave the Indians four excellent seasons, during which he was a popular fantasy baseball player because of his ability to hit for average, hit for power, and steal bases. It’s extremely unfortunate that he suffered multiple injuries because his future sure looked bright when he was 25 years old.

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