Fansided

Each MLB team’s best trade ever

By Joshua Sadlock

SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 19: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 19, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 6-2. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 19: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 19, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 6-2. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS – JUNE 15: Shannon Stewart #23 of the Minnesota Twins runs the bases against the San Francisco Giants during the game on June 15, 2005 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images).
MINNEAPOLIS – JUNE 15: Shannon Stewart #23 of the Minnesota Twins runs the bases against the San Francisco Giants during the game on June 15, 2005 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images). /

Minnesota Twins: Shannon Stewart from the Blue Jays, 2003

  • Twins get: Shannon Stewart, Dave Gassner
  • Toronto Blue Jays get: Bobby Kielty

The Twins were the small-market darlings of the early 2000s, making the playoffs six times in nine seasons from 2002 to 2010. While the Twins never got over the hump during Joe Mauer’s prime, their run is still impressive given the fact that they were often outspend by tens of millions of dollars.

In 2003, the Twins were coming off their first trip to the playoffs since winning the World Series in 1991. In the middle of July, the Twins were sitting five games below .500 at 44-49 and working on an eight-game losing streak while 7.5 games out of first place. Enter Shannon Stewart, one of the best (and forgotten leadoff men of the early 2000s).

With Stewart as their leadoff man, the Twins would go on a 46-23 roll, winning the AL Central with 90 wins. In 65 games with the Twins in 2003, Stewart batted .322/.384/.470 with 22 doubles and six home runs. His hot hitting carried over into the playoffs, where he batted .400/.471/.533 in a loss to the Yankees.

Stewart would go on to play three more years with the Twins, hitting .294/.354/.418 with 71 doubles and 29 home runs. He missed most of the 2004 and 2006 seasons with plantar fasciitis. Stewart hung on for one more good year in 2007, but was forced to retire at the age of 34 with over 1,600 career hits. He is one of the best players ever to not make a single All-Star Game.

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