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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PITTSBURGH, PA – CIRCA 1992: Andy Van Slyke #18 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for this portrait prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game circa 1992 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Van Slyke played for the Pirates from 1987-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – CIRCA 1992: Andy Van Slyke #18 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for this portrait prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game circa 1992 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Van Slyke played for the Pirates from 1987-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Pittsburgh Pirates: Andy Van Slyke from the Cardinals, 1987

  • Pirates get: Andy Van Slyke, Mike LaValliere, Mike Dunne
  • Cardinals get: Tony Pena

From 1990 to 1992, the Pirates won 289 games and came painfully close to going to the World Series, twice losing the NLCS in seven games. It’s not up for debate that Barry Bonds was the best player on those Pirates teams, but he was not the most popular. That honor goes to Gold Glove center fielder Andy Van Slyke.

Van Slyke was the type of scrappy, hard-nosed player who resonated perfectly with the blue-collar fans of Pittsburgh. He spent eight years with the Pirates and won five Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers while making three trips to the All-Star Game. Van Slyke batted .283/.353/.458 with 117 home runs and 134 stolen bases. He finished fourth in the NL MVP vote in 1988 and 1992. The center fielder led the majors with 15 triples in 1988 and led the NL in hits and doubles in 1992.

This trade would have been a win for the Pirates if Van Slyke was the only piece they received, but Mike LaValliere was a solid catcher who backstopped the team for seven years and hit .278/.363/.351 for his Pirates career. While he wasn’t much with the bat, LaValliere still gave the Pirates more than Pena gave the Cardinals at the same position.

The era of winning baseball for the Pirates came to an abrupt end after Bonds walked following the 1992 season. Van Slyke made one final All-Star Game in 1993 before his career began to unravel at the young age of 33. He was unceremoniously dumped by the Orioles in 1995 after hitting .159/.221/.317 in 17 games and retired at the end of the year.

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