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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SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 12: Former San Diego Padre Trevor Hoffman reacts on the field prior to the 87th Annual MLB All-Star Game at PETCO Park on July 12, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Andy Hayt/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 12: Former San Diego Padre Trevor Hoffman reacts on the field prior to the 87th Annual MLB All-Star Game at PETCO Park on July 12, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Andy Hayt/Getty Images) /

San Diego Padres: Trevor Hoffman from the Marlins, 1993

  • Padres get: Trevor Hoffman, Andres Berumen, Jose Martinez
  • Marlins get: Gary Sheffield, Rich Rodriguez

This trade was already discussed here on the Marlins side of the ledger. Now, let’s take a look at it from the Padres vantage point. At the time of the trade, Sheffield was a bit of a malcontent who was approaching free agency for a small market team with no designs on keeping him long term. It was in San Diego that Sheffield truly blossomed into a star. He made great use of his 214 games with the Padres, batting .319/.372/.546 and contending for the Triple Crown in 1992 while winning the batting title.

Hoffman was a completely unproven converted infielder who was taken by the Marlins in the expansion draft. His rookie season in Florida had gone fairly well, but there was little indication that he would develop one of the best changeups in MLB history and eventually hold the all-time saves record.

In 16 years with the Padres, Hoffman became one of the constants on the roster with Tony Gwynn. He made six All-Star teams and saved 552 games in San Diego while striking out 9.7 per nine. His strikeout numbers pale in comparison to the totals registered by some of the flame-throwing relievers in today’s MLB, but Hoffman routinely struck out more than 10 per nine in an era where that was unheard of.

Hoffman’s development into an elite closer saved the Padres from total embarrassment in trading away Sheffield. Berumen and Martinez both had only a cup of coffee in the major leagues while Sheffield went to Florida and helped lead the Marlins to a World Series before going on to hit more than 500 home runs.

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