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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 30
Next
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 23: Former Boston Red Sox player Pedro Martinez #45 looks on during the David Ortiz #34 jersey retirement ceremony before a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Fenway Park on June 23, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 23: Former Boston Red Sox player Pedro Martinez #45 looks on during the David Ortiz #34 jersey retirement ceremony before a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Fenway Park on June 23, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Boston Red Sox: Pedro Martinez from the Expos, 1997

  • Red Sox get: Pedro Martinez
  • Montreal Expos get: Carl Pavano, Tony Armas

Looking at the franchise now, it’s hard to imagine the Red Sox were at one point in the mid-1990s looking for an identity and a direction. They had just lost Roger Clemens after the 1996 season and had a rotation without a leader. Boston had an exciting core of young players that included Nomar Garciaparra and Mo Vaughn, but no one to pitch. They turned to the small-market Expos and grabbed Pedro Martinez leading into his walk year.

In his first season in Boston, Martinez went 19-7 with a 2.89 ERA, finishing second in the AL Cy Young vote. The Red Sox made the playoffs, but could not get to the ALCS. Martinez re-signed with Boston and the rest is history. Over the next five seasons, the small right-hander strung together some of the best performances in MLB history. From 1999 to 2003, Martinez went 82-21 with a 2.10 ERA and 1,205 strikeouts in 933 innings. He won two Cy Youngs, had a 300-strikeout season and pitched to an ERA almost three times better than the league average in 1999.

With Martinez, the Red Sox were able to win their first World Series in nearly 90 years in 2004. He finished his seven-year career in Boston with a 117-37 record and a 2.52 ERA in the height of the Steroid Era. Carl Pavano would go onto have a solid career, winning over 100 games and pitching for the World Series champion Florida Marlins in 2003, but he is remembered more for his struggles with injuries after signing a massive free-agent contract with the New York Yankees. Tony Armas never capitalized on his immense potential and finished his 10-year career with a losing record.

Home/MLB