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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CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 25: CHICAGO, IL: Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs circa 1988 bats at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illionois (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 25: CHICAGO, IL: Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs circa 1988 bats at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illionois (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Ryne Sandberg from the Phillies, 1982

  • Cubs get: Ryne Sandberg, Larry Bowa
  • Phillies get: Ivan de Jesus

There have been but a few Cubs players over the years to have as big an impact as Ryne Sandberg, who was a 20th-round pick by the Phillies in 1978 out of high school. Coming up through the minor leagues, Sandberg had excellent power numbers for a middle infielder. For some reason, the Phillies though his path to a full-time job was blocked by shortstop Larry Bowa.

During the 1982 offseason, contract talks between the Phillies and Bowa broke down and the club decided to trade him and get a new shortstop. Instead of just giving the job to Sandberg, they traded him too for light-hitting Ivan de Jesus. At 22, Sandberg hit .271/.312/.372. de Jesus hit .239/.309/.313 for the Phillies.

Over a 16-year career, Sandeberg would eventually establish himself as one of the best offensive second basemen in MLB history while also providing slick defense. He retired in 1997 as a 10-time All-Star with nine Gold Gloves, seven Silver Sluggers, the 1984 NL MVP award, 2,386 hits, 344 stolen bases and 282 home runs. Sandberg was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005.

This does go down as one of the worst trades in MLB history, far worse than the Smoltz-Alexander trade. In his three seasons with the Phillies, de Jesus had an OPS of .637, which was bad even for a middle infielder in the 1980s. Coincidentally, both Bowa and Sandberg would eventually return to manage the Phillies.

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