MLB Trade Deadline: Top 25 midseason deals of all-time

8. Tigers acquire Doug Fister, July 30, 2011

In some instances, a well-timed trade deadline deal can have a huge impact on the career arc of one of the players involved. Doug Fister was a mediocre pitcher in his first two major league season, posting a 9-18 record and 4.11 ERA in 39 appearances with the Seattle Mariners. However, Fister improved in his third season, and though he posted a hard-luck 3-12 record in 21 starts, Fister had a 3.33 ERA for the club, which drew the attention of the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers acquired Fister one day before the 2011 trade deadline, and he put together a terrific stretch, going 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA, 2.48 FIP, 0.839 WHIP and 57 strikeouts with just five walks in 11 appearances (10 starts) in the regular season.

Fister’s good work helped Detroit win the AL Central by 15 games, and the Tigers made it to the ALCS before being beaten by the Texas Rangers. Fister picked up a win in his only start in the ALCS after allowing two earned runs in 7.1 innings.

Though Fister wasn’t as dominant in his first full season with the club in 2012, he posted a solid 3.45 ERA in 26 regular season starts, and pitched brilliantly in the postseason. Fister had a quality start in every playoff series in 2012, including 6.1 shutout innings against the Yankees in the ALCS. He allowed just one run in six innings against the Giants in Game 2 of the World Series, but was saddled with the loss. The Tigers were swept in four games.