NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 09: Pitcher Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning of a game at Citi Field on April 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
MILWAUKEE – SEPTEMBER 28: Starting pitcher CC Sabathia of the Milwaukee Brewers pumps his fist after pitching a complete game as they celebrate clinching the National League Wild Card against the Chicago Cubs at Miller Park on September 28, 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Brewers defeated the Cubs 3-1. (Photo by Darren Hauck/Getty Images) /
15. The best rental pitchers
Rental pitchers are often the hottest commodity at the trade deadline. Adding a legitimate ace to a rotation can often be enough to push a team 10 more games over .500 down the stretch. That can be the difference between making the playoffs and finishing a game out. Let’s go through some of the most notable rental arms that helped shape a pennant race.
David Price to the Blue Jays, 2015: Price went 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 starts after being traded to the Blue Jays. Without him, the team probably does not end their playoff drought that had stretched all the way back to 1993. The Jays did not show much interest in re-signing Price, and the first two years of his $217-million deal in Boston have left something to be desired.
Doug Fister to the Tigers, 2011: Fister was 3-12 when the Mariners traded him to the Tigers, but had a 3.33 ERA. Finally given some run support in Detroit, Fister raced to an 8-1 record in 11 games with a 1.79 ERA. The Tigers were able to win the first of four straight division titles.
Cliff Lee to the Phillies (2009) and Rangers (2010): In back-to-back years, Cliff Lee played a large part in deciding one of the World Series teams. In 2009, he went 4-0 for the Phillies, but they came up just short in the Fall Classic. The next year, he went 3-0 in the ALDS and ALCS before running into some trouble in the World Series. Lee won his first seven career playoff starts with a 1.26 ERA and three complete games.
CC Sabathia to the Brewers, 2008: There’s riding a rental pitcher to the finish line because you know you’re not going to re-sign him, and then there’s the Seabiscuit treatment the Milwaukee Brewers gave CC Sabathia in 2008. Somehow, his arm stayed attached to his body after throwing 130.2 innings in 17 starts with seven complete games. Sabathia went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA for the Brewers and got them to the playoffs.
Randy Johnson to the Astros, 1998:
The National League didn’t know what hit it when Randy Johnson landed with the Houston Astros at the trade deadline in 1998. He went 10-1 down the stretch with a 1.28 ERA and struck out 116 in 84.1 innings. The Astros won 102 games, but lost in the NLDS.
