Fansided

Top 25 MLB trades of all time

By Joshua Sadlock

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)
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) /
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SEATTLE, UNITED STATES: Seattles Mariners pitcher Randy Johnson hurls a pitch during the third playoff game in the American league division series against the Yankees in Seattle 06 October. The Yankees are ahead 2-0 in the series. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES: Seattles Mariners pitcher Randy Johnson hurls a pitch during the third playoff game in the American league division series against the Yankees in Seattle 06 October. The Yankees are ahead 2-0 in the series. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images) /

5. Randy Johnson to the Mariners, 1989

  • Mariners get: Randy Johnson, Gene Harris, Brian Holman
  • Expos get: Mark Langston, Mike Campbell

If this trade had happened, MLB fans all over the world may never have been treated to the full potential of Randy Johnson. The Montreal Expos had made him a second-round pick out of UCLA in 1985, but had little luck getting the 6’10” Johnson to throw strikes. He walked over seven per nine coming up through the Expos farm system, and was walking nearly eight per nine at the time of the trade.

Johnson’s command did not improve immediately with the Seattle Mariners, but he made strides quickly. In his first three full seasons with Seattle, Johnson led MLB in walks three times, but was also getting over 10 strikeouts per nine. Late in the 1992 season, Johnson had a throwing and advice session with Nolan Ryan that helped him hone his mechanics. The transformation finally occurred, and he produced an eight-inning, 18-strikeout masterpiece in a head-to-head matchup with Ryan. Fun fact — Johnson threw 160 pitches in that game, which has not been topped by an MLB pitcher since.

With Ryan’s suggestion to change how his front foot landed, Johnson broke out in 1993 and dominated the American League. He went 19-8 with a 3.24 ERA and the first of his six 300-strikeout seasons. Johnson finished second in the AL Cy Young voting.

Johnson had a 10-year peak from 1993 to 2002 where he went 175-58 with a 2.73 ERA and 12 strikeouts per nine. He led MLB in strikeouts eight times. From 1999 to 2002, Johnson joined Greg Maddux as the only pitcher to win four consecutive Cy Young awards. He was the co-MVP of the 2001 World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks and is also the oldest pitcher in MLB history to throw a perfect game. The Big Unit ended his career with 303 wins.

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