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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CHICAGO, IL – JULY 08: Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field on July 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – JULY 08: Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field on July 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

23. Jake Arrieta to the Cubs, 2013

  • Cubs get: Jake Arrieta, Pedro Strop
  • Orioles get: Scott Feldman, Steve Clevenger

The 2013 Orioles were attempting to go back to the playoffs after shocking the world in 2012. Giving up on Jake Arrieta and going after a more established starter seemed to be the right move, at least in the mind of GM Dan Duquette. Hard to blame him, as Arrieta was 1-2 at the time with a 7.23 ERA. In parts of four years with the Orioles, the former top prospect went 20-25 with a 5.46 ERA and 4.0 walks per nine. He never could get on the same page as the Orioles pitching instructors.

The O’s were 47-37 when they pulled the plug on Arrieta and picked up Feldman. They went 38-40 the rest of the way and missed the playoffs. Feldman was a pedestrian 5-6 with a 4.27 ERA after the trade and left in the offseason. Arrieta went to the Chicago Cubs and got his mechanics figured out in a matter of weeks.

Arrieta’s first full season with the Cubs came in 2014 and he went 10-5 with a 2.53 ERA, officially shedding the bust label that followed him out of Baltimore. His 2015 season would be truly epic, and one of the most shocking in MLB history. From August 4 to October 2, Arrieta started 12 games and went 11-0 with a 0.41 ERA. He threw his first career no-hitter on August 30 against the Los Angeles Dodgers and ended the year 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA.

In the two years that have followed Arrieta’s incredible 2015 season, he has not been able to produce quite the same magic, but he has still been solid. Arrieta won two games in the 2016 World Series and also tacked on another no-hitter. This trade will forever haunt Orioles fans, as their organization’s inability to work with Arrieta likely cost the franchise a shot at the 2014 World Series.

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