The absolute worst trade in the history of every MLB team
By Tim Boyle
Worst trade in Cincinnati Reds history: Christy Mathewson to the New York Giants
I’m going to guess you’re too young to remember Christy Mathewson. One of baseball’s first great pitchers of the 1900s, he spent a very short time with the Cincinnati Reds before getting traded to the New York Giants. He would eventually end his career there but not before winning 373 games and posting a 2.13 ERA with the Giants.
It’s bad enough to give up a Hall of Fame pitcher. But what the Reds got back in return makes it even worse.
The player they received in the deal was Amos Rusie. A fantastic pitcher in the 1800s, he made only 3 appearances for the Reds after the deal and pitched to an 8.59 ERA in those 22 innings. This might be the worst trade that we don’t talk about enough.
Worst trade in Cleveland Guardians history: Rocky Colavito to the Detroit Tigers
Whether they were the Cleveland Naps, Indians, or Guardians, the worst trade the Cleveland baseball franchise ever made has its own lesser curse. Rocky Colavito was a young stud outfielder fresh off of hitting a league-leading 42 home runs for the 1959 team. Then Cleveland decided to trade him on April 17, 1960.
It became known as the “Curse of Rocky Colavito.” The franchise had already been through a short championship drought with their last coming in 1948. As of 2022, they still haven’t won the big one again.
The player Cleveland received in the deal, Harvey Kuenn, spent just a single season in the city before he was traded away to the San Francisco Giants. Colavito bloomed further in Detroit prior to returning to Cleveland for the 1965 season. By this point, the curse was set and the worst trade in club history was done.
Worst trade in Colorado Rockies history: Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals
The tale of this recent Colorado Rockies trade is far from over. We’re still only a few chapters into what the Nolan Arenado trade will ultimately become. However, the early indication is that the Rockies didn’t get much in return for one of the best third basemen in baseball.
The trade sent five players to the Rockies from the St. Louis Cardinals for Arenado. Still under contract through the 2027 season, he’s an investment the Cardinals decided to make for the present and the next few years before he inevitably begins to decline. Through one year, Arenado looks like he was worth it.
This is one of those trades that even if it doesn’t work out perfectly for St. Louis fans will remember with unkind words. It was symbolic to trade away Arenado shortly after signing him to a massive extension. Do the Rockies even want to win?