The absolute worst trade in the history of every MLB team
By Tim Boyle
Worst trade in Milwaukee Brewers history: Nelson Cruz and Carlos Lee to the Texas Rangers
On July 28, 2006, the Milwaukee Brewers sent two sluggers to the Texas Rangers for Julian Cordero, Francisco Cordero, Kevin Mench, and Laynce Nix. Those two sluggers were Nelson Cruz and Carlos Lee.
None of the players the Brewers got had particularly good careers with the team. Lee was tremendous down the stretch in 2006, slashing .322/.369/.525 with 9 home runs in his 59 games.
The real loss came when Cruz developed into such a powerful hitter. Although it would take until 2009 for him to reach double digits in home runs, he has been one of MLB’s most consistent home run hitters in the years since.
Worst trade in Minnesota Twins history: Johan Santana to the New York Mets
The Minnesota Twins did their best to compete in the early and mid-2000s with a relatively low payroll. One member of the organization during this time was star pitcher Johan Santana, the 2004 and 2006 Cy Young winner. A key part of their success, the Twins sent him to the New York Mets prior to the 2008 season.
The trade benefitted the Mets greatly and they made it better when they immediately signed him to an extension. In return, Minnesota got Carlos Gomez (before he was good), Deolis Guerra, Philip Humber, and Kevin Mulvey. Even if you watched the Twins from a distance, you know they lost this deal.
This trade was another one of those symbolic ones as well. Santana had more to give and at the time of the trade there were no injury concerns. He’d go on to become a beloved member of the Mets and even pitched the first no-hitter in franchise history. The Twins were left with practically nothing.
Worst trade in New York Mets history: Tom Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds
Sure, the New York Mets may have won the trade for Johan Santana but many years earlier they were the epic losers in a deal involving a man known as “The Franchise,” Tom Seaver. At the 1977 trade deadline, the Mets shipped him to the Cincinnati Reds in what became known as the “Midnight Massacre.”
The Mets were going into full rebuild mode and willing to part with the greatest player in franchise history. It became an epic debacle. The franchise wouldn’t be the same for several more years.
The Mets did get some quality in the deal, receiving four players total. Doug Flynn, Steve Henderson, Dan Norman, and Pat Zachry was the haul. For any of the good they were able to provide the Mets, it hardly made up for the lack of Seaver on the roster.