The absolute worst trade in the history of every MLB team
By Tim Boyle
Worst trade in Pittsburgh Pirates history: Aramis Ramirez to the Chicago Cubs
What is it with Pennsylvania baseball teams making bad trades with the Chicago Cubs? This one might not involve a Hall of Fame player but it still stings because of the rivalry between the Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates.
In mid-2003, the Pirates sent star third baseman Aramis Ramirez and outfielder Kenny Lofton along with some cash to the Cubs. They received Mike Bruback, Jose Hernandez, and Bobby Hill in the deal. The Cubs weren’t even kind enough to include any propane or propane accessories.
Ramirez was already an established slugger at this point. However, with the Cubs, he was even better. He would go on to hit 239 home runs for them while batting .294. The well-traveled Lofton was a more minor part of the deal but he did bat .327/.381/.471 in 236 plate appearances for the Cubs. That certainly counts for something and helps make this an even worse deal.
Worst trade in San Diego Padres history: Ozzie Smith to the St. Louis Cardinals
Baseball fans of a certain age might not even believe Ozzie Smith ever played for a team other than the St. Louis Cardinals. It happened. His career began with the San Diego Padres. It was with the Cardinals he would grow as a hitter and become one of those rare baseball stars known for their defense.
The 1981 trade that sent Smith from San Diego to St. Louis involved a lot of players to be named later. By the time all of the paperwork was complete, it included Smith, Steve Mura, and Al Olmsted going to the Cardinals for Sixto Lezcano, Garry Templeton, and Luis DeLeon.
Templeton was probably the biggest addition the Padres made but his batting average dropped more than 50 points during his time in San Diego. The Cardinals received a legend in this trade. The Padres only got a few helpful pieces.
Worst trade in San Francisco Giants history: George Foster to the Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds of the 1970s were a team built, in part, through some great trades. One of the early deals they made was the 1971 swap with the San Francisco Giants for George Foster.
The Reds landed the future MVP in exchange for Frank Duffy and Vern Geishert. Duffy would play only 21 games for the Giants and hit .179 in 1971 before joining the Cleveland Indians and being a mostly forgettable player. Geishert never played in the major leagues again.
Surrounded by talent, Foster was on his way to a great career full of home runs. Although he started slow, he would belt 52 home runs in 1977. From 1976-1978, he was the National League leader in RBI. The Giants definitely wish they could have this trade back.