Keep the Receipt?: Re-examining Eight Offseason MLB Trades

Making trades are a vital part of a general manager's job. There are great general managers who usually make the right decisions and those who can't seem to ever get things right.

Here are eight trades from the offseason. Who came out on top for each deal? Do you agree or disagree?

Edwin Jackson for Matt Joyce

Trade: The Tampa Bay Rays send Edwin Jackson to the Detroit Tigers for Matt Joyce

Winner: Detroit Tigers

This might have been the steal of the offseason. Matt Joyce has potential, but hasn't been useful at all as a Ray. In 11 games, he's batted .188 with seven RBI and a .270 on-base percentage. He's also only batting .267 in AAA-Durham.

On the other hand, Edwin Jackson is an All-Star. Jackson is 7-5 with a 2.52 ERA, 101 strikeouts, and a fantastic 1.08 WHIP. He has provided stability to a rotation that would be damaged without him.

Nick Swisher and Kanekoa Texeira for Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez, and Jhonny Nunez

Trade: The Chicago White Sox send Nick Swisher and Kanekoa Texeira to the New York Yankees for Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez, and Jhonny Nunez

Winner: New York Yankees

Well, let's see. Wilson Betemit has been designated for assignment after batting .200 with three RBI in his backup role.

In AAA-Charlotte, Jeff Marquez is 2-8 with a 9.95 ERA, and 2.06 WHIP.

Jhonny Nunez has been good, being in AA-Birmingham and AAA-Charlotte, and compiling a 3-0 record and 2.15 ERA in 30 games.

Nick Swisher has been good for the Yankees, especially during the early stretch of the season. Swisher is batting .235 with 14 home runs, 47 RBI, and an .821 OPS. That's a lot more value than Wilson Betemit.

In AA-Trenton, Texeira is 7-5 with a 2.88 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 68.2 innings pitched.

Matt Holliday for Huston Street, Greg Smith, and Carlos Gonzalez

Trade: The Colorado Rockies send Matt Holliday to the Oaklan Athletics for Huston Street, Greg Smith, and Carlos Gonzalez

Winner: Colorado Rockies

Now, Holliday hasn't been bad. He's batting .276 with nine home runs, 47 RBI, and a .795 OPS. However, those aren't usual Holliday numbers.

Also, the fact is that the Rockies have been winning and the A's haven't been.

Huston Street has been a great replacement for Brian Fuentes. Street has 23 saves in 24 opportunities with a 2.68 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.

Carlos Gonzalez hasn't been great with a .213 batting average and five RBI in 30 games.

Greg Smith is in the minors with a 2-2 record and a 4.72 ERA.

Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan for Brent Lillibridge, Tyler Flowers, Jon Gilmore, and Santos Rodriguez

Trade: The Chicago White Sox send Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan to the Atlanta Braves for Brent Lillibridge, Tyler Flowers, Jon Gilmore, and Santos Rodriguez

Winner: Atlanta Braves

Javier Vazquez has been brilliant. Vazquez is 7-7 with a 2.86 ERA, 141 strikeouts, and a minuscule 1.05 WHIP. Boone Logan has only played in eight games for the Braves, and has looked decent with a 2.16 ERA.

Brent Lillibridge was playing in the majors, but was awful, batting .162 without an RBI. He's also only batting .253 in AAA-Charlotte.

Jon Gilmore has that same batting average in A-Kannapolis. Santos Rodriguez has a 1.50 ERA in the Rookie-Class minors. Tyler Flowers looks like he has a bright future, batting .296 with 14 home runs, 44 RBI, and a .435 on-base percentage in between AA-Birmingham and AAA-Charlotte.

Coco Crisp for Ramon Ramirez

Trade: The Boston Red Sox send Coco Crisp to the Kansas City Royals for Ramon Ramirez

Winner: Boston Red Sox

Coco Crisp is injured and done for the year. He was only batting .228 with 14 RBI in 49 games.

Ramon Ramirez has been great for the Red Sox. He has eight holds with a 2.27 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.

Jason Marquis for Luis Vizcaino

Trade: The Chicago Cubs send Jason Marquis to the Colorado Rockies for Luis Vizcaino

Winner: Colorado Rockies

Jason Marquis is an All-Star, leading the MLB in wins. Marquis is 12-6 with a 3.49 ERA and 1.26 WHIP.

Luis Vizcaino has since been designated for assignment by the Cubs and he now pitches for the Cleveland Indians.

Mike Jacobs for Leo Nunez

Trade: The Florida Marlins send Mike Jacobs to the Kansas City Royals for Leo Nunez

Winner: Florida Marlins

Mike Jacobs hasn't been good at all for the Royals. He's batting .225 with 13 home runs, 33 RBI, and a .305 on-base percentage. He also is a strikeout machine (83).

Leo Nunez has been a reliable reliever for the Marlins. He has 13 holds with a 3.60 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. He's also filled in as the closer as Matt Lindstrom went on the disabled list.

Luis Valbuena for Franklin Gutierrez

Trade: The Cleveland Indians send Franklin Gutierrez to the Seattle Mariners for Luis Valbuena

Winner: Seattle Mariners

OK, the deal was a bit more complicated than this. But this was the main jist.

Luis Valbuena is batting .219 with 4 home runs, 11 RBI, and a .280 on-base percentage in 45 games.

Franklin Gutierrez has been excellent for the Mariners, batting .295 with 12 home runs, 42 RBI, and an .814 OPS. He also plays good defense.