MLB Trade Deadline: The 5 Biggest Blockbuster Trade Busts of the Decade

Cliff Lee to the Yankees! Prince Fielder to the Giants! Dan Haren to the Cardinals! Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox!

As the 2010 Trade Deadline approaches—and speculation runs rampant regarding this year’s potential blockbuster deals—we should temper the frenzy by revisiting the decade’s biggest blockbuster busts.

Every fan hopes his team’s general manager will venture into the trade market and go all-in on a mammoth bat or a top-of-the-rotation ace—a difference maker who will carry his team to the playoff promised land.

Yet, as many of these monster trades successfully shift the balance of power and launch the buyers on a powerful postseason run, just as many prove impotent and meaningless.

An aging star fails to produce. A rising star has already reached his zenith. Prospects hastily dealt today mature into the All-Stars of tomorrow.

Woe to the team that deals away a future MVP for an early exit in the division series. Woe to the general manager that mortgages his franchise’s future for a late-season rental who just can’t deliver.

These are the Five Biggest Blockbuster Busts of the Decade.

5. New York Mets Acquire Victor Zambrano from Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Buyer: New York Mets
Seller: Tampa Bay Devil Rays

It's 2004, the Mets are struggling to stay a half dozen back with only three real starters (sound familiar?), the Devil Rays are still just the unproven bottom feeder of the American League East, Rays GM Chuck LaMar sees a big opportunity, and Mets interim GM Jim Duquette is trying to make a splash worthy of a long-term deal.

The Mets acquire Victor Zambrano and Bartolome Fortunato.

The Devil Rays receive Scott Kazmir and Jose Diaz.

New York finishes 25 back and Zambrano pitches only 14 innings for them that season. He goes on to be thoroughly horrible for two more years.

Scott Kazmir goes on to lead the Majors in strikeouts in 2007 with 239. Although he's recently fallen on tough times, Kazmir continues to flash his genius here and there.

4. Arizona Diamondbacks Acquire Dan Haren from Oakland Athletics

Buyer: Arizona Diamondbacks
Seller: Oakland Athletics

It's late 2007, Dan Haren is coming off a career year and is hotly sought after, Billy Beane is looking to get even younger than young, and Arizona has the requisite young talent and desire to make a second consecutive postseason run.

Arizona acquires Dan Haren and Conner Robertson.

Oakland receives Dana Eveland, Greg Smith, Brett Anderson, Chris Carter, Aaron Cunningham, and Carlos Gonzalez.

Arizona has only grown worse since this deal, though Haren's stock remains high, and he could fetch Arizona a decent return of prospects this month.

Brett Anderson and Dana Eveland have made this trade largely worth it from Oakland's perspective. Beane probably couldn't have done much better, and the Athletics wouldn't have ever been a contender even with Haren.

3. St. Louis Cardinals Acquire Mark Mulder from Oakland Athletics

Buyer: St. Louis Cardinals
Seller: Oakland Athletics

It's late 2004, the St. Louis Cardinals are trying to improve coming off a World Series defeat, and the Oakland Athletics are becoming GM Billy Beane's personal guinea pigs for his "Moneyball" theories.

St. Louis acquires Mark Mulder.

Oakland receives Dan Haren, Kiko Calero, and Daric Barton.

While the Cardinals go on to win a World Series in 2006, Mark Mulder's 7.14 ERA doesn't really factor into that.

Although traded later, Haren became filthy in Oakland, so much so that St. Louis now wants him back (albeit from Arizona), Calero was excellent for two years, and Barton is still developing, though he's not been a huge success.

2. Seattle Mariners Acquire Erik Bedard from Baltimore Orioles

Buyer: Seattle Mariners
Seller: Baltimore Orioles

It's 2008, the Seattle Mariners are coming off a strong 2007 season, the Baltimore Orioles are reeling as usual, Erik Bedard has just posted career numbers, Seattle GM Bill Bavasi wants to go for it in 2008, and Baltimore GM Andy McPhail is trying to prove he can rebuild the Orioles.

The Mariners acquire Erik Bedard.

The Orioles receive Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio, and Tony Butler.

Plagued by injuries, Bedard makes 30 starts in the following two and a half years and goes 11-7. The 2008 Mariners go 61-101.

Adam Jones becomes a legitimate All-Star and Gold Glove winner in Baltimore, and George Sherrill pitches lights out until he's traded himself for the likes of Josh Bell.

1. Montreal Expos Acquire Bartolo Colon from Cleveland Indians

Buyer: Montreal Expos
Seller: Cleveland Indians

It's 2002, the Montreal Expos are 6.5 games back in the National League East, Expo GM Omar Minaya wants to trade for a big arm, and Indian GM Mark Shapiro is trying to restock the farm.

The Expos acquire Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew.

The Indians receive Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips, and Lee Stevens.

Short-term rental Colon goes 10-4 with a 3.31 ERA, but Montreal finishes 19 games back in the NL East.

Cleveland trades away Phillips but watches Sizemore develop into an All-Star and Cliff Lee win a Cy Young award.