Ranking the Biggest Blockbuster Trades of the Last Decade
Turkey and cranberry sauce brought out the daredevil in Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane.
In one of the more reckless moves of the offseason, Beane traded All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson to the Toronto Blue Jays Friday for Brett Lawrie, Franklin Barreto, Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin, as reported by ESPN.com.
It's not the first time Beane has gone off script. In July, he dealt one of Oakland's best prospects, Addison Russell, to the Chicago Cubs for wide receiver-turned-starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija. Later that month, he pulled the trigger again, landing Jon Lester in a deal that sent Yoenis Cespedes to Boston.
The Donaldson swap got us thinking: What's the biggest blockbuster trade ever? Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Los Angeles Lakers? George Costanza for an unlimited supply of Tyler Chicken?
Pinpointing the biggest trade of all time would take months, so we'll stick to the last decade. Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and Chris Paul are just a few of the big names who have changed clothes over that span.
The rankings are based on a number of factors, including star power, shock value and league-wide impact. If you're looking for under-the-radar deals, you've come to the wrong place. These trades all grabbed our attention one way or another.
20. Toronto Blue Jays Acquire Jose Reyes from Miami Marlins (2012)
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Well, that was quick. One year after signing a six-year pact with the Miami Marlins, Reyes was dealt to Toronto as part of a 12-player trade. He underachieved in Miami (.287 batting average in 642 at-bats), but the trade, which also included All-Star pitchers Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson, was still unexpected.
If the "Miami trading half its roster away" narrative sounds familiar, that's because it is. The Marlins' history of fire sales dates back to 1997, when they unloaded almost their entire team after winning the World Series. Kevin Brown, Josh Beckett, Miguel Cabrera, Adrian Gonzalez, Mike Lowell, Hanley Ramirez, Gary Sheffield, Dan Uggla and Dontrelle Willis headline a long list of players Miami has traded over the years.
With Reyes on board in 2014, the Blue Jays logged their first winning season since 2010. They could be even better in 2015 thanks to the addition of Josh Donaldson. Give general manager Alex Anthopoulos credit for making the Blue Jays competitive again.
19. New Jersey Nets Acquire Deron Williams from Utah Jazz (2011)
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With Deron Williams' contract set to expire and the Jazz trending downward, it became clear D-Will's future would not be in Utah. Not wanting to be left empty-handed, the Jazz did the sensible thing and sent Williams to New Jersey for Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and a pair of first-round picks.
Williams got the payday he was looking for by staying with the Nets, but so far, playoff success has eluded him. Last season, Brooklyn barely made it out of the first round before getting manhandled by Miami in the conference semifinals. With Paul Pierce gone and Kevin Garnett nearing the end of his career, it might be even harder for the Nets to make noise in 2014-15.
At least D-Will's ankle seems to be feeling better. He's fifth among Eastern Conference point guards in scoring this season at 17.9 PPG.
18. New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning Swap Captains (2014)
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The New York Rangers pulled off a rare captain swap by trading Ryan Callahan for Martin St. Louis in 2014.
The trade made sense for both sides. Callahan was playing hardball with the Rangers and seemed unlikely to re-sign after the season. Meanwhile, St. Louis was upset with general manager Steve Yzerman for not including him on Canada's Olympic hockey team. After weeks of speculation, the deal finally fell into place on March 5.
Neither team has much to complain about. St. Louis helped New York advance to its first Stanley Cup Final in 20 years, while Callahan led Tampa Bay back to the postseason after a three-year drought.
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17. San Jose Sharks Acquire Joe Thornton from Boston Bruins (2005)
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The Boston Bruins put all their eggs in the Joe Thornton basket by taking him with the first pick of the 1997 NHL draft. Somehow, Thornton was able to live up to his massive hype, but that didn't stop Boston from trading him in 2005.
Thornton had just signed a new three-year contract when the B's told him to pack his bags and head for the Left Coast. He made Boston pay for its mistake, leading the league in scoring and winning the Hart Trophy in his first season with San Jose.
The Bruins have never been afraid to make blockbuster trades. Since the Thornton deal, Boston has sent top scorers Phil Kessel and Tyler Seguin to Toronto and Dallas, respectively. It hasn't hurt them, as the Bruins have made two Stanley Cup Final appearances in the last four seasons, winning one of them.
16. Philadelphia Phillies Acquire Cliff Lee from Cleveland Indians (2009)
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It's rare to win a Cy Young Award and find yourself on the trading block less than a year later. But that's exactly where Cliff Lee found himself in 2009.
With Cole Hamels having an off year, the trade for Lee couldn't have come at a better time for the Philadelphia Phillies. Lee was lights out in the playoffs, finishing 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five starts.
Despite his dominance, Lee was traded twice more before finally becoming a free agent after the 2010 season. He returned to the Phillies, setting up one of the most dominant starting rotations in league history (Hamels, Lee, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt).
Unfortunately, that season would represent the high-water mark for the Phillies. Plagued by an aging roster, Philadelphia hasn't finished above .500 since 2011.
15. New York Rangers Acquire Jaromir Jagr from Washington Capitals (2004)
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Assuming Jaromir Jagr's best days were behind him, the Washington Capitals traded him for New York right wing Anson Carter in January 2004.
Well, you know what they say about assumptions. As it turned out, Jagr had quite a bit left in the tank. In his first full season for the Blueshirts, Jagr tallied 54 goals and was second in the league in points behind San Jose's Joe Thornton.
Jagr lasted two more seasons in Broadway before leaving to play in Russia. He has since returned and is now playing in his 21st NHL season.
Jagr might play longer than Gordie Howe at this rate. Man, do we miss the mullet, though.
14. New England Patriots Acquire Randy Moss from Oakland Raiders (2007)
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At the time, this trade didn't have the feel of a blockbuster. The Oakland Raiders thought they were cutting their losses by dealing Moss for a fourth-rounder. The possibility of Moss catching balls from Tom Brady was interesting, but nobody knew quite what to expect.
What we should have expected was one of the greatest receiving seasons of all time. Here is Moss' 2007 season by the numbers: 98 catches, 1,493 yards and 23 touchdowns. This catch against the New York Giants in Week 17 gave Moss the single-season touchdown record while preserving New England's perfect 16-0 regular season.
Moss eventually wore out his welcome in Foxborough, but we'll never forget what he did in '07.
13. Denver Broncos Acquire Champ Bailey for Clinton Portis (2004)
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Champ and Clinton sounds like the name of a sitcom or some offbeat comedy directed by Judd Apatow. In reality, it was a blockbuster trade featuring two of the best players in football during 2004.
Portis was coming off his second consecutive 1,500-yard rushing season while Bailey had just been to his fourth Pro Bowl. It was a talent swap for the ages that benefited both teams.
Portis produced 1,000 yards rushing in four of his seven seasons with Washington, and Bailey recently finished off a Hall of Fame career by appearing in his first Super Bowl.
If you've never had the chance to meet any of Portis' alter egos, here's your ticket. Fair warning—it gets pretty weird.
12. Detroit Tigers Acquire Miguel Cabrera from Florida Marlins (2007)
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The Marlins did what? Not again!
The small-market Marlins decided to sell high on their All-Star third baseman, swapping Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis for Cameron Maybin and a slew of other top prospects.
Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski quickly emptied his wallet to make sure Cabrera would be a Tiger for life. Since then, he's won a Triple Crown, captured two MVP awards and led the Tigers to the American League pennant in 2012.
Recognizing their mistake in letting Cabrera go, the Marlins made sure to sign Giancarlo Stanton to a long-term deal as soon as possible.
11. New Jersey Nets Acquire Vince Carter from Toronto Raptors (2004)
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Before Drake started going to games with a lint roller, T Dot was all about Vince Carter.
But like a giant cookie, sometimes too much of a good thing is actually a bad thing. That's why Carter was dealt to New Jersey two months into the 2004-05 season. His impact was felt immediately, as the Nets surged to a postseason berth behind Carter's 27.5 PPG.
Carter's messy exit rubbed many Raptors fans the wrong way. Fortunately for Vince, time heals all wounds. When Carter returned to Toronto this season as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. This tribute would make any Raptors fan teary-eyed.
10. Philadelphia Phillies Acquire Roy Halladay from Toronto Blue Jays (2009)
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Do you smell what the Doc's cooking?
Roy Halladay's transition to the National League went seamlessly. In his first season with Philadelphia, Halladay finished with a 2.44 ERA across 250.2 innings. He pitched a perfect game against the Miami Marlins and topped the year off by throwing a no-hitter in his first postseason start.
It's easy to see who won this lopsided deal. Of the three prospects Toronto traded for, only Kyle Drabek is still on the team. To be fair, one of those prospects was Travis d'Arnaud, whom the Blue Jays ended up trading for Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey.
9. Philadelphia Eagles Acquire Terrell Owens from San Francisco 49ers (2004)
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We don't hear much from Terrell Owens any more, but back in 2004, he was in full-diva mode. After a trade with the Baltimore Ravens fell through, Owens was finally shipped to Philadelphia for Brandon Whiting and a fifth-round pick.
Owens was at his peak in 2004, racking up 77 catches for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first season with Philadelphia. He delivered a courageous effort in that year's Super Bowl, hauling in 122 yards on a bad leg against the New England Patriots.
Nothing was quite the same after that. Owens was released in 2006 and eventually signed with the rival Dallas Cowboys. If you're an Eagles fan, that's probably about the time you lit your Owens jersey on fire.
8. Chicago Cubs Acquire Nomar Garciaparra from Boston Red Sox (2004)
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Just like Martin St. Louis near the end of his tenure with Tampa Bay, Nomar Garciaparra was a founding member of the Hurt Feelings Club. Garciaparra was nearly traded to the Chicago White Sox as part of a deal that would have brought Magglio Ordonez to Boston. The deal didn't materialize, but Garciaparra's ego was bruised, and he never really got over it.
Every Red Sox fan remembers where they were when Nomar was traded. I remember I heard the news on my way home from a Manchester United-AC Milan soccer game at Giants Stadium. As hard as it was for Sox fans to say goodbye, the move paid off, as Boston went on to win the 2004 World Series.
Doug Mientkiewicz, who came to Boston as part of the four-team swap, was actually in Minnesota playing against the Red Sox when the trade was made. He simply switched dugouts and put on a new uniform.
Nomar was later given a standing ovation in his return to Fenway Park in 2009 as a member of the Oakland Athletics. He finished his career by signing a one-day contract with the Red Sox.
7. New York Knicks Acquire Carmelo Anthony from Denver Nuggets (2011)
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After months of trade rumors, the Denver Nuggets finally sent Carmelo Anthony to the Big Apple along with point guard Chauncey Billups. Corey Brewer, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton and Danilo Gallinari were also part of the trade.
Pairing Anthony with All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire was supposed to make the Knicks instant contenders. It didn't turn out that way, as New York stumbled to a 42-40 record and barely made the playoffs in 2011.
Since then, Melo has become something of an icon in New York City. After inking a new five-year deal this summer, he should be in New York for the long haul. Think Taylor Swift is excited? Let's check.
6. Boston Celtics Break Up the Big Three (2013)
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This one broke my heart. After 15 years in Boston, the Celtics could no longer handle The Truth. Or at least his salary demands.
On draft night, Paul Pierce was packaged with Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry in a landmark deal that brought Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Keith Bogans and MarShon Brooks to Beantown.
In his introductory press conference, Pierce was still stunned. Meanwhile, Humphries and company looked thrilled to be headed to Boston.
Pierce and KG finally got some closure when they returned to Boston this past January and were met with overwhelming support from the fans.
5. Boston Red Sox Unload Three All-Stars (2012)
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We all know the Miami Marlins love a good fire sale, but this housecleaning by the Boston Red Sox put them to shame. In an unprecedented salary dump, the Red Sox gave the Los Angeles Dodgers Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Nick Punto for James Loney and a handful of prospects.
No trade had ever involved so much money and so many big names. The deal was also historic because it came in August, well after the trade deadline.
Red Sox GM Ben Cherington pushed the restart button, and the baseball world applauded his ruthlessness. The team built on chicken and beer had officially been burned to the ground.
In 2013, we very nearly had a Dodgers-Red Sox World Series, which would have made for great television. Instead, the St. Louis Cardinals lost to Boston in six games.
The Red Sox cleaned house again in 2014 by trading away Jon Lester, John Lackey, Jake Peavy, Andrew Miller, Jonny Gomes and Stephen Drew. Boston's next blockbuster should involve outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
4. Miami Heat Acquire Shaquille O'Neal from Los Angeles Lakers (2004)
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Miami sure can. After acquiring Shaquille O'Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami quickly ascended to the top of the Eastern Conference. Miami won its first championship in 2006, just two years after Shaq's arrival in South Beach.
The Lakers found themselves at a crossroads in 2004. They had just lost an intense NBA Finals to the Detroit Pistons, and Karl Malone was headed for retirement. To make matters worse, head coach Phil Jackson was at the end of his rope with Kobe Bryant and his constant feuding with Shaq. Something had to give.
Finally, the Lakers sent Shaq packing, trading him to Miami for Brian Grant, Caron Butler, Lamar Odom and a first-round pick.
Initially, the Lakers slumped without Shaq, falling to 11th place in the Western Conference. They'd find their footing soon enough, though, returning to the finals in 2008 and winning back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. Those championships came shortly after trading for All-Star power forward Pau Gasol.
3. Boston Red Sox Trade Manny Ramirez for Jason Bay (2008)
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There's never been a player quite like Manny Ramirez, so why wouldn't he occupy the No. 3 spot on this list?
Ramirez became expendable after an altercation with the team's traveling secretary. Manny's erratic behavior continued, prompting Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein to make a move. Ramirez's departure became official when the Red Sox acquired Jason Bay and Josh Wilson from the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a three-team trade on July 31.
Ramirez played well for the Los Angeles Dodgers down the stretch but was busted for PED use the next season. This led to a 50-game suspension.
Bay hit 36 home runs for Boston in 2009 but left as a free agent after the season. After three brutal years with the New York Mets, the Red Sox are probably glad he didn't re-sign.
2. Los Angeles Clippers Acquire Chris Paul from New Orleans Hornets (2011)
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Lob City almost never happened. Six days before Chris Paul was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, a deal had been in place for Paul to join the Los Angeles Lakers.
Because the Hornets were owned by the NBA at the time, commissioner David Stern had the authority to overturn any transaction. Stern used his veto power to nullify the trade, keeping Paul in New Orleans for a few more days. Finally, Stern allowed the Clippers to acquire Paul for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and a first-round pick.
Who knows what would have happened if Paul had joined forces with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol? But I'm sure it would have been fun to watch.
1. Texas Rangers Trade Alex Rodriguez for Alfonso Soriano (2004)
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This was one for the record books. Mere months after winning the MVP award, Alex Rodriguez was nearly traded to the Boston Red Sox for Manny Ramirez. Instead, the MLB Players Association blocked the deal because Rodriguez would have had to take on a lower salary.
Just before the start of spring training, the New York Yankees swooped in with an offer Texas couldn't refuse. The Yankees acquired Rodriguez for All-Star second baseman Alfonso Soriano and Joaquin Arias.
The Yankees actually offered Texas its choice of five top prospects. One of those prospects was Robinson Cano. Not knowing Cano would be a perennial All-Star, the Rangers chose Arias instead.
In a surprising twist, Soriano and Rodriguez became teammates for a few months in 2013. A-Rod will return to New York as the full-time DH in 2015 after being suspended all of last season for his connections to PEDs.
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