10 Biggest February MLB Trades Since 2000
By the time the calendar flips to February, most of the wheeling and dealing of the MLB offseason is in the rearview mirror and players are gearing up for the start of spring training.
However, there have been some massive blockbuster trades completed in the month of February, headlined by the deal that saw future Hall of Famer Mookie Betts join a dynasty on the rise when he was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ahead we've counted down the 10 biggest February trades of the last 25 years, and Betts is far from the only bona fide superstar who has found a new home in the final month of the offseason.
The trades were ranked based on both the impactful nature of the deal at the time it was completed, and the impact it ultimately had for both teams that were involved.
Honorable Mentions
1 of 11
Feb. 19, 2012: Pirates acquire SP A.J. Burnett, cash from the Yankees in exchange for RP Diego Moreno, OF Exicardo Cayones
The Yankees absorbed $20 million of the $33 million still owed to Burnett over the final two seasons of a five-year, $82.5 million contract to get this deal done, and the change of scenery proved hugely beneficial for the veteran starter. He went a combined 26-21 with a 3.41 ERA and 389 strikeouts in 393.1 innings during the 2012 and 2013 seasons in Pittsburgh, bouncing back from a disappointing run in pinstripes.
Feb. 21, 2012: Cubs acquired GM Theo Epstein, 1B Jair Bogaerts from the Red Sox in exchange for RP Chris Carpenter, RP Aaron Kurcz
Theo Epstein joined the Cubs on a five-year contract on Oct. 12, 2011, following a hugely successful run steering the Red Sox front office. However, because he was still under contract in Boston, compensation was needed to complete the deal and those specifics were not formally nailed down until February. The prospects ended up being of little consequence, but it was still a major step in finalizing a transformational move by the Cubs organization.
Feb. 12, 2021: Dodgers acquire RP Alex Vesia, SP Kyle Hurt from the Marlins in exchange for RP Dylan Floro
In five seasons with the Dodgers, Vesia has logged a 2.67 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 12.1 K/9 with 13 saves and 75 holds in 295 appearances, providing stability to a relief corps that has been something of a revolving door around him. To his credit, Floro had a decent run in Miami, tallying 32 saves in three seasons, but there's little question the Dodgers won this trade.
10. Sammy Sosa to the Orioles
2 of 11
Date: Feb. 2, 2005
Transaction: Orioles acquire OF Sammy Sosa, cash from the Cubs in exchange for IF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr., 2B Mike Fontenot, SP Dave Crouthers
Why The Trade Happened: After years as the face of the franchise, Sammy Sosa's time with the Cubs came to a bitter end when he left the stadium early during the final game of the 2004 season and effectively severed his relationship with the team in the process.
The Cubs Result: Slugger Jeromy Burnitz was signed to a one-year deal to plug the hole in right field, and he had a 24-homer, 87-RBI season in 2005. Meanwhile, Mike Fontenot turned in a 3.3-WAR season in 2008, developing into a better-than-expected return piece in the salary dump.
The Orioles Result: The O's rolled the dice on Sosa having something left after he logged a 114 OPS+ and slugged 35 home runs in his final season with the Cubs, but the tank was dry. The 36-year-old hit .221 with a 78 OPS+ and only 14 home runs in 102 games in his lone season in Baltimore, but it was ultimately a low-risk move since the Cubs paid the bulk of his 2005 salary.
9. Khris Davis to the Athletics
3 of 11
Date: Feb. 12, 2016
Transaction: Athletics acquire DH Khris Davis from the Brewers in exchange for C Jacob Nottingham, SP Bubba Derby
Why The Trade Happened: After a 94-loss season, the Brewers set to work rebuilding under new GM David Stearns, trading away Francisco Rodríguez, Adam Lind, Jean Segura and others.
The Brewers Result: Outfielder Khris Davis was the last big piece to be moved following a modest 27-homer season in 2015, and catcher Jacob Nottingham looked like a good get at the time. He hit .316/.372/.505 with 17 home runs and 82 RBI in 119 games between Single-A and High-A in 2015, but failed to develop as hoped.
The Athletics Result: Davis exploded for 42 long balls in his Athletics debut, and over his first three seasons with the team, his 133 home runs were the most in all of baseball. The falloff was fairly steep after that impressive three-year peak, but he was a fan-favorite during his time with the team and earned MVP votes in 2017 and 2018, including an eight-place finish in the balloting in 2018.
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8. Corbin Burnes to the Orioles
4 of 11
Date: Feb. 1, 2024
Transaction: Orioles acquire SP Corbin Burnes from the Brewers in exchange for SS Joey Ortiz, SP DL Hall, 2024 supplemental round pick
Why The Trade Happened: After imploding their relationship with ace Corbin Burnes to save roughly $600,000 in arbitration, the Brewers had little choice but to sell high and trade him ahead of his final year of club control since a long-term extension was not in the cards.
The Brewers Result: Joey Ortiz has been a staple on the left side of the Milwaukee infield the last two seasons, though he took a significant step backward at the plate last year while shifting from third base to shortstop to replace Willy Adames. Lefty DL Hall still has a high-octane arm, but it's looking more and more like his future is in the bullpen. University of Tennessee slugger Blake Burke was taken with the No. 34 overall pick in the 2024 draft, which also changed hands in the deal, and he had an .832 OPS with 16 home runs and 82 RBI in 132 games while reaching Double-A in 2025.
The Orioles Result: Burnes gave the Orioles staff the bona fide ace it was lacking, going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 181 strikeouts in 194.1 innings to finish fifth in AL Cy Young voting for a 91-win team. However, the front office failed to use his year in Baltimore to convince him to stay long-term and he signed a six-year, $210 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks in free agency.
7. J.T. Realmuto to the Phillies
5 of 11
Date: Feb. 7, 2019
Transaction: Phillies acquire C J.T. Realmuto from the Marlins in exchange for SP Sixto Sánchez, C Jorge Alfaro, SP Will Stewart, international bonus pool money
Why The Trade Happened: After watching Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and Dee Strange-Gordon all get traded as new ownership stripped the roster to the studs, J.T. Realmuto requested a trade in December and forced the Marlins hand.
The Marlins Result: Sixto Sánchez was the No. 13 prospect in 2019, while catcher Jorge Alfaro also had a Top 100 pedigree. It was an impressive return on paper, and the scales remained balanced when Sánchez capped off a strong 2020 debut with five shutout innings against the Cubs in the playoffs. However, shoulder issues derailed his career and Alfaro never took another step forward, leaving the Marlins as the clear losers.
The Phillies Result: Realmuto was a 4.5-WAR player in his Phillies debut, winning Gold Glove and Silver Slugger while finishing 14th in NL MVP voting. It was more of the same during the shortened 2020 campaign, and the Phillies locked him up with a five-year, $115.5 million contract in free agency. With 24.9 WAR over seven seasons, he will go down as one of the best backstops in franchise history.
6. Johan Santana to the Mets
6 of 11
Date: Feb. 2, 2008
Transaction: Mets acquire SP Johan Santana from the Twins in exchange for OF Carlos Gómez, SP Philip Humber, RP Deolis Guerra, SP Kevin Mulvey
Why The Trade Happened: Similar to the Brewers trading Corbin Burnes, the Twins had no hope of signing Johan Santana to a long-term deal, so they sold high ahead of his final year of club control in hopes of restocking the farm system.
The Twins Result: The Twins haul was headlined by Carlos Gómez, who was the No. 52 prospect in baseball, and right-hander Philip Humber, who was the No. 3 pick in the 2004 draft and a former Top 100 prospect. Both found success elsewhere, but did little in Minnesota, though Gomez brought back J.J. Hardy in a trade with the Brewers two years later.
The Mets Result: Santana was the best pitcher in baseball, coming off a four-year stretch where he went 70-32 with a 2.89 ERA and 983 strikeouts in 912.1 innings while winning two Cy Young Awards. He led the NL in ERA (2.53) and innings (234.1) in his Mets debut, and pitched well in 2009 and 2010, but injuries limited him to 117 total innings over the final three seasons of the six-year, $137.5 million extension he signed after joining the team.
5. Adam Jones, Chris Tillman to the Orioles
7 of 11
Date: Feb. 8, 2008
Transaction: Mariners acquire SP Erik Bedard from the Orioles in exchange for OF Adam Jones, SP Chris Tillman, RP George Sherrill, RP Kam Mickolio, SP Tony Butler
Why The Trade Happened: After back-to-back 90-loss seasons, the Orioles were in full rebuilding mode when they shipped ace Erik Bedard to the Mariners in a blockbuster offseason deal.
The Orioles Result: The Orioles got a franchise icon (Adam Jones), a rotation anchor (Chris Tillman) and an All-Star closer (George Sherrill) in this trade, with those three players racking up a combined 42.9 WAR during their time in Baltimore. It stands as one of the best trades in franchise history and one that reshaped the organization during the 2010s.
The Mariners Result: The Mariners thought they were getting an ace after Bedard went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 182 innings in 2007. Instead, he made just 15 starts in 2008 before he was sidelined with shoulder issues, and Seattle went on to lose 101 games. A torn labrum then ended his 2009 season prematurely and cost him all of 2010, and he never returned to frontline form.
4. Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals
8 of 11
Date: Feb. 1, 2021
Transaction: Cardinals acquire 3B Nolan Arenado, cash from the Rockies in exchange for SP Austin Gomber, 3B Elehuris Montero, IF Mateo Gil, SP Tony Locey, RP Jake Sommers
Why The Trade Happened: Two years after signing Nolan Arenado to an eight-year, $260 million extension, the Rockies front office put him on the trade block, fractured the relationship with their homegrown star and demolished any leverage they might have had in trade talks.
The Rockies Result: The return for the Rockies was nothing short of a disaster, with Austin Gomber (601.2 IP, 5.31 ERA, 3.0 WAR) and Elehuris Montero (739 PA, 74 OPS+, -1.7 WAR) the only players who suited up in the big leagues for the Rockies, and both are now playing elsewhere. The fact that they also included $51 million in cash is salt in the wounds.
The Cardinals Result: Despite a poor 2025 season that led to the Cardinals selling low in a salary dump with the D-backs this winter, the Arenado era in St. Louis was a success. In five seasons, he was a three-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner and slugged 118 home runs while tallying 18.1 WAR.
3. Ken Griffey Jr. to the Reds
9 of 11
Date: Feb. 10, 2000
Transaction: Reds acquire OF Ken Griffey Jr. from the Mariners in exchange for OF Mike Cameron, SP Brett Tomko, IF Antonio Pérez, RP Jake Meyer
Why The Trade Happened: With free agency looming after the 2000 season and the Seattle organization not prepared to pony up the money needed to sign him to an extension, the Mariners made the tough decision to trade Ken Griffey Jr. before presumably losing him for nothing more than draft compensation a year later.
The Mariners Result: Mike Cameron won two Gold Gloves and racked up 18.4 WAR in four seasons with the Mariners while serving as Griffey's immediate replacement in center field, but the rest of the return package was a bust. The arrival of Ichiro Suzuki and a 116-win season a year later went a long way in cushioning the blow, as he immediately stepped into the "face of the franchise" void.
The Reds Result: The narrative of bringing Griffey home to Cincinnati where he grew up while his dad was a member of the "Big Red Machine" was a huge win for the Reds, and they signed him to a nine-year, $112.5 million extension. The 30-year-old superstar had a 40-homer, 5.5-WAR season in 2000, but he battled injuries the remainder of his time in Cincinnati and finished with 210 home runs and 12.8 WAR in 945 games. Unfortunately, he never played a single playoff game in a Reds uniform.
2. Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees
10 of 11
Date: Feb. 16, 2004
Transaction: Yankees acquire 3B Alex Rodriguez, cash from the Rangers in exchange for 2B Alfonso Soriano, IF Joaquín Arias
Why The Trade Happened: The Rangers gave Alex Rodriguez a record-shattering 10-year, $252 million contract in free agency, and he piled up 25.5 WAR and 156 home runs in three seasons with the team, but they lost 89, 90 and 91 games. Hamstrung by his salary, they decided to pivot and trade him in search of financial flexibility to upgrade the rest of the roster.
The Rangers Result: Despite improving to 89 wins in the first season following the trade, the Rangers did not make the playoffs again until 2010. Alfonso Soriano was an All-Star and Silver Slugger in both of his seasons with the Rangers before he was traded to the Nationals. It was revealed years later that Texas was given a list of prospects to pick from as the second piece of the deal, and it included a young Robinson Cano. Oops.
The Yankees Result: It was the first time in MLB history a reigning MVP was traded, and the Yankees made the move to replace an injured Aaron Boone at third base after he tore his ACL playing basketball during the offseason. His tenure in pinstripes is a complicated one, with highs that included his 3,000th hit, two MVPs and a World Series ring, and the lowest of lows in a high-profile PED suspension.
1. Mookie Betts to the Dodgers
11 of 11
Date: Feb. 10, 2020
Transaction: Dodgers acquire OF Mookie Betts, SP David Price, cash from the Red Sox in exchange for OF Alex Verdugo, SS Jeter Downs, C Connor Wong
Why The Trade Happened: Avoiding losing him for nothing in free agency and ducking under the luxury-tax threshold are stock answers for why the Red Sox moved Betts, but there is no excuse for a major market team not locking up a homegrown, generational talent. This was one of the worst trades in MLB history, from both a logic and a return standpoint.
The Red Sox Result: Did anyone really expect Alex Verdugo to balance the scales in this trade? The longtime Dodgers prospect hit .281/.338/.424 for a 105 OPS+ with 8.1 WAR in four seasons with the Red Sox before he was traded to the rival Yankees. Top prospect Jeter Downs never went 6-for-39 with 21 strikeouts in a Red Sox tenure that amounted to 14 games, while Connor Wong is the last piece left standing in Boston as a useful second-tier catcher.
The Dodgers Result: This was the move that launched a dynasty, and the fact that the Dodgers also managed to squeeze some useful innings out of David Price in a bullpen role was icing on the cake. Betts signed a 12-year, $365 million extension with the Dodgers, and over his first six seasons with the organization, he has 32.7 WAR, four All-Star selections and three World Series rings.
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