MLB Hot Stove: Biggest February Trades in MLB History

February is officially the start of the new MLB season. 

Winter meetings have ended, and spring training is just around the corner. 

Normally, roosters have already been set at this time, but there have been many blockbuster trades during this month. 

Here are the ten biggest February trades in MLB history.

1. Alex Rodriguez To NY Yankees

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 22: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees bats against the Texas Rangers in Game Six of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on October 22, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers won 6-1. (Pho

Feb. 16, 2004-

This trade sent the MVP from the Texas Rangers to play with Jeter, Posada, Sheffield and others in the Bronx.  

Rodriguez quickly signed a record 252 million dollar extension, making him the highest paid player in MLB history. 

This trade gave the Yankees one of the most dangerous lineups in the AL, and a string of division titles and MVP awards would follow for Rodriguez. 

Although the Yankees were mostly a post-season disapointment with A-Rod, in 2009 he had a great postseason, with a batting average over .400 in the ALCS and 12 RBI's in nine games. 

His great postseason earned A-Rod his first ring and officially made him a Yankee in the eyes of the Bronx faithful.

2. Johan Santana To NY Mets

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

NEW YORK - AUGUST 28: Johan Santana #57 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros on August 28, 2010 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Feb. 1, 2008-

The "Santana Sweepstakes" was inevitable.  The Twins did not have enough money to pay the HOF pitcher, but no team had sent them an offer they felt worthy of their two time Cy Young winner. 

The Yankees were thought to be the front runners with a package that included pitching prospect Phil Hughes, but out of nowhere the Mets swooped in and got Santana with a package centered around OF Carlos Gomez. 

The unexpectedness of the trade sent shock waves across the league, as the Mets were never thought to be in the running for Santana, and many analysts thought the Twins could have gotten a better offer. 

The trade has yielded mixed results however.  Sanatana was his normal, dominate self for the Mets, but injuries and weak run support have limited his effectiveness.  The Twins meanwhile continue to dominate the AL Central despite the loss of their ace pitcher.

3. Ken Griffey Jr. To Cincinnati Reds

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - MAY 31: Ken Griffey Jr. #24 of the Seattle Mariners bats against the Minnesota Twins at Safeco Field on May 31, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Feb. 10, 2000-

Griffey at the time was considered the next Babe Ruth, and his desire to play closer to home gave the Reds the greatest player of the day. 

But, much like the Santana trade, injuries slowed down Griffey.  Season ending injuries happened from 2002-2004.

He had a resurgence in 2005, but other than that season he failed to hit over .300 for the Reds.  Overall, during his eight seasons in Cincinnati, he had over 100 runs only once, and over 100 RBI's only once. 

Griffey's brilliant career never got going in Cincinnati, leading fans to wonder what could have been. 

4. Ozzie Smith To St. Louis Cardinals

Michael Buckner/Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - JULY 11: Former MLB player Ozzie Smith at bat during the MLB All Star Game Celebrity Softball Game at Angels Stadium of Anaheim on July 11, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

Feb. 19, 1982-

The greatest defensive shortstop ever, Smith won 13 straight gold gloves and is the MLB record holder for career double-plays and assists.

Problems between Padres ownership and Smith lead to the trade.

Smith recalled "He (Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog) made me feel wanted, which was a feeling I was quickly losing from the Padres."

After flying to Sand Diego to talk to Smith, the trade was completed, and in his first season with the Cardinals, Smith was a World Series Champion.   

5. Steve Carlton To Philadelphia Phillies

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 25: Steve Carlton throws out the first pitch before the Philadelphia Phillies take on the Tampa Bay Rays during game three of the 2008 MLB World Series on October 25, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Phot

Feb. 25, 1927-

In one of the most loopsided trades in MLB history, Carlton was traded straight up to the Phillies for P Rick Wise. 

Wise would only play two seasons for the Cardinals before being traded to the Red Sox, while the Phillies got one of the best LHP of all-time. 

Carlton lead the NL in ERA, strikeouts, and complete games that season, winning his first Cy Young. 

In the following 13 years playing for the Phillies, Carlton won another three Cy Young's and a World Series Title in 1980. 

He was inducted into the HOF in 1994.  

6. Sammy Sosa To Baltimore Orioles

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 6: Sammy Sosa #21 of the Texas Rangers stands at bat against the Oakland Athletics at Rangers Ballpark August 6, 2007 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Feb. 2, 2006-

Not a big trade in terms of what either teams got, but the Cubs trading an aging Sosa to the O's showed how the team was no longer going to deal with the swirl of steroid rumors that surrounded their star OF. 

The Cubs acquired Mike Fontenot, Dave Crouthers and Jerry Hairston Jr.  Fontenot would turn into a starter for the Cubs, but was traded to the Giants in 2010.

Sosa played just one season for the O's, taking a year off and then joining the Texas Rangers, where he would hit his 600th career home run (ironically, against the Cubs). 

7. Roger Clemens To NY Yankees

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 07: Starting pitcher Roger Clemens #22 of the New York Yankees deals against the Cleveland Indians during Game Three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 7, 2007 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (P

Feb. 18, 1999- 

The Yankees were a year removed from winning a World Series title and a record-setting 125 games during the regular season, but that did not stop them from acquiring Clemens. 

David Wells, the fan favorite who was made expendable through the trade had this to say on the infamous day: "I'm a little emotional right now... Give me a couple of days.  It's a little hard right now." 

The trade was clearly unexpected to both Wells and Yankees fans alike. Clemens went on to win a World Series with the Yanks and won his sixth Cy Young. 

8. Mike Lowell To Florida Marlins

Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

MIAMI - APRIL 23: Mike Lowell #19 of the Florida Marlins waits for the pitch against the Cincinnati Reds on April 23, 2005 at Dolphins Stadium in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)

Feb. 1, 1999-

The Yankees traded Lowell for Mark Johnson, Ed Yarnall, and Todd Noel.  Only Yarnall would appear in a regular season game for the Yankees (he won one career game). 

Lowell had surgery for cancer later that month and his first season for the Marlins was forgetable.  But, after that, his gold-glove defense at third and RBI production made him one of the best 3B in the game. 

In 2003, his Florida Marlins defeated the Yankees for Lowell's first World Series title.  Talk about a trade biting you in the ass.

9. Greg Vaughn To Cincinnati Reds

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

3 Jun 2001: Greg Vaughn #23 of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays swings at the ball during the game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners defeated the Devil Rays 8-4.Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule Jr /Allsport

Feb. 2, 1999-

Coming off a World Series title and a 50 home run season, Vaughn was dealt to the Reds for Reggie Sanders, Damian Jackson, and Josh Harris. 

Vaughn holds the distinction of being the first player traded after a 50 home run season, and he had a great following year in Cincinnati, hitting 45 homers. 

However, the following year he went to Tampa in free agency.  

Jackson and Harris failed to make a major impact for the Padres, while Sanders, much like Vaughn, had one very good year for San Diego before leaving for Atlanta. 

10. Manny Trillo To Philadelphia Phillies

Image courtesy of OOTP11.com

Feb. 23, 1979-

Trillo and Cubs SS Ivan DeJesus formed a great double play combination, so it was a bit of a shock when the Cubs traded him to the Phillies. 

He won his first career Gold Glove that season, and a World Series title the next. 

He went on to have a successful career with 3 Gold Gloves, 4 All-Star Selections, and 2 World Series Championships.