Trade Post: Greg Vaughn

Trade Post will look extensively into deals throughout Brewers history and weigh in on whether the trade was ultimately a good one for Milwaukee, while taking numerous factors into account. I figure there are few better places to start this offseason feature than to gaze back at a sad day in Brewers history – the day Milwaukee sent Greg Vaughn packing.

Before Leaving Town:
After Robin Yount retired, Vaughn was anointed leader and superstar of some terrible teams of the green logo years. He twice represented the team as an All-Star. In less than eight seasons of play (closer to seven), Vaughn clubbed 169 homers, including 31 by the trade deadline of 1996 – the year before he was to become a free agent. His value at the time of the trade was as lofty as the Brewers loss total, so the front office’s desire to have at least some of his $5.875 M salary picked up by someone else before Greg took his walking papers was somewhat understandable.

The Return:
On July 31, 1996 Milwaukee sent Vaughn and a player to be named later (Gerald Parent) to San Diego for 26-year-old RHP Bryce Florie, 26-year-old LHP Ron Villone and 23-year-old OF/DH Marc Newfield. Both Villone and Newfield were early first round draft picks of the ‘90s who hadn’t played to expectations to that point, so Milwaukee’s motive seemed to be shedding some of Vaughn’s salary, while fielding a bullpen/bench for the future – and capitalizing on whatever upside they possessed. Each of the players Milwaukee received had at least one year remaining on their contract at the time of the trade.

The Payoff:
Vaughn went on to resign with San Diego for more than Milwaukee could afford and put together a pretty good career for himself as a Padre, Red and Devil Ray. He made two more All-Star games. He became a member of the 50 HR Club in 1998. Gerald Parent didn’t do dick.

Florie pretty much stunk as a Brewer. In the remainder of 1996 and all of 1997 he pitched primarily out of the bullpen. He pitched 47 games total (94 innings) going 4-5 with an ERA close to five. Newfield went on to hit 11 homers and knock in 74 RBI… over two and a half seasons as a Brewer. He was released in 1998 and his career was over at age 25. Ron Villone put up great numbers for the Brewers in 73 appearances in a season and a half. His ERA was in the low threes in both Brew City campaigns.

Turned Into:
Villone was eventually packaged with Ben McDonald and Mike Fetters in a 1997 trade that brought Jeff Juden and Marquis Grissom to town.

The Winner:
San Diego. Though Milwaukee was able to field a team of low-paid/once promising players and obtain Ron Villone to shut the previously gaping door in his relief appearances, the Padres managed to sign re-sign Vaughn and get a 50 HR season out of him. The Brewers saved some money, but emerged on the wrong side of the trade with a black eye on its history by letting a homegrown superstar go in the bleakest of times.