Los Angeles Dodgers Trade News: Ned Colletti's 5 Worst Trades as GM

We all know that the Los Angeles Dodgers are in trouble. Whether it be the McCourt divorce causing off-field distractions, or the filing for bankruptcy, the historic franchise is down in the dumps.

It would be easy to say that Ned Colletti hasn't been able to properly do his job in the 2011 season as a result, but after helping the Dodgers to the playoffs in each of his first three years as GM, the Dodgers have not performed to their best ability. That can't be completely blamed on off-field issues, but rather, on missed moves by Ned Colletti.

Joel Guzman and Sergio Pedroza for Julio Lugo (2006)

This was a very strange trade. It gave the Dodgers four separate players at shortstop, a position that really didn't need any help. Colletti used Lugo as a utility player to play all over the infield, but it was apparent Lugo wasn't comfortable anywhere other than at short.

In the two months following the deal, Lugo made five errors, leading Colletti to say he picked Lugo up as an offensive asset. Boy, did Lugo ever prove Colletti wrong. In the Dodgers' 49 games following the deal, Lugo hit just .219 as a Dodger.

Bringing Julio Lugo in was just completely unnecessary and a waste of time; this should go down as one of the worst deals Colletti has made during his time as GM of the Dodgers.

Ryan Theriot for Blake Hawksworth (2010)

When Ned Colletti traded away shortstop/second baseman Ryan Theriot after just 54 games with the team, it left Dodgers fans scratching their heads. Theriot underperformed in his brief time with the Dodgers, but the return player was just a middle-of-the-line pitcher in Blake Hawksworth.

Since the trade, Hawksworth is just 2-4 with a 3.56 ERA as a relief pitcher whereas Theriot has already surpassed his RBI total from 2010 with 39, and is on pace to return to the form he played with in Chicago.

It is fairly apparent who lost this trade, and it does not make Ned Colletti look very good.

Delwyn Young for Harvey Garcia and Eric Krebs (2009)

Delwyn Young has had a tough road to ride to the majors. He has gone through injuries and been in and out of the minor leagues. Ned Colletti believed he was too risky a player to have on his roster, so he traded Young in 2009 to the Pittsburgh Pirates for two minor league prospects, Harvey Garcia (now retired) and Eric Krebs, a permanent minor leaguer.

After the trade, Young put up 71 RBIs and started to come into his own. Despite being in the minors this season, Young developed nicely into a utility player, and is someone the Dodgers could really use in 2011.

Juan Pierre for Jon Link and John Ely (2009)

When the Dodgers traded the standout leadoff batter Juan Pierre to the Chicago White Sox for unproven pitchers Jon Link and John Ely, it was quite the surprise.

In 2006 he led the NL with 204 hits, as well as led the league with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 2009. The trade made no sense, as the Dodgers should have kept Pierre. He led the AL in stolen bases in 2010 with 68, and has another 21 to go along with that this season. 

Juan Pierre may be aging, but his rate of play has not fluctuated much. This is a deal that should have never gone down.

The Manny Ramirez Trade (2008)

When Ned Colletti brought Manny Ramirez in, he was praised by Dodger fans, but by the time Ramirez left the feeling was not the same. The three-way deal between the Red Sox, Pirates and Dodgers that brought Ramirez to Hollywood was a huge blockbuster deal that also sent Adam LaRoche to Pittsburgh, Jason Bay to Boston, and Ramirez to LA. 

Ramirez' first year with the Dodgers was great. He put up 121 RBIs and 37 home runs, and was fourth in NL MVP voting. Dodger fans started to say welcome to "MannyWood." This success did not last long when in 2009, Ramirez was caught using a banned substance and suspended 50 games.

Later on his name was said to be on the anti-doping commission's list of major leaguers who had used performance enhancing drugs. In a sense, it was like Colletti hadn't done his homework, and now the Dodgers were suffering as a result. Unable to replace the bat of Ramirez, the Dodgers faltered. 

Ramirez had several stints on the DL, and upon his return he argued with an umpire and was ejected. He never wore Dodger blue again, and was put on the waiver wire. In the end, this is probably the worst deal Colletti ever made. Sure, it was a great deal in the short-term, but long-term, it caused a lack of success, and ended with Ramirez going on the waiver wire.

If you're going to lose a star player, you'd might as well trade him so you get something in return, but Colletti allowed him to walk. Manny Ramirez could very well be the best and worst deal Ned Colletti has ever made as the GM of the LA Dodgers.