The Top 10 San Diego Padres Trades of All Time

In the wake of the Mat Latos trade to the Cincinnati Reds, it got me thinking about the best trades the San Diego Padres have made over their 40-plus seasons of existence. 

While we all never agree on the timing or circumstances of certain trades, the Padres have put together a very successful track record of wheeling and dealing, whether it be during the offseason or at the trade deadline.

Factors that went into determining the trades that made the cut and the particular order of the trades include both the talent and impact the player(s) acquired had on the Padres, and the talent and impact the player(s) let go had on their new teams. 

With that said, let's take a look at the top 10 trades that the San Diego Padres have made in their history.

10. Robbie Erlin and Joe Wieland for Mike Adams

We kick off the list with a trade that has yet to make an impact with the organization, but will in due time.

Mike Adams was dealt to the Texas Rangers at the 2011 trade deadline for pitchers Robbie Erlin and Joe Wieland. Although these two stud pitching prospects are unproven MLB commodities, all signs point to this trade as a big win for the Padres.

Adams, who served as the Padres lights-out set up man for the better part of two seasons, was simply too big of a trade chip for the Friars to hang onto. In a season when a last place finish in the NL West was imminent, the Padres capitalized by getting two front-to-middle of the rotation starters for the future, who will be roaming the mound at PETCO very soon. 

And when you consider that the Padres consistently develop and acquire successful relief pitchers year after year, the loss of Adams in a lost 2011 season was simply not that big of a deal.

San Diego fans will look back on this trade in two or three years and laugh that they got these two quality pitchers by just giving up Adams. Quite frankly, the only reason this trade is not higher on the list is because neither has reached the majors yet. 

9: Sterling Hitchcock for Scott Sanders

In the winter prior to the 1997 season, the Padres acquired an average left-handed starting pitcher from the Seattle Mariners for pitcher Scott Sanders. Little did the Padres organization know that Sterling Hitchcock would play a vital role in their 1998 playoff push to the World Series.

While Hitchcock produced pedestrian numbers for the majority of his career, the 1998 playoffs posed a different story line.

As the team's No. 3 starter in the postseason, Hitchcock boasted a 1.23 ERA, allowing only three runs in 22 innings pitched. He was also named the MVP of the '98 NLCS against the Atlanta Braves, which included going 2-0 in the series, and winning the series-clinching Game Six at Turner Field.

The trade, while probably overlooked at the time, contributed greatly to San Diego's 1998 World Series run. Sanders would eventually be picked back up by the Padres, and was actually on the 1998 club as well.

8. Anthony Rizzo, Casey Kelly, and Reymond Fuentes for Adrian Gonzalez

The deal that shook the baseball world in the winter of 2010. The Padres traded their All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Boston Red Sox for first baseman Anthony Rizzo, pitcher Casey Kelly, and outfielder Reymond Fuentes. 

While Padre fans will complain that they let go a premier player and San Diego native, the organization was in a very difficult spot. And all things considered, they received a pretty good haul for the lefty slugger.

Adrian Gonzalez was due a big pay day after his 2011 contract expired, and he was not going to take another home town discount to stay in San Diego. So instead of letting him walk to free agency at the end of the 2011 season and the Padres only receiving two compensatory draft picks, the organization picked up three of the Red Sox top 10 prospects, guys who will almost assuredly make an impact at the Major League level in the next season or two. 

7. Yonder Alonso, Edinson Volquez, Yasmani Grandal, Brad Boxberger for Mat Latos

The Padres absolutely cleaned up with this deal. There is really no other way to put it. 

Mat Latos is loaded with young talent and has great stuff. It's unlikely the Padres entered the 2011 offseason with the intention of trying to move Latos, but he was simply the product of the Padres receiving an offer that was too good to refuse. And when you factor in Latos' off-the-field issues and wildly inconsistent temper, this made even more sense for the Friars.

First baseman Yonder Alonso and catcher Yasmani Grandal bring a ton of talent to the table. Both are mature beyond their years, and can provide above-average play for years to come. Brad Boxberger is a potential long term answer at closer with nasty stuff. And Edinson Volquez, who has spent the past season and a half recovering from Tommy John surgery, is poised to have a nice bounce back year.

Some may point to the fact that this was a bad trade for the Padres because they already have the aforementioned Anthony Rizzo waiting in the wings at first base. But with Rizzo's initial struggles at the Major League level, Alonso provides a great second option. In fact, Alonso's swing is much better suited for PETCO Park than Rizzo's. 

Worst case scenario for the Padres is both Rizzo and Alonso start hitting well, and they trade one of them for more young talent. Not a bad problem to have.  

This is probably the most talent the Padres have ever received in a single trade.

6. Andy Ashby and Brad Ausmus for Bruce Hurst and Greg Harris

Another key piece to the 1998 World Series team came from the Colorado Rockies, when pitcher Andy Ashby, along with catcher Brad Ausmus, were traded to the Padres at the trade deadline in 1993 for pitchers Bruce Hurst and Greg Harris.

Ashby started in the Padres' rotation from 1993-1999, including posting a 17-9 with a 3.34 ERA in 1998. While Ashby never had overpowering stuff, he had great command of his pitches and was a fan favorite in San Diego for the better part of the '90s.

Ausmas was only a Padre for a few seasons, but served as the backstop for the 1996 NL West championship team, and was later traded to the Astros. Ausmus is back in the organization, working in the Padres front office.

5. Cameron Maybin for Ryan Webb and Edward Mujica

What a "steal." The Padres got their center fielder of the future in Cameron Maybin in exchange for two relief pitchers, Ryan Webb and Edward Mujica, who were at least number four and five on the bullpen depth chart at the time.

As the first order of business for then-Padres General Manager Jed Hoyer, he chose to acquire the young outfielder from the Florida (now Miami) Marlins, who had yet to live up to his first round draft status and superstar potential.

But in his first year as a Padre, the 24-year-old showed glimpses of stardom: roaming the wide gaps of PETCO Park, improving his batting average and stealing 40 bases. He was also named the Padres' team MVP for the 2011 season.

While his defense is already gold-glove caliber, scouts say Maybin's offense will only continue to get better as he enters his prime.

4. Kevin Brown for Derek Lee and Prospects

In the winter of 1997, the Padres acquired pitcher Kevin Brown from the Florida Marlins, in exchange for first baseman Derek Lee and a host of prospects. 

Any Padres fan will tell you that they don't make the 1998 World Series, maybe even the playoffs, without Kevin Brown on the roster.

Brown was fantastic in his one year in a Padres uniform, going 18-7 with a 2.38 ERA, while posting a career-high 257 strikeouts. He served as the ace of the underrated pitching staff.

And while he signed a record $100 million contract with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers the following offseason, Brown's one year stint with the Friars helped provide San Diego fans a memorable summer of 1998 and a World Series run the city will never forget.

3. Adrian Gonzalez and Chris Young for Adam Eaton and Akinori Otsuka

The top three trades on this list were very difficult to decipher. They really could be 1a, 1b, and 1c. And I am sure people will have differing opinions on each.

However, we'll begin with the trade that brought first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and pitcher Chris Young over from the Texas Rangers for pitchers Adam Eaton and Akinori Otsuka. 

Honestly, I'm not quite sure what Texas was thinking when they made this deal. Although Gonzalez, a former first-overall draft pick of the Marlins in 2000, was blocked by All-Star first baseman Mark Teixeira, it's surprising that this was the best deal that they could get.

Nevertheless, the Padres took advantage and received five very productive years from the hometown slugger at a very cheap price. Additionally, Chris Young gave the Padres consistent quality starts from 2006-2008, serving as a solid number two behind staff ace Jake Peavy. 

And considering that Adam Eaton did not accomplish much with a variety of teams after he left San Diego, this was easily one of the best trades in Padres' history.

2. Ken Caminiti and Steve Finley for Derek Bell

The heart and soul of the San Diego Padres from 1995-1998 came over in a 12-player deal from the Houston Astros, when the Padres traded Derek Bell and a plethora of other players for third baseman Ken Caminiti and center fielder Steve Finley.

Both Caminiti and Finley instantly became beloved in San Diego, and joined a talented group of players that went on to reach the playoffs in 1996, and the World Series in 1998. Both players arguably had their best years in a Padres uniform.

Caminiti was an All-Star in 1996 and 1997, and walked away with the National League MVP Award in 1996. He also won three Gold Gloves as a member of the Padres, and holds the Padres' single season RBI record (130 in 1996).

Finley also enjoyed a great deal of success with the Friars. He was an All-Star in 1997, and Gold Glove winner in 1995 and 1996. He holds the team records for total bases in a single season (348 in 1996) and runs scored in a single season (126 in 1996).

1. Trevor Hoffman for Gary Sheffield

During the 1993 season, the Padres sent reigning National League batting champion and future All-Star Gary Sheffield to the Florida Marlins for an inexperienced closer named Trevor Hoffman and pitching prospects Jose Martinez and Andres Berumen.

Nothing much came from Martinez and Berumen, and Hoffman was given a rough time by Padres fans at first, in part due to their dismay of seeing Sheffield shipped off to Florida. But eventually, Hoffman won fans over and became arguably the second most influential Padre in history, behind Tony Gwynn. 

From the first time "Hells Bells" came blaring down from the speakers at Qualcomm stadium in the summer of 1998 to his chilling number retirement ceremony at PETCO Park this past August, nothing represented San Diego better than Hoffman.  And as we all know, he eclipsed the all-time saves record from closer Lee Smith. 

While Gary Sheffield obviously went on to have a very good career, Hoffman took pride in being a Padre from the moment he put on the uniform for the first time. His professionalism and work ethic was second to none. And he will also be known for having the most devastating change-up in baseball history.

Hoffman will always be the first closer to 600 saves, and will assuredly be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame when he is eligible in 2016.

Honorable Mention Trades

These trades barely missed the cut. Should they be ahead of some of the trades on the list? Comment with your opinions to start the discussion!

1.  At the trade deadline in 1996, the Padres acquired outfielder Greg Vaughn from the Milwaukee Brewers for Marc Newfield and Bryce Florie. Vaughn went on to hit a club record 50 home runs in the 1998 season.

2.  After a series of unsuccessful trade attempts throughout the 2008 and 2009 seasons, pitcher Jake Peavy and the Padres finally agreed to send the Cy Young ace to the Chicago White Sox for pitchers Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Dexter Carter and Adam Russell at the trade deadline in 2009. 

While the return for Peavy has certainly not panned out like the management had hoped (Poreda, Carter and Russell are no longer with the organization), Clayton Richard has proven to be a very solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher and continues to take advantage of the friendly pitching confines of PETCO Park. Meanwhile, Peavy has spent significant time on the disabled list battling arm and shoulder injuries, and has yet to recapture his Cy Young form of 2007.

3.  In June of 1998, catcher Jim Leyritz was traded to the Padres from the Red Sox in exchange for Carlos Reyes, Mandy Romero and Dario Veras. Leyritz went on to hit several key home runs throughout the 1998 playoffs for the Padres.