5 Worst Trades In MLB History

Photo credit: Benny Sieu / USA TODAY Sports

 

Sometimes a trade backfires on an organization. And other times, a bad trade can set a franchise back 5 years.

There have been hundreds of terrible, one-side trades over the years in Major League Baseball, but these are the 6 that baseball fans won’t soon forget.

1. Marlins trade Derek Lee to Cubs for Hee-Seop Choi (2003)

I’ll never forget this trade and laughing at the Marlins because I saw Choi play regularly at AAA Iowa. Choi was a young power hitting lefty but it was clear he was a Quad-A player at best. Lee, on the other hand, well… yeah, he was good. Real good.

2. Astros trade Kenny Lofton to Indians for Ed Taubensee (1991)

Lofton was the premier leadoff hitter in baseball for Cleveland and Atlanta in the 1990’s. Ed Taubensee was, at best, an average backup catcher. I’m pretty sure Houston is still regretting this trade.

3. Pirates trade Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton to Cubs for Bobby Hill and Jose Hernandez (2003)

The Cubs 2003 playoff choke-job was made possible thanks to robbing two organizations (Florida, Pittsburgh). Ramirez went on to greatness in Chicago and Lofton provided the centerfielder the Cubs so desperately needed

4. Dodgers trade Pedro Martinez to Expos for Delino DeShields (1993)

Pedro Martinez, according to Dodgers scouts, was too small to have a long, productive career as a starter. Little did they know he would go on to become one of the best right-handed pitchers that ever lived. Oops!

5. Red Sox trade Babe Ruth to Yankees for $100,000 (1920)

The Curse of the Bambino has been eliminated thanks to the Red Sox winning 3 recent titles. But this trade will still go down as the worst decision any organization has ever made. Ruth was arguably the best player that ever lived and all the Red Sox have to show for the trade is a few extra bucks.