For the last couple weeks there have been rumors of a blockbuster trade involving the Chicago White Sox and Luis Robert Jr. that is in the works. This got me thinking about some historical trades which have happened around MLB over the years. So, today’s article will cover a couple of those.
The first of these trades which crossed my mind was the 2004 trade deadline deal between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox which ultimately led to the Sawks winning the world series. Yes, I’m talking about the famous trade which sent Matt Murton and Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs in a four team deal. For the Red Sox getting Orlando Cabrera in that deal was the difference maker which go them all the way to the Fall Classic and ultimately ended their 86 year title draught.
However, for Jim Hendry and the Cubs the trade was more about adding an outfielder than it was a shortstop because Alex Gonzolez had already returned after breaking his wrist early in May. With Moises Alou becoming a free agent after the 2004 season and, soon to be free agent, Sammy Sosa who’s contract was up after 2005 the Cubs were looking to get younger in the outfield.
Of course being a Cubs there were two other trades that crossed my mind which. While these two trades were not related to the aforementioned deal bring Murton and Garciaparra to Wrigley both occurred thirteen years apart and involved Sammy Sosa. The first of these two trades was the one which brought Slammin’ Sammy 10 miles north to Wrigley Field in 1992; six years before I was a true baseball fan. While this trade did not catch many baseball fans by surprise at the time there were a few Chicago sports reporters who I still hear talk about it from time to time and question what Ron Schueler was thinking when he made the deal with the Cubs.
Now let’s look at the other trade which I remember vividly since I was already a die-hard fan when it happened. On January 28, 2005 the Baltimore Orioles sent Mike Fonteno, Jerry Hairston Jr, and Dave Crouthers to Chicago in exchange for Slammin’ Sammy. Looking back on this trade it was without a doubt for the bats of Hairston and Fonteno more than it was relief pitcher Crouthers since he would never even make it out of the minors.
While the Cubs already had a number of middle-infielders at the time it was clear they were concerned about injuries to a couple of them and they also needed a backup in the outfield which is why Hairston was included in the deal since he was able to play second, third, and all outfield spots. The trade with the Orioles also helped beef up the roster a little bit in the case of trades Hendry might have wanted to make if they team got off to a hot start. Sadly, they didn’t get hot at all in 2005 though.
While there are a number of other trades which involved the Cubs and White Sox the last one I want to look back at today is the move that was needed in 2016 to end the 108 year draught in Wrigleyville. Yes, I am talking about the New York Yankees sending Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs in a trade on July 25, 2016 for Gleyber Torres and a couple other players.
Was this move a mistake by Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein? There is no way to know for sure. However, without this move the Cubs likely would not have managed to get past the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS and therefore would likely still be without a title eight years later. That said, while Chapman was the necessary addition in July 2016 for them to make the run they did I was very happy when they did not resign him and let him return to the Bronx because of his off the field issues at home which involved violence.
With that… we are ten days from the trading deadline so stay tuned as I return to writing about various teams and the deals they might make over the coming days.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!