Trades are an integral part of baseball. General managers often put their jobs on the line by swapping Player A for Player B.
Bad trades are normally remembered far more than ones that benefit both teams. For example, Babe Ruth—some say the greatest baseball player of all-time—was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for $100,000. The Los Angeles Dodgers traded Pedro Martinez to the Montreal Expos for Delino DeShields is amusing, as well. Yet, I can’t help but think of one of the most important and impressive trades of the last 20 years where everybody involved came away with a happy face.
After the Boston Red Sox failed to repeat its World Series title in 2005, general manager Theo Epstein decided to go after Florida Marlins pitcher Josh Beckett.
Beckett famously pitched the Marlins to a World Series championship two years previous and Boston needed to strengthen a lagging rotation. In order for the Red Sox to obtain Beckett, they had to be willing to part with uber-prospect Hanley Ramirez and accept the large contract of withering third basemen Mike Lowell.
Beckett and Lowell helped Boston win its second World Series title in 2007. Lowell resurrected his career and Beckett won the 2007 American League Championship Series MVP during the Red Sox title run.
It seems the Red Sox won the swap now, but the Marlins might have the last laugh.
Along with acquiring Ramirez, the Marlins also received pitcher Anibal Sanchez. Although he has had a hard time staying on the mound, Sanchez threw a no-hitter in only his 13th career start in 2006.
While Beckett and Lowell continue to be integral parts for Boston, it’s clear that Ramirez is becoming the best player in the game not named Albert Pujols. The 25-year-old shortstop is leading the National League with a batting average hovering near .350. Ramirez also ranks in the top three among shortstops in every major offensive category in the Majors.
If only all trades were this two-sided.