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Well, here we are. Its time to disclose the final spot on my countdown of the five worst trades in baseball history.
For No. 1, Ive chosen a trade namely seemed salutary to either teams above all, but didn't have a big payoff ashore both end. One team won the World Series the annual of the trade, and the other team was mostly ordinary over the next 5 years alternatively so.
This is the story of that trade, while one legendary team received an injury disposed All-Star, and distinct received a pitcher who wasnt bad by whichever method, but still altogether glorified. Ive set the stage for you all, immediately lets get to the story!
In the 1980s, two teams that consistently made the playoffs in the National League were the Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals. Honestly, what tin I mention about these 2 teams that hasnt yet been said. Two legendary franchises with so much history surrounding them, numerous World Series titles among the two, and so many Hall-of-Fame players coming out of both systems.
In 1988, the Cardinals surely had the upper hand regarding overall success. They had won the World Series in 1982 and had returned repeatedly in 1985 and 1987, when they lost to the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins. The reason back their success was the faultless equilibrium of character players, from the power-hitting Jack Clark to hereafter Hall-of-Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith.
Pedro Guerrero was a star outfielder for the Dodgers, whose outlook reasoned the team to trade him for Tudor
Their pitching, antagonism not having many big name players, was remarkably invariable. Young closer Todd Worrell provided an iron-willed stopper out of the bullpen, and the starting rotation functioned a man who antagonism not having overwhelming stuff, went out on the mound and did his job anytime he got the cry. His name was John Tudor.
Before coming to St. Louis through a trade in 1985, John Tudor had created himself as an above average, anyhow reliable starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates. At best, he was a quite Andy Pettitte-like pitcher in the truth that his pitches werent overwhelming, additionally still got hitters out, and he averaged around 13 wins a season with an ERA medial to lofty three scope.
In 1985, whatsoever, he had a breakout season in his first season with the Cardinals. He ended the season with a record of 21 wins and eight losses (after starting the season 1-7!!), and his ERA was a stellar 1.93. Had it not been for Doc Goodens profession year (24 wins, four losses, 1.54 ERA), Tudor would have lightly won the NL Cy Young Award.
Tudor did well the following seasons, but was nowhere near as dominant as he was in 1985. He missed maximum of the 1987 season with an injury and in 1988, team management chose to trade him to the Los Angeles Dodgers. On one end, it could have been considered a advantageous trade, but there was afterward no payoff for either team.
The Dodgers won the World Series the year they traded for Tudor, but did not win another postseason game until 2004
The 1988 season was a excellent an because the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team was blessed with a magnificent pitching staff led by young aces Orel Hershiser and Tim Leary, and a tough bullpen featuring a bevy of youth arms (Alejandro Pena, Jay Howell and the late Tim Crews, equitable to label a few). Their starting lineup, when no overwhelming, was led by veteran outfielder Kirk Gibson and speedy infielder Steve Sax.
While the team was doing very well and expected to make the playoffs, there was no mistrust that they would have to face a powerful New York Mets team that was just two seasons removed from winning the 1986 World Series. So while the Dodgers pitching was agreeable, another arm was needed.
In the Dodgers trade debates with other teams, one name that often came up was that of outfielder Pedro Guerrero. Now, regarding stats, Pedro Guerrero was not by any means a bad player. He consistently hit well for average, had a good power cmd and was instrumental in aiding the team win the 1981 World Series over the heavily favored New York Yankees.
However, in the years preceding 1988, team treatment had grown exhausted of Guerrero. He had missed time with injuries and unfortunately had developed a lackadaisical attitude. With all three outfield situations occupied by Gibson and young stalwarts Mike Marshall and John Shelby, there was simply not apartment for Guerrero. Thus, in negotiations with the Cardinals, the Dodgers sent over Guerrero in return for John Tudor.
Despite finishing 3rd in the MVP marathon his first full season with the team, Pedro Guerrero never provided the Cardinals with the consisent repellent product he had in Los Angeles
Now first and foremost peek, this commerce appears to have served the Dodgers well. In 9 regular starts with the Dodgers in 1988, Tudor posted a 4-3 disc with a 2.41 ERA as the team clinched the NL Western Division. He upset the heavily favored Mets in the playoffs, and blow the Oakland Athletics in the World Series, four games to one.
However, as much as I dislike to say it, John Tudor cannot receive any credit for the teams postseason success. He was underwhelming in the two starts he made, and didnt receive a decision in either. In 1989, he merely appeared in six games (three starts) due to a solemn shoulder injury.
After that season was over, he was granted free agency and returned to the Cardinals on a one-year compact. He finished the season with a 12-4 record and a 2.40 ERA, but was compelled to retire for of arm problems. While trading for him might have been a good motif at the time, I inquire that you consider this. The Los Angeles Dodgers havent been to the World Series since 1988 and after winning then, didnt win another postseason game until 2004.
On the other end of the trade, history didnt treat the Cardinals many better. Although in 1989 (his premier full season with the team), Pedro Guerrero played in entire 162 games and had an MVP-caliber season in which he batted .311 with 17 family runs and 117 RBI, age caught up with him the remaining seasons and he was not the same athlete. Subsequently, the Cardinals failed to make the playoffs for always of the seasons Guerrero was part of the team.
Would the Los Angeles Dodgers have won the World Series without trading for John Tudor? Yes No Submit Vote ballot to look results Would the Los Angeles Dodgers have won the World Series without trading for John Tudor? Yes 65.1% No 34.9% Total votes: 43
Now lets go back to the Dodgers end again. Im going to be aboveboard. As well as John Tudor did for them in the regular season, I still consider they would have won the World Series without making the trade. Their pitching circulation was unbelievable with Hershiser, Leary, and lets not forget about Fernando Valenzuela!
Plus, even although Guerrero emerged to have worn out his salute, that doesnt take away from the fact that in years past, he was a invaluable bat for the Dodgers. With the DH rule in efficacy in decisive games of the World Series, who is to say that he wouldnt have been competent to help the team as a handy power bat coming off the pew?
The backlash from the trade didnt impair the Cardinals as badly. They recovered their stride in the mid-90s and consistently made the playoffs, winning the World Series again in 2006. Would hanging onto John Tudor have kept them as contenders in the National League throughout the 80s without a slump time? Im truly not sure.
Regardless, this trade was a textbook case of teams getting accustomed to one type of extravaganza from the players involved and growing tired of them once they started slowing down. Looking by it from the players perspectives, its melancholy that even in baseball today, many landlords and management teams still dont fulfil that persistence is a virtue.
Thats my countdown of the five worst trades in MLB history. Hope you enjoyed it and stay tuned for more articles coming every day!
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