The Five Worst Trades Of The 2010 Trade Deadline

The 2024 Trade Deadline is coming soon, with excitement around potential blockbuster trades, that could feature superstars like Luis Robert and Bo Bichette. This seems like a great time to reflect on past trade deadlines, and how the fallout from those shaped the MLB. The 2010 Trade Deadline featured teams like the Yankees, Phillies, and Rangers making big moves to bolster their teams for the playoff push. On the other end of the spectrum, teams like the D-Backs, Mariners, and Astros looked to sell off pieces to create a better future for their teams. Trades are huge risks as they can make teams look very stupid in hindsight but these 5 deals look the worst now that time has passed.

#5: Roy Oswalt to the Phillies

Phillies receive: SP Roy Oswalt Astros receive: SP J.A. Happ, OF Anthony Gose, and INF Jonathan Villar

This trade doesn't look bad on paper, but the perceived "haul" that Houston received in return for Oswalt looks horrendous. Happ and Villar were good MLB players during their careers, but the worst stretch of their time in the MLB came with Houston. Happ was ineffective, with an ERA of 4.84, and Villar only managed an OPS of .653 during their time with the team. Anthony Gose never played for the Astros, making this haul very underwhelming. Oswalt was great for Philadelphia, posting an ERA of 2.96 with them as they held on to their closing contention window.

#4: Dan Haren to the Angels

Angels receive: SP Dan Haren D-Backs receive: SP Patrick Corbin, SP Tyler Skaggs, SP Joe Saunders, and RP Rafael Rodriguez

Haren was good for the Angels over three years, with an ERA of 3.52 and 409 strikeouts. The Angels would be fine here if they hadn't dealt Patrick Corbin in the package. Corbin was a steady member of the D-Backs rotation for six years, with an ERA of 3.91 and 897 strikeouts. Corbin also made two All-Star teams and finished top five in Cy Young voting in 2018. Saunders also impressed in two seasons with the D-Backs, posting an ERA of 3.96. The Angels might still do this trade today, but it's unlikely they'd include Corbin with how he turned out.

#3: Cliff Lee to the Rangers

Rangers receive: SP Cliff Lee and RP Mark Lowe Mariners receive: INF Matt Lawson, INF Justin Smoak, SP Blake Beavan, and RP Josh Lueke

Cliff Lee was the most valuable pitching rental at the 2010 deadline, and the Rangers paid up for him. The Mariners' return was thought to be amazing at the time, but it is one of the biggest flops of a return during this millennium. Matt Lawson never made it out of the minors, and Blake Beavan and Josh Lueke were both horrendous for the Mariners, each having an ERA over 5.00. Justin Smoak was the big piece in this deal, but he was bad with the Mariners, posting an OPS of .692 in five seasons with them. Lee pitched slightly worse with Texas, but he still managed an ERA of 3.98 over 15 starts. Lowe was a solid member of the Ranger bullpen over three years. The Mariners tried to build a future off this return, but it just ended in a catastrophic trade for one of the best pitchers in baseball.

#2: Jarrod Saltalamacchia to the Red Sox

Red Sox receive: C Jarrod Saltalamacchia Rangers receive: RP Roman Mendez, 1B Chris McGuiness, C Michael Thomas

Starting with the return the Rangers received for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, they got zero value. None of the 3 players even played 50 games with the Rangers. Saltalamacchia would significantly improve with the Red Sox, raising his OPS to .762 and collecting 5.2 WAR in his time with them. He also was a key leader in the Red Sox's 2013 World Series run making this trade even more lopsided. The Rangers weren't going to get a lot of value for Saltalamacchia, but this return for a guy who became a championship contributor is very disappointing.

#1: Corey Kluber to the Indians

Indians receive: SP Corey Kluber Padres receive: OF Ryan Ludwick Cardinals receive: RP Nick Greenwood and SP Jake Westbrook

This may be the most underrated bad trade of all time. The Padres traded a future Cy Young winner for Ryan Ludwick, who posted an OPS of .659 for them. The Indians only gave up Jake Westbrook here as well, who didn't even go to the Padres. In their defense, the Padres were the best team in the NL at the deadline and wanted to give themselves a more stable outfield, but the cost was not worth it at all. The Indians got one of the best pitchers of the 2010s for just Jake Westbrook.