Aug 14, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa (29) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Boston Red Sox (11/28/03)
The final trade of Schilling’s career took place after the 2003 season. Schilling was coming off a season where he only started 24 games due to injuries. The Diamondbacks must have thought he was done because they were willing to trade him back to the team that originally drafted him, the Boston Red Sox.
In return for Schilling, the Diamondbacks received pitchers Casey Fossum, Jorge De La Rosa, Brandon Lyon, and outfielder Mike Goss. The results followed the trend.
Fossum spent one season with the Diamondbacks and had a terrible year. He went 4-15 with a 6.65 ERA.
De La Rosa never pitched for the Diamondbacks and ended his time with the organization when he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, along with others, for Richie Sexson.
Lyon had the longest career with the Diamondbacks, but not a particularly impressive one. During the four seasons he spent with the Diamondbacks out of the bullpen, Lyon was 11-15 with a 4.03 ERA. In 2008, he did save 26 games, but at the cost of a 4.70 ERA.
Finally there’s Goss, who never made it to the big leagues.
Schilling finished his career as a member of the Red Sox. Although things were not perfect, Boston won this trade handily. Schilling’s 21-6 record in the 2004 regular season helped get the Red Sox to the postseason and his infamous “Bloody Sock” game was crucial in getting them to the World Series where they eventually won and broke the drought.
Schilling won the World Series with the Red Sox again in 2007. The last game he pitched before riding off into the sunset was in a World Series victory over the Colorado Rockies days before the sweep was complete and the Red Sox were champions again.