Esteban Loaiza – Toronto Blue Jays
Esteban Loaiza wasn’t exactly a great pitcher when the Toronto Blue Jays acquired him from the Texas Rangers on July 19, 2000. At that point the 28-year-old owned a career 4.76 ERA through five seasons in the big leagues. But the Jays evidently felt he would help their rotation, especially over a struggling youngster by the name of Roy Halladay who had a 10.90 ERA at the time.
Loaiza fared well enough in the latter part of 2000, posting a 3.62 ERA in 14 starts, though Toronto failed to make the postseason. The following two seasons weren’t very fun, however. The right-hander sputtered to a 5.33 ERA and 1.49 WHIP over the 2001 and 2002 campaigns. When he hit free agency the next year, the Jays had little reason to re-sign him.
It’s what happened next that made this one of the most regrettable trades in Blue Jays franchise history, at least until the R.A. Dickey / Noah Syndergaard debacle. One of the two prospects Toronto sent to Texas in the Loaiza deal was none other than infielder Michael Young, who went on to appear in seven All-Star Games, win the 2005 batting title and become one of the best players to ever put on a Rangers uniform.
To add insult to injury, Loaiza went on to win 21 games with a 2.90 ERA for the White Sox in 2003, leading the AL in strikeouts (207) and finishing second in Cy Young voting. He never scaled those heights again, but in case you’d forgotten, consider this your annual reminder that Esteban Loaiza once won 21 games and was the runner-up for the Cy Young Award.
Next: Duo of Duds