Whenever a team makes a trade, the hope is that the new players will end up helping to propel their team over the top. But sometimes, those trades end up setting a franchise back for the long term. These are the worst trades in the history of the MLB.
Ideally, when making a trade, the deal will help both sides. Even if it is a prospect for a veteran player, the short term potential to improve versus the longer term approach can make sense, depending on where the team finds itself. Even a rental for two or three months, if it brings in a championship, can be worth the price of that top prospect that goes on to stardom. After all, flags fly forever.
Yet, there are some trades that, even if they result in short term success, turn out to be tremendously horrendous. Seemingly every year, there is one trade in the MLB that, in retrospect, proved to be completely lopsided. These trades can set a franchise back for years, and even decades, depending on the success of those players who departed.
With the MLB Trade Deadline approaching, excitement is running high for the fans of those teams who are looking to make that final push for the postseason. Yet, even those trades, which seem to help at the time, can be a recipe for disaster. Just take a look at some of these moves that were made at the deadline.
And so, let us take a look back through history, and reflect on the ten most lopsided deals ever to be made in the MLB.
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