2012 will be the twentieth anniversary of one of the most fair and balanced one for one trades the game has ever seen. The St Louis Cardinals decided it was time to trade star shortstop Gary Templeton to the San Diego Padres for future Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith. New Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog saw Templeton as a "me-first" player who didn't fit in his system. Similarly, Padres General Manager Jack McKeon thought Smith was a distraction to his team's clubhouse and was excited to get whom he thought was an all-around better player. While Templeton had a solid career in San Diego, he took the Padres to one postseason appearance in 1984, while Smith was a force on a Cardinals team that won the World Series in 1982 and won NL Pennants in 1985 and 1987. He also remained with the team until 1996 and made the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
The fact that this deal essentially helped both teams made me think of some similar deals that could happen in the game right now that may do the same thing. I came up with five deals (I'll leave it up to the reader to determine how realistic they are) of players that either should or could wind up on the tradind block. Some may be bad fits where they are, others are bad contracts that a team may be trying to get rid of. I believe in all these scenarios, both teams improve, similar to the Smith/Templeton trade.
4. LF Alfonso Soriano to the White Sox for LF Adam Dunn: Coincidently, both players have exactly three years remaining on their current contracts. The Cubs have been looking to move Soriano for a while now, but have not been successful finding a team that has not asked the Cubs to eat a lot of the contract. After Dunn's 2011 season, experts would say he is untradable. But, Dunn is coming off some very good seasons prior to last year. Dunn could also benefit from playing his home games in Wrigley Field and may be more comfortable playing the field again. The salaries could be a wash and the change of scenery could benefit both teams.
3. RF Andre Ethier to the Red Sox for P Daniel Bard: The Red Sox are not looking to add a lot to their payroll this year so the trade may take some exchange of money on Ethier's 2012 contract. The Red Sox would get their outfielder and the Dodgers would get as high of a return as they could expect from trading Ethier. Bard could be the Dodgers closer or he could make their rotation.
2. OF/DH Mark Trumbo to the Rays for P Jeff Niemann: Two young players are moved here as both teams have spare parts. Niemann gives the Rays six starters and Trumbo has no place with the Angels. Trumbo can DH and play the field occasionally for Tampa and Niemann gives the Angels the 5th starter they are looking for.
1. SS Hanley Ramirez and 1B Gaby Sanchez to the Reds for 1B Joey Votto: This deal works especially if the Reds don't think they can keep Votto. The Marlins would probably extend Votto, as they have been looking for a 1B upgrade all offseason. Ramirez does not want to move to 3B, even though he is joined by friend Jose Reyes. The Reds would get back a star player which would alleviate fallout if Votto would walk when he becomes a free agent. Sanchez is a throw in just because there is no place for him to go.
The fact that this deal essentially helped both teams made me think of some similar deals that could happen in the game right now that may do the same thing. I came up with five deals (I'll leave it up to the reader to determine how realistic they are) of players that either should or could wind up on the tradind block. Some may be bad fits where they are, others are bad contracts that a team may be trying to get rid of. I believe in all these scenarios, both teams improve, similar to the Smith/Templeton trade.
4. LF Alfonso Soriano to the White Sox for LF Adam Dunn: Coincidently, both players have exactly three years remaining on their current contracts. The Cubs have been looking to move Soriano for a while now, but have not been successful finding a team that has not asked the Cubs to eat a lot of the contract. After Dunn's 2011 season, experts would say he is untradable. But, Dunn is coming off some very good seasons prior to last year. Dunn could also benefit from playing his home games in Wrigley Field and may be more comfortable playing the field again. The salaries could be a wash and the change of scenery could benefit both teams.
3. RF Andre Ethier to the Red Sox for P Daniel Bard: The Red Sox are not looking to add a lot to their payroll this year so the trade may take some exchange of money on Ethier's 2012 contract. The Red Sox would get their outfielder and the Dodgers would get as high of a return as they could expect from trading Ethier. Bard could be the Dodgers closer or he could make their rotation.
2. OF/DH Mark Trumbo to the Rays for P Jeff Niemann: Two young players are moved here as both teams have spare parts. Niemann gives the Rays six starters and Trumbo has no place with the Angels. Trumbo can DH and play the field occasionally for Tampa and Niemann gives the Angels the 5th starter they are looking for.
1. SS Hanley Ramirez and 1B Gaby Sanchez to the Reds for 1B Joey Votto: This deal works especially if the Reds don't think they can keep Votto. The Marlins would probably extend Votto, as they have been looking for a 1B upgrade all offseason. Ramirez does not want to move to 3B, even though he is joined by friend Jose Reyes. The Reds would get back a star player which would alleviate fallout if Votto would walk when he becomes a free agent. Sanchez is a throw in just because there is no place for him to go.
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