Baseball will land in San Diego next week, with the 2022 Winter Meetings scheduled to begin on Sunday.
Here’s a look at six of the most popular Winter Meeting (or “Winter Meeting Adjacent”) deals.
December 6, 1989: Cleveland acquires Sandy Alomar, Carlos Baerga and Chris James from the Padres in place of Joe Carter
Charis: Sandy Alomar was named Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year in 1989, but was blocked by Benito Santiago, and although Baerga was seen as a prospect, he was the quintessential second-base prospect. was not a guest. And in those days, RBI was king and Joe Carter was Mr. RBI. It was a big hit and Cleveland won the trade.
Mayo: Today, no one blinks when Baerga is playing second base. He could really hit, and Alomar and Baerga were key to a team that had postseason success over the next few years.
December 9, 2012: The Rays acquire Will Myers, Jake Odrizzi, Mike Montgomery and Patrick Leonard from the Royals, along with James Shields and Wade Davis.
Myers was the 3rd overall prospect on the pipeline list, but the deal was also exciting as Montgomery was the 31st prospect in 2012 and Odrizzi was the 47th for that year.
Charis: I think the Rays had decent talent, but I don’t think any of the individual players lived up to the expectations they had. James Shields helped the Royals win the 2014 AL pennant…and not only did they get “Big Game James,” they got Wade Davis. Championship and his two pennants.
Mayo: I go to Royals too. None of those players were players who made a big impact on the Rays, giving the Royals the edge to get the big game James.
December 9, 2015: Braves acquire Dansby Swanson, Aaron Blair and Ender Inciate from D-backs in place of Shelby Miller and Gabe Spier
Charis: That puzzled us all at the time. But John Coppolella did a lot of good work in Atlanta. I know it didn’t work out, but he did some good work in Atlanta and eventually became a World Series champion.
December 6, 2016: The White Sox acquire Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe and Victor Diaz from the Red Sox in exchange for Chris Sale.
Moncada was baseball’s number one prospect at the time, and it was the first time in 25 years that a number one man was included in a trade. The flame-throwing kopeck was also a top 100 prospect.
Charis: I think Moncada and Kopech weren’t what the White Sox really wanted. So I think the Red Sox have a clear win and maybe a chance to get more even, but I think the Red Sox make that trade every time.
Mayo: I think you’re calmly arguing in either direction, but the fact that the Red Sox won the World Series in 2018 and what Chris Sale did for the Red Sox was Moncada and Kopech. Even if it was Moncada and Kopech, it would clearly give the Red Sox the win, helping the White Sox reach the postseason in a few years.
December 7, 2016: White Sox acquire Lucas Jolito, Reinaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning from Nationals in place of Adam Eaton
Charis: At the time, we had Jolito as the best pitching prospect in baseball.After that trade, we realized the industry was getting cold feet on him heading into next season…( Nationals GM) I don’t know if Mike Rizzo would.I’ll admit it now, but I think the Nationals thought they were overselling Lucas Jollito at the time.
Mayo: Lucas Joliet was a mainstay in the White Sox rotation, even with a little ups and downs, and Adam Eaton… I remember thinking at the time, “Wow!” Did they get it all for Adam Eaton? And I’m still like, ‘Wow! Did they get it all for Adam Eaton?
December 3, 2018: Mariners acquire Jared Kelenic, Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarlzak, Justin Dunn and Gerson Bautista from Mets in place of Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz
Charis: It really flipped me over. At first, I thought what a bad trade for the Mets. And now what’s going on with Jared Kelenic? Are the Mariners going to get anything out of this?
Mayo: Then Justin Dunne goes ahead and says what you want about Robinson Cano, but Edwin Diaz turned into Edwin Diaz, so unexpectedly tick the Mets. It is much later that such things can actually be evaluated. Not that Edwin Diaz was a throw-in, but the complementary pieces rather than the big names would end up being the best player in the deal.
