The Best Trade Deadline Acquisitions Of The 2000s
A Blog by Will at Overdue Sports
Every year the MLB playoff race is dictated by buyers and sellers, all coming to fruition in the dog-days of Summer as the deadline approaches. Those who see the light at the end of the tunnel into the promised land will get into bidding wars for top talents on sinking-ships to fuel their October dreams. While there are many ‘good’ trade deadline acquisitions, I’d argue there are few ‘great’ ones, and even less that made my list of the ‘best.’
Before that, while this list is subjective, I have to lay out my criteria of what makes a good deadline acquisition. While player caliber and talent is a major factor, I’m basing most of this off what these players did for their respective ball clubs to propel them into the playoffs, and in some cases, bring home the Commissioner’s Trophy.
Honorable Mention: Mark Teixeira/2008/LA Angels
It would be unfair to not include a guy that propelled the Angels to the winningest season in franchise history, and the best record in baseball that year. Teixeira played just 54 games with the Halos, accumulated 3.7 bWAR, slashed .358/.449/.632 with 13 HR and 42 RBI. Unfortunately, the Angels would run into the Red Sox in the ALDS where their season would come to a disappointing end. This is my honorable mention because the Angels, even without Teixeira would’ve still more than likely taken the AL West. If they had made a significant postseason run my position may have been swayed, nonetheless, will go down as one of the most impactful trade deadline moves ever.
#3: Aroldis Chapman/2016/Chicago Cubs
Snapping a ringless curse that hovered over the Windy City for 108 years on the backs of prime Javy Baez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks and John Lackey. In trading future Yankee Gleyber Torres, and other prospects, the Cubs would grab renowned flamethrower Aroldis Chapman at the deadline. He would post a 1.2 bWAR, 1.01 ERA, 16 SV, 46 K, 0.825 WHIP, 418 ERA+ over 26.2 IP en-route to a championship.
The reason Chapman cracks this list is his incredible postseason performance where he’d tally 4 saves in 13 appearances with 21 K and a 1.09 WHIP. Could the Cubbies have done the seemingly impossible without Chapman? Maybe, but relief pitchers come at a premium at the deadline and they made one of the best moves in history to secure their reign as World Series Champions. Worth it every time.
#2: David Justice/2000/New York Yankees
Repeating a World Series victory is hard enough, but the 2000 Yankees managed to turn that into a 3-peat. But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Bronx Bombers that year. Approaching the deadline, it was fairly evident there was a case of ‘World Series Hangover’ as the Yanks found themselves at just three games over .500 when July hit, nearly halfway through the season. In Yankees fashion, they made a big splash in trading for 34-year old David Justice.
Justice would be one of the best bats in the whole lineup in the 78 games he played for the eventual 2000 World Series Champs, slashing .305/.391/.585 with 20 HR (3rd on team), 60 RBI, and a 3.2 bWAR. Justice was truly the spark that sent the Yankees on a tear going 49-39 to cap off the season, earn his right as the ALCS MVP, and take home their 26th World Series Championship. Masterclass.
#1: CC Sabathia/2008/Milwaukee Brewers
You may think to yourself, why is now Hall of Fame southpaw CC Sabathia my #1 when I punished Teixeira for not being on a team that made a deep playoff run, given the fact the Brewers would see their miracle season thwarted by the eventual World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Well, the Brewers not only are a small market team without the resources to make giant splashes year to year, but they took their chance in 2008 on CC, and it paid large dividends. By July 7, 2008 when the deal took place, the Brewers were 49-40, just four games back from the eventual divisional winners and cross-state rival Chicago Cubs. But they needed to bolster the team to compete for a Wild Card spot against the Houston Astros.
Sabathia would start 17 games in his Milwaukee tenure, going 11-2 posting a 1.65 ERA, 4.9 bWAR, 128 K, 1.003 WHIP, with 7 complete games, 3 of which came by way of shutout. Pure and utter dominance no matter how you cut it. The Milwaukee faithful still holds this move as their ‘Holy Grail’ of deadline moves, and I can’t help but agree. While they didn’t win the World Series, or even the Divisional Series, CC’s magical three-months in Milwaukee is still in my eyes the best MLB deadline acquisition in MLB History.
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