Who Was the Most Expensive Baseball Player Traded for a Less Valuable Player?
In the realm of baseball, trades often involve the exchange of players with comparable value. However, there have been instances where a highly expensive player has been traded for a less valuable asset. One such notable example is the 1981 trade between the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres.
The Trade: - Astros traded: Joe Niekro (starting pitcher) - Padres traded: Bill Greif (relief pitcher) and minor league infielder Mike Phillips
The Players: - Joe Niekro: A 31-year-old right-handed pitcher who had made four All-Star appearances and won 125 games in his career. His estimated salary for the upcoming season was $750,000. - Bill Greif: A 27-year-old left-handed reliever with a 17-24 record and a 3.87 ERA in his first three seasons. - Mike Phillips: A 19-year-old infielder with no major league experience.
The Impact: The trade was widely criticized at the time, as many believed that Niekro was worth far more than Greif and Phillips combined. In the following season, Niekro went on to win 19 games for the Padres, while Greif struggled to find his footing in Houston. Phillips never reached the major leagues.
Additional Notable Trades: - Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees in 2004 (for Alfonso Soriano and Joaquin Arias) - Manny Ramirez to the Boston Red Sox in 2008 (for Jason Bay and Brandon Moss) - Carlos Beltran to the Houston Astros in 2016 (for Carlos Gomez and Nori Aoki)
FAQs:
- Who was the most expensive player traded for a less valuable player? Joe Niekro
- When did the trade take place? 1981
- What teams were involved? Houston Astros and San Diego Padres
- What was the estimated salary of the player traded? $750,000
- Did the less valuable player ever make it to the major leagues? No (Mike Phillips)
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