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What were some of the worst Pirate trades in their history?

Discussion in 'Other Sports Talk' started by saturdaysarebetter, Apr 7, 2019.

  1. saturdaysarebetter

    saturdaysarebetter Well-Known Member

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    Jul 24, 2018
    The first one I think of is Aramis Ramirez to the Cubs for basically used baseballs if I recall.

    Didn't we trade Willie Randolph for Doc Medich? That worked out much better for the Yankees than us.

    Moises Alou for Zane Smith wasn't a long-term trade victory either.

    Others?
     
  2. MojaveDesertPghFan

    MojaveDesertPghFan

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    Oct 19, 2011
    While not the greatest pitcher , Zane Smith was quite serviceable for 5 years with the Pirates going 43-35 and 16-10 with a 3.3 ERA in 1991 with 6 complete games and 3 shutouts (unheard of today). He was also an above average hitting pitcher collecting 8 doubles over that span.

    One of best trades was getting Andy Van Slyke and Mike LaValliere (and Mike Dunne) for Tony Pena from the Cards in 1987. Loved Andy!!!!! Rumor has it he waved Bonds to move in and Bonds flipped him off on that fateful 7th game of the 1992 NLCS vs ATL when Sid Bream rounded 3rd base on a soft single to left and destroyed the Pirates and their fan base for 20+ years.

    While not a trade, the worst pickup ever for any team in any major sport was the Pirates signing Derek Bell away from the Mets for 2 years in 2001 at $4-5 million per year. In 2001, Bell hit an amazing .174 playing in only 46 games and then in Spring Training 2002, he left the team to live on his yacht saying he wasn't going to compete for a RF spot and risk injury playing in the Spring. Pirates paid him $4.5 million to NOT play for them in 2002 (Operation Shutdown) and he never played another day in MLB. Fittingly, he was twice arrested in subsequent years for cocaine possession.
     
  3. saturdaysarebetter

    saturdaysarebetter Well-Known Member

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    Jul 24, 2018
    You're comparing a guy who gave us 43 victories over five years against a guy that went on to hit 332 home runs had 2,134 hits, 1,287 RBIs and hit .303? Seriously?
     
  4. MojaveDesertPghFan

    MojaveDesertPghFan

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    Oct 19, 2011
    Sorry, it's this CRS thing we face later in life (can't remember sh$%6). The Pirates obviously didn't give MA much of a chance but they should have known based on the pedigree and how well Matty had performed for them. I stand quite corrected.
     
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